TLDR: The Ultimate Logic Pro X Music Production Bundle is a music lover’s dream, an 8-course collection in using this high-powered production suite to make all your own beats. Paul McCartney did it. Among the best free plugins for Logic Pro X is your Tyrell N6. This is a fair and streamlined synthesizer, combining analog audio with all the applications you want to make it perfect. The bundle also includes new features and modules using an inexpensive price point and innovative stream.
At the center of this whole crazy DAW universe is one important thing – recording.
For a moment let’s forget about virtual instruments, Flex, or Smart Tempo.
The ability to record drums, tubas or birds onto your computer is both fun and amazing.
With a microphone, interface and your computer you can paint a world in sound. That recording you got of a bird chirping can be thrown through an effects chain like a pinecone through a lawnmower.
And afterwards you might have the perfect sound for that new dubstep track you’re working on.
Or maybe you just want a stress-free session for the band you’re recording next week!
The great news is that Logic is fantastic for recording. The design and workflow makes recording about as hard as checking off items on your to-do list.
And even when do you hit a snag, Logic makes it easy to recover.
This post is the first of 2 that digs into my personal recording workflow. Here’s what’s on the itinerary:
- Logic Recording 101: How to Make It All Work (Part 1)
- The Perfect Settings and Modes For a Stress-Free Recording Session (Part 2)
- Damage Control: What To Do When Logic “Stops Working” (Part 2)
Let’s dig in:
Logic Recording 101: How to Make It All Work
Recording in Logic is pretty straight-forward when you know where to look. Setting up your recording session really boils down to a couple steps:
- Selecting your Audio Interface as the input and output device
- Choosing the best Buffer Size
- Picking an input on your Audio Interface for your Logic Track
- Record-Enabling your Track in Logic, and
- Hitting Record!
And once you’ve got the flow down, it’s really no thang at all.
![Recording Recording](https://cdnp2.stackassets.com/afa1837e525f0180c7355c0c94447b15e6c24014/store/opt/596/298/beb835a637e6acc3d8eb1773474b3855a1b13206c46a27ff11ed450d12d3/product_26520_product_shot_wide_image.jpg)
Audio Preferences
The Preferences menu is a place you’re going to want to get cozy with. In fact, I visit it on a daily basis.
Because if you want to get audio from the real world into your computer and back out, this is the place to make it happen.
To start, head to the top left corner of the Logic menu bar:
What will appear is everything related to getting audio in and out of your Mac. And what’s we’re most concerned with is the Output and Input Devices.
These terms are very straight-forward. An Input Device is the piece of gear that will be recording audio into your Mac. And the Output Device is the device that will playback your audio when you hit play.
So when you click on the Output Device field, you should see a list of connected devices:
If you’ve connected your interface to your Mac, you should see it in the list. In the image above, you can see my Presonus Quantum interface listed as ‘Quantum.’
Now the cool thing is Logic allows you to choose different devices for both Input and Output.
So say you’d like to record with your interface, but listen back with your Macbook Speakers. You can! Simply choose your interface as the Input Device, and the Built-in Output as the Output Device.
But say you have headphones or monitors connected to your interface. In that case you’ll want to choose your interface as both the Input and Output Device:
I/O Buffer Size
The next step is to set the Buffer Size.
Think of the waiting room at the Doctor’s office. You walk in, you say hello to the receptionist, and they tell you to take a seat. And depending on how many other people are waiting, you’ll have to wait.
(Have you ever not had to wait to see a doctor?)
Your Mac has a waiting room of its own, and that’s the Buffer.
Your Mac is performing hundreds of tasks all the time. To manage all these tasks, it needs a way to prioritize the most important ones and postpone the less important ones.
Logic’s priorities can change over time. When you’re recording, you want your Mac to see Logic as #1. But when you’re mixing, it can take a little more of a backseat.
Setting the Buffer Size lets you choose how important Logic should be to your Mac.
