Audio tracks

Get started with audio tracks

You can record sound from a microphone, or from an electric instrument (such as an electric guitar) connected to your computer, on an audio track in the Tracks area. The recording appears as an audio region on the selected audio track, showing an audio waveform. You can arrange and edit audio regions in the Tracks area, and edit them in a close-up view in the Audio Track Editor.

When you add a track, you can choose a patch for the track in the Library. You can quickly audition patches to find the one you want to use, and change the effects for an audio track by choosing a different patch. Each audio patch contains one or more audio effects, and can include sends and other routing settings.

Logic Pro includes a metronome, which plays a steady beat to help you play in time while recording. You can have the metronome play as you record, or only play a one-bar count-in before recording starts.

Figure. Audio tracks and audio regions in the Tracks area.

Add an audio track

  1. Click the Add Tracks button in the toolbar.

  2. Click one of the two Audio icons at the top of the New Tracks dialog.

    • To create an audio track for recording from a microphone: Click the Microphone icon.

    • To create an audio track for recording a guitar or bass connected to your computer: Click the Guitar icon.

    Figure. Selecting an Audio icon in the New Tracks dialog.

  3. If necessary, click the Details triangle to open the bottom of the dialog.

  4. Choose the audio device and input channel (or stereo pair) from the Input pop-up menu on the left.

  5. Make sure that “Output 1-2” appears on the Output pop-up menu on the right.

  6. Click Create.

Choose an audio patch

  1. In the Library, click a category on the left.

  2. Click a patch name on the right.

You can audition audio patches by clicking them, then playing your instrument, singing, or making sound, to find the one you want to use. For more information about choosing patches, see Patches overview.

Prepare for audio recording

Before you start recording audio, do the following:

  • Make sure that your microphone or instrument, and any other audio equipment you’re using, such as an audio interface, is connected to the audio input on your computer, and is working.

  • Make sure there is enough free storage space on your computer or connected storage device.

  • Sing or play, and check the input level meter in the track header to be sure that the track is receiving the audio signal.

  • To hear the sound from your microphone or instrument while you’re recording, click the Input Monitoring button in the track header.

    Figure. Audio track header, showing the Input Monitoring button selected.

Record on an audio track

  1. Select the header of the audio track you want to record on.

  2. Move the playhead to the point where you want to start recording.

  3. Click the Record button in the control bar (or press R) to start recording.

  4. Start singing or play your instrument.

    After a one-bar count-in, recording starts. The recording appears as a new audio region on the track as you record.

    Figure. An audio track in the Tracks area, showing a new audio region being recorded.

  5. Click the Stop button in the control bar (or press the Space bar) to stop recording.

    Figure. The Tracks area, showing the new audio region after recording.

You can record multiple takes simultaneously, and quickly create comps (composite takes) of the best moments from each take. For more information about recording on an audio track, see Recording overview and Record sound from a microphone or an electric instrument. For information about connecting microphones and other audio devices, see Audio devices overview.