Add ReCycle files to your project

ReCycle is the name of a software application from manufacturer Propellerhead, which mainly serves as an editing and production tool for loops—repeatedly cycled audio files, in other words. ReCycle uses specific file formats that can be imported, and used directly by Logic Pro. ReCycle files can also be converted to Apple Loops.

Note: You need to install the REX Shared Library © Propellerhead Software when using ReCycle files within Logic Pro. For more information on ReCycle files, see the Propellerhead website.

Logic Pro can import the following ReCycle file formats:

  • Old ReCycle files: These files have the suffix .rcy. The abbreviation for this file type is RCSO.

  • Old ReCycle export files: These files have the suffix .rex. The abbreviation for this file type is REX.

  • ReCycle 2.0 files: These files have the suffix .rx2. The abbreviation for this file type is REX2.

Import a ReCycle file into the Tracks area

  1. Select the ReCycle file you want to import by doing one of the following:

    • Choose File > Import > Audio File, then choose a ReCycle file instead of an AIFF, SDII, MP3, or WAV audio file.

    • Shift-click an audio track with the Pencil tool, then choose a ReCycle file.

    • Drag a ReCycle file from the Finder onto an audio track.

  2. Choose settings in the ReCycle File Import dialog.

    Figure. ReCycle File Import dialog.
    • Don’t Fix: Imports the file as is. All slices of the file overlap, to match the tempo of Logic Pro.

    • Add tracks: Distributes the slices across multiple audio tracks, allowing you to adjust the position or delete slices freely. The Number of Audio Tracks field determines how many tracks are used for the distribution of the slices. These tracks are in addition to the original track that the ReCycle file was added to.

    • Crossfade: All slices of the file are imported to the same track, and are automatically crossfaded. The length of the crossfade is determined by the value (shown in milliseconds) displayed in the Crossfade Length field.

    • Render into single file: This function writes all ReCycle slices into a single audio file. The current Logic Pro project tempo is used for the rendering process.

    • Render to Apple Loop: Imports the ReCycle file as an Apple Loops file.

  3. Click OK.

If you don’t import the ReCycle file as an Apple Loops or audio file, Logic Pro creates a ReCycle file folder on a folder track. This folder contains slices (you can view them as miniature regions in the folder) of the ReCycle file at appropriate positions.

Figure. ReCycle folder in the Tracks area and ReCycle slices in the Project Audio Browser.

Each of these slices references the same audio file, which can be found in the Project Audio Browser.

Note: If you move the ReCycle file folder to another audio track, the audio channel strip destination (of the track inside the folder) does not change accordingly. You need to open the folder and change the audio channel strip destination manually, to hear the ReCycle audio data.

Convert a ReCycle file to an Apple Loop

Do one of the following:

  • In the ReCycle File Import dialog, choose Render to Apple Loop from the Fix Method pop-up menu.

  • In the All Files Browser, choose Convert ReCycle Files to Apple Loops from the Action pop-up menu.

Copy audio regions into the Clipboard for use in ReCycle

  1. Select an audio region in the Tracks area.

  2. Choose Functions > Copy as ReCycle Loop from the Tracks area menu bar.

    The data of the selected audio region is copied into the Clipboard.

  3. Use the “Paste as new Document” command in ReCycle to create a new ReCycle document (containing the audio data selected in the Tracks area).

Note: The size of the transferred audio region is limited to 10 MB, which should be sufficient for most ReCycle loops (an eight-bar stereo loop in 4/4 at 70 bpm uses approximately 5 MB, for example).

Paste ReCycle loops from ReCycle into the Tracks area

  1. Use the Copy Loop command in ReCycle.

    The loop currently being edited in ReCycle is copied into the Clipboard.

  2. Choose Functions > Paste ReCycle Loop in the Tracks area menu bar to paste this loop into the Tracks area.

    The result is the same as the ReCycle file import options.