Coming From PC to Mac - Logic file Protcol Seems Strange...

[Susan70]

Hi Guys

 

First of all I should explain that I've been using an old version of Logic on a PC and finally got tempted to buy a Mac because Logic 8 looked so yummy.

 

On PC I was used to saving all my files in a 'my documents' folder where I created my own subfolders. When I tried this on the 'document' folder of the Mac and I couldnt see the files in the Logic browser. This was puzzling to me.

 

My question is simple and is basically about Logic protocol: WHERE exactly, are you meant to save your files? Do you have to save audio and the song file separatley?

 

My second question also relates to files: WHERE are the Apple loops kept and can I delete them because most of them sound like other peoples music!

 

It seems strange to ask such basic questions... but thanks in advance

 

Sue

[shivermetimbers]

You can set up your file system any way you like. Save to your desktop, to an external HD, some special Logic folder you set up.

 

You would most likely want to use the 'Project Folder' set up. This will keep everything you are working on in a song together in one place for easy access.

 

And on that topic, it would be a good time to learn about deleting 'unused' audio files as you work.

[pantomimeHorse]

Hi Sue, and welcome to Mac and LogicPro !

-

The whole "My Documents" lunacy reminded me of a shot

someone sent me years ago:

-

http://www.kbodance.com/myopia.jpg

-

 

 

-

C

[Susan70]

You can set up your file system any way you like. Save to your desktop, to an external HD, some special Logic folder you set up.

 

You would most likely want to use the 'Project Folder' set up. This will keep everything you are working on in a song together in one place for easy access.

 

And on that topic, it would be a good time to learn about deleting 'unused' audio files as you work.

 

Thanks for the help...although I think I've done this already. The problem was I couldn't find it in the Logic browser because I'd made my own folder (?). Okay, I'll revise my question: where are you meant to save the files so they show up in the Logic browser?

 

Sorry...new to Macs...

[Susan70]

Hi Sue, and welcome to Mac and LogicPro !

C

 

Thanks!

 

Oh, I'm missing my PC already...YIKES! Now I know why my Mac friends could never find their files - they're scattered all over the computer!

[ski]

Susan,

 

Don't despair. Yet... Even Mac users can get confused, like I was, when I went from the previous version of Mac's OS (OS9) to OSX. It was like a whole new world... more like a PC-world, to me, anyway. Once you get the hang of it, everything will become clear.

 

First, I'll suggest that you make pals with CMD-F (or Apple key F). When you're in the Finder (desktop), hit CMD-F. That'll bring up a search window where you can look for that folder you said you made. Once you find it, click on it (once). At the bottom of the window it will show you the complete file path to that folder. Take mental note of the folder heirarchy. For example:

 

Mac HD > Users > Susan > Documents > Your Folder

 

The search function in the Finder is good for finding just about anything (there are a few exceptions, but nothing to worry about now). And it does it very very quickly.

 

There's another search function called "Spotlight". Personally I never use it, as the information it presents isn't presented in as clear a fashion as the CMD-F search function.

 

HTH, and good luck. (and you won't need "luck" for long)

[Susan70]

Susan,

 

 

Mac HD > Users > Susan > Documents > Your Folder

 

 

Hi ski

 

thanks for helping - but I've tried this already. the problem was my file didn't didn't show in the LOGIC Browser (the one you see in the program)- unless I save it in the folder entitled 'Logic '>Music> User .....which suggests I can't put the files anywhere I want - they have to be in this particular folder which seemed strange. Is this the way you have to do it or have I misunderstood?

[ski]

Hi Susan,

 

Indeed you can put your project (song) folders pretty much anywhere you want on the system. There are some "better" places to put them than others, and a few places you'd want to avoid entirely, most of which will become self-evident after a while. One place you don't want to put your Logic project/song folders is in your Applications directory, where the Logic program itself lives. It's not that the system will prevent you from putting your folders in there; rather, it's just good practice not to.

