Logic Pro X Automation Explained

Logic Pro X wiz Doug Zangar brings you the definitive collection of video tutorials covering everything you need to know about automation in Logic Pro X. After viewing this series, you'll know how to automate anything and everything in Logic Pro X, making tracking, creative experimentation, and mixing simple and exciting!

Off-Line Automation

• Introduction (05:57) - Doug welcomes you and shows how to view automation. He then explores the various automation menus.

• Automation Lanes (07:57) - The automation lanes are shown with and without control points. Sub-lanes are then revealed and explained.

• Preferences & Settings (09:08) - Doug covers all the various automation preferences and settings, as well as their locations and parameters.

• Create & Delete Control Points (03:36) - See how to use the Pointer and Pencil tools to create control points, and then use the pointer and eraser tools, as well as the delete key to remove them.

• Creating Multiple Control Points (08:42) - Discover how to use the Mix menu items and the Marquee tool to create multiple control points in your automation.

• Curves & Copy (08:06) - Learn how to turn ramps into curves and copy automation to another region. Using snap mode for automation is also explored and explained.

• Copy & Select on Multiple Tracks (05:26) - See how to copy automation to a different track and make selections across multiple tracks.

• Editing Automation Parameters on Multiple Tracks (02:28) - Explore using track selection to edit, delete and reassign automation parameters.

• Delete Menu Items (06:05) - Doug now reveals different delete methods with the pointer and then covers all the delete automation choices in the Mix menu.

• Group Automation (02:26) - See how creating a group will allow you to write automation to all tracks in the group simultaneously.

• Using Sub Mixes (04:20) - Learn how to use track stacks, auxiliary channel strips and VCA channel strips to create automateable sub mixes.

• Convert Automation (08:30) - Doug now demonstrates how to convert one type of automation to another type on the same track. He also shows you how to convert track automation to region automation, and vice versa.

• Relative Value (03:36) - Learn how to use the relative value parameter to offset absolute automation.

Real-Time Automation

• Automation Record Modes (06:28) - Watch how to record automation in real-time and the differences between Touch, Latch and Write.

• Record Synth Controls (06:31) - Doug reveals how to use your synth's screen controls to record automation, and how to use Automation Quick Access to map a knob or fader from a controller to do the same thing.

• Working with Smart Controls (07:52) - Check out how to use Smart controls to record automation, by mapping a screen control to a plug-in parameter, then mapping the screen control to your controller. Also learn how to map two plug-ing parameters to the same screen control.

• Trim & Relative Modes (07:16) - Doug explains relative automation in offline mode and then goes into the write modes of relative and trim automation modes.

Region Automation

• Region Automation (07:12) - Doug starts out with reviewing preferences, then explores track alternatives for an alternate mix. Watch how to convert between track and region based automation, and cool ways to display continuous control information is shown.

MIDI Draw

• MIDI Draw Introduction (08:06) - Take a tour of the different ways to view MIDI Draw, and discover Logic's powerful Note Velocity functions.

• MIDI Draw Menu (07:54) - Doug explores and explains the MIDI Draw menu, which allows you to select Fader events, MIDI events, continuous controller events and Smart Control parameters. See how its view is dynamic, based on the type of track selected and your project settings.

• Recording MIDI Draw (05:02) - Learn how to record CC information as you play in a part, or add it separately by merging, or using a clone track.

• MIDI Draw Offline (10:10) - See how to create and edit MIDI Draw information offline, view it in the Step Editor and the Event List, and how to convert from one parameter to another. Also learn why you should have MIDI Draw information start at the beginning of a region.

• The CC 7/10 Setting (04:42) - This video shows how toggling the project setting changes whether volume and pan affects the software instrument or the channel strip.

• Working with MIDI Channels (07:00) - Using an instance of Play with three flute articulations assigned to their own MIDI channel, Doug takes you through viewing, editing and creating MIDI Draw parameters on different MIDI channels.

Automation Event List

• Automation Event List Pt. 1 (03:49) - See how to open the Automation Event List and get an in-depth explanation of its interface and layout.

• Automation Event List Pt. 2 (07:53) - Discover how within the AEL you can SMPTE lock automation, copy and paste, and convert from one fader event type to another. Doug then explains how to edit parameter values in the columns, as well as what value the Additional Info button has when working with automation.

Summary

• Conflicts & Conversions (09:49) - This video uses CC 7 (volume) as an example of the potential conflicts to be found with MIDI Draw, Region Automation and Track Automation. Doug covers the settings that can help or hinder this, and walks you through converting CC 7 from MIDI Draw to Region Automation to Track Automation and more.

• Wrapping it Up (06:25) - In this final video, Doug plays a demo song to show the different ways to use Automation and MIDI Draw. An emphasis is put on layering, using track stacks and the VCA fader!