How to set up surround sound in Logic Pro

Immerse your audience! Learn to set up and mix for surround sound in Logic Pro, from project settings to panning.

Getting Started · advanced level

Steps

  1. Set Project to Surround

    Before beginning, go to 'File > Project Settings > Audio'. In the 'Surround' tab, enable 'Surround' and choose your desired surround format from the dropdown menu (e.g., '5.1', '7.1'). This configures Logic Pro's master output to a multi-channel setup.

  2. Send Tracks to Surround Pan

    For individual audio tracks you want to place in the surround field, ensure their output in the Logic Pro Mixer is set to 'Surround'. Then, open the 'Surround Panner' plugin on the track's insert slot (it typically defaults to this when the project is surround enabled) or by clicking the 'Pan' knob in the channel strip and selecting 'Surround Panner'. The Surround Panner looks like a circular field with a dot representing the sound source.

  3. Position Sounds in Surround Field

    Within the 'Surround Panner' window, drag the blue dot to position the audio source in the 3D space. You can automate these movements over time by enabling automation on the track (press 'A') and selecting the 'Surround Panner' parameters. Also, adjust the 'Spread' parameter to widen the sound across multiple speakers.

  4. Monitor Surround Output

    Ensure your audio interface is correctly configured for your multi-channel speaker setup in 'Logic Pro > Settings > Audio > Devices'. In the Logic Pro Mixer, verify that the master output meter shows all active channels for your surround format. Play your project and listen for the spatial placement of your sounds.

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