Create new tracks in Logic Pro duplicates another track

Thanks very much for taking the time to explain. So by choosing "create track from new instrument" it doesn't have to be an "instrument?" i. e., it can be an audio track? if that's so - you've answered my question and explained. thanks.

I've unchecked "universal track mode" in the prefererences, and will look it up to see what it actually is. I had to restart Logic, didn't want to chance the "try" relaunch feature. ARE YOU SAYING that the file is actually STEREO, but is only displayed with a single wave form? I am familiar with the double-circle button from other programs. This issue is not related to that. And I am sure the input signal is truly Stereo.

I am a bit confused by the reference with ProTools, which uses individual ("split"), but linked, L and R files. I am hoping to get an "interleaved" stereo track. I will let you know what I see.

Thanks again!

I understand. I will check the edit window, and assuming it's stereo there I'll try it both ways. I do get two lanes with imported AIFF files, and the screen image was similar to what I've seen in Peak and Cubase. But I'll check.

The stereo screen image in the arrange window (when recording) may be preferable to me so that I can monitor the relative levels of the two sides while recording. For instance, to ensure I've got a balance among the two sides when using independent input signals that need to be of equal level. A stereo mic would be one example.

But I guess I'll have to work with it to see if it's cumbersome. My main concern was that I thought it was mono, even though those "double-circles" were visible indicating it was stereo.

With regard to ProTools, and that system of separate L&R, I prefer having interleaved tracks, and actually don't like Protools all that much anyway.

But thanks, and I will post a message once I've determined if I have a real problem or it was as you're saying.

To several posters, and replies:

I totally understand the interleaving issue. I think "universal mode" is cleverly efficient, more practical for most uses and may save screen resources, although, I when actually recording stereo tracks - where I want to "see" the levels relative to each other the separate view is better. That there's only one fader for both makes sense in practical terms, since the incoming audio's level is adjusted before it hits Logic. However it looks bizzare - and I agree that it's clumsy, in the mixer too. Universal Mode's best. I'd appreciate a toggle for tracks.

I did try re-launch and it works, whew! Thanks.

BUT the way newly created tracks are twins of a previous track seems absolutely STUPID. Moreover, it's a total bummer to have to deal with two tracks sharing track assignment - which is cautioned against in the "getting Started" manual. I get that it is most likely that one would add a track of the same kind, and sometimes one might share some regions across tracks (if this is presumably the rationale), but to me it makes NO sense to have tracks LOCKED so a change on one affects the other.

It would be okay of it was easy to CHANGE track assignments, busses, etc., easily- without affecting the other "twin" track.

There should be a choice for creating new "same" tracks, the converse of what is now the way it works. And there's always grouping- the accepted method to force tracks to share effects, settings, etc.

I have used "Create Multiple..." to accomplish the above, but this seems wrong, as it brings up a second dialog that is usually unnecessary. Plus, there's that double-circle, stereo/mono button on every track that can always be toggled.

I mean, Audio tracks are, in normal usage, independent, not automatically grouped. No?

The "create with next instrument..." seems to be for MIDI, as this is the type of track that comes up. Am I correct?

So, I'm down to asking 1) Is there a way to make tracks independent of on another once once of them was created using the "create New Track" button thereby making them twins? and 2) Is there a way to disengage two tracks that share the same attributes, track-assignment, etc., from the above.

I know there's got to be a way to simply create a new "vanilla" independent audio track that gets its own track assignment, settings, etc., regardless of any other track that may have been created before it.

Or maybe there's something wrong with my installation, or I've set a preference that I don't understand?

Please - anyone - let me know. And - "tbird" and "ast" - thanks for helping.
THANKS!

jord wrote "When you're piecing various audio regions together, I find it rather convenient to be able to spread various edits over a bunch of tracks over the same audio channel or instrument."

That I do too, but that's not what I'm talking about. I am specifically speaking about creating NEW tracks (that are twins of others), not regions per se (which could benefit from grouping), but my comment - unless I'm missing something, which is possible since I am new, jumped right in having read only the intro guide, and you're correct about RTFM 😉.

I have read the manual and what it says, is not what is happening. A new track should be a NEW TRACK, unless I choose it to be a twin, or clone or duplicate of another, which uses the same track assignments, which is what I've been getting exclusively.

My ref to MIDI tracks is because "Creating NEW From Next Inst..." inserts new MIDI track. I see that this be changed in the sidebar, but why should it be necessary to do so? What does "NEXT" mean exactly? The next consecutive track number? If so, then why does it say "Instrument?"

jord wrote "If you want a duplicate of your track, save it as a channel strip preset and recall it. For the most part, it will save your plug-in settings. Or, create a template with all of the track settings you use and load that in whenever you create a new song."

I do NOT want a duplicate. Maybe i'm not being clear. I would like to create a NEW track that is simply a totally NEW track, with no plug-ins, buss settings, track assignments (the most disturbing), TOTALLY NEW, with its track number from next aviable track assignment.

jord write: "And considering that "Create Multiple..." gives you a choice of what kind of tracks you want, a dialog box is far from wrong."

