Logic Pro User Guide for Mac
- Welcome
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- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 11.1
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 11
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.6
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.4
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.2
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.0
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- What is Logic Pro for Mac?
- Logic Pro project basics
- Use menu commands and key commands
- Use the complete set of Logic Pro features
- Undo and redo edits
- Manage Logic Pro content
- How to get help
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- Projects overview
- Create projects
- Open projects
- Save projects
- Delete projects
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- Play a project
- Set the playhead position
- Control playback with the transport buttons
- Use transport shortcut menus
- Use transport key commands
- Customize the control bar
- Change the LCD display mode in Logic Pro for Mac
- Monitor and reset MIDI events
- Use the cycle area
- Use the Chase Events function
- Use Apple Remote to control Logic Pro
- Use Logic Remote to control Logic Pro projects
- Preview projects in the Finder
- Close projects
- View project information
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- Tracks overview
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- Create tracks
- Create tracks using drag and drop
- Create tracks using existing channel strips
- Assign tracks to different channel strips
- Choose the default region type for software instrument tracks
- Select tracks
- Duplicate tracks
- Rename tracks
- Change track icons
- Change track colors
- Reorder tracks
- Zoom tracks
- Replace or double drum sounds
- Control timing with the groove track
- Use selection-based processing
- Edit track parameters
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- Overview
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- Before recording software instruments
- Play software instruments
- Record software instruments
- Record additional software instrument takes
- Overdub software instrument recordings
- Spot erase software instrument recordings
- Use Note Repeat
- Replace software instrument recordings
- Record to multiple software instrument tracks
- Record multiple MIDI devices to multiple tracks
- Record software instruments and audio simultaneously
- Use step input recording techniques
- Record MIDI messages from another music app
- Route MIDI internally to software instrument tracks
- Use the metronome
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- Arranging overview
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- Regions overview
- Select regions
- Select parts of regions
- Cut, copy, and paste regions
- Move regions
- Add or remove gaps
- Delay region playback
- Loop regions
- Repeat regions
- Resize regions
- Mute and solo regions
- Time stretch regions
- Reverse audio regions
- Split regions
- Demix MIDI regions
- Join regions
- Create regions in the Tracks area
- Change the gain of audio regions in the Tracks area
- Normalize audio regions in the Tracks area
- Create aliases of MIDI regions
- Convert repeated MIDI regions to loops
- Change the color of regions
- Convert a MIDI region into a pattern region in Logic Pro for Mac
- Replace a MIDI region with a Session Player region in Logic Pro for Mac
- Convert audio regions to samples for a sampler instrument
- Rename regions
- Delete regions
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- Chords overview
- Add and delete chords
- Select chords
- Cut, copy, and paste chords
- Move and resize chords
- Loop chords on the Chord track
- Transpose chords
- Edit chords
- Work with chord groups
- Use chord progressions
- Change the chord rhythm
- Choose which chords a Session Player region follows
- Analyze the key signature of a range of chords
- Extract vocal and instrumental stems with Stem Splitter
- Create groove templates
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- Overview
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- Add notes
- Select notes
- Snap items to the grid
- Move notes
- Copy notes
- Change the pitch of notes
- Resize notes
- Edit note velocity
- Quantize the timing of notes
- Quantize the pitch of notes
- Change note articulations
- Lock the position of events
- Mute notes
- Change note color
- View note labels
- Delete notes
- Time stretch notes
- View multiple MIDI regions
- Split chords
- Automation/MIDI area in the Piano Roll Editor
- Open other editors
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- Session Players overview
- The Session Player Editor
- Choose a Session Player type and style
- Chords and Session Players
- Choose Session Player presets
- Regenerate a Session Player performance
- Follow rhythm of chords and other tracks
- Work with Drummer multi-channel kits
- Convert Session Player regions into MIDI or pattern regions
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- Logic Pro for Mac advanced editors overview
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- Audio File Editor overview
- Play audio files in the Audio File Editor
- Navigate audio files in the Audio File Editor
