Logic Pro: Propulsive Pianos

Rhythmic, undulating piano patterns are hugely popular resources for TV, film and game composers, as well as being a favourite of those writing Ambient Music or composers looking for gentle, warm textures. Plug-ins like Native Instruments’ Noire and Spitfire Audio’s Stratus are examples of the kind of gentle, rolling piano libraries which can blend beautifully with strings, electronics and even modular sequences. This week, I’m going to show you how you can make sequences like this of your own, using Logic’s Studio Piano instrument, keeping velocities down and thinking about keyboards in a more pattern-based way than their ‘usual’ melodic/harmonic contexts. There is potential for real beauty here.

00:00 Intro
01:03 Microphone sources for Upright Piano
02:15 Recording and editing Piano phrase
03:54 What is a Propulsive Piano?
04:56 Recording syncopated Piano pattern 1
06:23 Piano - Pedalboard
08:28 Setting up Aux 1
09:15 Recording a second Piano rhythm
11:19 Stereo Pan
12:53 Piano 3
15:32 Arpeggiator
17:06 Copying patterns and Automating Volume
18:00 Track Stack for Propulsive Pianos
18:26 Compressing original Piano
18:54 Track playback