beginners alike: is that they are still using the stock layout and configuration of Logic's "Autoload".
Although it is certainly possible to write and make music this way, the underlying problem is that you get pigeon-holed
working "for" the program, instead of the program working for **you**.
Mousing and Fumbling through windows is the last thing you should ever be doing during an edit, mix or from the initial brain
storming phase of musical madness
Below I'm going to share some snapshots of my scoring autoload (My Music one is similar, but without the video
element). Hopefully this will spark some new ideas to put in your own and free-up more time for music making than
mousing around.
These templates are based on a 3 monitor setup, but you will see that these can be scaled down
to 2 or 1 screen in many situations.
Screenset #1 - MAIN WRITING / GENERAL EDIT
Key features:
-Master mix RT Analyzer and Scopes (always active)
-Currently selected track's Plugin instrument (updates with track selection)
-Tempo and Marker List
-Arrange Page has only tracks visible with all non-essential options/menu hidden. Timecode is present on top left, and extended
sequencer parameters are on the right.
-The tools are not needed on the left as hitting escape will bring the tools up where your mouse pointer is. Transport and video on the bottom.
-Top Mixer follows track selection at all times (purple chain on)
-Bottom Mixer is master buses and Outputs - this screen is always constant and never changes
Benefits:
Nothing takes more than 1 mouse click or keystroke *ever* - from loading an instrument, plugin setting, quick balance
adjustment etc. Using linked and unlinked windows allows you to see what you want, as you select a channel. Note that
I have 32 EXS24's ready to go along with 2 sends enabled and ready. When I'm writing, I know I'll always have verb
on a bus, and instinctively use an EXS for sounds... so why go through the trouble of manually doing it every time?
Screenset #2 - MIDI EDIT
Key features:
-Arrange on Left with all non-essential stuff hidden
-Matrix editor in the middle with Hyperdraw on
-a Large bar display for quick navigation. You can either double click to type in a measure, or click and hold to jog to a position.
-Video and Score on the right
-The Matrix and Score will instantly display whatever is selected on the arrange as they're both linked.
Benefits:
-Speed
-Easy navigation of MIDI events
Screenset #3 - Multi Output Plugins A
Key features:
-Arrange on Left with all non-essential stuff hidden
-Current Plugin in the middle with small bar and TC windows
-Quick control of all plugin outputs in a single glance on the right.
Although this does take some time to setup, I have 4 pre-assigned sets of multi-output plugins + BFD. Each group has a main
instrument channel with 7 additional stereo aux strips - configured and ready to go. All the outputs of these are then routed
to a bus (rightmost strip in each group) - giving a master balance for that plugin.
Benefits:
-Quick adjustments
-Each of the 8 sounds from stylus (etc) have full access to Logic's Plugins, EQ and automation and I can visually see up to 16 instrument strips at once in this screenset to make quick adjustments.
(I also have a more extensive one setup for BFD , but this is a good example of the process)
Screenset #4 - EARS ONLY
Key features:
-none! It's all about listening.
Benefits:
-no visual distractions
-listen to your work instead of watching your automation vectors to 'see' if it's right.
Screenset #5 - MASTER MIX TWEAK
Key features:
For me, I really like listening and making adjustments as if I wasn't sitting at a computer, so having my master EQ, compression
and a simple Peak/RMS meter does the trick here. I find having the other editors open to be a distraction and takes away from the listening.
Screenset #6 - AUDIO SPOT / DETAILED REGION EDIT
Key features:
-Marker and Audio Pool on Left
-Arrange in the Middle with Channel Strip
-Event Float active for making minute adjustments to audio placement
-Video in Arrange window corner
-Audio Sample/Region Editor on Right linked to any region selected on the arrange page.
-Master Meters always active on bottom right.
NOTE: I have a separate audio fader always assigned as a "preview" strip. The Audio Pool and sample editor are assigned to
this strip by default so you don't blast your ears out.
(Anyone who has ever tried editing a vocal clip, after forgetting about that compressor/distortion on your ch1 kick will know where
I'm coming from with this approach! Logic assigned ch1 as your default editor playback channel!!)
Benefits:
-Quick and painless drag and drop from audio pool to arrange
-detailed region editing on the fly
-event float allows detailed nudging of audio event, or spotting to timecode
So there you have it - 6 screenset ideas for 6 types of working situations that are accessible **instantly** at the touch a number
on your keyboard. I have approximately 15 screensets including these to accommodate my various multi ch. instruments and such, but
you get the idea.
The goal is - nothing is ever more than 1 keystoke or mouse click away in any situation. You will be amazed at how much time this saves
If anyone wants to see bigger pics of these, let me know.
Hope this sparks some new ideas!
Cheers,
Neil
