Logic Pro 8 How to record from any track?

[LivePsy]

I'm returning to Logic after many years. I was only midi editing back then and now confused about recording audio in Logic Pro 8:

When recording an audio track, the only options for input are the audio interface inputs and buses. Aren't auxes preferred over buses now? And how can I record a soft instrument or in fact any other audio track? I understand bouncing, but it seems odd to save a file and then put it back into your arrangement when all you want is to print a region as audio.

I have got around this by setting the output of a soft instrument to a bus and then setting the recording input of a new track as that bus. But because buses could be phased out, this doesn't seem like a long term solution. I just don't understand why you can't select anything which is audio as a recording input.

Am I looking at this the right way?

Regards.
B

 

[Peter Ostry]

When recording an audio track, the only options for input are the audio interface inputs and buses. Aren't auxes preferred over buses now?

The system got streamlined. The objects of choice are Auxes. Buses are only used to transport data, they are the "invisible roads" between channelstrips.

The bus object itself is still here for backwards compatibility but you are not supposed to use it in new projects.

And how can I record a soft instrument or in fact any other audio track? I understand bouncing, but it seems odd to save a file and then put it back into your arrangement when all you want is to print a region as audio.

I have got around this by setting the output of a soft instrument to a bus and then setting the recording input of a new track as that bus.

You got it right, this is the way. Send anything you want to a bus and record the bus.

But because buses could be phased out, this doesn't seem like a long term solution.

What do you mean with "phased out"? That buses can go out of phase? Never heard about that.

 

[Orren Merton]

I'm returning to Logic after many years. I was only midi editing back then and now confused about recording audio in Logic Pro 8:

Hi B,

Welcome back!

At the risk of sounding self-serving, I'd highly recommend getting some Logic training materials as you get started. Logic has gotten much more user friendly over the various versions, but any software as complex as a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) has it's own internal vocabulary and "logic" (pun intended 🙂 ) and it helps a lot if you have some guidance. There are a bunch of very good videos and books available-LUG member Eli has some Logic videos available, the official Logic books are good, I've written one, Jay Asher has a good pro guide when you get to that level, etc.

When recording an audio track, the only options for input are the audio interface inputs and buses. Aren't auxes preferred over buses now?

What's confusing you is that you need to "unlearn what you have learned." In Logic 8, think of "busses" not as independent audio objects, but as "internal patch bays." This makes logical (again, pun intended) sense, because in a physical hardware board, you "bus" audio tracks from one channel to another, and in other applications like Pro Tools, the internal routing patchbay is also called "bussing."

So yes, Auxes are now the channels uses for "bussing." So for example, lets say you activate Send 1, and select "Bus 1." What will happen is Logic 8 will light Send 1 blue, you'll see the word "Bus 1" in the slot, and Logic will automatically create Aux 1 to receive the signal. This means that "send 1" is now sending audio through "Bus 1" until it arrives at the auxillary channel strip that is at the end of the "bus." Again, if this sounds odd, it's time for a book or video to give you more background.

And how can I record a soft instrument

It sounds like you've already figured out the way to create a software instrument track is by using the "+" button, and now you want to "print" that software instrument into an audio track, the quickest way is to choose "File > Export > Track as Audio" and click the "Add to Audio Bin" checkbox in the dialog. If you want to export more than one track, you can select the "All Tracks as Audio" command, and solo those tracks you want to export (or if you want to export all but one or two, mute those that you don't want). You'll need to then drag those audio tracks from the Bin to new audio tracks, of course.

Hope that helps,
Orren

 

[Orren Merton]

But because buses could be phased out, this doesn't seem like a long term solution.

What do you mean with "phased out"?

Peter, It looks like LivePsy is thinking that the word "Bus" refers to "bus objects" and that a future version of Logic will no longer include Bus Objects-in other words, the object itself will be phased out of the application. As you told him and I explained, the term "bus" does not mean "bus object" but rather the "patchbay path" between Audio Track or Software Instrument track and Aux track, so there's no object in the middle to be phased out.

Hopefully, between your explanation and mine, everything is clearer now. 🙂

Orren

 

[LivePsy]

Thanks for your replies, it is so nice to return to Logic. Extremely powerful and adaptable to whatever you need. I left Logic when they dropped the PC version because I wanted something for either platform. Obviously I broke my promise at long last, and a little surpised how hard it is to pick it up again. But I am doing the reading so as not to be completely noob. Getting training material sounds like a sound investment (the puns never end) but I will complete a few small techno projects before that. The environment is your best friend.

Orren, your explanation is terrific. I can choose to record a bus object if I have created one, or bounce or export audio. Not quite what I was used to, but vive la difference. To have this much power back is easily worth changing habits.

Cheers,
B

 

[LivePsy]

Also, unsolicitied off topic comment about Logic Pro. I was a bit nervous about losing VST plug ins, but AU seems to run even better than VST including the dreaded TI virus control plug in.

Sorry, I'll shut up now! 🙂