Using Logic with Zoom for remote songwriting
This is a summary of the set-up I have been using for remote songwriting collaborations (and remote mix playback sessions) during lockdown. It works for people wanting to play Logic (or their chosen DAE) into Zoom, while having talkback functionality from their laptop. I find that the ability to speak over what I am playing is essential for making long-distance collaboration sessions work well.
Please note that this system will not get rid of the inherent delay that the Internet adds to an audio signal, so you won’t be able to play live with the other person on the other end of the call. But what you will be able to do is play full quality stereo audio over Zoom to your fellow participants and also talk over the music, as it will be mixed in with the Logic signal.
Make sure you and your fellow participants are wearing headphones as the audio signal will come back down your microphones and create a feedback loop.
Step 1: Download the software
Blackhole
https://existential.audio/blackhole/
Ladiocast
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/ladiocast/id411213048?mt=12
Zoom (free/unlimited time for one-to-one calls)
Step 2: Setting up the audio routing
Install all the software and then open Audio MIDI Setup in the Utilities folder of your Mac.
(You can get to Utilities folder quickly by opening a Finder window then pressing COMMAND-SHIFT and U at the same time).
Click the + at the bottom left and make a new Multi-Output Device called LOGIC TO ZOOM then check the USE boxes marked Blackhole and whatever your audio output is for Logic.
For example, Built-in Output, or mine is AudioBox USB 96. Also check the box marked Drift Correction next to BlackHole.
Also in Audio MIDI setup, click the + again and create an AGGREGATE DEVICE and and call it INTO ZOOM. Check the USE box next to ZoomAudioDevice.
Step 3: Logic setup
Open Logic (or your chosen DAE) and set the output in the Audio Preferences (preferences/audio) to LOGIC TO ZOOM.
Step 4: Ladiocast setup
Open Ladiocast and select Built-in Microphone as the first input and Blackhole as your second. In the output of those channels select ZoomAudioDevice. This is essentially mixing the two signals into the input of Zoom.
Step 5 : Zoom setup
In Zoom, go to Preferences/Audio and select INTO ZOOM as your audio input and select whichever output is going to your headphones. For example, Built-in Output or your USB audio device.
Also check the following boxes, as below:
Now when you go to a Zoom meeting you will see a button at the top left of Zoom marked TURN ON ORIGINAL SOUND. Click this once so that it now says TURN OFF ORIGINAL SOUND — this selects the high quality stereo sound option in Zoom.
That’s it! You’re good to go. Have fun and write some great songs!
Tim Bran
