Do you use Logic Pro X? You need to know how to add plugins to logic pro x if you want to keep using it.
I recently had to reinstall Logic Pro X because I replaced my HD and went with the clean install option. Now, I'm not sure why (there have been other bugs and minor issues that have since been resolved or went away as well, like my laptop is getting used to the new SSD, if that makes sense), but all of my instruments and effects plugins now open in controls mode (the interface with just the. Apple's Logic Pro X comes bundled with a full suite of powerful EQ and filter plugins, including emulations of vintage hardware units like Neve, API, Pultec and more. Take this advanced course by Joe Albano and learn all about them!
If you’ve spent any time producing music in Logic Pro X, you’ve no doubt come across instruments with plug-ins loaded into the Audio FX slots.
And, if you’re new to Logic Pro X, and/or to making music in a DAW, you’ve probably wondered what the hell they are, what they do, and how to add plugins in Logic Pro X to create an extra layer of sophistication to your tracks.
You will generally start adding plugins after you’ve completed the sampling stage.
A plugin is a tool that you can apply to a track to manipulate the sound of the audio. You will generally start to apply plugins before you go on to the autotuning stage.
Prior to the age of digital audio and music production, they didn’t exist at all.
In order to manipulate the sound using compression, delay, EQ or any other effect, you’d need to fire up a separate physical unit. Luckily, things are a lot easier in the world of DAWS like Logic, and a simple click of the mouse gives you access to a folder full of effects.
Some common types of plug-ins include:
Logic Pro comes with a library of fantastic, professional quality and highly usable plug-ins, but you also have the option to purchase or download third party units that can be used within the DAW (more on that later).
It can be easy to forego the need to use plugins in Logic Pro, not least because the sounds generated by some of its stock instruments are amazing.
But, you run the risk your finished tracks sounding like everybody else’s. After all, they have access to the exact same instrument sets.
By simply experimenting with Logic’s built in plugins (the stock ones are great), you greatly expand the diversity and quality of your tracks, differentiate yourself from the thousands of other producers out there, and have more control over the final sound.
Adding a plugin to a track in Logic is ridiculously easy. Gone are the days of complex patch bays and external processing units!
On the track’s channel strip (either to the left of the edit window, or inside the mixer window), click on a blank slot under Audio FX. Choose a plugin from the drop down list. You’ll notice Logic’s stock plugins are organised by type (a folder for Delay, a folder for Modulation etc).
Any third party plugins are located under Audio Units at the bottom of the list.
Audio Units are the file format Apple accepts for its third party plugins. Other DAWs use formats such as VST and AAX. You’ll learn how to import third party plugins further down in the article.
If you’re brand new to using plugins, a great place to start is Logic’s Channel EQ. It’s highly visual, intuitive, and is a perfect way to understand the way that plugins manipulate the sound of your tracks.
Logic’s stock plugins are built into the code of the software itself, so you will not be able to locate them on your Mac, or use them with any other software.
Third party plug-ins (Audio Units) however are stored in a folder on the Macintosh HD, and you can find them here:
If you’ve installed new third party plugins, Logic should recognize these automatically when you fire the software up. If Logic Pro is not showing your Audio Units plugin, try quitting the software and opening again, or restarting your Mac.
Still not working? Head to Logic Pro X>Preferences (make sure you have Show Advanced Tools ticked), and select the Plug-In Manager.
Depending on your version of Logic, this may also be called the Audio Units Manager, or AU Manager. Hit ‘Reset and Rescan Selection’ and let Logic do its business and scan the Macintosh HD. Your Audio Units file should be installed and recognised by Logic’s Plug-In Manager in no time.
The short answer is no. Apple uses the Audio Units (AU) file type for its third party plugins. There are, though, a few “VST wrappers”, which serve to turn VSTs into AUs for use in Logic.
This is kind of like converting a WAV file to an MP3.
To list a few that could be installed on your Mac:
Recuva apple mac. So, now that you know how to add a stock Apple or third party plugin to Logic Pro X, it’s time to start levelling up your music production!
Logic has a huge library of great plugins, and there are a number of free ones available too, just search “free AU plugin” and get creating!
