IN THIS SESSION:

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

  • Explain what music technology means.

  • Identify several technologies used to create modern music.

  • Explain what a DAW is.

  • Recognize the basic difference between audio and MIDI.

  • Understand why project and file organization matter.

  • Open Logic Pro 12 and begin a new project.

Your Digital Music Workspace

Our primary software throughout this course will be Logic Pro 12.

Logic is a type of software called a:

DAW — Digital Audio Workstation

A DAW allows musicians to:

  • Record audio

  • Create music with virtual instruments

  • Work with MIDI

  • Edit performances

  • Arrange musical ideas

  • Add effects

  • Mix multiple tracks

  • Export finished music

Logic will act as our digital music workspace throughout

the course.

Logic Pro 12 will be our primary Digital Audio Workstation throughout this course.

Audio vs. MIDI

Two terms you will hear constantly in music technology are Audio and MIDI.

Audio

Audio is recorded sound.

Examples include:

  • A recorded voice

  • Acoustic guitar recorded through a microphone

  • Electric guitar recorded through an audio interface

  • A drum performance recorded with microphones

  • A sound effect

  • An imported MP3 or WAV file

When you record audio, the computer is capturing the actual sound.

MIDI

MIDI is different.

MIDI does not record the actual sound.

Instead, MIDI stores information about a musical performance, such as:

  • Which note was played

  • When the note was played

  • How long the note lasted

  • How hard the note was played

  • When the note stopped

That information can then control a software instrument.

For example:

MIDI Keyboard → Logic Pro → Virtual Piano → Piano Sound

The keyboard is sending performance information. Logic and the software instrument are creating the sound.

We will explore MIDI in much greater detail later in the course.

Music Technology Is More Than Making Beats

You will absolutely create music in this course.

But learning music technology also means learning how to:

Create

Develop musical ideas using digital tools.

Record

Capture musical performances and sounds.

Edit

Correct, rearrange, or manipulate musical material.

Organize

Keep projects, tracks, and files easy to understand.

Listen

Recognize what is happening inside a recording.

Problem-Solve

Figure out why something isn't working—and how to fix it.

These skills will appear throughout every unit in the course.

Interactive Checkpoint

Before opening Logic, complete the short interactive activity below.

This will check your understanding of:

  • Music technology

  • DAWs

  • Audio

  • MIDI

  • Software instruments

  • File organization

CLICK BELOW TO BEGIN

When finished, return to this page and continue with the Studio Activity.

START 1.1 INTERACTIVE LESSON →

Studio Activity 1.1

Open Your First Logic Pro Project

Now you'll begin working with the technology.

Step 1 — Open Logic Pro

Locate Logic Pro on your classroom iMac and open the application.

Step 2 — Create a New Project

Create a new, empty Logic project.

Don't worry about understanding every option you see yet.

We'll learn the interface gradually.

Step 3 — Explore

Without changing too much, look around the screen.

See if you can locate:

  • The main timeline

  • Play button

  • Stop button

  • Record button

  • Track area

  • Playhead

You are not expected to know everything yet.

The goal is simply to begin becoming familiar with the workspace.

Step 4 — Save Your Project

Save the project using the class naming format provided by your teacher.

Example:

LastName_FirstName_Unit1

Make sure you know where the project is being saved.

Before You Leave

Ask yourself:

What is one piece of music technology you already use outside of this course?

It could be:

  • GarageBand

  • Spotify

  • A MIDI keyboard

  • A microphone

  • Guitar effects

  • A DJ controller

  • Music notation software

  • A recording app

  • An audio interface

  • Music-production software

Technology doesn't have to be complicated to be part of making or experiencing music.

Download PDF

  • Our downloads have everything you need to supplement this course.

Next Lesson

1.2 — The iMac & Logic Pro Workspace

Next, we'll take a closer look at the classroom workstation and learn how to navigate the most important areas of Logic Pro 12.