Ben's Toolbox for Logic Pro
Ben's Toolbox is a macOS app that automates recurring Logic Pro work and makes it accessible via macOS, Stream Deck, iPad Remote and iPhone Motion. This documentation not only describes how to get started, but also all important tools, options and typical workflows.
The Mac app is always the central authority. Stream Deck, iPad and iPhone send commands or control data to the Mac app. The Mac app checks license, status, presets, logic windows, scanned data and performs the actual action in Logic Pro.
Ben's Toolbox is not a single shortcut package, but a coherent Logic Pro system: Mac app, own MIDI device, Stream Deck plugin, iPad Remote and iPhone Motion access the same database. This allows complex studio workflows to be triggered via buttons, gestures or prepared presets without having to navigate through Logic menus each time.
Workflow Toolkit OverviewOverall overview of Ben's Toolbox.
YouTube channelAll current and upcoming tutorials.
| USP | What's important about it | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Bounce WAV | Multiple mixes, stems, versions and deliverables are prepared as repeatable Bounce rounds. Naming rules, audio settings, dictionary, track selection and export folders are part of the workflow. | macOS App, iPad Remote |
| Live articulations with feedback | Articulations are read from Logic, displayed on iPad and Stream Deck and can be triggered live there. The interface shows which playing technique is active. | iPad Remote, Stream Deck, Logic Pro |
| MIDI Recall via CC Monitor | Using the CC Monitor, the iPad articulation control can better track the current state in Logic. This means that not only is the signal transmitted, but the musical state can also be reported back. | iPad Remote, Logic MIDI FX, articulation tracks |
| Dynamics control with the iPhone | Movement, height, direction or activation gestures become MIDI CC, Pitch Bend, vibrato or articulation control. The mapping is in the Mac app and can be changed without an iPhone app update. | iPhone Motion, macOS Motion Window |
| Lots of workflow tools | Load plugins, open patches, set outputs, build sends, change gain/Fades, select MIDI-CC lanes, open windows and trigger logic shortcuts. | Mac, iPad, Stream Deck, shortcuts |
| Customizable iPad grid | Buttons, pages, sections, custom images, auto-labels and dynamic lists come from the Mac app. The iPad can therefore be set up as a template-specific control surface. | iPad Remote |
| Own MIDI infrastructure | Ben's Toolbox uses its own virtual MIDI device. This means that shortcuts and triggers run consistently over a controlled connection instead of using loose keyboard macros. | Logic Pro, Stream Deck, iPad, Shortcut Manager |
Ben's Toolbox reads many Logic Pro menus, windows, tables, and panels via the visible names in Logic. Therefore, Ben's Toolbox must be set to the same language in which Logic Pro is running. For example, if Logic runs in German, Ben's Toolbox must also be in German; If Logic is in English, Ben's Toolbox must be in English.
Available languages: German, English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese.
Ben's Toolbox uses its own virtual MIDI controller so that actions from the Mac app, Stream Deck, iPad and shortcuts arrive reliably in Logic Pro. The setup wizard sets up this connection automatically; alternatively, the Ben's Toolbox port can be manually added as a controller input in Logic Pro.
After the first launch, three things are particularly important: Ben's Toolbox requires the macOS accessibility features, Logic Pro must be open, and the required data such as plugins, outputs, buses and articulation sets should be scanned in the Mac app. After that, Stream Deck, iPad and Shortcuts can trigger the same prepared actions.
Almost every tool consists of an action and optional parameters. Example: set_output is the action, the desired output is the parameter. The trigger can be a stream deck button, an iPad button, a shortcut, a URL scheme, or a button in the Mac app.
Stream Deck and iPad do not run Logic automation themselves. You send an action to the Mac app. This keeps license checking, status, local language, Logic window detection and actual automation in one place.
Many options are not hard saved in iPad or Stream Deck. Plugin names, library presets, audio performances, bus performances, I/O names and logic key commands come from the Mac app.
Ben's Toolbox sets up its own virtual MIDI device. Logic receives defined MIDI commands, while the Mac app knows which command belongs to which function. This allows iPad, Stream Deck and Shortcut Manager to trigger the same actions without each interface having to maintain its own logic configurations.
In practical terms, this means: A button can exist on the iPad, on the Stream Deck or as a shortcut and still trigger the same Ben's Toolbox action with the same parameters. The real intelligence remains in the Mac app.
