Logic Pro Walkthrough

This guide covers using the WAVS Desktop App with WAVS Bridge in Logic Pro for Mac. Menu names may vary between Logic versions.

Getting Started

1. Downloading the app

   To get started, navigate to our standalone app page and choose your OS (Mac or Windows). The app is free to download but you will need an active trial or subscription to use it.

2. Installation

   Run the installer and WAVS will automatically add the Standalone app plus the WAVS Bridge. The file locations will depend on your operating system, but Logic Pro is only available on MacOS so we’ll limit instructions to that path for this walkthrough.

   On macOS, the standalone app will go directly into your standard Applications folder. Logic Pro uses the WAVS Bridge Audio Unit (AU). The standard system Audio Unit folder is /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components, while the separate user-level folder is ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components.

   To inspect the system Audio Unit folder, open Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder, and enter /Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components. You can also check ~/Library/Audio/Plug-Ins/Components using the same command. Holding Option while opening Finder’s Go menu shows the user Library, not the system Library. Keep the component in a supported Audio Unit folder.

   

    

3. Create a dedicated software instrument track in Logic Pro

   Open Logic Pro and if you’re starting a new project, select the MIDI software Instrument track option. Otherwise, if you’re in an existing project, you can click “TRACK” in the top navigation menu and select MIDI software instrument option from the list.

   

   

    

4. Load the WAVS Bridge on the software instrument track

   Select the software instrument track in your DAW and click on the green button to update the current virtual instrument to the WAVS Bridge. You’ll find it in AU Instruments > WAVS INC > WAVS Bridge > Stereo. See the screenshot below for assistance:

   

    

5. Connecting the WAVS Bridge to Standalone App

   The WAVS Bridge will open automatically when you load it on the software instrument rack. Click on the purple “Open App” button to launch the WAVS Standalone app.

   

    

   Log into your account and the WAVS Bridge should automatically connect. You can verify that it’s connected in the Standalone App by checking the “plug” icon in the bottom right corner. If it’s green, then that means it’s already connected to the WAVS Bridge. Otherwise, if it’s gray, simply click the button to complete the connection.

   When this phase is complete, the WAVS Bridge should also say “Connected” as shown here:

   

    

6. Make sure that your software instrument’s output is assigned. If the instrument shows “No Output”, you can click that button, select Output > Stereo Output, and you’re good to go.

   

    

7. If you press play on a sample and still don’t hear any audio, but the playhead is moving normally, the issue is likely in your Standalone App audio settings. Click the gear in the upper right hand corner. Then select “Audio settings” and then click on the output dropdown to select the correct device.

Using the Standalone App with Logic Pro

1. Browsing the WAVS collection

   Most of the Standalone app reflects the standard WAVS website browsing experience. All of the usual features are there, including the Explore view, Sample View, and so forth. Press play on any sample to hear it in the original format, prior to synchronization with Logic Pro.

   
    

2. Synchronize sample playback to Logic Pro BPM

   DAW Sync is one of our Standalone app’s special features. To hear WAVS samples played back in the same tempo as your project, you’ll need to follow a few simple steps.

   • First, press play on any WAVS sample in the Standalone app.

   • Next, hit the Tempo Sync button located in the standalone’s bottom toolbar. It will turn white to indicate that it’s activated. You’ll also notice that the toolbar’s BPM change to reflect the tempo of your DAW (unless they were already in the same BPM)

     
      

   • Now any WAVS sample you listen to will play back in sync with Logic’s tempo. Check to see the sample’s original BPM, listed inline with the rest of the sample. We recommend looking for samples that are within 20 BPM of your target, to reduce unwanted audio artifacts. You can use the Tempo filter to target that range.

     
      

3. Synchronize sample playback to any root note

   • You can modify WAVS samples to match your project’s key signature as well. To do that, you’ll need to know what key your project is in. Select the target root note in the bottom right corner of the standalone app to automatically shift the root note of WAVS samples.

     
      

   • Changing the root note transposes the sample while preserving its major or minor quality. So for example, you can shift from D minor to F# minor, but not D minor to F# major.

   • Use the Key filter to display major or minor key samples only. If your DAW project is in D minor, for example, you should filter by minor samples. Then change the root note to D and listen to confirm the sample fits your track.

     
      

4. Looping a region in Logic Pro to audition samples

   • You may already be familiar with looping a region in Logic Pro. But if this is your first time doing it, just click and drag the “measure” region as shown in the screenshot below. When you do that, the color will change to yellow and when you press play, the playhead will automatically snap to beginning of the loop, returning each time the looped region is complete.

     
      

   • In the WAVS Standalone app, make sure Tempo Sync is still turned on. Press play on any sample to load it in WAVS. Then toggle over to your DAW and press play. Logic will start the looped region and the WAVS sample at the same point. If the loop ends before the sample, WAVS will automatically restart the sample from the top. Alternatively, if the sample ends before the loop, it will continue to loop automatically. Now here’s the best part. Press play on any sample in WAVS while the DAW playback continues, and you can continue hearing samples playback in sync with your loop, no matter where it is in the loop cycle. WAVS can pinpoint the mid-measure location of the loop and sync it to your DAW for a seamless “sample auditioning” workflow.

     
      

5. Dragging modified samples from WAVS to Logic Pro’s audio timeline

   After the sample finishes downloading and syncing, open the purple “Drag” menu in the bottom-right corner of the standalone app. Choose “Original sample” for unprocessed audio or “Modified version” to include your pitch and tempo changes, then drag the sample to an audio track in Logic Pro’s timeline.

   
    

6. Using Logic audio as a search reference

   To search using the sound of a Logic software instrument, select its region and choose File > Export > 1 Region as Audio File. Review the export settings and save the audio file, then add that file to WAVS audio search.

   If you want the reference to include the track’s effects, leave Bypass Effect Plug-ins unchecked.

   See Apple’s guide to exporting regions as audio files for the export options.