Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day. #LogicProX @StudioIntern1

  Toggle writing Mute Automation in Write Mode

This is not found in the help files, the iBook version of the manuals, or the PDF version of the manual. I have found interesting discussions about the topic for Reaper, Nuendo, ProTools, and a forum thread where someone was complaining about mute automation not working properly in “Touch” mode.

In the first case every time I get near “write” automation the warning signals flash about the destruction of all existing automation when in “Write” mode.

It never occurred to me that I could automate the mute button to silence a track while playing. My first resort would be to simply turn that part of the track into a region which I would then just remove. I can always get it back. It is visibly clear in the arrangement. Another way would be to create the region and set the region gain to minus infinity.

I guess I should try working a mixing session with things stemmed properly, put all the AUX tracks into “write” automation mode, and press play. Move the faders, change the panning push the mute button, etc.

It is certainly clear that if I did create mute automation, and it was not showing, I would wonder why some sound simply disappeared.

Automation overview — Logic Pro X:

Automation refers to recording, editing, and playing back the movements of faders, knobs, and switches. Using automation, you can create changes over time to volume, pan, and other settings. You can add automation to all track types.

⇧ SHIFT – ⌃ CONTROL – ⌥ OPTION – ⌘ COMMAND

Command    Key Touch Bar


- Global Commands


Toggle Current Track Automation Write/Read


Toggle Current Track Automation Write Relative Mode


Toggle writing Volume Automation in Write Mode


Toggle writing Pan Automation in Write Mode


Toggle writing Mute Automation in Write Mode


Toggle writing Send Levels Automation in Write Mode


Toggle writing Plug-in parameters Automation in Write Mode


Toggle writing Solo Automation in Write Mode

Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day. #LogicProX @StudioIntern1

  Show/Hide Output Channel Strips        ⇧:four:

I have yet to find any mention of this in the user guides. The mixing overview calls the 8 buttons “filters”.

 Audio | Inst | Aux | Bus | Input | Output | Master/VCA | MIDI

I don’t often change the mixer view, but leaving out the Output strips does save a tiny bit of room.

The X-Touch has “dedicated” buttons to filter the channel strips when it is in “Global” mode. This caused me great confusion until I started the serious examination of how (and why) the Mackie Control/Logic Control is used.

Mixing overview — Logic Pro X:

When you mix a project, you balance the different parts and blend them into a cohesive whole. You can also add effects to alter the sound, use routing and grouping to control the signal flow, and use automation to create dynamic changes in your project over time. You do this in the Mixer, which opens below the Tracks area or as a separate window.

⇧ SHIFT – ⌃ CONTROL – ⌥ OPTION – ⌘ COMMAND

Coming Out |:

Software synths have taken over many of the roles that were once fulfilled by keyboard or rackmounting instruments, but many of us still have favourite hardware synths we’d like to integrate into our systems. And although Logic Pro has very capable MIDI features, its handling of external MIDI synths is not quite as intuitive as it might be. It often turns out that there’s more than one way to do a job, with no one way being clearly the ‘right’ way. For this article I’m going to go through the way I set up my own external Roland JV2080 (using only its stereo output).

The Rosetta Stone — this helped me understand GM Mixer and multi-track MIDI devices so much better.

Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day. #LogicProX @StudioIntern1

  Reset Sizes

According to the Keyboard Commands window this command is in the MIDI Environment. I have yet to discover where in that convoluted thing it exists. My suspicion is that the command is actually “Size by default” located in the “Cleanup” menu in the environment window. It certainly functions like that — resetting objects to their default size.

Environment overview — Logic Pro X:

The Environment refers to the virtual environment of Logic Pro inside your computer. It provides a virtual view of your MIDI studio, giving you complete control over your MIDI setup, and includes the following objects.

⇧ SHIFT – ⌃ CONTROL – ⌥ OPTION – ⌘ COMMAND