The macOS app provides the actual tools. Use the menu bar symbol to open the windows for scripts, Bouncer, and plugins & Patches, Bus FX, Motion, Shortcut Manager, articulations, settings, license and updates.
| Window | What it is intended for | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Scripts | Overview of executable tools and their parameters. | If you want to get to know a tool or trigger it directly. |
| Bouncer | Batch Bounces, stems, versions, naming rules and export folders. | Before mix submissions, stems, deliverables and version exports. |
| Plugins & patches | Scans for plugins, library presets, outputs, inputs, buses and performances. | After installation, template change or changed I/O names. |
| Bus FX Settings | Preset management for send/bus workflows. | When preparing recurring rooms, delays or FX sends. |
| Shortcut Manager | Own keyboard shortcuts and parameterized actions. | If you want to work without Stream Deck or also via keyboard. |
| Motion | Map iPhone movement to MIDI CC, Pitch Bend and articulation functions. | For live control, vibrato, dynamics or performative controls. |
| Articulations | Read, convert and prepare articulation sets for remote control. | For orchestra libraries, soundtracks and sample libraries with many playing techniques. |
Opens the full Bouncer window. This tool is intended for complex export tasks and is described in detail below.
Exports WAV, AIFF or CAF via Logic Pro. Options include format, bit depth, sample rate, interleaved/split, dithering, normalization, offline/realtime mode, audio tail, tempo information and optional opening of the export folder.
Creates MP3 files with fixed mono/stereo bitrate, quality level, stereo mode, normalization, offline/realtime mode, VBR, smart encoding, filter below 10 Hz, audio tail and tempo information.
Combines both deliverables in one pass. Useful if you regularly need to deliver a high-quality master and also a quick listening version.
Exports audio based on selected ranges and options. This includes Trim Silence, Cycle Only, Extend to End, Format, Bit Depth, Normalization, Bypass FX, Tail, Volume/Pan and Tempo information.
Loads a specified audio FX plugin into the next appropriate slot. Optionally, mono-to-stereo may be preferred if Logic offers multiple variants. Opens a search/prompt workflow. You specify the plugin name or choose it via a remote interface. The prompt can appear on Mac, iPad or both.
Opens a Logic Library Preset. The selection can be made directly or as a prompt. The list comes from the scan in plugins & Patches and can be grouped by subfolders.
Uses saved audio and bus performances on audio or bus tracks. You can trigger a predefined performance directly by pressing a button on iPad, Stream Deck or via a shortcut. Alternatively, the tool opens a prompt in which you can select from the existing performances on the iPad or Mac.
Adds an existing send on the current channel. You can define goal, level and prompt behavior. The available send destinations come from the scanned I/O data.
Creates or uses a prepared bus FX workflow with send name, plugin, destination output and send level. Ideal for recurring spaces, delays or parallel effects.
Sets the output of the active channel. The output can be passed directly as a parameter or selected via prompt.
Changes Fade In, Fade Out, Fade Time, and Fade types. Times can be set absolutely or changed relatively. Fade types include, among others: Out, X, Equal Power and X S.
Sets or changes gain in dB. The mode can be absolute or relative, for example +2dB or -2dB.
Creates a new mono audio track with prepared parameters. Typical options include track name, input, output, number of tracks and optionally a preset. This is particularly useful for recurring recording setups such as voiceovers, solo instruments, DI signals or individual microphones. Creates a new stereo audio track with the same basic parameters. Use this for stereo miking, synthesizers, external instruments, submixes or sources that need to be recorded directly as a stereo signal.
Hover Actions are context-dependent actions directly in the logic channel strip. You move the mouse to a marked location and trigger the appropriate Ben's Toolbox action with a Modifier-Klick. This means you don't have to open the Channel Strip manually, search it or select the target slot in a separate window.
The modifier keys for Hover Actions can be used in Shortcut Manager be adjusted. The usual modifier keys are possible; just be careful not to choose a combination that Logic already uses for important actions of its own. Are recommended Control, option and Cmd.
On the Settings button of an audio or bus channel strip, the hover action opens the appropriate performance picker prompt. Audio performances are offered on audio tracks and bus performances on bus tracks. This allows you to apply saved performance setups directly to the current track.
Hover Actions on Input, Output and Send open the respective routing prompts. The selection lists come from the scanned I/O and bus data of the Mac app. This is particularly useful if you don't want to search for routing destinations via Logic menus, but rather work directly from Ben's Toolbox, iPad, Stream Deck or shortcuts.
On empty instrument or audio FX slots, Hover Actions starts the appropriate plugin or quick insert workflow. For instrument tracks, an instrument can be loaded; For audio FX slots, an audio effect is inserted into the empty slot. Alternatively, a prompt can be opened to select from the scanned plugins.
Sets the velocity of selected MIDI events to a target value. This is useful for quick unification or special values like very low trigger velocities.
Jumps to the next available CC or automation track in the Piano Roll.
Select a piano roll CC lane directly. Typical controllers such as volume, pan, modulation, Pitch Bend, velocity, balance, breath, foot, portamento, expression, sustain, aftertouch, program change, surround parameters and CC 20 to CC 32 are supported.
Sets an articulation based on a name, for example legato, staccato or pizzicato. The tool looks for a suitable entry in the articulation menu of the current track.
Triggers articulations according to slot index 1 to 32. This mode is particularly suitable for Stream Deck and iPad because buttons can be placed directly on slots.
Opens the Articulation Picker for quick selection in Logic.
