How to Record Guitar in Logic Pro from Scratch (Beginner's Guide)

"I bought Logic Pro, but I don't know how to record my guitar."

I'm sure many guitarists have that worry.

I was the same at first.

ryo

Nice to meet you, I'm ryo, who runs this blog. I've been doing DTM for 8 years. At first I made band demos in GarageBand. Now I've settled on Mac and Logic Pro.

This article explains the steps for recording guitar in Logic Pro from zero.

I explain technical terms as they come up.

By the time you finish reading, you should be able to record one guitar track.

I plug my guitar into the computer, but no sound comes out...

Reader

ryo

That's a very common question. I'll explain the reason properly in this article too.

What You Need to Record Guitar in Logic Pro

First, let's check what you need.

There are three main things.

I/F is short for audio interface.

Think of it as gear that brings the guitar's sound into the computer.

Can't I plug the guitar straight into the Mac?

Reader

ryo

A Mac has no jack to plug a guitar into. That's why you need an I/F.

Logic Pro Initial Setup

Once your gear is connected, set up Logic Pro.

This is the part where many people stumble.

Take it slowly.

Step 1: Make the audio interface recognized

step
1Connect the I/F to the Mac with USB

First, connect the I/F to the Mac.

If it's a type that needs power, turn the power on too.

step
2Open Logic Pro's settings

Open "Logic Pro" → "Settings" → "Audio" in the menu.

step
3Choose the I/F as the input device

Choose the connected I/F for both "Input Device" and "Output Device."

If this stays on "Built-in Microphone," you can't record.

ryo

The first time I touched Logic, I missed this and was stuck for 30 minutes. Please don't make the same mistake.

Step 2: Create a new project

Once the settings are done, create a new project.

Choose "New" → "Empty Project."

Choose "Audio" as the track type.

The Steps to Actually Record Guitar

Now it's time to record.

There's no need to overthink it.

step
1Match the input channel

Match the input number of the I/F your guitar is plugged into with the track's input.

In many cases it's "Input 1."

step
2Turn on record enable (R)

Press the track's record button (R).

If you play the guitar and the meter moves, the sound is getting through.

step
3Adjust the volume

Turn down the gain on the I/F side so that even a hard strum doesn't swing into red.

This prevents clipping.

step
4Press the record button and play

Press the red record button on screen and recording starts.

After that, you just play.

Yes, a waveform appeared!

Reader

ryo

Congratulations. That completes recording one guitar track.

Fixing "I Recorded It, but Only a Clean Sound Comes Out"

Even once you can record, the sound may feel plain.

This is normal.

When you record through an I/F, what gets recorded first is a clean (undistorted) signal.

ryo

This is what happens when you record without going through an amp. Adding distortion and reverb afterward is the basics of home recording.

That's where you use an amp simulator.

It is also called an "amp sim" for short.

It is a system that recreates an amp's sound in software.

At first, the built-in Amp Designer is enough.

Just choose "Amp Designer" in the track's plugin slot and you get a distorted sound.

Common Problems and Fixes

Here are the classic problems beginners trip over.

The sound I play is heard a little late...

Reader

ryo

That's called latency, and reducing the buffer size improves it. A smaller one is recommended when recording.

Summary: Start by Recording One Track

Recording guitar in Logic Pro isn't difficult once you know the steps.

What matters is to record one track first.

ryo

Once you've recorded the first track, the rest is application. Next, try shaping tones with an amp sim.

If you want the whole picture of DTM for guitar, read the roadmap article too.