There’s 6 values to choose from. The smaller the number, the less time Logic has to hang in the waiting room. And the larger the number, the longer it hangs in the waiting room:
- 32 samples
- 64 samples
- 128 samples
- 256 samples
- 512 samples
- 1024 samples
So if the smaller numbers mean Logic’s more of a priority, why not just choose 32 samples?
Well, sometimes waiting is a good thing.
32 samples means Logic barely has to wait. If you have lots of tracks, this can crush your Mac’s processing. And the result will be a System Overload. Your Mac will choke under the pressure.
So you say fine, let’s choose 1024 samples just to be safe.
But at 1024 samples, you’ll run into Latency. Latency is an audible delay in playback or processing.
Ever record a singer who says that their singing sounds delayed in their headphones? That’s latency.
And latency can make recording impossible since the timing is all messed up between the singer and Logic.
Setting the Buffer Size is a dance. You’re aiming for the lowest Buffer Size possible without any hiccups.
System Overloads or pops and clicks in the audio are things to avoid.
Nine times out of ten I’ll use 128 samples for recording, and 1024 for mixing.
Assigning Your Track’s Input
Now that you’ve sorted out your:
- Input and Output Devices, and your
- Buffer Size
It’s time to connect your Track’s Input to your Interface.
Logic can’t always guess which input you want to record with. So it’s up to you to let Logic know.
It’s important that you’re familiar with your Audio Interface’s channels. For example, my Quantum has 8 mic/instrument inputs.
So if I plug my mic into Input 1, I’ll want to set my Logic Track to that same input.
To do this, select your chosen Track on the Arrange Page. To the left you should see your Track’s Channel Strip in the Inspector:
If you don’t see the Inspector, use Key Command I to reveal it. Or view the track in the Mixer using Key Command X.
Towards the top of the Channel Strip you’ll see a field labeled as Input. Click on this field, and Logic will show you a list of all the available Inputs you have from your interface:
Go ahead and choose the same input that you plugged your mic or instrument into. Now Logic is ready and waiting to record any audio from your chosen Input.
Arming Your Track
Even though you’ve told Logic which input you want to record with, Logic still needs to know when you want to record from that input.
By Arming or Record-Enabling your track, you’re telling Logic “I want to record this track.”
It’s simple, really. If you’ve got your Audio Device and Input set up correctly, your Track should have an “R” icon in the header or Channel Strip:
‘R’ stands for ‘Record-Enable.’ And by clicking on that icon, Logic is now listening and waiting to record that track.
Make sure to play or sing a little to double-check all is well! If you’ve followed the steps in this post, you should see a green signal on the meter:
The goal is to get a nice, healthy level without hitting the red on the meter. A great level is between -12 and -3 dB on the meter.
If the meter lights up in red, your signal is too loud:
Logic can’t exceed 0 dB. It’s a fact we all have to live with. So any signal that hits the red will meet an unfortunate end.
That is, Logic will saw off the signal right at 0 dB.
The result? Distortion. Nasty digital distortion that will make your track sound like it’s going through a digital bee’s nest. This is typically not favorable.
Bottom line: Use the gain knob on your interface to turn that signal down below 0 dB on the Logic meters! Mountain lion computer.
Record!
Ready to record some sweet riffs?
Hit Key Command R, and Logic will begin recording. Jam to your heart’s content!
And once you’re done, hit Spacebar to stop recording.
Logic Recording Bundle Download
Conclusion: Part 1
In Part 1 of exploring Logic’s record workflow, we dug into:
- Selecting your Audio Interface as the input and output device
- Choosing the best Buffer Size
- Picking an Input on your Audio Interface for your Logic Track
- Record-Enabling your Track in Logic
- Setting a healthy Level for your track, and
- Hitting Record!
In Part 2, we’ll dig into more advanced tactics for a stress-free recording session ?
Related
Searching for the best home recording studio package with everything to record vocals, guitar, drums, and your band is almost impossible. There are lots of different home recording kits and bundles, but not all have everything you need.
It’s a good idea to think about what type of recording you want to do before you try to buy any gear. Regardless of what type of instruments and style of music you want to record, you will most likely need a mic, set of headphones or monitors, cables, and a computer interface.