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- Audio File Editor edit commands
- Edit audio files with transient markers
- Use the Audio File Editor Pencil tool
- Trim or silence audio files
- Remove DC offset
- Set audio file levels
- Normalize audio files
- Fade audio files
- Reverse audio and invert phase
- Audio File Editor Loop commands
- Undo Audio File Editor edits
- Backup audio files
- Use an external sample editor
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- Mixing overview
- Set channel strip input format
- Set channel strip pan or balance positions
- Mute and solo channel strips
- Reorder channel strips in the Mixer
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- Plug-ins overview
- Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
- Search for plug-ins in the Mixer
- Insert a plug-in on a track using drag and drop
- Activate plug-ins on inactive channel strips
- Use the Channel EQ
- Work in the plug-in window
- Work with plug-in settings
- Work with plug-in latencies
- Work with Audio Units in Logic Pro for Mac
- Support for ARA 2 compatible plug-ins
- Use MPE with software instruments
- Use the Plug-in Manager
- Work with channel strip settings
- Surround panning
- Use the I/O Labels window
- Undo and redo Mixer and plug-in adjustments
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- Smart Controls overview
- Show Smart Controls for master effects
- Choose a Smart Control layout
- Automatic MIDI controller assignment
- Map screen controls automatically
- Map screen controls
- Edit mapping parameters
- Use parameter mapping graphs
- Open the plug-in window for a screen control
- Rename a screen control
- Use articulation IDs to change articulations
- Assign hardware controls to screen controls
- Compare Smart Control edits with saved settings
- Use the Arpeggiator
- Automate screen control movements
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- Live Loops overview
- Start and stop cells
- Work with Live Loops cells
- Change loop settings for cells
- How the Live Loops grid and Tracks area interact
- Edit cells
- Edit scenes
- Work in the Cell Editor
- Bounce cells
- Record a Live Loops performance
- Change Live Loops grid settings
- Control Live Loops with other devices
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- Global changes overview
- Control transposition with the Pitch Source parameter
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- Tempo overview
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- Smart Tempo overview
- Use free tempo recording
- Choose the Project Tempo mode
- Choose the Flex & Follow setting
- Use Smart Tempo with multitrack audio
- Work in the Smart Tempo Editor
- Improve the tempo analysis using hints
- Correct tempo analysis results using beat markers
- Protect Smart Tempo edits by locking a range
- Match audio recordings to the project tempo
- Match the tempo to an audio region
- Use audio file tempo information
- Record tempo changes
- Use the Tempo Interpreter
- Use the tempo fader
- Control project volume
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- Overview
- Add notes
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- Part box overview
- View score symbols
- Select score symbols
- Add notes and rests
- Add notes and symbols to multiple regions
- Add key and time signature changes
- Change the clef sign
- Add dynamic marks, slurs, and crescendi
- Change note heads
- Add symbols to notes
- Add trills, ornaments, and tremolo symbols
- Add sustain pedal markings
- Add chord symbols
- Add chord grids and tablature symbols
- Add bar lines, repeats, and coda signs
- Add page and line break symbols
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- Select notes
- Move and copy notes
- Change note pitch, duration, and velocity
- Change note articulations
- Quantize the timing of notes
- Restrict note input to the current key
- Control how ties are displayed
- Add and edit tuplets
- Override display quantization using tuplets
- Add grace notes and independent notes
- Delete notes
- Use automation in the Score Editor
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- Staff styles overview
- Assign staff styles to tracks
- Staff Style window
- Create and duplicate staff styles
- Edit staff styles
- Edit staff, voice, and assign parameters
- Add and delete staffs or voices in the Staff Style window in Logic Pro for Mac
- Copy staffs or voices in the Staff Style window in Logic Pro for Mac
- Copy staff styles between projects
- Delete staff styles
- Assign notes to voices and staffs
- Display polyphonic parts on separate staffs
- Change the staff assignment of score symbols
- Beam notes across staffs
- Use mapped staff styles for drum notation
- Predefined staff styles
- Share a score
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- Key commands overview
- Browse, import, and save key commands
- Assign key commands
- Copy and print key commands
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- Global Commands
- Global Control Surfaces Commands
- Various Windows
- Windows Showing Audio Files
- Main Window Tracks and Various Editors
- Various Editors
- Views Showing Time Ruler
- Views Showing Automation
- Main Window Tracks
- Live Loops Grid
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll
- Score Editor
- Event Editor
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer
