This article describes how to use any of our pedals as effects in Logic Pro X, but focuses on our MIDI-capable pedals (Particle 2, Context 2, Tensor, etc.).  Logic provides an I/O utility plugin for inserting external effects in an aux channel strip, and External MIDI Tracks for automating external effects via MIDI.  The I/O utility is used instead of an External Instrument, so that we can route audio from Logic to the pedal and bring the output back into Logic on an aux return.


Our MIDI-capable pedals have a "kill dry" bypass mode that only outputs the wet signal, so Logic instruments and tracks stay in the box and only the effect output goes through A/D conversion.  The bypass mode is configurable using our web editor.  


Contents of this article:

  • Configuring your pedal
  • Sending and receiving audio
  • Sending MIDI
  • Using multiple pedals


Additional information is available in the Logic Pro X documentation:

Configuring your pedal

Use our web editor to set up your pedal to work well as an external effect:

  • Set the Max. Input Level to match your audio interface input/output levels (+5 dBu usually works well for unbalanced line inputs/outputs).
  • Set Input/Output Configuration to Stereo In / Stereo Out.
  • Set Bypass Mode to Kill Dry, if you want the aux channel to only have the wet signal.
  • Set MIDI Channel to match what you use specify in Logic Pro X.  For USB MIDI devices, you can leave it on Channel 1 (default).  If you are using a DIN MIDI interface and TRS MIDI adapter, make sure that each MIDI device is on its own channel.

Sending and receiving audio

Logic Pro X provides an I/O utility, which allows you to use external audio effects.  First, connect stereo outputs from your audio interface to the input of the pedal and the output of your pedal to stereo inputs.


Click the insert slot of an aux channel strip (or the main stereo output) and choose Utilty > I/O > Stereo.


In the I/O utility editor, select the audio hardware inputs and outputs.  You can use the Latency Detection Ping button to automatically calculate round-trip latency.  Turn the pedal on, with blend at 0% (fully dry) for latency detection.

At this point, as long as the I/O utility is on, your audio will be run through the pedal.

Sending MIDI

Connect your pedal via USB or a TRS MIDI adapter.  If using TRS MIDI, you can create a device using Audio/MIDI Setup or just use your MIDI interface port.


To control the pedal from Logic Pro X, create an external MIDI track using Track > New External MIDI Track

In this case, the Tensor is the only external MIDI device connect, so Logic Pro X automatically assigns it to the track. 


You can choose the device (Port) and MIDI Channel in the track settings.  You can also select an icon and send a program change to load a specific preset on the pedal.


Automation can be track or region based.  Create a MIDI region if desired, then click on the track to edit.  In the track editor, click the Show / Hide Automation button to show the automation curves (currently none).

In this example, we add an automation curve for the region.  Click on the parameter pop-up to select a MIDI controller.



See the "MIDI Continuous Controller Messages" section of your pedal's owner's manual to find out which controller number(s) to use.  For example, the Tensor responds to MIDI CC 20 for speed, with reverse playback at 0, stopped at 64, and forward at 127.


Now you can use the drawing tools to draw an automation curve.  The curve shown below will do tape speed effects starting from stopped, ramping up to full speed over one measure, staying there for a measure, slowing back down, playing backwards, then slowing back down to a stop.

You can automate multiple parameters, and the bottom of the parameter menu provides shortcuts to view and edit the ones in use.


Using multiple pedals

Since the I/O utility only handles audio, you can run the signal through multiple pedals in series using the same pair of audio outputs and inputs.  Create multiple External Instrument Tracks to automate different pedals.