GEAR VISION

Jul 1, 2001 12:00 PM, By Alex Artaud

           
 

Gear Vision's first educational video for Emagic's Logic Audio users is titled Logic Audio Basics and Techniques, vol. 1: Getting Started ($24.95). A seamlessly produced tutorial written and presented by Gear Vision's Phil Jackson (with coproduction and direction by David Mauch), the video offers a comprehensive introduction to setting up and customizing Logic Audio.

Whereas books, downloadable tutorials, and online discussion groups exist to help new users learn Logic Audio, Gear Vision's video is an exceptional resource because it takes a fast-paced, hands-on approach. How fast paced? Less than three minutes into the video, Jackson demonstrates how to record multiple MIDI lines in Logic Audio's Arrange window. Keep the remote control nearby for quick rewinds. You should be up and running by the tutorial's end, with your Logic Audio setup intelligently organized.

Configure This

Basics and Techniques, vol. 1 focuses on creating and configuring an Autoload Song, essentially a Logic Audio template that reflects your studio setup and working style. Jackson shows you how to configure Logic Audio's drivers, including how to set disk and processor buffer size, enable disk-read handling, and select Universal Track mode (a Logic Audio convention for handling stereo-interleaved files).

The video introduces the Default Song — with its instruments, nine basic screen sets, and audio objects — addresses basic MIDI-communication setup, and shows examples of user-designed templates that can serve as device editors and controllers within the program. Because Logic Audio is a dual-platform application, the video alternates between formats when showing screen commands. An inset screen shows Windows and Mac key commands.

You get a wealth of useful information, such as how to create custom instruments and use icons and colors for organization. At the end, Jackson briefly looks at key commands in Logic Audio and how to find and redefine specific actions. Closing the video with that topic is appropriate because key commands streamline Logic Audio and make the program feel more like a musical instrument than a digital-audio sequencer.

To the Point

Unfortunately, Basics and Techniques, vol. 1 lasts only 40 minutes. But tallying the times you reach for the remote to view something again makes you realize that you're getting your money's worth.

The video also includes a glimpse of what's in the next two volumes, Recording and Editing MIDI and Recording Audio. For now, Basics and Techniques, vol. 1 is an auspicious beginning loaded with useful tips and fulfilling its promise to help musicians with their Logic Audio setups. Even seasoned users will benefit from the range of material covered.

Overall EM Rating (1 through 5): 4

Gear Vision; tel. (916) 434-1199; e-mail info@gearvision.com; Web www.gearvision.com