- Project Audio
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Library
- Sampler
- Drum Machine Designer
- Step Input Keyboard
- Smart Controls
- Tool Menu
- Control Surface Install Window
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- Logic Pro projects
- Various windows
- Controller Assignments window
- Control bar
- Tracks area
- Global tracks
- Automation
- Live Loops grid
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll Editor
- Score Editor
- Event List
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer
- Flex Time
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Surround Panner
- Channel EQ
- Space Designer
- Sampler
- Touch Bar shortcuts
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- Working with your control surface
- Connect control surfaces
- Add a control surface to Logic Pro for Mac
- Automatic assignment for USB MIDI controllers
- Grouping control surfaces
- Control Surfaces settings overview
- Modal dialog display
- Tips for using your control surface
- Supported control surfaces
- Software and firmware for Logic Pro for Mac
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- Environment overview
- Common object parameters
- Customize the Environment
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- Fader objects overview
- Use fader objects
- Play back fader movements
- Work with object groups
- Fader styles
- Fader functions: MIDI events
- Fader functions: range, value as
- Fader functions: filter
- Vector fader
- Special faders overview
- Cable switchers
- Meta event faders
- SysEx faders
- Work with SysEx messages
- Special functions
- Ornament objects
- MMC record buttons
- Keyboard objects
- Monitor objects
- Channel splitter object
- Physical input objects
- Physical input objects
- MIDI click objects
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- Use MIDI plug-ins
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- Arpeggiator overview
- Arpeggiator control parameters
- Note order parameters overview
- Note order variations
- Note order inversions
- Arpeggiator pattern parameters overview
- Use Live mode
- Use Grid mode
- Arpeggiator options parameters
- Arpeggiator keyboard parameters
- Use keyboard parameters
- Assign controllers
- Modifier controls
- Note Repeater controls
- Randomizer controls
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- Use Scripter
- Use the Script Editor
- Scripter API overview
- MIDI processing functions overview
- HandleMIDI function
- ProcessMIDI function
- GetParameter function
- SetParameter function
- ParameterChanged function
- Reset function
- JavaScript objects overview
- Use the JavaScript Event object
- Use the JavaScript TimingInfo object
- Use the Trace object
- Use the MIDI event beatPos property
- Use the JavaScript MIDI object
- Create Scripter controls
- Transposer controls
- Record MIDI to Track
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- Alchemy overview
- Alchemy interface overview
- Alchemy Name bar
- Alchemy file locations
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- Alchemy source overview
- Source master controls
- Import browser
- Source subpage controls
- Source filter controls
- Source filter use tips
- Source elements overview
- Additive element controls
- Additive element effects
- Spectral element controls
- Spectral element effects
- Pitch correction controls
- Formant filter controls
- Granular element controls
- Sampler element controls
- VA element controls
- Wide unison mode
- Source modulations
- Morph controls
- Alchemy master voice section
- Alchemy Extended parameters
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- ES2 overview
- ES2 interface overview
- ES2 integrated effects processor controls
- Use ES2 in Surround mode
- Extended parameters
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- Sample Alchemy overview
- Interface overview
- Add source material
- Edit mode
- Play modes
- Source overview
- Synthesis modes
- Granular controls
- Additive effects
- Additive effect controls
- Spectral effect
- Spectral effect controls
- Filter module
- Lowpass, bandpass, and highpass filters
- Comb PM filter
- Downsampler filter
- FM filter
- Envelope generators
- Mod Matrix
- Modulation routing
- Motion mode
- Trim mode
- More menu
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- Sculpture overview
- Sculpture interface
- Global parameters
- Amplitude envelope parameters
- Use the Waveshaper
- Filter parameters
- Output parameters
- Use surround range and diversity
- Define MIDI controllers
- Extended parameters
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- Studio Piano
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- Ultrabeat overview
- Ultrabeat interface
- Synthesizer section overview
- Filter section controls
- Distortion circuit controls
- Glossary
- Copyright
Work in the Logic Pro for Mac Smart Tempo Editor
In the Smart Tempo Editor, you can view and edit Smart Tempo analysis results, including beat markers and other tempo information. After you record an audio or MIDI region or import a file using Smart Tempo, you can refine the tempo analysis and correct any tempo detection errors to define the musical intent more accurately. When working in Adapt mode, tempo and time signature changes are transferred to the project tempo and time signature tracks.
