Apple Logic Express 8 - Manual (Page 191)

Chapter 9 Working With Tracks 191
Creating Tracks and Channels
If you want to record or play back MIDI, software instrument, or audio data in
Logic Express, you must first create a track. Corresponding channel strips are
automatically created in the Mixer.
If channels of a particular type (audio channels, for example) already exist in the Mixer,
newly created tracks will be assigned to these matching channels.
Important: Some of the track creation options create new channels, and others do not.
Each is used for a different type of task. These commands have been separated below,
and are separated by a line in the Track menu of the application.
To explain a little further:
 You create 8 new audio tracks in the Arrange area of a project that has 24 audio
channels already set up in the Mixer.
 These new audio tracks are assigned to audio channels 1 to 8 in the Mixer.
 You create a further 16 audio tracks as your project develops. These are assigned to
audio channels 9 to 24 in the Mixer.
 If no, or not enough, channels of the matching type exist in the Mixer, they are
automatically created when you create new tracks.
 You need a further 8 audio tracks to complete your project, but have used all 24
Mixer audio channels. No problem. Simply create the extra 8 audio tracks, and
Logic Express will automatically generate the corresponding audio channels in the
Mixer. These tracks (25 to 32) will automatically be assigned to audio channels 25 to
32.
Note: The automatic creation of corresponding channels applies to all track types—up
to the maximum allowable number of channels!
This restriction is in the hundreds for audio and instrument channels, and in the
thousands for MIDI channels. Your computer is likely to run out of processing power
well before you reach this limit for each channel type.
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Tip: Given the simplicity and speed of creating new channels—by creating tracks—
there’s no need to create hundreds of channels of each type in the Mixer before you
start making music.