The Producer’s Guide to… Logic Pro X 10.1

The Highlights Tour

When you remember how long Logic Pro users waited for Version 9 of the DAW to become Logic Pro X, it’s fair to say that news of the 10.1 update – which offers several significant new features as well as upgrades to existing ones – came as a surprise. In this Producer’s Guide, and through the video, we’ll take a practical tour of some of these features but it’s also worth rounding up some of the other new improvements. In addition to the EDM and Hip-Hop oriented Drummer options and the new Drum Machine Designer plug-in detailed here, you can also see step-by-step guides to how Region and Track automation options work together and a round-up of some of the other new features. These all deserve a little more explanation.

Let’s start with Note Repeat, which effectively adds a new, real-time MIDI processor to Logic’s armoury. This window allows you to trigger repeating notes at the Rate of your choice, allowing repeating 1/16th or 1/8th notes to be produced from holding down a single key, for instance. However, it goes much further. Now, you can use MIDI control messages to change values around this note generation in real time, meaning that you can control the speed of the notes being produced, any velocity offsets you like, and even the gate time of how long each repeated note will last, using separate controllers. These changes are captured when you hit the Record button, so generating animated MIDI sequences is easier than ever.

Also new is the AU Plug-In Manager which lets you configure folders of plug-ins on the terms you want, rather than simply listing everything by manufacturer. Create a folder name and then drag your plug-ins – both Logic’s native ones and third-party titles – into those folders. Next time you dive back into your plug-in lists, you’ll find your new folders and, of course, the same plug-in can appear in multiple lists.

Add these functions to Logic’s new and much more functional Compressor redesign, new Automation modes (which allow offsetting existing automation for portions of a track), the option to add your own audio files to Retro Synth as wavetables and a collection of new Mellotron samples hosted through the EXS24, and it’s clear that there’s lots to explore. So, let’s take a tour…