Mike Echlin

Understanding Logic Pro’s Folder and Summing Stacks

—

by

mechlin
in ,

In Logic Pro, Track Stacks are a powerful feature designed to help you organize and manage multiple tracks efficiently. They allow you to group related tracks, streamline your workflow, and apply collective processing or control to multiple elements within your project. There are two primary types of Track Stacks: Folder Stacks and Summing Stacks.

Folder Stacks:

  • Purpose: Folder Stacks are primarily used for organizational purposes. They let you combine multiple tracks into a single container, making it easier to manage projects with high track counts.
  • Functionality: When you create a Folder Stack, the individual audio routing of the subtracks remains unchanged. The main track, known as the stack master, functions similarly to a VCA (Voltage Controlled Amplifier) fader, allowing you to mute, solo, and adjust the volume of the entire group without affecting individual track settings. Apple Support

Summing Stacks:

  • Purpose: Summing Stacks are used to combine multiple tracks and route their outputs to an audio subgroup. This is particularly useful for applying collective processing, such as adding effects or adjusting levels, to a group of tracks simultaneously.
  • Functionality: In a Summing Stack, the outputs of the subtracks are routed to a bus, and the resulting aux channel is assigned to the main track. This setup allows you to add and edit plug-ins, adjust volume and send levels, and control the entire group as a single unit. Additionally, if the Summing Stack contains software instrument tracks, you can record and play MIDI regions on the main track, which will be played by all the software instrument subtracks within the stack. Apple Support

How to Create a Track Stack:

  1. Select Tracks: In the Tracks area, select the tracks you want to include in the stack.
  2. Create Track Stack: Right-click on one of the selected tracks and choose “Create Track Stack,” or go to the Track menu and select “Create Track Stack.”
  3. Choose Stack Type: In the dialog that appears, select either “Folder Stack” or “Summing Stack” based on your needs, then click “Create.”

By utilizing Track Stacks, you can maintain a more organized project, simplify complex arrangements, and apply group processing efficiently, enhancing your overall production workflow.