New Logic GUI / Do-it-Yourself instructions

I saw some great screenshots of the hacked Logic GUI on some forum posts. The procedure is as simple as locating the graphic files (fader, button, background, etc) in the Logic application directory and replacing them with your your own photoshoped one. Unfortunately I couldn't find any of those "new" graphic files on the internet. So I fired up Photoshop and Pages this weekend and tried it myself.

 

And here is how my Logic app looks like:

 

http://homepage.mac.com/edgarrothermich/.Public/Screenshots/GUI-Arrange.png

 

Meter - Fader - Pan

Of course you can make the GUI as colorful and crazy as you want, but there was one issue in Logic that always bothered me and now I don't have to submit the feature request anymore to wait forever to be implemented in Logic. I just did it myself - never mind.

The issue I'm talking about is Metering

I studied Sound Engineer and metering is more than a few flashing LEDs that look nice. It is about setting and reading proper signal levels. The mixer in Logic doesn't show any numbers for your meters, even on the output channel strip. You have to use a Metering plug-in. Finally in L8 they put a dB scale on the mixer, but only at the left side. WIth a wide mixer window not very helpful.

As you can see on my screenshot I just added the dB numbers into the default meter (no signal). However, any signal on that channel will cover the numbers, but my new signal meter has light lines, so you have some orientation even on a hot signal. Please not that you have to set the meter to "Sectional dB-linear" (right click on the dB scale on the left of the mixer window). I didn't change the graphics for Exponential.

While I was at it, I added a fader knob. Minor detail, but if you are used to have your hands on a fader knob, then looking at Logics square value box doesn't do it for me visually.

How about the pan pot: n L7 not very eye pleasing, L8 made it even mor dull and 2D. My attempt is not perfect (hey I'm not a graphics designer) but at least it is different.

 

http://homepage.mac.com/edgarrothermich/.Public/Screenshots/GUI-MixerMeter.png

 

 

Track Meter

I also changed the little track meter to match the mixer level meters

 

http://homepage.mac.com/edgarrothermich/.Public/Screenshots/GUI-TrackMeter.png

 

Buttons

The problem with the buttons is that Logic shares the color buttons:

Color one: Plug-ins, Post-Sends

Color Two: Pre-Sends, Automation-Read

Color Three: Automation-Latch/Touch/Write, Plug-in LowLatencyMode

I chose the color thatpleases my eye and logic, but you may have a different tast after all. No problem, go ahead and change them.

 

 

Misc

You can go crazy with all the Cursor or Buttons. I tried to change the LowLatencyMode button on the transport bar from orange to shiny red, to match the red button. Or how about a red eraser.

 

http://homepage.mac.com/edgarrothermich/.Public/Screenshots/GUI-Eraser.png

 

 

How to do it:

Locate your Logic application in the application folder, right click and select the "Show Packet Contents". This will open the "Logic directory". (Appleications in OSX look like files but they are actually folders). Open the "Content" folder and then the "Recources" folder. Here you can use a cool new Leopard feature: Select Coverflow in the Finder. Now you can see and browse through all the graphics elements that Logic uses from that folder. (actually there are more places, so feel free to dig around).

When you locate a graphics file (i.e. Cursor_Eraser.tiff) open it up in Photoshop and edit it or replace the file with an altered file from someone who did the photoshop edit already.

Piece of advice: either make a copy of the whole Logic app, or make a saftey copy of the original graphic file you want to replace. In any case, you are working on your own risk. Apple manages to keep the graphic files very small (4k). It seems that other more Photophop savy guys on the Logic forum couldn't get it that small either.

I haven't seen any side effect in Logic during operation, if you experience any or get suspicous, please post it on the forums.

An of course, any update of the Logic application will most likely overwrite your custom files and you have to replace them again.

 

Where to get the files:

I posted my graphic files on my website for anybody fo download. As I said before, I'm not a grphic designer, so don't complain about the quality. If you have more skills and ideas, feel free to make them available. At the end it comes down to personal taste. BTW I have the default meter also without the numbers if it makes the look to busy for your.

It is amazing how much you can customize the look of Logic. Just figure out what graphic files make up what part of the GUI and then go ahead and try it.

 

Here is the URL for the free download:

 

http://www.dingdingmusic.com/DingDing/ManualsFree.html

 

 

Have Fun,

 

Edgar

couldn't you make it a bit more pink ???

 

just joking...interesting

 

like the fader buttons

 

but i think the colour within the faders from cool to hot is pure genius.....

 

 

 

let's see how this one pans out.....i would be too worried to start screwing with things.....i'll wait till everyone else gives it the all clear

 

 

thanks

by the way....i think you may need some more ram....

 

7 gig is so....last year

There's another "Pimp my Logic" thread in the template section:

 

http://logicprohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=15123

I wish I had time to investigate this because Logic 8 needs it so badly but alas, I'm too busy trying to master the program (and others) and trying to create music. But I just wanted to say that Edgar is my hero. - Emile

cool..I really like the PAN knobs!!!!

Don't you risk losing all your customization with the next Logic update?

Don't you risk losing all your customization with the next Logic update?

It would be just a matter of drag-and dropping a few files to recustomize.

Of course, any Logic upgrade (a new Logic app file) will overwrite your custom graphic files. Just copy them back into the Resources folder again after the upgrade.

The only thing that could make it more difficult is when they change the name of the files or the way they structure the GUI with the single graphic files.

