Value pop-up menus and fields: Define the range of values that trigger the group. For example, set the type to Control 1, with field values of 30 and 50, which results in the group being triggered only when performance control 1 is set within the 30% to 50% range. You can set other groups with the same type but with a different control range to switch between groups with a single controller. Because the Control 1 knob used in the example is available as a modulation target, this lets you create complex automated group switches. Drag vertically in the fields or use the arrows to set a value.
Delete: Remove the selected group rule.
Logic pop-up menus and fields: Define a condition for multiple group rules, using And, Or, and Not boolean statements. For example, set the first group rule to Controller and Control 1 with a range of 50% to 100%. Set a second group rule to Controller and Control 2 with a range of 50% to 100%. The different logic conditions result in different outcomes.
And: Both Control 1 and Control 2 must be set above 50% for the group to trigger. With either control set below 50% the group does not trigger.
Or: Either Control 1 or Control 2 must be set above 50% for the group to trigger. The group does not trigger only when both controls are below 50%.
Not: The group triggers when Control 1 is set above 50%, and Control 2 is set below 50%. If both controls are set above or below 50%, the group does not trigger.
In Alchemy in Logic Pro, click the File button in the Name bar and choose Initialize Preset from the pop-up menu to reset all Alchemy parameters to default settings.
Switch to advanced view, and set the Release time for AHDSR1 to a suitable length for your release samples.
Switch to one of the sources with the A/B/C/D buttons, then click the Edit button to open the Main edit window.
Click the select field, and choose Import Audio.
Select a sample (or multiple samples) representing the main sustain portion of your sound, and import using any of the available import modes.
Alchemy analyzes each sample to determine the root pitch (if not defined in the filename), set the root key, key range, and velocity range for each sample zone such that they span the entire keyboard and the entire dynamic range, and add all zones to a group named Group 1.
Click the “+” symbol at the top of the Group section, and choose Import.
Select a sample (or multiple samples) representing the release portion of your sound, and import (the import mode is automatically set to match the existing group).
Alchemy again analyzes each sample and adds all zones to a group named Group 2.
Double-click Group 2, then click the Trig field and change it to Release.
Zones in Group 2 will now trigger when you release each key, playing over zones in Group 1 which continue to sound until AHDSR1 reaches the end of the release stage.
Double-click Group 1 in the list, then click the Fade field and change it to a value other than 0.
Zones in Group 1 will now fade out when the note is released, allowing Group 2 to be heard during the release stage of the sound. Higher Fade values result in slower fades.
As an option, double-click Group 2 in the list, then click the Fade field and change it to a value other than 0.
Zones in Group 2 will now fade in when the note is released, creating a crossfade between Groups 1 and 2 at note-off. Higher values result in slower fades. Fading in the release group may be unnecessary if your release samples already have a natural fade in at the start, however, or undesirable if a percussive transient is required at note-off. Try to set Fade values for Group 1 and 2 to an identical small value to create a sudden but click-free crossfade at the end of each note.
Click the Rule field, and change it from Always to Random Round Robin.
Select a sample (or multiple samples) representing the second of your round robin variations, and import (the import mode is automatically set to match the existing group).
Alchemy will again analyze each sample and add all zones to a group named Group 2.
Click the Rule field below Group 2, and change it from Always to Random Round Robin.
Any notes you play will now randomly trigger either group 1 or group 2, but not both together. Note that if you play a chord, each individual note is randomly assigned to one of those groups.
Repeat steps 7 to 9 as needed to configure a group for each further variation you require.
Click the Rule field, and change it from Always to Keyswitch.
Click the first range field, and change it to Keysw1. The second range field also changes to the same value.
As an option, you can click the second range field and increase the value to specify a range of values that will trigger this group, instead of just a single value.
Select a sample (or multiple samples) representing the second of your variations, and import (the import mode is automatically set to match the existing group).
Click the Rule field below Group 2, and change it from Always to Keyswitch.
Click the first range field, and change it to the first unused Keysw value. If the second range field for Group 1 is set to Keysw3, choose Keysw4.
As an option, you can click the second range field and increase the value to specify a range of values that will trigger Group 2, instead of just a single value.
Repeat steps 9 to 12 for each new group of variations you require.
Click the X symbol at the top right to close the source edit window.
A new Keysw knob is visible in the source pane, to the left of the Keyscale field.
Rotate the Keysw knob to switch between the groups you created. Control-click this knob to add modulation routings from the shortcut menu.
Click the Rule field, and change it from Always to Round Robin.
It is automatically assigned the number 1 in the sequence, and a second rule (set to Always) is added below.
Click the Logic field for rule 1, and change it to Or.
Switch rule 2 from Always to Keyswitch.
Leave the first range field for rule 2 set to Snap1, and change the second range field to Snap7.
Click the Rule field below Group 2, and change it from Always to Round Robin.
It is automatically assigned the number 2 in the sequence, and a second rule (set to Always) is added below.
Set the first Range field for rule 2 to Snap8. The second field is automatically set to the same value.
Played notes only trigger zones in Group 1 unless the Transform pad is at position 8, in which case Groups 1 and 2 play alternately, in a round robin fashion.
Repeat steps 10 to 14 as needed to configure a group for each further variation you require.
Download the guides:
Logic Pro User Guide: PDF
Logic Pro Effects: PDF