![Logic recording bundle studio Logic recording bundle studio](https://www.aulart.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/albert.jpg)
We’ve reviewed almost all of the top home recording studio bundles on the market, so let’s see which one you should get for your setup.
Top 3 Home Recording Studio Packages
Contents
- 2 Top Home Recording Studio Kits & Packages
- 2.1 PreSonus AudioBox 96 Audio Interface Full Studio Bundle
- 2.2 Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio Recording Bundle
- 2.3 iZotope Spire Studio Portable Recorder
- 2.4 M-Audio – Home Recording Package
- 2.5 Tascam DP-008EX 8-Track Digital Home Studio Package
Best Home Recording Studio Package | Model | Price |
---|---|---|
PreSonus AudioBox 96 | ||
Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio | ||
iZotope Spire Studio |
Top Home Recording Studio Kits & Packages
This is a full list of the best home recording studio packages that will turn your music room into a pro recording studio.
PreSonus AudioBox 96 Audio Interface Full Studio Bundle
Presonus has established itself as an industry leader. It has given the music industry a lot of products that have tremendously affected the way live and studio productions are executed.
What we have here is a studio bundle that includes everything you need to get a home studio up and running.
First is the audio interface, a Presonus AudioBox 96. This is a two channel audio/midi USB interface. It comes with top quality microphone preamplifiers and a 24 bit, 96kHz resolution.
Next is the Presonus M7, a large diaphragm condenser microphone. With this you can record great vocals and impressive instrument tracks. To make tracking easy, a boom mic stand and a professional pop filter is included.
The included DAW is the Presonus Studio 1. With support for unlimited tracks and plugins, as well as impressive editing tools, you can get your project done from tracking to mixing with ease.
What’s a studio without proper monitoring? To monitor your sound, the bundle includes a pair of Presonus Eris studio monitors. These monitors provide a flat frequency response that allows you hear things exactly the way they are. For close monitoring and vocal tracking, you can use the included headphones.
Pros
- Interface Specs – USB, 24-Bit/ 96kHz.
- Number of i/o – 2×2.
- Included accessories – All required cables, mic stand and pop filter.
Cons
The included DAW is entry level and so has its limitations.
Suggestion
This is a very complete home studio bundle. With this, you can achieve professional level recordings.
Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio Recording Bundle
Focusrite is one brand that has managed to insinuate itself into fabric of music production with various top quality audio products. Lots of musicians and producers rely on one or more of its products for various production tasks.
The brand is here offering a production bundle that a beginner will find very helpful. This bundle is built around the Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio.
This is a simple USB audio interface that offers two analog inputs – one mic input and one instrument input. This interface is capable of recording at sample rates of up to 192kHz. Zet 8 lite free download.
Also included in the bundle is a Scarlett Studio condenser microphone. This can be used for recording both vocals and instruments.
Finally, a headphone is included to help you monitor your audio during tracking, editing and mixing.
As part of this bundle, you will get Ableton Live Lite, ProTools First Focusrite Creative pack as well as some plugins which include virtual instruments and more.
This bundle provides the ideal core items for any home studio. Other equipment may however be required to get a complete home studio going.
Pros
- Interface specs – USB, up to 192kHz sample rate.
- Number of i/o – 2×2.
- Included accessories – XLR cable, mic stand clip.
Cons
This bundle will require a number of other gear and accessories to function well as a home studio.
Suggestion
While not very extensive, this bundle from Focusrite offers core tools needed to handle a professional recording. It may be best for mobile recording situations.
iZotope Spire Studio Portable Recorder
iZotope is a very well-known name in the music production industry. It is known for producing top quality software for music post-production and more. It has never been associated with a hardware product until now.
The Spire Studio is a mobile recording solution that may not really be called an actual studio equipment. It is novel and meets a unique need.
Unlike other products we are reviewing here, this is not a bundle but a simple, one-piece gear that is designed to work with your smartphone or other smart mobile devices to record, edit and mix (to some extent) audio signals.