Reads the current articulation set of the active track and writes it to the shared state for Stream Deck and iPad. This is the most important refresh step if the remote interface does not show the expected playing techniques.
Opens the current Logic project's folder in Finder.
Sets the SMPTE position to zero at the current playhead position.
Toggles the Visual/Grid Helper on or off. The status is reported back to remote surfaces.
Triggers any logic key commands. The key command list is provided from the Logic command data and is searchable on iPad and Stream Deck.
Rescans I/O and bus names. Use this after template changes, changed output names or audio interface changes.
Creates or names markers based on a passed name.
Inserts a MIDI region in a selected color. Available colors are red, yellow, green, blue and purple.
The Bouncer is the most comprehensive export tool in Ben's Toolbox. It is intended for recurring deliveries: mixes, instrumentals, TV tracks, stems, single tracks, variants and custom deliverables.
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| Destination | Export folder, project name and target structure. |
| Bounce Rounds | Multiple export passes with their own settings. |
| Track selection | Which tracks or groups are exported. |
| Mute Rules | Which tracks are muted for specific rounds. |
| Audio settings | Format, sample rate, bit depth, MP3 options and Bounce mode. |
| Name presets | Prefixes, suffixes, numbering, customer specifications and export names. |
| Dictionary | Replacement or normalization of track names. |
| Main presets | Complete Bouncer configurations for recurring projects. |
For the sensible use of Bouncer presets, a uniform naming of subgroups, instruments, audio tracks and stem groups is very helpful. Presets, mute rules, track selection and dictionary refer to the names and structure of your Logic project. The more consistent these names are, the more reliably a preset can be applied to different arrangements.
A simple example: If vocal tracks and vocal subgroups in your projects are always named according to the same principle, a Bouncer preset needs significantly fewer special rules to correctly create main mix, instrumental, TV track or vocal stems. Inconsistent names, on the other hand, force more exceptions and increase the likelihood that a trace will be mishandled in a Bounce round.
A Bounce round is a saved export pass within a Bouncer setup. The Bouncer processes the rounds one after the other. Each round can have its own track selection, mute rules, Bounce type, export type, dictionary usage and Fade setting.
A round does not only contain the tracks that are to be actively exported. It can also contain mute-only tracks. These tracks are not part of the solo/export selection, but will be temporarily muted before export if a mute rule or manual scheduled mute selection requires it.
A Bouncer preset does not describe fixed track IDs, but rather rules with which tracks are found in the current project. This allows a preset to be applied to similar projects as long as the naming and structure remains consistent.
| Rule | Meaning |
|---|---|
| name contains | The rule applies if the track name contains the entered text. Upper/lower case is ignored. |
| Name exact | The rule only applies if the track name corresponds exactly to the entered text after trimming. |
| Track type | A rule can be limited to all tracks or to specific types: Audio, Instrument, Aux, Subgroup, Master, Output or Unknown. Folders are not used as Bounce candidates when creating rounds. |
| Scope | For Aux and Subgroup, you can also decide whether the rule should apply to all suitable tracks or only to top-level tracks. This is important when a template contains nested groups. |
The preset mode decides how the main rules are interpreted. In Include mode only tracks that meet one main rule will be included; An optional counter-filter can exclude individual hits again. In Exclude mode In principle, all non-excluded tracks are included; an optional counter-filter can resume certain tracks despite exclusion.
Mute Rules are separate from it. You add tracks to the round as mute-only tracks if these tracks are not already part of the round. So you can e.g. For example, for an instrumental mix, mute all vocal tracks without treating the vocal tracks as separate export tracks.
A preset is created in the Preset Manager. It stores the preset name, include/exclude mode, main rules, optional counter rules, mute rules, Bounce type, export/Bounce type, online/offline behavior, stem option, dictionary usage and the Fade option.
Instrumental, Drums Stem or TV mix.
An instrumental can be built in Exclude mode: The main rules look for vocal terms like vox, vocal, lead vox or choir. The Bouncer then includes all non-excluded tracks in the round. If you still want certain vocal FX returns to remain in the mix, they can be recorded again using the counter filter. Alternatively, vocal tracks can be muted using mute rules if the round is to run as a shared mix.
A drums stem is typically an include preset. The main rules are looking for that's why, kick, snare or a top-level subgroup called Drums. If only the group track is to be exported, the track type should be set appropriately, e.g. B. Subgroup with top level scope. If individual audio tracks are to be exported, the filtering is based on audio or instrument tracks.
A Main Preset is a complete Bouncer setup. It saves not just a single track selection preset, but the entire working configuration: selected name preset, click check, low latency check, Bounce master, cycle reference, master FX, audio settings snapshot, final Fade settings and all Bounce rounds as templates.
The rounds are not restored as rigid old track objects when loading a main preset. The Bouncer reconstructs them based on the saved preset names and the current scanned tracks. Planned mutes are reassigned using a stable key consisting of track number and track name. This is why a Main Preset is particularly useful for recurring project types, but it requires that the template structure and naming remain similar.
