If you are a Logic user you may want to audition your finished projects in iTunes, or perhaps you need to make playlists to burn and distribute.
Regardless of the reason you will need a streamlined technique for transferring your material in various formats between the two applications. Luckily, Logic contains a system that allows you to do just this.
Read on to learn how...
Many Logic users will already be familiar with the process of exporting their projects but for some beginners it may be something that still causes a bit of confusion. Basically what you are doing here is rendering all the active tracks in your project into a single file.
This can be useful for bouncing entire projects into one stereo file for mastering or distribution, or maybe you need to bounce a part that has a large number of effects processing on it. This can free up CPU overhead and generally keep your projects clear and tidy. These exported 'stems' can then be passed to other artists for remix or further production.
The export window houses a good number of options and allows the user to fine tune exactly what happens to the audio as it is rendered. We'll take a look at the format and the iTunes related options now.
For further details on the other features in the Bounce Dialog Window and on exporting from Logic in general check out this tutorial...
Once your project is finished and you are in the Bounce window you will need to focus on what format you would like to transmit to iTunes. The main decision to make is whether you want to use compressed or uncompressed audio?
Uncompressed is, of course, higher quality and provides the best listening experience but the pay off is that the files will be much larger in size. If you want to go ahead with this option you will need to choose 'PCM' under the destination menu. You can then go ahead and choose Wave or Aiff in the usual place to the right.
When it comes to using compressed files you could go for the traditional mp3 format. It's still widely used and does a pretty good job but a far more educated choice would be AAC or m4a. This is a format that works very well in combination with iTunes and generally provides far superior playback quality than mp3, with similar compression sizes.
Once all your export work is done and the bounce button has been hit, you will see a progress bar and iTunes will open automatically. A new playlist will of been made called 'Logic' and the results of your bounce will be in there.
Remember when playing back your audio in iTunes if you want to hear your results completely unadulterated you will need to make sure that both the internal EQ and Sound enhancer is turned off. If you don't you may end up thinking your work sounds better than it really is!
Bounce over and watch this tutorial for all the basics in Logic, from getting started to finishing producing and exporting a song!
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