Logic Pro tutorial for beginners: your first song in nine steps

Platform and version

The nine steps

1. Choose how to get Logic Pro

Logic Pro for Mac is a one-time purchase of US$199.99 on the Mac App Store, or it comes with Apple Creator Studio at US$12.99 a month or US$129 a year, with the first 30 days free for new subscribers. Apple states the Logic Pro features are identical whichever route you take, so pick the subscription if you also want the iPad version or Final Cut Pro, and the one-time purchase if you only need the Mac app. Your Mac needs Apple silicon and macOS 15.6 or later; Apple lists no Intel Macs. Check Apple menu > About This Mac before you pay. Details are in the download hub and the trial guide.

2. Install Logic Pro and the essential sounds

Open the App Store app, search for Logic Pro, and click the price or the Creator Studio button. When the download finishes, open Logic Pro from Applications. On first launch it offers to download essential sounds; accept, because the Session Player drum track in step 6 needs them. You can add the rest later from Logic Pro > Sound Library > Download All Available Sounds, but it is large, so leave that until you have free disk space and time.

3. Set up your audio device

Plug in your audio interface if you have one, then choose Logic Pro > Settings > Audio > Devices (Preferences on macOS 12 or earlier). Set Output Device and Input Device to the interface; if you have no interface, leave both on the built-in options. Set I/O Buffer Size to 128 for the lowest delay while recording, or 256 if you hear crackles. Leave Sample Rate at 44.1 kHz for a first project. Click Apply Changes. Logic Pro's own overload guidance recommends raising the buffer later for mixing, which the latency guide explains.

4. Create a project and set tempo and key

Choose File > New from Template and pick Empty Project. In the New Tracks dialog choose Audio, keep one track, and click Create. The LCD in the control bar shows the tempo and key signature; click the tempo and drag or type a value such as 100, and click the key to set, for example, C major. Setting these now matters because Session Players, Apple Loops and the metronome all follow them. Save straight away with Command-S, choosing Folder so audio files stay next to the project.

5. Record your first audio take

Click the track header to select the audio track and check that its input matches the jack your microphone or guitar is in. Click the I button on the track header to turn on Software Monitoring so you hear yourself through Logic Pro, and turn on the metronome with K and count-in with Shift-K. Press R to record and Space bar to stop. If you hear a delay, go back to step 3 and set the buffer to 128; if you hear crackles, set it to 256. Record a few passes with Cycle on (C) and Logic Pro collects them in a take folder for comping in step 7.

6. Add a Session Player drum track

Choose Track > New Tracks, pick Drummer, and click Create. Logic Pro adds a Session Player track with a drummer region that follows your tempo. In the Session Player editor at the bottom of the window, choose a style, drag the XY pad to set loudness and complexity, and use the Follow option to lock the pattern to your audio region's rhythm. Drag the region's right edge to match the length of your take. Session Players also include a Bass Player, Keyboard Player and, new in Logic Pro 12, a Synth Player, so add those later the same way.

7. Basic edits: split, quantize and comp

Place the playhead where you want to cut and choose Edit > Split > Split Regions at Playhead; drag unwanted pieces to the bin or press Delete. To tighten a MIDI region's timing, select it and choose a Quantize value, such as 1/16 Note, in the Region inspector on the left. For a take folder, click its disclosure triangle, then swipe across the best section of each take; Logic Pro assembles a comp. Quick Swipe Comping is on by default, and Option-Q toggles it. Use Command-Z freely; Logic Pro keeps a long undo history.

8. A basic mix with stock plug-ins

Press X to show the Mixer. Set levels so nothing peaks above about -6 dB on the Stereo Out meter, and pan guitars or keyboards slightly left and right to leave the centre for vocals and drums. On the vocal channel strip, click an Audio FX slot and choose EQ > Channel EQ to remove low rumble, then Dynamics > Compressor and pull the Threshold down until the gain reduction meter moves on loud words. For reverb, click a Send slot on the vocal, choose Bus 1, and Logic Pro creates an auxiliary channel strip; insert Reverb > ChromaVerb there and raise the send knob. One reverb on a bus serves every track and keeps CPU use down, which Apple's overload guidance also recommends.

9. Bounce the song

Set the cycle area to cover the whole song or select all regions and press Command-U to set locators. Choose File > Bounce > Project or Section. Tick PCM for a WAV file at 24-bit, and MP3 as well if you want a small copy to send. Set Normalize to Off for now and leave Start and End as Logic Pro filled them. Click Bounce, name the file, and play it back in the Music app or QuickTime Player to check it. The bounce guide covers sample rate, dither and streaming loudness in more depth.

Starter settings for a first project

Next steps

• Learn the default key commands for transport and editing; they remove most of the mouse travel from steps 5 to 7.
• If playback stuttered during the mix, read the system overload fix before adding more plug-ins.
• Tune the vocal with Flex Pitch, then come back to the mix.
• Thinking about the iPad app for sketching ideas on the move? The iPad guide explains what transfers between the two.