A name preset defines how export files are named. It consists of a prefix, separator, optional stem building block, postfix and the option to write the name in capital letters. Without a name preset, the Bouncer uses the mapped track name or, for together rounds, the project name and round name.
For single exports, the file name is built from the project name, optional stem component, track name and postfix. If multiple tracks had the same name after dictionary mapping, the Bouncer automatically appends a number like -2 so that no files are overwritten.
The Dictionary normalizes names. A dictionary entry consists of a target word and several synonyms. If a track name contains a synonym or exactly matches the target word, the Bouncer uses the target word for the export name. This can result in inconsistent names like Violins 1, See 1 or Violin I become a uniform export name.
Dictionary usage can be saved per preset or round. In Together-Rounds, the naming is more round-based; the dictionary is especially important for single/stem outputs where track names become file names directly.
| option | What happens at startup? |
|---|---|
| Check click | The Bouncer checks the metronome/click status in Logic and tries to turn off the click before the Bounce. This prevents accidentally bounced click tracks. |
| Check low latency | The Bouncer checks the Low Latency Mode and tries to switch it off. If this doesn't work, the process stops because an active low latency mode can change mix and plugin behavior. |
| Bounce Master | Adds an additional main round for master out. This round contains all non-folder tracks and is intended as a master/main Bounce. |
| Cycle Reference | Selects a track as a reference for the Bounce area. The Bouncer selects this track and sets the cycle over the first and last region of this track. If a cycle reference is selected, the Bouncer forces the cycle range during export. |
| Master FX Off | Selects the specified master track and deactivates active plugins on this track before the Bounce rounds. This is intended for deliverables where mastering or limiter plugins should not be on stems or specific versions. |
The audio settings of the Bouncers correspond to the relevant audio and export settings from Logic. They are in the Bouncer in areas for Bounce, export and Shortcut Manager divided. Here z. B. Format, sample rate, bit depth, normalize behavior, export range, tail/volume/tempo options and the Fade parameters prepared.
These audio settings are saved together with the Fade settings in the Main Preset. This means that a Main Preset can not only restore the Bounce rounds and track rules, but also load the associated Logic-compatible audio settings for recurring deliverables.
The Fade checkbox of a round or a preset activates automatic post-processing of the generated audio file. WAV, AIFF/AIF and CAF are supported. After the Bounce, the Bouncer analyzes the end of the file, looks for end silence and renders a Fade out using the saved final Fade settings.
The audio settings store the threshold, hold time, Fade duration, cut-end and hard-end behavior. If real silence is detected at the end, the Fade can be set from this point onwards and the end can optionally be shortened. If there is no end silence, the hard-end Fade can grab and put a short Fade at the end of the file. This option is particularly useful for stems or mix versions where you want to automatically clean up reverb tails, empty ends or hard ends.
The Bouncer can be operated from the iPad. The configuration remains on the Mac, but tracks, presets, destination folders, Bounce laps and statuses are transferred to the iPad. An iPad start shows the progress on the remote interface and can display status windows on the Mac.
| option | Benefit | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| Project scan | Reads tracks, groups, project name and existing structure. | Before every major export run after template changes. |
| Destination Path | Specifies where export files are written. | Project name - Bouncer Tool export alongside the Logic project. |
| Bounce Rounds | Multiple export passes in one setup. | Main Mix, Instrumental, TV Mix, Drums Stem, Strings Stem. |
| Track include/exclude | Defines which tracks are active per round. | Mute vocals for instrumental, only export stems. |
| Mute by Bouncer | The Bouncer remembers which tracks it has temporarily changed. | After exporting, return to the musical working state. |
| Name presets | Reusable filename building blocks. | Customer, Project, Version, Date, BPM, Key, Round Name. |
| Dictionary | Automatically replaces or normalizes names. | Violins 1 becomes too Vlns_1, unwanted special characters are removed. |
| Audio settings | Defines format, sample rate, bit depth, MP3 options and Bounce mode. | WAV 48 kHz/24 bit plus MP3 listening socket. |
| Main presets | Stores complete Bouncer setups. | One preset for trailers, one for song mixes, one for stem submissions. |
| Open Export Folder | After exporting, opens the target folder directly. | Quick control or transfer to upload/backup. |
| Cancel | Cancels an ongoing process. | If a round was configured incorrectly. |
This window provides the database for many other tools. It scans and manages plugin names, library presets, I/O elements, buses, outputs, audio performances and bus performances.
Bus FX Settings is the administration for fast send workflows. You define a kind of recipe: name, target, plugin, output and send level. A button on iPad, Stream Deck or in Shortcut Manager can then execute this workflow.
This management is also present on the iPad. There you can check existing triggers, create new triggers, check plugin, output and send values and rescan I/O and bus data if necessary.
The Shortcut Manager is the bridge between Ben's Toolbox actions and your own keyboard controls. It is also helpful if you want to prepare complex actions without immediately building a Stream Deck layout.