Create Multiple does work and it does what it says. My question was not about the nomenclature, but over why I must use this dialog to insert a single CLEAN NEW UNIQUE TRACK? That what I would like ot be able to do with a click or command.

As for "Rather than criticize, familiarize... 🙂 ", you are right. And if my questions, and come off like criticisms (which they might and I apologize if so). HOWEVER, I actually thought that the purpose of ths forum was to have questions answered and to give concerns a voice.

The fact is, that part of my startup issues are due to the fact that I've used Protools, and come from Cubase Nuendo (which I like and have used for a long time)/ So there are differences among the philosophy and sign (which seem to blur over time).

I am actaully quite excited with Logic this time arround. For certain of its other design, performance and feature assets and attributes. I realize that it will be more natural for me as I use it more. I decided to try it to edit and mix a series of radio spots right out of the bag (which took longer but actually sound very cool). It's true that I have my ways of doing things, but I have already found some new techniques to make this better.

So sory if my questions came off with a bit of frustration. I do appreciate you taking the time to wrote, and offer your obvious expertise. I hope I have been clear because it seems you were not truly understanding my overall question. That is: THE EASIEST WAY TO CREATE NEW, CLEAN, UNIQUE, TRACK WITH NO ASSOCIATED TRACK ASSIGNMENTS, BUSSES, PLUG-INS, AUTOMATION, ETC.

I understand that an instrument, the same instrument, can go in a new TRACK. And i can see why, and how, this may be useful.

And I am familiar with the term "regions" to be a span, or duration, of audio or data (in time), so if this is the usage you're using I "get" that too. (re: "You can have many tracks tied to the same instrument, and once again this works rather well when working with various regions within an instrument."

My question, though, has nothing whatsoever to do with MIDI, it is purely about AUDIO. I know the difference among the TYPES of tracks (Inst, Audio, MIDI). I see the key command for creating "New From Next..."

I still don't know if there's something WRONG with my setup or usage, because when I try and insert, create, a NEW, BASIC, UNIQUE AUDIO TRACK it is created as a clone of another in my existing list of tracks, and it has the SAME AUDIO TRACK/ CHANNEL (again,n if there's a terminology confusion issue please let me know) ASSIGNMENT, one that CANNOT be changed with out the other.

Let me illustrate: I set up Logic to use a default template that contains many tracks (Instrument, Audio, and MIDI). In my new project I can see 8 new blank audio tracks among them. I import audio to the first, TRACK #1 (lane 1) in my arrange window, which is also audio TRACK #1 in the pull-down to the left of my arrange window. I now have a mono audio track #1 on audio track #1 and I've got it routed to BUS 1, and I insert a compressor. OK. So now I want to add a second audio track (not two or four) to record a stereo guitar direct from my MOTU Traveler (inputs 1&2). So I go to the TRACK TAB in the arrange window (or use the keyboard command) and select "Create New Track."

Hope you've followed this far, because as far as I know I've doing what the manual says. I would expect this NEW track to just be a new audio track (if Logic assumes I'd probably want the same kind of track)- and, since there's no differentiation in the menu system between the three types of tracks (audio instrument, or MIDI track). All of this would be okay too, if not the way I'd have designed it to work. BUT it's not what happens.

What I get is an AUDIO TRACK, BUT it's a clone of track (lane) #1 in every way, including that it is inexorably LINKED to AUDIO TRACK #1 as well, and THIS CANT be changed. THAT's MY PROBLEM, not that it's audio, or MIDI, and not that it may start with a track ID number, (lane), or even that it is initially going on to Audio track #1, but that once AUDIO TRACK #2 is created with these settings it, or THE SETTINGS, ROUTING, ETC., cannot be changed without ALSO changing Track #1. Every change I make to the new track (2) also affect the other track (1), and vice verse!

Is this clear? I don't know how else to say it. Is this the way Logic is supposed to work? That new tracks created singularly are always going to be clones of other tracks, and settings changes made on one affect all??

That's the question / problem i am having.

So your remark, " A track is just another way to route your MIDI or audio data around." is well understood. Where i am having difficulty is the fact that the changes in ROUTING MY AUDIO AROUND doesn't seem to be possible unless it ROUTES OTHER AUDIO AS WELL.

Maybe I should be asking another question: Is it possible to disconnect two individual Tracks (lanes) that may follow each other so that they can invidually be assigned to distinct Audio Tracks (without affecting on another?

I am so sorry if this is frustrating. In spite of all this, I have produced two new, sonically excellent, radio spots using Logic, with several of those elegant and lovely sounding plug-ins. and although it's taken longer, I've had a total BLAST!

So is thee way to make new tracks that are unique, individual and can be routed, plugged-in, bussed, grouped, and otherwise changed, without also affecting the other track?

Thanks for trying to help.

Now this is what I was hoping for!

And if the new track is truly unrelated to the other tracks, and can be changed independently from the others, I will be happy. And I thank you, and apologize to the others you've been trying to help me.

I see jord has also written - confirming your advice.

THANKS! (to all)