Apple LOGIC PRO 7 Late-Breaking News

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Late-Breaking News
About Logic Pro 7

This document contains information about additions and
changes made to Logic Pro 7 after the manuals were
completed.

Some are new or updated features, and others are corrections or changes to names,
operations, or functionality. Please read this documentation carefully, as some of the
information may supercede that of the Reference manuals. For the latest information
about product updates, tips, and techniques, visit the Logic Pro website at
http://www.apple.com/logic.

General Changes

This section outlines global menu and operational changes.

Parameter Boxes

All parameters that only have two states (on/off) have been changed into checkboxes.
Simply click on the box to activate (checked), or deactivate (unchecked) the parameter.
Parameters that have been updated to operate in this fashion include:

Region: Loop, Clip Length

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Chord Memorizer Object: Cable Split

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Arpeggio: Repeat
Score: Interpretation, Syncopation, No Overlap, Lyric

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Menu Changes

File > Export > MIDI Region as Audio File was renamed to File > Export > Region as
Audio File, as this describes the function more precisely.

The Audio > Audio Settings menu item was removed, as it was a duplicate of Logic >
Preferences > Audio.

The Logic > Preferences > Control Surfaces > Scan and Logic > Preferences > Control
Surfaces > Install menu items has been moved into the local New menu of the Setup
window (Logic > Preferences > Control Surfaces > Setup).

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The local Matrix Editor menu item View > White Background was renamed to View >
Bright Background.

Movie Audio Extraction

The audio track selection menu process (described in the manual) adds an unnecessary
step when extracting audio from a movie file. If the movie file only contains one audio
file, selection is superfluous. Use of the Options > Movies > Extract Audio from Movie
function will automatically extract the audio (as an AIF file), and add it to the Audio
window. The movie name will be retained, and used for the audio file.

The Options > Movies > Extract Audio to Arrange function places the extracted audio
(Region) onto the selected Arrange window track.

Preferences

This section outlines changes in Logic’s preferences.

File Format Option

The Audio preferences of Logic 6 allowed you to change the bit depth of freeze files
from the default 32 bit (float) to 24, or even 16 bit. The primary intent of this option was
to allow the use of freeze files in place of bounced tracks, given the absence of the
Export Track As Audio File function. As Logic Pro 7 offers this functionality, the Freeze
File Format option is no longer required, and has been removed from the Audio
preferences.

To export a track as an audio file:

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Choose File > Export > Track As Audio File. A file selector opens, allowing you to set the
bit depth and file name.

The Export Track As Audio File function offers the same export functionality as the
Freeze function in Logic 6, but track naming is more convenient and you can freely
choose the file destination and format for each export.

Smart Loop Handling Option

In Logic’s Global > Editing preferences you will find the additional “SmartLoop handling
of Scissor and Split by SPL “ option, which determines how Logic Pro 7 handles the
cutting of looped Regions.

If you activate the option, you can cut the looped area of Regions (using the Scissors or
Marquee tool or Split by SPL commands). Logic Pro 7 automatically creates Regions
after—and if necessary—before the cut, ensuring that these areas remain identical.
This allows you to split looped Regions without altering playback in the looped area.

If the “SmartLoop handling of Scissor and Split by SPL” option is switched off, it is not
possible to cut looped areas. Cutting the looped Region itself deactivates the Loop
parameter in the Region Parameter box.

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Song Settings

The Song Settings contain an additional Audio pane, which offers the following two
options:

Playback Pre-Roll

When this option is enabled, all start commands will force Logic Pro 7 to start playback
a little earlier (shifted to the left). The exact pre-roll value is dependent on the current
delay compensation value for plug-ins. This option ensures that transients which fall
exactly on the start position are played back correctly. If this option is disabled,
transients that fall precisely on the start position can be missed, or appear to be faded
in.

Pan Law

The Pan Law value determines the amount of volume reduction to mono signals that
are panned to the center position. If set to 0 dB, mono signals will seem louder when
panned to the center position, in comparison with extreme left or right pan positions. If
set to either
regardless of their pan position:

–3 dB:

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center position.

–3 dB compensated:

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panned to the center position (or +3 dB when panned to extreme left or right
positions).