If a shortcut doesn't respond, first check if the same command from the Scripts window works. If it works there, the problem usually lies in the shortcut, focus or parameter values.
The Visual Helper places a visual aid on top of Logic Pro and is based on visible arrangement, ruler and locator data. It is helpful if you want to recognize rhythmic distances, locator positions or grid points in the arrangement more quickly.
To optimally use the articulation options of Ben's Toolbox with Logic Pro, an existing articulation set is necessary. Ben's Toolbox does not replace library articulations, but rather prepares existing Logic articulation sets so that they can be used reliably live, during later editing as well as on iPad and Stream Deck.
Ben's Toolbox works with the articulation sets that you already use in Logic Pro. In order to switch live, this must be in these sets Remote switch be active. So that you don't have to enter these values manually, Ben's Toolbox contains a conversion script for existing type sets.
During conversion, the existing articulation set file is overwritten as a working file. Beforehand, Ben's Toolbox automatically creates a backup of the original file. The existing playing techniques will be converted so that Ben's Toolbox can use them for live use, post-editing, iPad and Stream Deck. Remote Switch is activated, the required values are entered and the MIDI channel is opened 16 set. Ben's Toolbox does the rest.
On the iPad, articulation sets are presented as a separate performance page. At the top you can see the connection to the Mac, the active track and the articulation set read. The large tiles trigger the playing techniques directly; Each generated MIDI event is mapped via the playing technique and velocity. Velocity uses Logic coloring so that recorded articulation changes can be quickly recognized later in Logic. The active articulation can be reported back in color when the CC Monitor is used on the logic track.
| Area | What can be seen? | What is it intended for? |
|---|---|---|
| Header | Connection to Mac, active track, articulation set, live/auto/CC status. | Quickly check whether the iPad page belongs to the correct Logic track. |
| Articulation tiles | Playing techniques such as legato, staccato, pizzicato, tremolo or longs. Every triggered event is written with playing technique and velocity. | Trigger slots live without having to search in the Logic menu and recognize the played changes in Logic based on the velocity coloring. |
| Track navigation | Arrows on the left move to the previous or next track. | Jump between instrument tracks and display the appropriate set again. |
| CC lanes | Freely configurable controller lanes on the left of the page, e.g. B. Expression, modulation, CC21 or your own CC targets. | Play important controllers directly next to the articulations and adapt them per lane to the musical workflow. |
| Read / Active | Every lane can Read (green) or Active (blue). | Read shows or accepts values, Active makes the lane the actively played controller. |
| Vertical slider with side slider | Each vertical CC slider also has a side slider for a second value. CC numbers and values can be freely chosen. | Trigger vertical and horizontal CC values simultaneously with one controller, e.g. B. Modulation plus vibrato or expression plus timbre. |
| CC-Fader and CC buttons | Controller at the bottom or left of the page; the assignment is freely configurable. | Control dynamics, expression, vibrato and common MIDI controllers directly while playing. |
| Background image | Instrument image from Image Dictionary. | Visual orientation for large templates and many library groups. |
The conversion edits the existing one .plistfile in the Logic folder ~/Music/Audio Music Apps/Articulation Settings. The file will be overwritten, but the original file will be saved in the subfolder first Bens Toolbox Backup saved. This allows you to return to the original set if necessary.
In the work file, Ben's Toolbox activates Remote Switch, enters the required switch values and converts the existing game techniques so that they can be clearly triggered by Ben's Toolbox and later processed further in Logic. The MIDI channel must be included 16 be.
For optimal control of articulations, the CC Monitor as MIDI FX on every Logic track that works with articulations. The plugin helps Ben's Toolbox to report the current articulation state back from Logic and to more reliably align the control via Stream Deck, iPad Remote and Motion with the musical state of the track.
In practical terms, this means: iPad and Stream Deck can not only trigger articulations, but also display the active state better. Motion workflows and remote controls also benefit from this because Ben's Toolbox knows more precisely which gaming technology is active on the track. Therefore, use the plugin on tracks with articulation sets if you want to use live feedback, MIDI recall or the cleanest possible remote control.
| Target | Preparation | What to pay attention to? |
|---|---|---|
| Play live | The existing set is prepared for live release through the conversion. | Remote Switch must be active; Ben's Toolbox enters the necessary values. |
| Edit playing techniques | The converted playing techniques remain editable in Logic. | After major changes to the articulation set, reload the set in Logic and reread it in Ben's Toolbox. |
| Remote feedback | Have active articulation reported back via the CC Monitor and MIDI recall. | Without a plugin, a surface can send, but cannot automatically know every external state change. |
| Great libraries | Break complex sets into appropriate iPad or stream deck pages. | Not all rare effects have to go to the first level; Quick orientation is important. |
Bens Toolbox Backup secured.MIDI Recall is particularly helpful when not only a button is pressed, but the interface should know the current state. The CC Monitor can return articulation information from the Logic context to Ben's Toolbox. This means the iPad or stream deck display can stay closer to what is actually musically active.
