Chris Sangster’s Logic Pro Toolbar Breakdown: The Secret Sauce You’ve Been Sleeping On

Let’s be real—most of us have been using Logic Pro for years without ever noticing that sneaky little toolbar hiding up top. Chris Sangster kicks things off by admitting it took him five years to even realize it existed. That’s like finding out your apartment has a second bathroom after you’ve already moved out. The toolbar lives just above the control bar and can be summoned with a click or a three-finger salute (Ctrl + Option + Command + T, if you’re feeling fancy).

What makes this toolbar special? It’s basically a shortcut buffet for all those editing, MIDI, and project functions that usually require a scavenger hunt through menus or remembering keyboard shortcuts. Chris points out that while you could get to these features elsewhere, having them all laid out in one spot is a serious workflow flex. If you’re tired of menu-diving every time you want to split a region or bounce a track, this toolbar is about to be your new best friend.

Now we’re cooking with gas. Chris dives into the advanced features hiding in the toolbar, like Automation Quick Access—a sleeper hit that lets you control any automation parameter with a single MIDI fader or knob. If you’re into hands-on tweaking, this is a game-changer. He also covers the articulation button for switching up instrument sounds on the fly, and the infamous Track Zoom (which he calls one of Logic’s most annoying features—preach).

But the real sauce is in the MIDI tools. Note Repeat lets you hold down a key and spit out hi-hat or synth patterns faster than you can say “trap beat.” You can even change rhythm, velocity, and gate in real time using your mod wheel, aftertouch, or pitch wheel. And if you mess up? Spot Erase lets you delete notes on the fly, straight from your MIDI keyboard. These aren’t just party tricks—they’re workflow weapons for anyone who wants to get creative without getting bogged down in menus.

Chris wraps things up by pitching his free Logic Pro Optimization Guide, but the real takeaway is how this video serves both newbies and seasoned Logic heads. He’s not just rattling off features—he’s showing how to actually use them to make your sessions smoother and your beats tighter. From niche tools like Crop and Stretch to Locators, to arrangement power moves like Repeat Section and Insert Silence, there’s something here for everyone.

If you’re the type who likes to learn by watching, Chris’s style is super approachable—no tech jargon, just real talk and practical hacks. And let’s be honest, some of these tricks are way easier to see in action than to read about. So if you want to stop fighting Logic and start making it work for you, this video is the cheat sheet you didn’t know you needed.