 

How do I do it? I have a separate hard drive and I save my Logic songs on there. But before myself or anyone offers additional advice, it would be helpful to know more about your system: what computer are you running? Do you have additional hard drives? If so, how many, what kind, etc.

 

For now, without knowing the details of your system, I'm going to suggest two places for storing your Logic songs for now...

 

1. Create a folder on your desktop for your Logic songs. It's a perfectly fine place to store them, no mystery involved in finding them, etc. Once you start recording audio, though, the situation will change. But for now you can't go wrong with that approach.

 

2. Create a folder in your "Home Folder":

 

MacHD > Users > Susan > Logic Songs

 

It's always easy to get into your Home folder by opening up a new Finder window, clicking on the home icon, and then finding your Logic songs folder. In fact, to make things even easier, you can drag that Logic songs folder to the left margin of the window and it will create an alias there. From that point all you'd have to do is open a new window, click on your Logic song folder, and you're immediately seeing the contents of it.

 

There are even quicker shortcuts to getting into your Logic folder than that, but maybe this is a good starting point.

 

So please post back with details of your system. Or better yet, include them in your profile for this forum. That way they'll always show up when you post.

[shivermetimbers]

Referenced LP7

[Zuelito]

Oh, I'm missing my PC already...YIKES! Now I know why my Mac friends could never find their files - they're scattered all over the computer!

 

 

Welcome Sue!

I have to say I've never heard anyone say that! I find it much easier to find my files on Mac. Once you figure out your way around the interface, hopefully you will find it easier too!

 

 

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that when you say 'Logic Browser' you mean the box that pops up after you've opened up Logic, and you ask it to 'Open...' a project. (This box might pop up automatically when you open Logic, depending on your settings).

 

By default, it will show you the contents of the folder User/YOU/Music/Logic, but if you look to the far left of this box, you'll see a bunch of different locations to click on, much like the selections that pop up when you click on your hard drive to open a finder window. If you select your HD, it will give you the beginning of the path, and from there you can navigate to wherever you created your folder containing projects. If, for example, you created a project and saved it in the Documents folder, you would click on the HD icon, far left, and from there select /Users/YOU/Documents/Whatever Subfolder You Created. (In the list, far left, it may have a shortcut to YOUR USERFOLDER, and even a shortcut to Documents, in which case you can click on that and find your desired folder in less steps).

 

You will do the same thing when you save a project, but there might be something tricky there. The first time you save, or if you do a Save As..., it will show you a dialogue box as to where you want to save. If it gives you a small box, and only a drop down menu with a few select options, click on the triangle to the right of the text box at the top. This will expand the dialogue box and show you all of your options.

 

Hopefully this makes sense without being too simplistic. I don't know how far your knowledge extends, so I'm trying to be as straightforward as possible.

 

 

To answer your question in the simplest terms, you can save your projects anywhere, and when opening them from Logic, you should be able to open them from anywhere.

 

 

Hope this makes sense. Good Luck!

[Susan70]

Wow, thank you for being so helpful guys - I'm going to read all your advise carefully and try and get used to the new system.

Ski - I'm using a Macbook Pro and will probably record straight on to the hard disk for the time being as I haven't got any more money left for a new gear after coughing up for the new Mac!

 

Shivermetimbers -When I was referring to the 'Logic Browser' I meant the 'File Browser' in the tabbed section on the right side. Erm...the manual says you don't have to leave the program or pull down menus ...you access everything from there, right? You guys don't like it?

[Zuelito]

Be careful with the information from shivermetimbers. It looks like he's using LP7 and you're using LP8. A lot of differences between the two. (No offense friend, it's just confusing when the pictures don't match up!)