Logic Pro X is a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) from Apple. It is very similar to other DAWs, such as Pro Tools, FL Studio, Ableton and the many other audio programs available. I wanted to talk about Logic Pro X here because it comes with a host of very useful plugins. Yes, there are all of the standard effects like equalization, compression, reverb and delay included in the Logic Pro X plugins arsenal. But in this article we will look at 5 other very useful and creative Logic plugins.
Distortion is a crucial part of modern music mixing and whether we realize it or not it is used extensively. We have elevated this effect that was once only the domain of rock to the level of a plate reverb. Almost any song you hear these days has some type of distortion used in the audio production. Logic Pro X has a wide variety of distortion plugins, but one of my favorites is Amp Designer.
Amp Designer simulates the characteristics of a guitar amplifier and there are many styles and types to choose from. Don’t just think of this plugin just for electric guitar; it is great for vocals, MIDI synth sounds, drums, and loops. Channel your inner rock star and reach for Amp Designer when you want something special on that mix. Try the Britannica Crunch preset for some Kanye West style distortion and don’t forget you can actually move the virtual mic around for even more tones!
The next plugin I want you to try is SubBass. This is a really easy to operate sub harmonic frequency exciter. If your mixes aren’t moving enough air and blowing up people’s trunks then this plugin is for you. Just insert this baby on your 808s, kick drums, bass guitars, or even an entire mix and feel the rumble. One of my favorite presets is Sub Enhancer, which, when used lightly, can be a good mastering effect. Be sure to use the Low frequency control to find the exact range your track will benefit from.
Another underutilized plugin included with Logic Pro X is Ensemble. This is a great pitch modulation plugin that can create up to 8-chorused voices. Do those background vocals sound too thin or unexciting? Could that lead vocal that could use some more depth and character? The solution is Ensemble. You could use a chorus or flanger to try and thicken these tracks, but Ensemble is much more complex and can be used more subtlety. Next time you have to mix a song and wish the vocals were doubles or that the hook was thicker, open up Ensemble. This plugin, if used in small amounts, will become your go to for vocal (and instrument) thickening. Oh, and try it on an acoustic guitar!
We all need a little space now and then and I find myself needing Space Designer even more often. This is a great little convolution reverb plugin that is included with the purchase of Logic Pro X. If you don’t know already many mixing and audio post-production engineers use a convolution reverb. It uses impulse responses to recreate modeled spaces. What all of this means is that Space Designer can fairly accurately reproduce the reflections and decay of natural environments (and even electronic ones). When I want to create depth and dimension in a mix, I go for Space Designer. Add this reverb to an Aux track and send any sound you want into it. Three dimension and width are easily achieved with sparing amounts of this effect added to key elements of a mix (think vocals, snare drums, claps, lead synth, etc.). A really fun preset to try out is Long City Street. Also, here is a link to some free impulse responses of the venerable Lexicon 480L that you can add to your Space Designer )
The last plugin I want to show you is the fun and easy to use Stereo Spread. This is a very easy to navigate plugin, but there are a few tricks to make it the most effective. First I recommend only “spreading” higher frequencies. If you widen the bass frequencies of a mix you can run into problems during playback on different systems and mastering. Rule of thumb, in general wide stereo bass is bad, but stereo keys, strings, and other mid range sounds are good. Say you are mixing a beat and the organ track is frequency clashing with the background vocals. You want both of these sources to be panned in both left and right speakers. Stereo Spread can help be a solution. Add the Stereo Spread plugin to that organ and listen to spread out across the speakers and out of the way of the background vocals. Try out the preset Light HF Spread and listen to the results. As with all effects, a little goes a long way. If you use too much of this effect or spread out too many frequencies you can add too much phasing to your mix. Microsoft office para macbook air. Used sparingly it can really open up a mix and add some great width to the higher frequencies.
Final Mix down
Hopefully this article has opened your eyes (and ears) to some fun and creative effect plugins that come with Logic Pro X. As with any effect, it is all about the context you use it in and not over doing it. These five plugins are easy to use, add character, and you should be using them in your mixes. If you already have Logic Pro X, then why not experiment and have your mixes stand out against the competition by being more creative and really learning how to use Logic Pro X? Oh, and if you don’t have Logic Pro X, don’t worry; most DAWs like FL Studio, Pro Tools, and Reason come with plugins similar to these, so just apply the principles I went through and you will be on your way to making it in the music industry as an audio engineering professional.
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