How to Configure Audio MIDI Setup for Logic Pro X

Before you start

Audio MIDI Setup is a macOS utility, so the configuration is local to the Mac and does not require an online service. Open it from the Utilities folder inside Applications, or search for it using Spotlight. Connect or switch on the audio interface, microphone, camera audio input, or MIDI device before opening the utility. For a USB audio device, connect it directly to the Mac or through a powered hub, then wait for macOS to recognize it. Logic Pro X can be open or closed while you make these settings; restart Logic if devices are changed while it is running.

Step-by-step instructions

Choose the audio input device

In the Audio Devices section, select the microphone or interface that should supply audio to Logic Pro X. Click the device in the list, then use the detail panel to confirm that the correct input channels are available. If the desired microphone is not shown, check the connection, close and reopen Audio MIDI Setup, and confirm that the device appears in System Information.

Choose the output device

Select the speakers, headphones, or interface output that should carry playback from Logic Pro X. If an audio interface is selected as the output device, route monitoring through it so input and playback use the same clock. Keep the default output selected for situations such as video review through the built-in Mac speaker.

Set input and output levels

Adjust the input level from the interface or the macOS input controls before recording into Logic Pro X. Keep a normal speaking or playing level below the clipping point, leaving headroom for louder moments. Set the output level low enough to prevent feedback when using a microphone and speakers in the same room.

Match the sample rate

Select the sample rate that matches the Logic Pro X project or the standalone recording plan. If the Mac and audio interface support the same rate, choose that value to avoid unnecessary conversion. Do not run an interface at a different sample rate from an existing project unless you intend to convert the project audio.

Create an aggregate device only when needed

If you need several physical inputs or outputs as one device in Logic Pro X, create an aggregate device rather than switching cables during a session. Add the devices in the order that keeps the primary clock stable, and name the aggregate so it is easy to recognize in Logic.

Check MIDI devices

Open the MIDI Studio window to see keyboards, controllers, and other MIDI inputs. Confirm that each connected device is displayed, then note the available ports. Create or remove connections only when a device is not being recognized correctly; avoid deleting required default connections.

Check the output

In Logic Pro X, open the audio preferences and confirm that the input device and output device match the choices made in Audio MIDI Setup. Record a short spoken or instrumental passage, then play it back to verify that the input reaches a track and the output is audible. For MIDI, create a software instrument track and press keys or pads to confirm that Logic receives note data.

Watch the input meter while recording. The signal should remain below the highest level and rise clearly for the intended source. If a microphone is too quiet in Logic, increase input gain at the hardware first, then adjust any digital gain. The resulting recording format and channel count are limited by the device selected in Audio MIDI Setup and the Logic project settings.

Common problems and next steps

You changed your camera or microphone in a call and Logic no longer sees it

When a webcam or USB microphone becomes active in a video call, another app may hold exclusive access to it. Quit the call app or close the capture session, then reopen Audio MIDI Setup. If Logic still does not list the device, disconnect and reconnect it and restart Logic Pro X.

You hear background noise or a digital hiss

Move the microphone closer and lower the input gain. Check that the selected input device is the intended microphone, not the built-in array or a camera microphone. Keep USB and power cables away from audio cables where possible.

You see crackling, dropouts, or a sample rate conflict

Confirm that the sample rate in Audio MIDI Setup matches the sample rate shown for the open Logic project. If the interface has its own control application, set the rate there too. Increase the I/O buffer size in Logic when input monitoring clicks or drops out, and reduce it only when lower latency is needed.

Your MIDI controller is connected but not producing notes

Check that the controller appears in the MIDI Studio window and that the correct port is selected in Logic. An aggregate MIDI setup is not required for a single controller; additional routing can make tracks harder to troubleshoot. Check the cable and try another USB port if the controller is not present at all.

Next steps

After a working setup is established, save the configuration as part of a Logic project template that uses the same sample rate and device selections. Re-run these checks only when adding a new input device, changing an output device, switching sample rates, or clearing noise or connection problems. If a device is still missing, test it on another Mac before assuming the hardware is damaged.