 

 

 

If you're looking for files through the Browser window to the right, click on the drop-down menu at the top of that window, and select your Hard Drive from the bottom of the list, or use the little buttons next to that menu. One will take you back to your HD (the beginning of the path), one will take you to your userfolder, and the third will take you to that Logic folder within YOUR USERFOLDER/Music/Logic. The search function works really well in the Browser too, but it will only search inside whatever folder you've selected from that menu. To search your entire drive for a file, click the first button and the menu will go back to your HD, then type in your search. Once you're out of that Logic folder that the browser defaults to, you can find any file in any folder on your system.

 

[shivermetimbers]

Be careful with the information from shivermetimbers. It looks like he's using LP7 and you're using LP8. A lot of differences between the two. (No offense friend, it's just confusing when the pictures don't match up!)

 

 

 

If you're looking for files through the Browser window to the right, click on the drop-down menu at the top of that window, and select your Hard Drive from the bottom of the list, or use the little buttons next to that menu. One will take you back to your HD (the beginning of the path), one will take you to your userfolder, and the third will take you to that Logic folder within YOUR USERFOLDER/Music/Logic. The search function works really well in the Browser too, but it will only search inside whatever folder you've selected from that menu. To search your entire drive for a file, click the first button and the menu will go back to your HD, then type in your search. Once you're out of that Logic folder that the browser defaults to, you can find any file in any folder on your system.

 

 

That's true Zue, I am on LP7 and realized after I posted. I edited my first few post so as to avoid confusion for others.

 

 

However, the browser feature in 8 looks (or works) about the same as the previous browse in the project manager (LP7). Now the feature is up front where it can be easily accessed and utilized.

Thanks

[Susan70]

If you're looking for files through the Browser window to the right, click on the drop-down menu at the top of that window, and select your Hard Drive from the bottom of the list, or use the little buttons next to that menu. One will take you back to your HD (the beginning of the path), one will take you to your userfolder, and the third will take you to that Logic folder within YOUR USERFOLDER/Music/Logic. The search function works really well in the Browser too, but it will only search inside whatever folder you've selected from that menu. To search your entire drive for a file, click the first button and the menu will go back to your HD, then type in your search. Once you're out of that Logic folder that the browser defaults to, you can find any file in any folder on your system.

 

 

A-Ha! Thank you. That is very helpful indeed. It's all becoming clearer now...

[Susan70]

However, the browser feature in 8 looks (or works) about the same as the previous browse in the project manager (LP7). Now the feature is up front where it can be easily accessed and utilized.

Thanks

 

Thanks all the same!

[Susan70]

Hi Guys I really hope i'm not becoming a pain...so I'm trying to ask nubie questions I can't solve with the manual.

 

Question 1: Can I get the regions in the top ARRANGEMENT section to display the 'rough' score display. They used to do this in Logic 5 - now they show a 'rough' piano roll. This is useful to me becuase I work with the score a lot. There's nothing in the manual about this issue.

 

Question 2: When I convert my verson 5 PC songs to verson 8 on the MAC the arrangement doesn't display the output 1-2 strip ( the one that appears to the left of the arrange page. I only have the single channel strip depending on what i've selected. Is there a quick and easy way of displaying it without mucking about in the environment page so I have both the selected channel and outputs 1-2?

 

Thanks again - this is a tremendously helpful forum!

[Zuelito]

Absolutely not a pain! This is what we're here for.

 

Question 1: I don't think there is any way to change this. I'm not positive, but I remember people were upset about that when 8 came out.

 

Question 2: It should show 2 channel strips, one for the track you've selected, and a second one depending on what you're routing to. If you have Aux sends on that track, it might show the channelstrip for that Aux channel, but otherwise it should show the output channel corresponding to the track you've selected. Is it possible that your individual tracks aren't routed to an output? Look at the channelstrip for the track, and look at the 2 boxes under the label I/O. The top should have inputs if it's an audio track, and an instrument if it's an instrument track, and the bottom one should have an Out x-x. If you select that box and select Out 1-2, it should give you the output 1-2 channelstrip.