When triggering articulations live via iPad or Stream Deck, if the Piano Roll is not in focus, Logic may flash briefly or visibly change focus. The reason is not a bug in the function, but rather that the wrong window for setting the articulation is active. The articulation is still triggered; flashing does not affect functionality. If it bothers you, click on the piano roll once. As long as the Piano Roll remains the active window, the flashing disappears.
The Stream Deck is the fastest hardware interface for Ben's Toolbox. It can trigger tools, windows, logic key commands, articulations, Visual Helper and prepared workflows.
When started, Ben's Toolbox checks whether Stream Deck is installed and whether the Ben's Toolbox plugin is present. If the plugin is missing, the app can offer to download it. If an older plugin version is installed, an update window appears and, after downloading, opens the Stream-Deck-Plugin for installation.
Many Ben's Toolbox buttons are set up directly in the Property Inspector of the Stream Deck app. There you can specify whether a button immediately works with a fixed parameter or opens a prompt when pressed. The lists come from the Mac app's data: scanned plugins, library presets, outputs, sends, audio performances, bus performances and bus FX presets.
At Bus FX Settings and Open Library Preset Many buttons can automatically receive the appropriate image. The Stream-Deck-Plugin comes with over 1000 images for plugins and software instruments. You can use this automatic image selection, deactivate it or use your own or manually selected image at any time.
Articulation buttons on the Stream Deck can be created universally. The buttons are not tied to a specific instrument, but rather adapt to the instrument or articulation set of the currently selected Logic track. This allows the same Stream Deck page to be used for different libraries, instruments and articulation sets.
The button at the top right of the Stream Deck articulation page is the Read Articulationbutton. It reads the articulation set of the currently selected track again and at the same time shows which set is currently active. This is particularly helpful when switching between instruments or checking whether the Stream Deck page matches the current Logic track.
Setting up with automatic articulation buttons is particularly quick: If you drag and drop these buttons onto the Stream Deck, each button counts up its slot independently. So you only create the buttons once; They are automatically assigned the correct slot and can then be used by any track with an existing articulation set. The stream deck page is therefore quick to set up and can be used universally for different instruments.
A button press has two tasks: If a MIDI event is selected in the piano roll, its articulation is changed to the playing technique pressed. If no region or MIDI event is selected for editing, the same key press sets the playing technique for live playing. This means you don't have to differentiate between separate editing and live buttons.
Stream deck buttons can also be used as MIDI-CC or performance parameter buttons. The buttons not only send a value, but can automatically respond to the current Logic state: the active parameter is highlighted on the Stream Deck, while Logic shows the appropriate automation or MIDI lane. This makes it immediately visible whether you are currently controlling modulation, expression, sustain, Pitch Bend, velocity or another controller.
| property | Description |
|---|---|
| Action | Ben's Toolbox tool, logic shortcut, window, articulation slot or prepared workflow. |
| Parameters | Output, plugin, preset, CC target, gain value, Fade time, articulation index or prompt mode. |
| label | Can be set manually or created automatically from Tool, Logic Shortcut, Preset or Articulation. |
| Icon | Tool-specific icons, plugin matches, custom images or stream deck standard display. |
| status | Active articulation slot, visual helper state, update notice or connection status. |
| Source | Button can use the same backend command from Stream Deck, iPad or Shortcut Manager. |
Ben's Toolbox Remote is the touch interface for iPad. It connects to the Mac app over the local network. The Mac app provides tool catalog, window list, texts, images, presets, articulation status and Bouncer data.
The catalog contains Bounce, plugins, performances, mixing, audio, MIDI, articulations and utilities. Many tools have parameters, search lists or status feedback. The Grid/Visual Helper toggle is also available in the catalog.
| preset | Contents |
|---|---|
| Windows | opens Mac windows like plugins & Patches, Bus FX, Motion, Scripts and Shortcuts. |
| transport | Begin, Rewind, Play/Stop, Forward, Record, Capture, Cycle, Click. |
| navigation | Start/End, marker navigation and zoom. |
| Editing | Undo, Redo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Select All, Split. |
| Track Actions | New Track, Duplicate, Delete, Mute, Solo, Record Arm, Rename, Track Navigation. |
| mixer | Mixer, Inspector, Smart Controls, Channel Strip Copy and Plugin Views. |
| Automation | Show automation, Off/Read/Touch/Latch/Write modes, clear automation. |
| MIDIEditing | Quantize, Dequantize, Transpose, Octave, Join Notes, Mute Note. |
| Articulations | Slots 1 to 29 plus Read Articulations. |
| Prompts | Quick Insert, Library Preset, Bus Performance, Audio Performance, Add Send, FX Send, Output, new audio tracks. |
| Helper | Project folder, SMPTE, I/O scan, read articulations, open window, piano roll, markers. |
| gain & Hover Actions | relative gain changes, Fade times, Fade types and reset. |
| MIDI CC | Modulation, Expression, Pitch Bend, Sustain, Volume, Pan, Velocity, Aftertouch, CC 21-23. |
iPad can display Bouncer data and start Bounce operations. Presets, Dictionary, Name Presets and Audio Settings are managed and synchronized by the Mac app.
