Archive for the ‘Tutorials’ Category

I’ve spent a ton of time trying to structure a massive all-in-one article on Logic 9′s new Pedalboard plugin.  But honestly, its all new, and I want to really spend some time breaking down some of the awesome features. So today I’m going to do a little rundown on the Pedalboard’s internal mixer module.

If you’ve haven’t already heard, the Pedalboard plugin is a new guitar tone tool in your Logic Pro Studio toolbox.  It consists of a board space, routing space and module list.  You can drag modules (pedals) from the list on the right into the empty board space and they instantly link with the other pedals, which is shown in the routing space above your pedals.

You can move pedals left and right by dragging them around your board.  But things get really interesting when you start creating multiple signal-chains.

To split your signal and run it through multiple FX chains, you can either

1) drag a mixer module onto your board or

2) click on the name of a pedal in the routing space.  This will move the pedal to another signal chain and automatically insert a mixer module.

Once you’ve got a mixer module loaded, you can click the name of pedals in the routing area and they will automatically hop onto the other signal chain.

Finally, you can blend between the two signal chains with the cross fader.  Blending the tones of the A and B signals can create some cool options when trying to find the right distortion or combination of modulation FX.  Last, you can quickly switch between “All A,” “All B,” and “Mix” with the three-way switch at the bottom of the mixer module. I found this extrememly useful when I trying to decide between two tones, as opposed to blending them.  It also made it really easy to come up with two completely different sounds for a lead guitar part which I could present to the band in separate bounces.

Let me give you some small samples of blending tones in action.

Hi Drive Plugin – a lot more crispy top end.

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Vintage Drive Plugin – a bit darker, and a rounder low end.

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Two Overdrives Mixed together – maintained some crispy transients but with more emphasis on the low end.

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Quick notice for all you Bay Area folks:

This Saturday (9/12), the folks over at the SAE San Francisco campus will be holding a Mixing in Pro Tools and an Intro to Ableton Live workshop. The PT class is from 10-11am while the Live class is from 11-12pm.

From the emai:

10AM-11AM  :: Intro to Mixing in Pro Tools.

There are only 6 spaces for this workshop, so you MUST RSVP by calling us at the school @ 415.344.0886. You’ll learn the basics of how to mix a track in Pro Tools. The workshop will take place in our ICON control room and will use a multi-track of a song you’ve definitely heard before.

11AM-12PM :: Intro to Ableton LIVE

20 seats available for Ableton LIVE workshop in classroom two! Call the school to get your seat @ 415.344.0886. Learn some easy tricks to enhance your production using Ableton LIVE.

450 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
415-344-0886

Both classes are totally free, so if you’re in the area, check it out!

This Thursday (8/27), SAE and IK Multimedia will be hosting a free mastering seminar at the SAE San Francisco campus (450 Bryant Street, SF) at 7pm. 

It’s an hour and a half seminar and seats are limited. So if you’re in the Bay Area and want to hear IK’s software that I reviewed myself, make sure to check this out.

So this week I’m going to try to cover a ton of new features in Logic 9.  It may take a while, but I’m working on examples and pictures, etc.  Here’s a list of what’s coming!

Audio Features:

Bounce in Place – Logic users can FINALLY render effects onto a region “in place,” meaning the newly created audio file gets placed back in the session. No exporting and re-importing anymore!

Track Import – Pro Tools has had the ability to import actual tracks – including audio, I/O assignments, plugins, and aux-sends, and automation.  Now Logic users can too – which makes working with multiple iterations of the same session really easy.  For example you can bring tracks from an older session into a newer one.  This may seem like a dumb function – but when you really NEED it, it can be a life safer.

Drum Replacer

Flex Tools and Flex Modes

Audio Quantize

Slicing Mode

Varispeed and Speed Fades

Plugin Features:

Amp Designer

Pedalboard Emulator

Anyway, I’m still working on this list as I explore Logic 9′s new stuff.

I’ve only had a few hours with Logic Pro 9 since I picked up my copy, but I’m already blown away.  There will be more posts to come, but the Flex tool just made me want to get up and dance.

Finally, audio is fun to edit in Logic!  Back when the Logic was in version 7, I used to bounce vocal tracks to Pro Tools for comping and editing, but I’m happy to say I won’t be doing that anymore.

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