tpantano,
There are numerous ways to record music. Think about if someone asked you how to create a movie. Some people record one track at a time, and in midi or in audio. Some use an internal sequencer and set it all up in there, and then either record one track at a time or record all the tracks at once. Others midi up multiple keyboards and record them all at once. Others use loops, etc. etc. Over time you have to find the way you like to record best and that can only come with experience. It took me a long time to find my best method of working.
An easy way for you to get started is to use the loops in Logic. They are located in the media browser and they are very good. This way you can lay down a drum track, a pad, etc. and then lay down a melody line and bass using the R3 for example. Later you can make your own drum patterns in Ultrabeat and record multiple tracks using the R3 as well as continuing to use the loops as you wish. Just start simple and easy and work your way up. I know this is difficult at the beginning and I feel for you. I really do but you can do it. Once you get past a certain hump you'll be sailing. Keep recording even if it sucks. You'll discover aha moments along the way but doing it continuously is the only way.
To use a loop, you can grab a couple of drum loops that go together, drag them to the Logic tracks and hit the loop button in Logic or option-drag to copy them to the measures where you want them. This way you can lay out the basic structure of the song and fill it in as you go, for example. This is a very easy way to experiment.
The delay effect you mention is indeed awkward. I've just run into that myself. In one measure it works great because the chord in the next measure is the same so it just blends nicely but in the next part, the next measure is a different chord so the extended delay sounds horrible.
There are ways to deal with it, none are great. You can record one track with the delay up to that measure. Then record a second track with that loop with the delay off for that measure only. You could even put another effect entirely on that one measure. Logic has over 100 plug-ins and they are good so there's plenty to play with there.
At a measure you could have both, one dry track and one wet track and blend them using automation so the reverb one tapers down at the end of the measure. There are ways to automate the fx only but that's for another day.
You can use automation to taper down the loop right at the end of that measure. Up at the top of the Logic menu go to Region, View Automation. Then you have to know how to use it. You just click the first point so that it is the same db, then click a second point where you want to lower the volume to nothing, and drag the point down to the bottom. That will cut off the sound then so it doesn't bleed over into the next measure.
And the third option is just to not use that loop at that measure. There are other options for controlling these things but these are the easiest ones I can think of atm.
Many times I turn off the fx of a patch and put Logic fx on after the fact. It just depends on what else is happening in the piece. I don't know about the R3 but with Korg multis the tracks are created so they work together. If you are recording one patch at a time you may want to take fx off and use Logic fx as needed, as suggested by others. You simply disable the fx in the keyboard and then put it on in Logic. For one thing, this gives you the ability to have the same fx consistent throughout the piece. Consistent reverb type (not amount) gives a cohesive feel. And of course you don't want a muddy mess so using revery sparingly to begin with is a good idea. But there are tons of awesome creative fx in Logic to play with. Space Designer and Delay Designer are very very nice. Use them for reverb and delay to start with. You can start out with the presets.
Again, be totally open to the idea that there are a million ways to do about whatever you want to do in Logic. When I run into a wall, I walk around it until I get what I'm after. Sometimes it's not the best or most efficient way but who cares. It's the end result I'm after.
Trust me (!!!) Go to MacProVideo.com and watch the Logic tutorials and also this one:
http://www.macprovideo.com/tutorial/logic405
which gives you a very simple way to construct a piece. I promise you if you watch the Logic tutorials and this one you will be light years ahead of the game. Just pay $25 for one month and watch them. There's tons more there too. Then if you want to you can stop after a month with no problem. You probably saw a post by Bear that he didn't want to do these tutorials but in the end he did and they were helpful. The main guy does have a voice, lol, but there are many people who speak on the different tutorials. I found them extremely helpful to get up to speed when I was first learning Logic.
Best...
. However, at least I was able to get a full song structure down.
