The purpose of the exercise is to:
- Introduce the Logic mixer and channel strips.
- Introduce effects by choosing different "master" channel presets placed on the output channel strip.
- Introduce some basics effects and what they do by examining how each is set in the selected preset. (We'll focus mostly on EQ, Compressor and multipressor effects).
Preliminary Work
At this point we've been examining some Logic Channel Strip presets, noting the effects used and taking closer looks at several effects that are common to these channel strips – EQ, Compressor, (and Multipressor)
First Steps:
- After choosing a channel strip preset, how would you describe how the sound of your track changed? (Be descriptive! Develop a vocabulary which allows you to describe what you're hearing. Bright, Muddy, Boxy, Dull can mean different things to different people. What do they mean to you?)
- Experiment by turning effects on and off. Does the sound change? If you don't hear a change, chances are the effect has been included in the preset but it's not processing the audio right now. Adjust some settings in the effect and listen to what happens.
- Open the EQ window. What do you see? What frequencies are being boosted? How much are they being boosted? What frequencies are being cut and by how much? If you change anything, can you hear a difference? How would you describe the change?
- Open the Compressor. What is the Threshold set to? The Ration? Is Auto Gain on or off? If you change any of these settings, how does the sound change?
- Note other effects used in the preset? Are you familiar with them? How do you think they're affecting the audio? Open each and explore.
IMPORTANT: When working with an effect you should A/B test the effect often, i.e. listen to your track/mix with the effect on, then off, then on, then off. Note what your changes have done to the sound. In Logic you can turn off an effect by clicking the round on/off button in the top left corner of the effect window. In other DAWs you might see an on/off button or a Bypass button.
Note: In Logic if you change an effect's settings you can compare your changes to the original settings by clicking the Compare button. When the button is grey you're hearing the original settings. If you leave the button grey and close the effect window, changes you made will not be applied.
Simple Instructions
Logic-oriented. Further details in class
In this exercise all effects are to be placed on the "Master" Channel Strip. In Logic this strip is usually labeled Stereo Out
For this exercise:
- Start a New Project
- Insert an Audio Track. In Logic make sure Load Default Patch is unchecked.
- Place your recording on the new track.
- Open the mixer.
- Find the channel strip for your audio track. Adjust the volume if needed.
- Find the Stereo Out channel strip, then:
- Find the Settings label toward the top of the channel strip and insert a channel strip preset
OR
- Find the Audio FX section of the channel strip and insert an effect.
Note: For this exercise you must include EQ, Compressor and Multipressor effects on your Stereo Output channel.
- Adjust your effects accordingly, keeping track of changes you make. (EQ: boosts, cuts, frequencies affected; Compressor: Threshold, Ratio, Auto Gain, etc.) Note: If you use a channel preset you must make some changes.
- Once satisfied with your mix, bounce the project to a 160kbps MP3 file. (We're using MP3 due to file size considerations.)
- Email the bounced audio to the assignment address listed in the syllabus.
- Important! With your mastered audio track, include the following in your email message:
- Why you picked the record you used for the exercise. How did you want to change it?
- A list of the effects you used and how you set each effect. If you used a channel strip preset list the one you used and what you changed. More about this requirement in class.
