No, I'm not using VEP - I had strongly considered doing so before the update, but I no longer have a need for it.
My only other setup tips:
- make extensive use of screen sets: I have 9 different screen sets, so that I can quickly jump to what I need to focus on (eg piano roll, mixer, instrument panel, etc)
- if you're using logic user patches, make sure to give them unique names (not just unique path directory), otherwise, the correct patch will play, but it may show in the logic library directory as if it's playing the wrong one (it gets confused by patches of the same name in different directories)
- use Logic Colourizer from Creationauts to tweak the UI: the full version is pricey considering what it is ($40 just for simply changing colors!), but the demo version will let you tweak just the main page, which I use to enhance the selected track, and make it standout (see screenshot)
- use the browser window to quickly store chords and chord progressions (see right hand panel in screenshot): I created a project with a single chord on each track, based on a single major and its relative minor key: I have a number of extended chords for each scale degree for both C Major and A Minor, and can then use the transpose feature on a track to cover any key required (below you can see those I used for the 1st scale degree, and some of the 2nd. I can then very quickly create novel chord progressions, without needing that project to be open, but by just pulling in a track into my current project using the browser feature in Logic. I also similarly store chord progressions in the same way, which I imported from those available in Scaler and the Unison chord pack, and again store 1 per track. Need a ii-V-bIII-I? progression. No problem, just pull it in, and it's done! I have these for major/minor and diatonic and extended chords, so just 4 files to cover a good range of options for chord progressions. I have this window on a screenset, so I can quickly pull it up when needed, but it's otherwise out of the way.
- when using the new disabled tracks feature in Logic, set the link in the instrument window to single (purple), not multi (yellow) as I initially did: with it set to multi, the instrument window does not open when switching to a previously unloaded track, but when set to single it does.
- not strictly about setup, but the place I find the most useful, concise points on Logic are from Mikael Baggstrom
here: his style is quirky, and won't be to everyone's taste, but I find his short videos really useful and learn something every time.
I'm certainly no Logic expert, but really like this setup now. Hopefully more experienced users can share additional tips they've been able to make better use of since the update?