Recording Multiple Tracks Simultaneously


In Logic, recording multiple tracks simultaneously closely parallels the recording of single tracks, with a few differences. In the following exercise you will record several audio and MIDI tracks at the same time.

NOTE

This lesson is geared toward setups with audio interfaces having four or more inputs. Don't worry If you are working with a stereo input device; you can easily substitute two inputs whenever four are mentioned in the exercise. By recording with both inputs as mono sources, you will still get a feel for multitrack audio recording with Logic.


Recording Multiple Audio Tracks at Once

Let's start by recording multiple audio tracks simultaneously from separate inputs.

1.

Disable Cycle and Autodrop in the Transport.

2.

Click the Stop button to return to the beginning of the song.

3.

Bring up Screenset 2.

4.

If needed, click the Global button to view the tracks used in the Arrange window.

5.

In the Track Mixer, assign Audio 6 through Audio 9 to inputs 1 through 4, respectively.

NOTE

Due to your assigning of input labels in Lessons 2, inputs 1 and 2 will be labeled as Pre, and inputs 3 and 4 will be labeled as Analog.

6.

Record-enable Audio 6 through Audio 9 by clicking the REC buttons at the bottoms of the channel strips.

The Record Enable buttons will flash.

NOTE

If a track does not have an input assigned, it will not record-enable. Likewise, if two tracks share the same input assignment, then only the last one record-enabled will be active.

7.

Click the Record button.

NOTE

For the sake of this exercise, you will be recording "blank" tracks without input signal. However, you are encouraged to record with any input signal you like, playing along with the song.

8.

After 30 seconds or so, click the Stop button. (You can, of course, record a full pass if you're playing along.)

In the Arrange window (the bottom half of the screen) you should see four Audio Regions recorded on Tracks 710 (Audio 6 through Audio 9).

9.

Disengage record-enable for all tracks.

TIP

To disengage record-enable for multiple tracks at a time, hold down the Option key while clicking any of the Record Enable buttons in the Track Mixer. This technique works in the Track Mixer and Environment Mixer, but not in the Arrange window's channel strip view.


Recording MIDI and Audio at the Same Time

The process of recording MIDI and audio simultaneously works in a manner similar to multitrack audio recording. Logic handles the internal routing required to direct the incoming signals to the appropriate track (MIDI input to MIDI track, and audio input to audio track).

NOTE

If you have a few people in your studio to participate in the recording, feel free to have them supply the audio performance while you supply the MIDI input.


1.

Press the number 1 key to bring up Screenset 1.

2.

Use the technique you just learned for multi-track audio recording to record-enable Audio10 and Audio11.

3.

In the Track List, Shift-click the Inst 2 track.

The Inst 2 track is selected.

By Shift-clicking, you are enabling the input of two types of tracks: MIDI and audio. Only one audio track needs to be selected in a group, as all audio tracks are record-enabled, and "listening" to input. When recording MIDI and audio at the same time, you need to select the MIDI track as well as one of the audio tracks in order to receive input.

4.

Locate the beginning of the song, and put Logic into record mode.

5.

Play your MIDI controller to input some data (otherwise the Inst 2 track will appear to not have recorded anything).

NOTE

Because there isn't an Audio Instrument assigned to this track, you will hear nothing when playing the MIDI controller. This works fine for illustrating the technique, however.

6.

Click the Stop button after 30 seconds or so.

7.

Disable the Record Enable buttons on the audio tracks.

You just recorded two audio tracks (Audio10 and Audio11) and a MIDI track (Inst 2) simultaneously.

8.

Click the record enable buttons on the audio tracks you used in the recording to disable them.

Recording Multiple MIDI Tracks at Once

When recording multiple MIDI tracks simultaneously, Logic allows you to build complex sounds by layering the output of different instruments. In effect, the MIDI input is routed to multiple tracks with separate Objects, recording the same part to multiple tracks in a single pass.

NOTE

All multitrack MIDI techniques discussed here work equally well with classic MIDI tracks and hardware (such as synthesizers and samplers).


Let's look at this process by creating a simple layering of sounds from two of Logic's audio instruments.

1.

Select Inst 3 in the Track List.

2.

In the channel strip view, click-hold on the input field and choose Stereo > Logic > ES E.

3.

Click-hold in the preset menu and choose the Ensemble Sweep preset.

4.

Close the ES E window.

5.

Play your MIDI controller to familiarize yourself with the ES E patch.

6.

Select Inst 4 in the Track List.

7.

In the channel strip view, click-hold on the input field and choose Stereo > Logic > EFM1.

8.

Click-hold in the preset menu and choose Atmo & Fx > Aqua Entchant preset.

9.

Close the EFM1 window.

10.

Play your MIDI controller to familiarize yourself with the EFM1 patch.

11.

Click the Record Enable buttons for both the Inst 3 and Inst 4 tracks, one at a time.

Both tracks should have Record Enable buttons active (lit in red).

NOTE

Only the Arrange window offers Record Enable buttons for MIDI tracks.

12.

Play your MIDI controller.

You should be hearing sounds from each audio instrument playing simultaneously.

13.

Alternate selecting the enabled tracks, adjusting the volume level in the channel strip view to achieve a good blend of the sounds. Try playing the C2 note on your MIDI controller as you adjust. (This is the note you will record in the next step.)

14.

With either track highlighted, record a sustained C2 note at measure 3 for two bars.

Logic automatically creates both a MIDI Region on the highlighted track and an alias for the other track.

This alias mirrors the MIDI Region in every way and reflects any change made to the original. When layering MIDI instruments, Logic creates an alias for every track except the one selected at the time of recording.

MORE INFO

For more on aliases, see Lesson 8, "Advanced MIDI Editing."




Apple Pro Training Series Advanced Logic Pro 7
Apple Pro Training Series: Advanced Logic Pro 7
ISBN: 0321256077
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 166
Authors: David Dvorin

flylib.com © 2008-2017.
If you may any questions please contact us: flylib@qtcs.net