How to Choose The Perfect Reference Tracks When Mixing

Reference Tracks are crucial to helping you achieve a great mix for your music. Here's how to find, download and load your References into your Logic Pro Projects.

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00:00 - Intro
1:56 - What Makes A Good Reference Track?
3:29 - Locating Reference Tracks on Your Mac
5:00 - Why You Can’t Use Some Apple Music Downloads As References
6:03 - How to Purchase Tracks From Apple Music/iTunes Store
7:31 - Apple Music Download Preferences
11:06 - Putting Together Your List of Favorite Reference Tracks
14:26 - How to Load Your References into Your Projects
15:46 - Caution: Don’t Accidentally Process Your References
16:39 - Referencing For Atmos Mixing

[jebstaceyify]

Such a good video. Like some others I couldn't figure out why Apple Music files wouldn't work in Logic until I stumbled across this brilliantly explained video. Well worth a listen so great work by Chris !!!

[davefhill]

Thanks Chris! I love the SUBMIX Bus idea!!

[kswg]

Thank you, Chris! I was just trying to load tracks from iTunes the other day wondering why it wasn’t working. Now I know the advantages and limitations to this feature. Thanks for the content and your timing! Keep up the great work 👍🏻

[flickyflux]

You can always use Audio Hijack to rip anything your system can play then import it to Logic.

[francishunter]

WOW ! Alaclair ensemble, je m'attendais pas à cela !

[bradspitz]

Hi, Chris, a little late to the game, here. Very clear and iterative vid, much appreciated. Sadly, my Apple music titles don’t load into the music folder (or any other folder accessable thru Finder) on my Mac Mini. Any idrea how to fix this?

[iammusicp]

awesome video, once again! thanks! surprised you have music from "Die Ärzte" !! haha i listened to them growing up.

[vitaminfian]

Bloody hell Chris, fantastic. Thank you 🙏🏻

[bradparsonsmusic]

Thanks for this... is there a quick way of bypassing mastering plugins when listening to a reference track? I want to compare my track and a reference track quickly without having to solo and bypass plugin all the time. Im in Logic Pro. Cheers. ;-)

[hgumb]

Chris - Do you think mp3s or mp4s just as suitable for reference as a .wav file?

[mmhcreates]

Hi, if possible can you help?. I am trying to allow Logic x to display in full screen, around the notch of the macbook pro. As opposed to having a black border, at the top of the screen. I have seen it being done, thought perhaps was in one of your previous videos. Would appreciate help with this if possible.

All the best

[lewisguapo]

I would choose my fav songs as a base... 😅

[blessedbygbeatsmusic]

It looks like the new itunes format no longer works in logic pro x. M4P files cannot be read. Am I doing something wrong?

[RealMusicHype]

Nice one, keep it up! We'd like to add you on our blog

[joelbarriosmusic]

Hey Chris, I have a question about reference track: When I drag my reference track to my song in logic the reference track converted the tempo to my song. How can I retain the tempo of the reference track while my logic song is in the same tempo? Hope you can help me with this problem. Thanks Chris!

[Motawa]

Hey friend. Can you make a music for mixing a rock song especially for the vocals? Mine always sound kinda not in the mix :( and also, is it possible that you can mix/master one small song for me? :)

[elissitdesign]

Bypass all the nonsense and just play the song and capture the audio. You’re not sampling the song so it does not matter about licensing.