Getting to Know the Environment

The Environment refers to the virtual environment of Logic Pro inside your computer. It was developed to allow complete control over your MIDI setup.

The Environment window provides a virtual view of your MIDI studio, and it includes the following objects:

Figure. Environment window showing some objects.

You determine the MIDI signal flow by connecting Environment objects with virtual cables. For full details, see Creating Your MIDI Signal Path.

The connection of objects with virtual cables makes it easy to follow the signal flow, but also allows near limitless routing and MIDI data processing possibilities. Use your imagination, and logically plan (and implement) the signal path, to take advantage of the functionality offered by each object type. If you can think of a way to manipulate your MIDI data, you can do it in the Environment.

Most objects can be remotely controlled by other MIDI events (using the sliders or modulation wheel of your keyboard, for example). You can even record these movements, if you wish.

In addition, there are specialized objects that can split a MIDI signal into different channels, make preprogrammed alterations, or even reroute the signal path. These allow you to use the same MIDI data (note events, for example) for several processes, or can be used to provide controller keyboard functionality to the most basic MIDI keyboard.

As you might imagine, the Environment can quickly fill up with a large number of objects. To keep things organized, you can assign them to different display levels, referred to as layers. Think of these layers as being different, partial views of the overall Environment. Naturally, you can easily connect objects between different layers.