Logic Pro X provides the power and flexibility of previous versions of Logic Pro, while allowing you to turn groups of features on or off to streamline your workflow.
For experienced users who have upgraded from Logic Pro (8 or 9) or Logic Express (8 or 9), all advanced tools and additional options are turned on by default. When you open an existing project in Logic Pro X, any additional options used by the project are turned on automatically.
Users new to Logic Pro can start working with basic features and a streamlined interface. In particular, users familiar with GarageBand will find a direct match for nearly all GarageBand features.
Show Advanced ToolsWhen you turn on Show Advanced Tools, Logic Pro’s full music production capabilities become available. All windows, views, menus, and key commands required for standard music production tasks are accessible in the app.
You turn on advanced tools by selecting Show Advanced Tools in the Advanced preferences pane. Turning on advanced tools (without turning on any of the specific additional options) lets you do the following:
Access the Event, Marker, Tempo, and Signature Lists.
Access the Project Audio Browser and All Files Browser.
Access the Step Editor (formerly Hyper Editor) to graphically edit MIDI events.
Customize the control bar and toolbar with additional buttons and controls.
Access the Marker, Signature, and Beat Mapping global tracks.
Customize key commands in the Key Commands window.
Access additional preferences and project settings.
Access additional track header controls in the Tracks area: On/Off buttons, Hide and Protect buttons, track numbers, and color bars.
Use step input recording to manually enter MIDI events rather than recording them in real time.
Export MIDI regions as standard MIDI files.
Use additional recording functionality: Quick Punch-In, advanced recording commands, automatic coloring of takes when recording.
Use drum replacement and doubling.
Choose between different views in the Mixer.
Access additional channel strip controls: Gain Reduction meter, EQ display, Group slot, and Automation Mode button.
View and edit multiple tracks.
Access additional score view options.
Add notes and symbols from the Part box.
Add lyrics and other text.
Customize staff styles and score sets.
Edit the score layout.
Open and work on multiple projects.
Manage different versions of projects called alternatives.
Revert to automatically saved versions of a project called backups.
Save assets either inside the project or in a project folder with subfolders for different asset types.
Additional OptionsWhen Show Advanced Tools is selected, additional options providing further expert capabilities become available, and can be selected individually depending on the type of tasks you want to perform. When Show Advanced Tools is selected in the Advanced preferences pane, the following additional options are also available:
Audio: Use the Audio File Editor, for destructive editing of audio files and advanced configuration options.
Surround: Use surround capabilities (in the Mixer) with a surround speaker setup.
MIDI: Use the Environment for MIDI signal flow control and real-time processing of MIDI data.
Score: Use additional features in the Score Editor, including the ability to assign staff styles to individual regions and create chord grids.
Control Surface: Create and edit control surface assignments.
Advanced edit: Use advanced editing functions, including the Tempo Interpreter and the ability to create aliases.
(If any advanced features you need aren’t available, open the Advanced preferences pane and select the Show Advanced Tools checkbox, then select any option to turn it on.)
For users upgrading to Logic Pro X, any additional options used by an existing project are turned on by default when you open the project.
Choose Logic Pro > Preferences > Advanced.
Select the Show Advanced Tools checkbox.
Choose Logic Pro Preferences > Advanced.
Select any of the specific additional options you want to use.
Some features are only available when Show Advanced Tools is turned on, or when the corresponding Additional Options checkbox is selected. If a project makes use of features (for example, Track Stacks) that can only be created or edited when the Show Advanced Tools checkbox is selected, items using the feature will still play when Show Advanced Tools is turned off.
In Logic Pro Help, features that need Show Advanced Tools to be selected have this icon . Features that need Additional Options to be selected have this icon .