Logic track templates?

[theEmbark]

Hey guys,

I'm not sure if template is the right word for this but.... I just switched to logic hdx. I am aware of the template in logic but I am wondering if it has track templates like sonar. So in sonar I might want to add a drum kit into my current project. Instead of adding individual tracks, assigning routing, adding panning etc. I can just drop in an instance of 'drums'. Hopefully this makes some sense. Is there a similar feature in logic?

Thanks,
Kevin

[musiclover55547]

You need to choose a "Producer Kit," and download all of the additional content (50G+)

The KIts are populating with 16 multi-out components / drums, and AUX channels are configured apppropriately.

[theEmbark]

I am not sure that I was clear with what I am looking for as I do not think that was the answer I was looking for. Let me try to demonstrate with an example and 2 ways to go about this in Sonar.

So the example is I am recording 2 guitars and a keyboard. I will need 2 stereo guitar tracks assigned to inputs 1 and 2. The keyboard will need 3 tracks 1 for the left channel and 1 for the right. The third channel is the MIDI channel. These channels will need to be panned right and left respectively and need to be routed to inputs 3 and 4. The MIDI track then needs to be setup accordingly.

So I could go ahead and create a template to achieve this.

Or I could create a new project and then insert (what I call) track templates. They are tracks with previously created preferences. So I always setup my keyboard the same way.

I am not sure if this is making any sense or not. :/

Thanks,
Kevin

[macmuse]

I know what you mean. It doesn't have track templates per se; it only has whole session templates. (Reaper does Track templates FWIW)

However, Logic has alternatives that can help. You can save a track's plugins and inserts etc called "Save performances" or "Save channel settings". This lets you create a new track and then quickly call up the setting that you had saved.

The other thing you can do is import a single track from another song and specify what settings you want to import (everything, or just plugins, automation, routing, etc.) It's very slick.

[theEmbark]

Thanks for the reply macmuse,

Where can I go to experiment with the 'save performances' you are referencing? I can't seem to find it.

What I did, which is what I think you are referring to in the second section, is create a project called 'keyboard template' then I setup the tracks as I wanted with routing and panning and then used the import --> logic project function to bring that track stack into the new project. Does this seem like the most efficient way to do this?

I realize it's easier just to work with a template from the beginning but I don't always know what instruments I might be bringing in when I am composing. So I like to be able to bring in routing presets relatively easily but not complicate my project up front with a lot of tracks I may or may not use.

Thanks,
Kevin

[macmuse]

Where can I go to experiment with the 'save performances' you are referencing? I can't seem to find it.

In the channel strip hold the first button called settings (north of the instrument slot), select either Save as Performance or Save channel strip setting. (Of course you save only after you have populated it with what you want in the track.)

What I did, which is what I think you are referring to in the second section, is create a project called 'keyboard template' then I setup the tracks as I wanted with routing and panning and then used the import --> logic project function to bring that track stack into the new project. Does this seem like the most efficient way to do this?

Yes that would work well. You could make a "Track Template project" containing all sorts of track templates, then import one or more of those tracks into a new project.

I realize it's easier just to work with a template from the beginning but I don't always know what instruments I might be bringing in when I am composing. So I like to be able to bring in routing presets relatively easily but not complicate my project up front with a lot of tracks I may or may not use.

Yes track templates are easier. I too have that situation where I may not want to use all those tracks in a project template, or don't want to use the instrument assigned in the template (or didn't decide yet).

Yes, you import by bringing up the right pane under "Browsers" (to the right of the Apple Loops icon) > "All Files". Find and select the project, then click the import button on the bottom to select the track you want to import, and tick what part(s) you want to import with the track.