Create new tracks in Logic Pro duplicates another track

It's a language thing i think. And i'm unfamiliar with some of the terminology used in Logic.

you wrote: "If you want to tie a totally separate instrument (audio channel) to the same audio input on your Traveler, then you need to use any of the three methods that were presented to you.

I specifically do NOT want to TIE anything (instrument, audio, etc.) to anything else (other than the stereo output at the end of the line). And this has nothing to do with my Traveler- the only reason i mentioned it was to for accuracy in describing a scenario.

you wrote: "Then, you will be able to have two separate and totally different controls to the same audio input. They are considered two different instruments."

But I do not wish to have two separate and totally different controls to the same audio. And i really don't care, in this instance, what they're considered. WHAT I WANT IS independence of the tracks i create unless I intend for them to share changes or whatever. IT'S THE INDEPENDENCE I WAS TRYING TO GET AT. And the way Logic works, I guess, which is different from other software and work stations, for better or worse, is that creating a new track, unless you use the "Multiple, or the From Next" methods assumes you'd want the newly created track, channel, lane, etc. to be linked with the one you were previously working on.

Maybe this is a good thing, and I am not criticizing it. But for me, I needed to know the easiest way to ensure my new audio tracks, channels, etc. have no connection to any other.

Do you understand what I've been asking? And I think I've seen at least one simple answer from Ast. ( again, thanks!)

But thanks. All of your effort is truly appreciated.

I've copied your post and will read it again. The scenario you've ullsutrated is not unlike some things I do often, when working with songs. They way I'd do it, in Cubase, is to record the parts on top of one another.

If i do one that is not good, i'd hit "delete" so as not to save. The others I'd audition, and cut them up perhpars, like you said. I'd open a new out-take track under the first one in order to keep the "good" one clear or garbage.

That's how I've been comping. It's not a great way to work, and I've got to keep my mind clear so I don't lose pieces. The way you've decribed sounds like it could be much more streamlined and safer. Thanks. Learning curves. Oh well. It's kind of fun - but it's exciting too. And I am up for a change!

Here's an update on the discussion CREATE NEW TRACKS DUPLICATES...

I do not wish to belabor this question. I appreciate that there is a practical advantage to creating "new" tracks that are clones of old ones. But I want to make sure I understand.

In addition, I believe this effort is worth the time because the prevelance of a certain software tool would depend on its ability to draw new users from other apps. (I had to smile when I wrote "new" user, as it seems to have some relevance in this discussion )

I want to be clear here because - (tbirdparis wrote: "you just aren't understanding the way logic works, and the terminology is confusing you.)

Certain terms that we use seem to be confused with others. At least I think so. I hope defining them will facilitate an answer.

At the suggestion of one poster, I tried the "quick" method for creating a new track. Clicking in an open space in the track column, in the Arrange Window. Like the other three methods, it works. HOWEVER, it also creates a track that was derived from one of the other existing tracks. My problem with this is that this track is not "new," because it was given certain attributes, including it's audio track, or channel, assignment which cannot be changed independent of the other track.

BASIC PROJECT SCENARIO: When I start a "new" project " I can begin from "Untitled," or a template. I set up a template with 9 'real' audio tracks (one of which is a stereo output channel), a couple of virtual audio regions for loops, and 8 MIDI instruments. I like to use as few tracks as possible for reasons of economy- and this often requires me to add individual tracks as I work. The pre-existing audio "tracks" created in this new project are each, and all, independent with regard to the Track Assignment, bus, etc. so using any of those offers me a totally unique new track.

ADDING NEW TRACKS: So once I run out of (previously established) tracks I can add new tracks, often one at a time, using one of three menu items, commands, shortcuts, etc. as follows 1) Create New, 2) Create New From Next Inst, 3) Create Multiple. Am I correct in this?

TERMINOLOGY: Can we agree that there are at least two different uses for the term "track?" The I would like to identify here are

A) the TRACKS that are in a column in the Arrange Window. (where I'd double-click in an open space to start a new track). I have tried using the term, LANE, like a "lane" in a bowling alley, that is physically adjacent, parallel. along side other similar lanes, however, lanes that contain different bowlers, who would presumably prefer to have their own games and scores.

B) The AUDIO TRACK, which can sometimes be referred to as "Channel" except I prefer not to because that could be confused with the Output Channel. But I think this can be called CHANNEL ASSIGNMENT.

So I've tried using the word "LANE" to describe what is also called the horizontal "track" we see in the Arrange Window; and for the term "TRACK" I'd probably use the actual TRACK ASSIGNMENT, which suggest, or relates to, the actual routing inside Logic.

It is the discrete-ness, independence of the TRACK/ LANE, viz-a-viz the TRACK ASSIGNMENT, that is the issue I'm trying to understand.

One other key term is AUDIO REGION, which would describe the underlying piece of audio; one that exists as a file somewhere; may be a sample, or a section or a file; that can be edited in its own screen; that is the essence of what gets routed, processed, and shared among the aforementioned components. I don't think we need to discuss regions here (for the purposes of my question) other than to identify it. Can we agree on this usage for the purposes of this discussion?

