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Control surfaces overview
Control surfaces are hardware devices that feature a variety of controls, which can include faders,
rotary knobs, buttons, and displays. Control surfaces typically allow you to select parameters for
editing or to select particular tracks/channel strips or banks (of channel strips). Many also oer
a Jog Wheel, which allows you to move the playhead precisely; transport buttons, such as Play,
Rewind, and so on; and other controls.
Some simple control surfaces only provide (non-motorized) faders and knobs. More
sophisticated units include motorized faders, rotary encoders, LED rings, and programmable
displays. The additional feedback these control surfaces provide makes them easier to use—
without having to refer to your computer screen to know what mode the device is in or what
current parameter values are.
You can use hardware control surfaces to control and automate transport, mixing, recording, and
other tasks in Logic Pro.
All Logic Pro Mixer controls, such as level and pan, can be adjusted onscreen—using your mouse
and computer keyboard. This is not, however, an ideal method for precise real-time control. You
can enhance your creative ow and achieve greater exibility and precision by connecting a
hardware control surface to your computer.
Control surfaces are ideal for creating a dynamic live (onstage) performance when used with a
portable computer, MIDI keyboard, and audio and MIDI interfaces. In the studio, you can record
control surface automation (even when Logic is not in record mode). Track automation appears
in the Logic Tracks window and in the Piano Roll Editor.
When you move a fader on the control surface, the corresponding fader in the Logic Mixer
moves with it. EQ or other parameters can be altered by turning rotary knobs on the control
surface, with assigned parameters updating instantly in Logic.
Because communication between Logic and your control surface is bidirectional, adjustments
to parameters onscreen are immediately reected by the corresponding control on the
control surface.
Note: When you use a supported control surface with Logic Pro, some controls are pre-mapped
to common functions. You can map unassigned controls to other Logic Pro commands and
functions (see Controller assignments overview on page 34).
Control surfaces
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