Logic Pro X Tips & Tricks – Using Instrument Articulation IDs

Quite a few of Logic’s EXS24 (replaced with Sampler) instruments come with multiple articulations.  In the past changing articulations in the instrument track was often a pain-in-the-butt to program.  Well, now Logic makes it very easy to change articulations and increase track realism.

Here’s how:

Step 1:

1. In this example I’ll use the Horn Section instrument.  Instantiate the Sampler Horn Section on a track.
2. Click the instrument to open the Sampler window then click the Edit button to open the Edit window.
3. Click the Groups tab at the top of the Edit window then click the View drop menu and select Group: Select Group by.

Step 1 Video

Step 2:

1. Click on the name column under the Group header to sort according to Name.
2. Select all the Brass TTS Long (legato) samples, click the Group Type drop menu,  select Articulation ID.  The ID number defaults to #1.
3. Select all the Brass TTS Short (staccato) samples, click the Group Type drop menu, select Articulation ID and change the Articulation ID to #2.
4. Select all the Brass TTS Sforz (sforzando)samples, click the Group Type drop menu,  select Articulation ID and change the Articulation ID to #3.
5. Select all the Brass TTS Falls (fall off the note) samples, click the Group Type drop menu, select Articulation ID  and change the Articulation ID to #4.
6. Close and Save the changes.

Step 2 Video 2a  Steps 1 – 4

Step 2 Video 2b  Steps 5 – 6

Step 3:

1. Create a region on the Horn Section track and insert a short phrase.
2. Open the Event window and click the View drop menu and select Articulation ID.
3. Select a note and in the Event window change its ID number to #1 (or Long articulation).
4. Select the next note(s) and change its ID to #2.
5. Select the next note(s) and change its ID to #3.
6. Select the next note(s) and change its ID to #4.

Step 3 Video 3

The track will now play back with the correct articulations.  This can be applied with all instruments with multiple articulations.  Try it with the Orchestral Violins+ instrument, there are 6 different articulations to use.

Until next time.