 

After all, based on the experience with the "rapid" release dates of Logic upgrades, don't expect to do that too often.

I like it! It feels a little Cubase-y but it's kinda cool. Unfortunately I don't have Photoshop to roll my own but I'll def use these. I especially like the metering and the little slider dealy-o's (that's a tech term, y'all).

Look...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty colors...

I forgot to mention, that the CPU meter window uses the same graphic elements as the Mixer meters. So if you use the meter background with the dB numbers then you will see them also in the CPU meter.

Will this impact the performance of Logic in any way?

Will this impact the performance of Logic in any way?

 

Theoretically, I don't know because I'm not the programmer. Practically, I don't see any side effects, so far.

 

If you think about it, You are not messing with Logic's code. You are just replacing a tiff file that the application calls up and puts together with other images to create the GUI. The only difference is the increased file size of the image from 4k o 70k. If the programmers use the tiff standard and don't add any proprietary voodoo stuff then your tiff file should be as good as the Logic tiff file.

The file increase might add a little more overall RAM footprint or slow down the redraw of a big mixer layout on a 30 inch display. But all these variables are hard to pin down, because they depend on your individual configuration (CPU speed, monitor, graphics card, RAM).

 

Bottom line, test it and see for yourself if you see/feel any performance issues. You could even have one Logic application with and one without the modified files and just swap those Logic apps in and out the applications folder for an A/B comparison.

 

If there are any experienced programmer out there that could give us more insight in any potential problem with this procedure, please chime in.

I've tried your GUI tweaks.

Looks nice, but why the db scale on the CPU meter?

I've tried your GUI tweaks.

Looks nice, but why the db scale on the CPU meter?

 

Well,

 

40 = lots of fun

 

1 = bugger all fun

 

That's the new industry standard number crunching scale.

Looks nice, but why the db scale on the CPU meter?

 

Logic just uses the same tif file for the meter background for the CPU meter. If you change the meter so does the CPU meter. Simple as that.

BTW, the custom tif files seem to survive the Logic 8.01 upgrade. No need to redo the file replacement

Can someone send me the original - MixerLargeRotaryTopDark.tiff.

Thanks man! Very grateful. I believe you posted a logic video before about adding bass to your kick drum with sine waves. (Very cool) and I was really jealous of your GUI. Especially the numbered Level Meter. Anyway... greatly appreciated thanks for taking the time.

i agree with the geezer who said it looks cubase-y

just write some music!!

 

 

 

 

 

Only jokin, if you have the time and ram, do it

Thanks Man Very Nice. Newbie to Logic but man am I having a blast.

Edgar, your status as a genius on LPH has just

gone platinum with this latest stuff !

-

A very well done job, Sir.

-

Hey, can I do this stuff in 7.2 ?

That would blow away some of the studio visitors ..........

-

C

That's beautiful, and those meter numbers/lines are VERY useful. Thanks for this!

Hey, can I do this stuff in 7.2 ?

That would blow away some of the studio visitors ..........

-

C

 

Technically yes. As long as L7 uses the same tiff file. Just look inside L7's Resouce directory and see if you find the file you want to replace. Make a copy of your Logic app before you are doing anything just in case something goes wrong.

 

L7 seven doesn't have the option to switch the meter scale, so I'm not sure if that graphic file will work properly. But like I said, just try.

 

BTW, here are a few more files that I haven't posted on my website yet. Blue plug-in button, binaural panner, purple cycle, various transport buttons:

 

http://homepage.mac.com/edgarrothermich/.Public/Screenshots/Binaural.png

 

http://homepage.mac.com/edgarrothermich/.Public/Screenshots/Cycle.png

 

 

You can download them from here:

http://homepage.mac.com/edgarrothermich/.Public/Screenshots/MoreGUI_Images.zip

Hi folks,

 

Long time lurker, Just wondering if there are any of these GUI hacks that can be applied to Logic Pro 7, I am resisting the move to L8 for the time being until I am confident that more of the bugs etc have been ironed out (that and I paid nearly £500 for L7 a year ago! Damned greedy Mr. Jobs).

 

Logic really is quite ugly, and your GUI would put a spring in my step, being that I sit in front of it for 10 hours a day +

 

Cheers in advance

 

John

Long time lurker, Just wondering if there are any of these GUI hacks that can be applied to Logic Pro 7

 

Hi John,

 

You can Control-click Logic 7, choose "Show Package Contents", then go into Contents/Resources/ and you'll find a bunch of .tiff files that make up Logic 7's GUI. You can experiment and replace them, although you may not find all the graphic files you're looking for. But at least you can replace some of them.

Thanks for the reply dave, I'll try them out and post the results!

Edgar, just saying thanks for your generous post of your graphic images and instructions of how to use them. I pimped my Logic and it looks great. Couldn't get the Red Bypass Plug-Ins Master button to work but everything else worked like a charm. Thanks again, i'm sure this took you a bunch of time and it's appreciated

Here's a Pro Tools inspired mod, nothing too fancy, just less colors and PT-like level meters. Let's start with screen shots:

 

With modification:

http://koti.mbnet.fi/atheos/files/logic8guimod/screenshot-mod.png

 

No modfication (and no img here to waste your bandwidth): http://koti.mbnet.fi/atheos/files/logic8guimod/screenshot-original.png

 

And if you like it, here's the download link:

http://koti.mbnet.fi/atheos/files/logic8guimod/LogicPro8GUIMod.zip

 

 

Hope you like it