The iPad app can display active articulations, trigger slots and work with background images. Your own images can be made available via the Mac app; Large, iPad-compatible images are recommended.
The iPad grid can be built as a large, template-specific control surface. Pages and sections structure the buttons by work area: prompts, logic tools, helpers, gain/Fade, articulations or your own setups. This means that even a very large button layout can be used without having to put everything on a single layer.
| option | Description |
|---|---|
| pages | Multiple controller pages for different workspaces, templates or instrument groups. |
| Sections | Ready-made groups such as transport, editing, mixer, MIDI, articulations, Bouncer or your own tool groups. |
| Grid size | Button areas can be organized as a grid so that iPad pages can be laid out densely or generously. |
| Own labels | Buttons can be named manually. |
| Car label | If no custom name is set, labels automatically come from tool names, logic shortcuts, presets, CC targets or articulation names. |
| Own pictures | Buttons, sections and articulation backgrounds can be provided with your own images from the Mac app. |
| Dynamic lists | Plugins, presets, outputs, busses and logic shortcuts are loaded from the Mac app. |
| Folders/subpages | Complex setups can be divided so that large templates remain usable. |
| All shortcuts can be triggered | Logic Key commands and Ben's Toolbox shortcuts can be triggered from the iPad. |
For sample libraries with many playing techniques, the articulation system is one of the most important workflows. Ben's Toolbox reads the articulation set of the active track, builds a remote representation from it and displays the slots on iPad and Stream Deck. When switching, the active state can be reported back.
If the CC Monitor is on the logic track as MIDI FX, MIDI recall can help to better track the current articulation state. This ties the iPad interface closer to the actual musical state: press button, Logic receives the articulation, feedback goes back to iPad and Stream Deck.
Ben's Toolbox Motion uses motion and optionally position data from the iPhone to control MIDI CC, Pitch Bend, articulations and performance parameters. The configuration is in the macOS app so that mappings and display can be changed without adjusting the iPhone app.
The iPhone app provides the movement data; the actual configuration is on the Mac. This allows new mappings, presets, CC targets and activation gestures to be changed without customizing the iPhone app itself.
An important iPhone motion tool is articulation control via the volume buttons. The existing playing techniques are directly available for selection for the currently recognized articulation set. The assignment is automatically saved for each recognized set; Alternatively, settings can also be saved manually as a preset and reloaded.
Each volume button can hold two articulations: a main slot and a toggle slot. If you press the button while the main slot is active, it will jump to the toggle slot. If the toggle slot is active, it jumps back to the main slot. If neither articulation is currently active, the main slot is set first; with repeated use, the button switches between both slots. This allows a single volume button to be used e.g. B. switch between legato and tremolo or between staccato and pizzicato.
Pitch Bend should not constantly react to every small movement. Therefore an activation gesture can be used. When activated, the current iPhone height is set as the zero point. A clean sine wave can be used for vibrato; The movement then determines intensity or activation rather than the actual shape of the curve.
The Motion Live Preview shows mappings, values and curves. Sine Vibrato uses a true sine representation to show what is being sent musically.
| Musical goal | movement | Mapping |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamics/expression | Lift iPhone slowly | Y or height on CC 11, CC 1 or instrument-specific dynamics. |
| Activate vibrato | Move iPhone forward | Z axis as activation trigger, Pitch Bend or CC only active afterwards. |
| Vibrato intensity | Move iPhone up | The amplitude of a sinusoid increases, the actual curve remains clean. |
| Filter/timbre | Tilt or rotate | X/Y axis on CC 74, CC 71 or library specific controller. |
| Articulation | short, defined gesture | Trigger Ben's Toolbox articulation action. |
| Safe zero point | Activation gesture | Current altitude or position is set as a neutral starting point. |
Each lane can optionally only be activated by a different movement. This prevents normal hand movements from immediately sending MIDI. Example: Z axis forward activated Pitch Bend; only then does the height control the vibrato intensity. If the iPhone is withdrawn, Pitch Bend is deactivated again.
These windows can be opened remotely via iPad or Stream Deck:
System windows such as Settings, License or About are not offered as a remote catalog in the same way.
