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Logic Pro X Tools Menu

The floating Logic Pro X Tools Menu offers a powerful set of functions you can use in combination with key commands to adjust and edit regions, notes and other MIDI events or data. You have access to 2 of these tools at any time with the first tool being accessible through the mouse left click. The secondary tool, is operated by either right clicking or by holding the Command key then clicking. In my tutorial video I will demonstrate how you can very quickly open the Tools Menu and select the most appropriate to for your needs by using key commands. You will notice that the tools on offer and the shortcuts for selecting them differ depending on which editor window you are working in.

Here are some of the main tools you would use in Logic’s Main Arrange Window.

By default the Pointer Tool is activated when you commence working in a new Logic Pro X project. It is the main tool you would use for maybe 90% of your tasks including selecting, moving and grabbing production elements as well as Logic interface items such as menus, switches and sliders.

The Pencil to can be used to select events and regions, drag and resize items as well as create new notes and regions when clicked in specific Logic Editor Windows. Some of its functionality is very similar to the Pointer Tool

Very similar to using the Delete key, the Eraser tool is responsible for getting rid of notes, regions and other events. It is probably most used when working in the Logic Piano Roll, Score Editor and Ultrabeat drum module to remove individual notes when tidying things up in forensic style.

Use the Text Tool to name and rename regions and other events

This tool is essentially used for splitting regions and notes. By holding down the Option key and clicking you can also split items to specific lengths according to your Logic division setting

Use the Glue Tool to highlight, select and glue items together such as regions and notes in Logic’s Main Arrange Window and Piano Roll Editor

Although there are other forms of soloing functions in Logic X you can use the Solo Tool to great effect when choosing to audition a single region or note by simply clicking the item with this tool activated. You can also Scrub through regions by hold the tool down and dragging across a region forwards and backwards to hear the exact contents.

There are a number key commands you can use to carry out mute functions in Logic however the Mute Tool is very useful when making individual or groups of notes and regions audible or silent by switching them on and off when clicked. I use the Mute Tool a lot when arranging my songs as this allows me to very quickly audition sections of my track with or without certain elements playing.

The Zoom Tool is probably not the most efficient way of zooming in Logic Pro X as there are key commands which are far more effective as you will be able to see in my tutorial on Zoom shortcuts.

The Fade Tool is one of the most powerful tools you will find in Logic Pro. This tool allows you to create a volume fade in and out of an audio region by simply clicking and dragging across the ends of the region. You can also adjust the length and slope of the fade curve afterwards. A very effective tool

If you need to edit any form of automation data on a track in Logic X you can use this tool to get the job done. You ca selet the require automation and make adjustments with ease. The Automation Select Tool is considered an Advanced Tool and therefore needs to be activated by enabling Advanced Tools in Logic.

The Automation Curve Tool is used to alter the shape of the automation data curve on a track containing automation.

A very flexible tool, the Marquee Tool allows you to select and edit different types of regions in Logic so you can edit the selection or arrange playback of just the selected area.

In addition to the FlexTime functions in Logic Pro X you can use the Flex Tool to adjust the rhythm and timing of audio recordings by simply grabbing the waveform and dragging to make your adjustments.