WHAT DOES UNIQUE MEAN? When I say unique, I am using that word, unique, literally. Which would not be connected to Logic's usage. The only (one) way to create a truly new track (one that is independent from all others in terms of rou

David-- thanks for posting on this topic. I understand your suggestion to start off with the amount of tracks I think I'll need, and I do this. Please think of my scenario as hypothetical- But my question is real, very specific, and still unanswered. Think of me as frustrated with all the peripheral advice but still no direct answer. I realize my last post was very lengthy- so maybe it's me. But the length was my attempt to be as specific as I thought I could possible imagine in order to get that single answer in need.

One reason I need these specific answers is that I am still not sure if Logic is set up correctly. I've tried to ask on the phone, and am being told I need to pay 199 dollars (US) for a tech support incident. OR I may be doing something incorrectly - or may have Logic set up incorrectly.

MY PROBLEM: When I create an ostensibly "new" track it instead get an "additional" track (which is not new in my thinking because) it is clone of another track, which (would be okay except that it) is linked to another existing track in its AUDIO TRACK ASSIGNMENT (and all the routing that goes with that_.

MY QUESTION IS THIS: (one of two) IS THERE ANY WAY OTHER THAN CREATE A NEW TRACK OTHER THAN "NEW MULTIPLE...?" or If there is not IS THERE A WAY TO CHANGE THE TRACK ASSIGNMENT of ONE OF THE TRACKS WITHOUT THE OTHER?

OR AM I DOING SOMETHING WRONG???

That's all I need to know at this point. You see when I click in an empty "track" (in the Arrange Window's "track" column) a new track is created that is NOT TRULY NEW. It is a duplicate of another "track."

I simply want to know if I can work as if I was working as I would with multitrack tape. That's is I need a new track, and i add a new track, period. That rack should have no relationship with any other track. Is this clear? So how does this happen in Logic 7? Or is it not possible?

And the ONLY other question (if the above is not possible) is in these "linked" tracks that share "track - or channel - assignments," how would I go about changing that "track assignment" (in that pull-down list of possible 1-whatever number) without it also affecting any other channels, including the one that was apparently duplicated (albeit called "new")?

1) How can one create a truly, new, unique, track, unrelated to any other?
2) How does one change an audio track assignment (audio channel if you like) without changing another's?

Not sure what "Level 3" means, but I've seen it in three screen names on this forum. If there is a question about what I am asking, or relating to terminology, as I thought was an issue, please let me know. I am not asking for philosophical advice about thee way Logic was designed, a rationale for working on another way (I want to have some aspects to work just like analog tape) nor the beauty of having linked tracks for comping, etc. I ONLY want the answer to #1and, and/or #2 above.

Again, one reason I need these specific answers is that I am still not sure if 1) Logic is set up correctly. 2) I may be doing something incorrectly, 3) or do I have Logic set up incorrectly?

Whew... thanks.

Daniel:

Thanks. And that, or "Create Multiple" is precisely what I've been doing. I simply wanted to know if there was something in what I've been doing that is wrong, or if there was something wrong with my setup.

So, you're saying that CREATE NEW doesn't actually create brand new track, ever, it creates an "additional" track based on track that already exists? Is this true?

If it is true I will be satisfied that Logic doesn't ever Create NEW tracks using its CREATE NEW TRACK command. I just need to know.

Can you tell me, affirmitively, that Logic's CREATE NEW TRACK command does not literally create NEW tracks (using the definition of new that denotes that the track is independent of any other in that project's Arrange Window?)

Hence, the actual way to add a new audio track in Logic, is to either 1) have an audio track selected in the Arrange Window and then Click NEW FROM NEXT INSTRUMENT, or 2) Go to the Track Menu in Arrange and then click on NEW MULTIPLE TRACKS? Am I correction this?

At the risk of being ridiculous - I'd also like to ask if there is ANY way in Logic to disengage, disassociate, the "track assignment" of two tracks that happen to currently share the same track assignment? By this I am asking, let's say I created a "new" (not truly) track in Arrange by clicking CREATE NEW, and then realized it shared an Audio Track Assignment with another. I'd then be in a situation where my only option, as i see it, would be to select, and cut, the audio regions from that track, create another "new" (this time a truly new track) using one of the two options - MULTIPLE or FROM NEXT - and then paste it in that truly new "track." Is there another way, maybe in the Environment?

Daniel, thanks very, very much for writing and trying to help me. I've been successful with many other areas of Logic 7, and I'm enjoying working with a lot. Still, I have to wonder why this seemingly simple and clear question, other than for reasons of terminology, would take all these posts.

Am I the only one asking this question, or who feels the way the ADD NEW TRACKS works, or the nomenclature, is a little strange and very different from the way most audio professionals have worked in multitrack studios from the beginning?

Not to say that digital hard disk recording doesn't offer many advantages over linear and tape, but still, it seems a bit limiting (in software that has so unbelievably flexible and powerful) to not be able to change track assignments on one track without another- if one wants to.

I'd be interested to know your answer to that, but please try and confirm my question about the NEW TRACK business, i.e., DOES "CREATE NEW TRACK" actually CREATE A TWIN OF ANOTHER TRACK, that shares it's audio (if it's an audio track) track, or channel assignment?

Danie-

Whew. Thanks so much for the stright answer! I appreciate the candor too.

I'll also try to change the track assignment of a "twin" track with your advice.

I assume this is different from using the pull down that contains the list of possible audio track assignments, as that action would also change the "original" track, i.e., the track from which the "duplicate" was created in the first place.

Knowing there was not a problem, or I was not doing something wrong, makes a big difference!

I really appreciate your help!

Cheers,

Steven