This simple device offers two analog XLR/TRS inputs into which you can plug your microphones or instruments. It also has an on-board microphone which allows you record audio without the need for an additional microphone.
The box simply captures the sound to be recorded, performs some processing and then transfers it via wireless connection to the app on your smartphone or device. You can then multi-track, edit, mix, have someone else somewhere add some tracks to it etc. All these are done wirelessly through the app’s cloud storage.
This is great for sharing ideas, capturing quick ideas and possibly laying the framework for a project.
Pros
- Number of i/o – Two analog inputs, a headphone output.
- Recording – Wireless recording and cloud storage and sharing.
- Processing – Automatic and real time.
Cons
This may not be suitable for a professional production.
Suggestion
This is a very unique recording solution that however has a number of use limitations.
M-Audio – Home Recording Package
M-Audio is brand owned by inMusic Brands. This brand is associated with a wide range of music production equipment ranging from midi controllers to interfaces, speakers and more. M-Audio is majorly known for offering affordable gear that can be accessed by almost anyone.
The bundle it offers here is true to character as it is highly affordable. The bundle includes three items that will form an important core of a home studio.
It is built around the brand’s AIR 192|4 interface. This is a USB interface that supports recording resolutions of up to 24bit/192kHz. It has two analog inputs, one of which can only take a TRS connection while the second can take an XLR and a TRS connection. This means that you can only connect one microphone to it.
As part of the bundle, M-Audio adds the Nova Black condenser microphone for capturing those vocals and instrument tracks. You can listen to your recordings either in real time, or as playback through the HDH40 headphones.
With these three pieces of equipment and the included software, virtual instruments and plugins, you can begin to create professional sounding recordings.
Pros
- Interface specs – USB, 24-Bit/192kHz.
- Number of i/o – 2 in, 2 out.
- Included accessories – XLR cable and shock mount.
Cons
You will need some additional accessories like a microphone stand to be able to record well.
Suggestion
This is a bundle that includes core equipment needed for production. A few other accessories and equipment will make it more professional. It’s also great for recording podcasts.
Tascam DP-008EX 8-Track Digital Home Studio Package
One brand name that you will find featuring very prominently whenever the history of music recording is being told is Tascam. The brand owned by TEAC Corporation was there from the days of reels and has remained relevant even till date. The reason is that it has continued to innovate and evolve with the times.
Tascam has always been known for multi-track recorders and now offers this bundle built around the DP-008EX, an 8-track multi-track recorder that is small enough to fit into your pocket.
This battery powered recorder has two in-built omnidirectional condenser microphones and also has two phantom powered XLR inputs and two TRS inputs for your line level inputs. This interface supports resolutions of up to 16-Bit/44.1 kHz which is the minimum for a professional level recording.
Aside from the recorder, the bundle includes a handheld dynamic microphone, an XLR cable, a 1/4 TRS cable, 2 RCA male to 2 RCA male dual cables, batteries, a charger and a cleaning cloth.
Since this is aimed at real beginners, the included “Home Recording for Musicians for Dummies” provides important information to help you get started on your recording journey.
Pros
Logic Recording Bundle Wireless
- Interface specs – 8-track recorder, 16-Bit/44.1 kHz.
- Inputs and outputs – 2 XLR inputs, 2 TRS inputs, USB and line output.
- Included accessories – XLR cable, TRS cable, RCA cable, batteries, charger and cleaning cloth.
Cons
The recording quality is very basic.
Pro Logic Recording Software
Suggestion
This can be regarded as a way of introducing a beginner to recording. With just 8 tracks available for recording, it is pretty limited for studio level production.
What You Should Get!
We have finally come to the end of this review and as always, it has been an interesting one. We had the privilege of looking at different offerings from different brands. Having reviewed them, we now have to choose from the list which of the products is our pick for the Top Home Recording Studio Package.
This decision is one of the easiest ones we’ve ever made. From the list of products we reviewed, one bundle stood out on many levels and we picked it as our choice. We are talking about the PreSonus AudioBox 96 Recoding Studio Package. This is the only bundle on our list with which you can effectively run a home studio.
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