Thank you, for the great Logic tutorials â?º. Iâ??m working through them carefully to fill in the numerous blanks. The Forum is a great idea â?? to ask questions along the way. Iâ??ve worked with Logic for many years, in spurts. Currently Iâ??m working to build a new foundation of good workflow procedures because this time I can devote much more time to composition and production. I compose in Logic, create audio files, plan to get more into mixing and production, and working with audio/video via Logic and Final Cut Express for now. I would appreciate your thoughts, particularly Martinâ??s, on the following questions, as a start. My gear: Mac Dual G5 2.7 GHz with one 250 GB internal drive Mac OS 10.4.8 4.5 GB RAM MOTU 2408 LaCie 250GB external HD for streaming Bardstown piano and samples; a few VSL. LaCie 180GB Hd for audio/studio files backup. For many years I recorded Audio files to an external Glyph XProject. It died so I need a new drive and perhaps a new strategy. â?¢ Is it still best to record Audio files to an external hard drive? â?¢ Can I record audio safely to an internal drive? If so, what internal drive (type, company that sells it, etc.) do you recommend? There are such divergent opinions! Will there be any potential problems if the internal system drive has 8MB cache and the new 2nd internal drive has 16MB cache? â?¢ Whatâ??s a good size drive, internal and external for audio and video? â?¢ Do I have enough RAM for all this â?? with Sculpture and Space Designer? Please describe a strategy of recording MIDI/audio to which drive, backup and storage of audio files. How many backups are best, in what form? To simplify: Logic is in the system drive, save Logic files where?; save MIDI files where?; record audio files to where?; save audio file where? After a good session, and itâ??s 2 AM and youâ??re tired, where do you back up quickly & safely? Also, we need an external HD for video files (Final Cut Express) only. My idea (havenâ??t gotten through the tutorials yet) is this drive can be used for projects and then just backed up and erased afterwards. Can we move this HD, and video files, back and forth between 2 different computers? For example, after download of files onto external HD connected to one computer used for some editing, can we then unplug and move to another computer for work with Audio files? Which external hard drive might do the job â?? size, type, company? Are you using Project Manager to archive? Is it good - safe? I would appreciate any and all thoughts. Thanks!

Hi, I just purchased this LaCie 320GB external triple interface drive at Newegg.com. It's a great price. www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822154161 It arrived in a sealed box with everything - cables for Firewire 400 and 800 and USB, drive stand. This is a triple interface drive. I have a couple of these types of drives for a few years with no trouble. Newegg is a good company. However, they will not allow a return of this drive to them. But it has a 2-year warranty with LaCie (their site erroneously says 1-year warranty). I've already registered on the LaCie site, got my 2-year warranty and I'm good to go. Check it out! Best regards, Beder

Hi, Any chance you folks might do a Soundtrack Pro tutorial? Thanks. Beder

Hi, I've just gone over Chapter 2: Using Apple Loops; Section 1: Working With Tempo, Chapter 35: Choosing a Time Machine Algorithm from the Logic 101: Mastering Logic tutorial. In it Martin described the various choices in the pop-up menu and then chose 'Rhythmic' for the lesson with a 70's style electric piano. Martin explained that when you time stretch an audio file you introduce artifacts into the audio file. Now I've never used the time stretching applications in Logic so I'm just not familiar with what is supposed to happen using them, sound-wise. At the end of the lesson the result was the electric piano riff, used in the prior two lessons, that now sounded muffled and bumpy, for lack of a better description. After playing it back Martin said, "Sounds pretty good!" I don't think it sounds good at all. What am I missing? Was that really an acceptable result or has my copy got a problem? Really? I know I will have to experiment but when would you use a Time Machine Algorithm and does it generally change the sound so radically? Also, when you do use it do you always work with it in 2 steps; first Audio - Time Machine Algorithm - (select one) and then, in this example, Audio - Adjust Region Length to Locators? I guess this is a bit out of context for me. Perhaps you can help me to get to the heart of the lesson. Thanks.

Hi, Steve! Will you be getting into mixing? How to really use specific plug-ins and methods to get a good mix and final product? What are your thoughts on this important area? Thanks. Beder

Hi, Steve! As you can see your fans want it all! Someone has got to do the above, in the tutorial business. It might as well be you folks, right? :) Seriously, what's the point of learning all this and creating great music if you are weak in the mix down area. Like everything it's an art and a skill that is learned with the best instruction and methods, by those who do it well, and then your own experience. I find this subject to be the most illusive one by those who do it well. Yes, I think it should be a major Apple series Logic training book and NED tutorials. Then, of course, all the songs for your intended CD release have to be mastered. Can this really all be done in Logic or is it best to send it out to be done? Can it be learned easily, again with the right instruction? It's a jungle out there with understanding the various additional tools to bring into Logic to do the above. Lots of people prefer Waves plug-ins to Logic's. That's cool. Understanding why is part of the golden wisdom of learning and achieving success. Thanks for your thoughts. Beder

Hi, Steve! I'm in too! I signed up for Tips & Tricks series. I'm looking forward to it! I found your sample to be excellent. It has prompted me to study, yes even the reference manual. This is a very elegant tip. I have a few questions about it and an idea for a Tips tutorial. When I click on the little triangle next to Inserts I found many folders, under Reset Track CST; 01 Voice; 02 Drums, etc. 09 Sound Refresher and 10 Tools look particularly interesting. I found their origin in: ~/Library/Application Support/Logic/Channel Strip Settings (where there are 4 different folders) Track. These are al .cst files. Another one of the 4 folders in the Channel Strip Settings folder is Instrument, Here there are 23 different folders of .cst files. Did you stuff all these into the folder you called Factory? I noticed the disclaimer somewhere, Important: Please do not attempt to change the Channel Strip Settings folder structure. How did you do it? I've been studying this tip trying to semi-recreate it and I had another idea for a T & T tutorial that might follow nicely. The Guitar composites you created were beautiful. I would like deeper insight into properly using compression, Channel EQ setting, etc. I would love to see Tips on Logic's effects plug-ins: EQ, Compression, Exciter, etc. The Plug-in reference is great but cutting to the chase a bit with real world stuff might be helpful. What do you think? Thanks, Steve. I look forward to all of it! Beder

Yes, I'll buy it too! It's really needed. But don't forget the indepth ES2 tutorial, also :) Regards, Beder

I want to second this idea. How about some real examples of when and how to use this properly? Thanks! Beder

Thank you, Steve. I look forward to it. Beder