An Introduction to Control Surfaces

You can use hardware control surfaces to control and automate transport, mixing, recording, and other tasks in Logic Pro.

All Logic mixer controls, such as level and pan, can be adjusted onscreen—using your mouse and computer keyboard. This is not, however, an ideal method for precise real-time control. You can enhance your creative flow and achieve greater flexibility and precision by connecting a hardware control surface to your computer.

Control surfaces are ideal for creating a dynamic live (on-stage) performance when used with a portable computer, MIDI keyboard, and audio and MIDI interfaces. In the studio, you can record control surface automation (even when Logic is not in record mode). Track automation appears in Logic’s Arrange window and in the Piano Roll Editor.

When you move a fader on the control surface, the corresponding fader in Logic’s Mixer moves with it. EQ or other parameters can be altered by turning rotary knobs on the control surface, with assigned parameters updating instantly in Logic.

As communication between Logic and your control surface is bidirectional, adjustments to parameters onscreen are immediately reflected by the corresponding control on the control surface.