How to Send a Logic Pro X Project

I frequently need to send Logic projects to other composers for collaborations and for recording sessions when I record with an orchestra.

It is very simple to do, you just have to make sure you have ticked a few boxes first.

Prepping Your Logic Session for Sharing

The thing to realise when you are sharing a Logic project file is that you are sharing multiple things all at once; the session file itself, audio files, sampler files, and plugins. This is what you need to prepare for.

When you share a session the MIDI information and audio files will all be wrapped up neatly for you so you don't have to worry about that.

The issue will come from plugin compatability. The person or people you are sharing the session with might not have the same plugins as you.

This will mean that when they load up the session they will not be able to load up those plugins.

To avoid this you have to bounce down all of your channels either into audio stems or individual audio files. I like to keep all the MIDI information on empty channels so that whoever is working with the session can work with the MIDI if needs be.

Once you have all of your audio bounced down and inside the session remove all instances of plugins and effects so that all you have in the session is necessary MIDI info and audio files.

Project Alternative

Don't forget to create a project alternative for your shared session.

This will mean that you can create a version of your session that is optimised for sharing whilst also keeping a version that has all your plugins and MIDI info contained.

Don't forget this step, it is super important.

How to Share a Logic Pro X Session

Once you have prepped your session for sharing then sending it is straightforward.

1. In your finder window, locate the session you want to share
2. Right click and select 'Compress' file. This will wrap it all into a zip file
3. You can now share the zip file via file transfer like WeTransfer or Dropbox

How to Send a Logic Pro X Session via Email

If your session is smaller (less than 10-20Mb) then you could easily send the zip file of the session over email as an attachment.

I would personally avoid this as much as possible because it tends to take up a lot of space in your email account.

The best way would be to upload it to Dropbox (or Google Drive) and send the link via email.

This way you have the session backed up and also it is easily accessible via your email. Win win!

How Do I Export an Entire Project in Logic Pro X

The other alternative to sending the Logic session is to export that whole session.

This is done one of three ways. each has their own pros and cons:

Exporting Stems

This is a very common way to share project information with other people. It reduces the amount of file size, enables enough flexibility to work with, takes less time to export. The downside is making sure that you have your session prepped and ready for stems which you may not have done.

Exporting every channel exported as audio

I like doing this as it is one simple Logic command in the dropdown menu. Sharing all the individual channels allows for a lot of flexibility and control of the track. However, the down sides are that it doesn't export the effects or buses, and also it takes up a lot of space and takes time to upload.

Bouncing every channel as an audio file

This is by far the most time consuming of all but it also gives the most control becuase you can share every channel exactly as you hear it in your session and will allow for a complete mix and master, and also allow for any collaborators to work easily with you.

Best Practices for Sharing Logic Sessions

1. Think about what works best for you and the person you are sharing with. They may only want stems or even just a stereo audio file of the whole track.
2. Save a project alternative!
3. Make sure you remember compatability issues and remove any plugins that may cause potential issues when sharing
4. Compress your Logic session into a zip file to reduce file size and make it easier to share/upload
5. Utilise sites like Dropbox and Wetransfer as they are excellent for sharing audio files.
6. Sometimes the easiest and quickest route is not the right route for your needs. You may need to spend a bit of time prepping your session properly to get the most out of sharing it.