–3 dB

or

–3 dB compensated

A full scale mono signal (0 dBfs) will have a level of –3 dB when panned to the

A full scale mono signal (0 dBfs) will have a level of 0 dB when

, mono signals will seem equal in loudness,

Songs created in older Logic versions always use the 0 dB option. Please note that
switching the Pan Law value to –3 dB will change the mix of such songs!

AU Manager

Logic Pro 7 uses Apple’s AU Validation Tool to ensure that only Audio Unit plug-ins
which pass the test are used in Logic.

The scan process takes place automatically when you launch Logic Pro 7. You can see
the results of the validation scan for all Audio Units plug-ins via the Logic Application
menu: Preferences > Start Logic AU Manager.

Note:

Logic Pro 7 automatically quits before the Logic AU Manager is launched. Logic

will automatically restart after you quit the Logic AU Manager.

The Logic AU Manager allows you to disable Audio Units plug-ins that you don’t want
to use in Logic, even if they pass the test. Simply uncheck the corresponding checkbox
in the Use column to disable any plug-in. You can store your choice of Audio Units
plug-ins by clicking OK.

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The results of the test are shown in the Compatibility column. Audio Units plug-ins that
“failed” the validation test, can be enabled—but be aware that these plug-ins can
cause problems. Use of plug-ins that have failed the validation can negatively affect the
test results of subsequently scanned plug-ins, can cause Logic crashes or even lead to
data loss (destroyed song files).

We strongly recommend that you check the manufacturer’s website for updated
versions of Audio Units plug-ins that fail the validation.

Note:

If you press Control-Shift while launching Logic, the AU Safe Mode will be used:
Only plug-ins that pass the validation test will be used; manually activated plug-ins that
failed the validation test will not be available.

Click “Reset & Rescan All” to run another validation test, after installing plug-ins/
updaters or moving components in the Finder, while Logic or the AU Manager are
open. You can also rescan individual plug-ins—in cases where you’ve installed an
updated version. Updated plug-in versions will automatically be tested the next time
Logic is launched. They will be enabled automatically, if they pass the validation scan.

Loop Browser

The Apple Loops Browser also displays Acid and ReCycle Loops, and has therefore been
renamed Loop Browser. Loops with sample rates that don’t match the song sample rate
can be used.

Acid Loops don’t contain “tags” like Apple Loops. Apple Loop tags identify the
categories/styles that a Loop appears in, within the Loop Browser.

In Acid Loops, this information is derived from the surrounding folder structure
(especially the names of folders), which must comply with certain standards. This
means that it’s not possible to drag an individual Acid Loop file into the Loop Browser.

As such, you need to drag the entire CD (or folder) that contains the Acid Loops into
the Loop Browser.

The

Key

pop-up menu was renamed

renamed

Song Key

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Play In

. The

Follow Chord Track

option was

Display of Loops

All loops that follow the song key and tempo are indicated by the following symbols in
Logic:

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Apple Loops Utility

If you open an Audio Region with a length that does not match the bars or beats in the
Apple Loops Utility, the following dialog appears:

There are two possible reasons for the wrong length:

The audio recording was recorded at the song tempo, but not cut correctly. In this

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situation, you can shorten the recording, via the dialog.

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The loop uses a different tempo: in this case, you can set the length of the audio
loop in the Loop length box and choose “Use set length.”

Support of Apple Lossless Files

Logic Pro 7 supports Apple Lossless files. This lossless file format uses an audio codec
that retains the full quality of uncompressed CD audio, while requiring only about half
the storage space. The Apple Lossless Encoder can be used for importing music from
CDs in iTunes, for example.

Logic Node Application

The Logic Node Application can’t process Audio Units plug-ins. It is, however, possible
to split tracks that use Audio Units into two halves. The first plug-in (and up to the last
Audio Unit on the track) is processed locally, and remaining plug-ins (Logic native) may
be processed on a Node.

As an example: Use of an Audio Units instrument which is processed with Logic’s built
in plug-ins. The Audio Units instrument plug-in is processed on the host, and the Logic
plug-ins are processed on a Node.

Loop Length Editing

Logic’s Loop function has been enhanced with an easy to use Loop Length Editing
function.

To set the length of a looped Region:

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Move the cursor to the end of the Region that you want to loop. The cursor will change
into a circular arrow (a loop) when positioned in the upper area of the Region.

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Click-hold and drag the end of the Region to the desired length.

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