Chapter 8: Logic Pro's Step Sequencer

Programmable step sequencers have been around for a very long time, in analog synths and drum machines. If you have ever played a kick or snare part into a drum machine, for instance, you have programmed a step sequencer. (For that matter, if you have ever created steps in Ultrabeat, you have done so as well.)

Until 10.6, though, Logic Pro did not have a proper one, but they do now!

Specifically, this chapter covers the following:

• The Step Sequencer
• The Pattern Browser
• Pattern Loops

Getting familiar with the Step Sequencer

Open Logic Pro and choose New from Template and you will see that with 10.6, in Project Chooser, we have a new category called Tutorials and that there is a tutorial for the Step Sequencer. Let's begin by employing this project:

Figure 8.1: The Step Sequencer tutorial

As you can see, there are 21 tracks. Each has notes in the Note Pad. In the upper right-hand corner of the Note Pad, there is an arrow you can click on to move to the next entry.

I suggest that you spend some time with this project over a period of time as you work with the Step Sequencer to gain a deeper understanding if you find this feature attractive for what you want to accomplish musically.

But you don't need me for that, so let's open a new project with an empty software instrument channel strip, with Open Library checked. Navigate to Electronic Drum Kit and select Brooklyn Feels.

Click on DMD in the channel strip in the inspector...

The Pattern Browser

Let's explore using patterns from the browser with different kinds of sounds and with different kinds of Rows:

1. Create a new empty software instrument with Open Library checked and load any Synthesizer Bass sound you like.
2. Press E to open the MIDI editors, and if it does not default to the Step Sequencer, select it. Notice that instead of showing us kit pieces, it's showing us MIDI notes.

This is a Notes-type Row. But it is an octave higher than I want for a bass. No problem: under the Functions menu, you will see your transpose options and the related key commands. I could, of course, start programming in steps, as I did with the DMD track, but the Pattern Browser has some goodies for you.

Open the Pattern Browser by clicking on its icon and you should see three folders: User, Patterns, and Templates.

Patterns has three categories, Bass, Drums, and Melodic. We want Bass:

1. Select the top selection, Ancient Acid.
2. Set...

Pattern Loops

Finally, there are also Pattern Loops in the Loop Browser, as you can see in the filtering options:

Figure 8.10: Pattern Loops in the Loop Browser

As with any Apple Loop, you can simply drag it into the Workspace below the other tracks to create a region. Now you can open the Step Sequencer and edit away to make it your own.

This thing is deep! Now that you have a basic understanding, you may well want to return to the included Logic Pro Tutorial project to further explore the new Step Sequencer.

Summary

You have now been introduced to what the Step Sequencer is and how its Pattern Regions, Rows, and Steps work together. Like all the MIDI editors' local inspectors, the Step Sequencer local inspector is very helpful. You learned how to alter existing patterns or create your own and save them so that they are available to you in any project with the Pattern Browser.

There are three different Row types: Notes, Melodic, and Automation. Pattern Loops are the latest entry into the Loop Browser choices, for drag and drop part creation.

In the next chapter, we will become familiar with Logic Pro's Sampler, formerly the EXS24, Quick Sampler, and Auto Sampler.