This table summarizes which parameters the most important tools typically have and why they are relevant in practice. The specific selection may vary depending on the tool catalog, scan status and logic context.
| Tool | Important options | Remote use |
|---|---|---|
| Bounce WAV | Main Presets, Bounce Rounds, Destination, Track Selection, Mute Rules, Audio Settings, Name Presets, Dictionary, Open Export Folder, Cancel. | iPad can use tracks, presets, status and Bounce start. |
| Bounce WAV | Format WAV/AIFF/CAF, bit depth, sample rate, interleaved/split, dither, normalize, offline/realtime, audio tail, tempo info. | iPad, Stream Deck or Shortcut can trigger fixed Bounce presets. |
| Bounce MP3 | Bitrate, Mono/Stereo, Quality, VBR, Smart Encoding, Filter under 10 Hz, Normalize, Audio Tail, Tempo Info. | Ideal as a quick listening mix button. |
| export | Cycle Only, Trim Silence, Extend to End, Format, Bit Depth, Bypass FX, Volume/Pan, Tail. | For quick region or area exports. |
| AddFX plugin | Plugin name, slot behavior, mono/stereo variant, prompt or direct parameter. | iPad/Stream Deck show plugins after scanning and can use auto icons. |
| CC | Search text, prompt target Mac/iPad/both, plugin selection, dynamic list. | Very fast for frequently changing plugins. |
| Open Library Preset | Preset name, subfolder, direct selection or prompt. | Remote lists are created from the library scan. |
| Shortcut Manager | Bus destination, send level, prompt mode, scanned outputs/buses. | Button can generate a send directly. |
| FX Send Preset | Trigger name, plugin, output, send level, prompt or fixed workflow. | A button creates recurring rooms/delays/FX sends. |
| Set output | Output destination, prompt or direct parameter, scanned I/O list. | Very useful for stem routing and template switching. |
| New Audio Mono/Stereo | Track name, input, output, mono/stereo, number or preset. | Custom track buttons for recording setups. |
| Hover Actions | Fade-In, Fade-Out, absolute/relative time, Fade type, reset. | Fast editing buttons without Inspector search. |
| Set gain | Absolute value or relative change in dB. | Buttons like -1 dB, +1 dB, -3 dB, reset. |
| Set velocity | Target value for selected MIDI events. | Piano Roll Workflow on iPad/Stream Deck. |
| Set CC | CC target such as Modulation, Expression, Pitch Bend, Sustain, Volume, Pan, Aftertouch, CC 20-32. | Jump straight to the correct lane. |
| Logic shortcut | Any key command exported from Logic, searchable and triggerable. | All shortcuts can be triggered by iPad and Stream Deck. |
| Articulations | Set Articulation, Trigger Slot 1-32, Read Articulations, Articulation Menu, MIDI Recall. | Live feedback on iPad and Stream Deck. |
| Visual Helper | Enabled, Shape, Width, Grid Mode, Opacity, Color. | Remote toggle and status display. |
| Motion Mapping | Source, axis, direction, range, target CC/Pitch Bend, activation trigger, zero point, sine vibrato. | iPhone as a performative controller. |
| Open Window | Window ID for Bouncer, Motion, Plugins & Patches, Bus FX, scripts, shortcuts, articulations. | iPad/Stream Deck open the appropriate Mac view. |
The macOS app is the center and is always needed. Stream Deck Plugin, iPad Remote and iPhone Motion are additional user interfaces. Without the Mac app running, you cannot control Logic Pro.
The app requires macOS operating aids so that Logic Pro can be read and controlled reliably. Network access, MIDI and access to local files may also be relevant for certain functions.
When triggering articulations live via iPad or Stream Deck, if the Piano Roll is not in focus, Logic may flash briefly or visibly change focus. The reason is not a bug in the function, but rather that the wrong window for setting the articulation is active. The articulation is still triggered; flashing does not affect functionality. If it bothers you, click on the piano roll once. As long as the Piano Roll remains the active window, the flashing disappears.
Check whether the Elgato Stream Deck app is installed, the Ben's Toolbox plugin appears in the Stream Deck plugin list and Ben's Toolbox has been restarted after installation. If an old version is installed, the Mac app update window should offer the Stream Deck update.
iPad and Mac must be on the same local network. Also check that Ben's Toolbox is running, the remote connection is active in the Mac app and no firewall is blocking the local WebSocket port.
If possible, use a stable local WiFi and check in the Motion window whether Live Preview and unnecessary windows are closed. With AR mappings, the position can be more smoothed than pure sensor signals.
Check that Logic is in the foreground, the project has fully loaded, and Ben's Toolbox has been able to rescan the tracklist. For large templates, rescanning after loading the project can help.
Logs are located in the user folder Library/Logs/BensToolbox or in the app support/log area of the installed version. For support, app version, macOS version, Logic version and a short description of the reproducible flow are helpful.
Check that Ben's Toolbox is running, Logic is open, accessibility features are enabled, and the action works directly in the Mac app.
Scan into plugins & Repatch the affected category. Then reconnect iPad or Stream Deck or reload the catalog.
Check active track, reread articulation set and put CC Monitor on the track as MIDI FX.
Check mapping lane: target, axis, range, direction and activation condition. For Pitch Bend, also check the pitch bend range in the instrument.
Briefly change the zoom level in Logic and then check the position again. Grid View currently does not work correctly with Piano Roll displayed; we are working on a correction.
Here you will find the most important changes to the current versions of Ben's Toolbox.