When you open the Smart Tempo Editor, the audio file or MIDI region is displayed along with the tempo analysis results. The main display shows a close-up view of part of the file so that you can make precise edits, while the entire audio file or MIDI region is shown in the overview, with the part of the file shown in the main display outlined by a rectangle.
The Smart Tempo Editor offers two ways of working on the analyzed tempo: you can add and edit hints in Hint mode to improve the tempo analysis, or you can edit beat markers in Beat Marker mode to correct the analysis results.
Hint mode
By default, the Smart Tempo Editor opens in Hint mode. You can view the results of the tempo analysis and add downbeat hints, beat hints, and time signature hints, then apply the changes to improve the analysis results. Downbeat hints are used to determine the precise position of downbeats, and beat hints are used to determine the position of beats that aren’t downbeats. You can also add time signature hints to downbeat hints. Time signature hints can improve the analysis when the time signature is not detected correctly, and are especially important if the file contains time signature changes. You can move hints after they are added, and can delete them so they no longer affect the Smart Tempo analysis.
You can add hints by playing the file or a selection and tapping the D and T keys on your computer keyboard to indicate downbeat hints (D) and beat hints (T), or by adding and editing hints in the main display. Clicking in the upper third of the main display adds a downbeat hint, and clicking in the lower third adds a beat hint. When you tap in a selection, only the downbeat hints or beat hints in the selected area are changed.
Beat Marker mode
When the Smart Tempo Editor is in Beat Marker mode, you can view the tempo analysis results with the detected beats appearing as editable beat markers. Beat markers for downbeats are more prominent than for other beats. In Beat Marker mode, you can make simple edits to single beats, and make more complex edits to the tempo information for a selection, or the entire file or region. You can move, shift, or scale beat markers from the tempo results directly, without requiring a new analysis to take effect.
The tempo analysis, and any edits you make in the Smart Tempo Editor, are stored in the audio file, so you can still access them if you copy the file or use it in another project. For MIDI regions, the analysis and edits are stored with the project.
You can view any of the audio files in a Smart Tempo multitrack set, including the downmix, in the Smart Tempo Editor. Edits to the Smart Tempo analysis results of the downmix are applied to all audio files in the multitrack set.
The Smart Tempo Editor includes the following controls and working areas:
Edit menu: Choose tempo actions including adapting the project tempo to a region, maintaining the relative position of all regions, reanalyzing the file or region, and removing tempo edits made to the file. When an audio file used in a Smart Tempo multitrack set is selected, you can also open the Smart Tempo Multitrack window.
View menu: Choose view options, including scroll in play and showing an overlay of the tempo curve. When an audio file used in a Smart Tempo multitrack set is selected, you can also choose to view the downmix waveform.
Hint Mode button: When selected, the Smart Tempo Editor is in Hint mode, so that you can quickly add and edit downbeat hints, beat hints, and time signature hints in the main display. When deselected, the Smart Tempo Editor is in Beat Marker mode, where you can edit beat markers in the main display.
Catch button: Turn on Catch mode, so that the visible part of the display follows the playhead during playback.
Filename display: Shows the name of the file or region displayed in the Smart Tempo Editor. When an audio file that is part of a Smart Tempo multitrack set is selected, the Filename display becomes a pop-up menu where you can select any file used in the set, including the downmix file.
Apply Changes button: Perform a new tempo analysis of the file or region or of the current selection, incorporating hints and other changes made since the last analysis.
Bar and Beat display: Shows the current playhead position in bars and beats.
Tempo display: Shows the detected file tempo; if multiple tempos are detected, shows as Variable. In Beat Marker mode, you can select the tempo and enter a new file tempo.
Double Tempo and Half Tempo buttons: Doubles or halves the tempo of the audio file or of the current selection. In Hint mode a tempo range will be used that contains downbeat hints and beat hints.
Signature display: Shows the detected time signature at the playhead position. You can click the display and choose a new time signature from the pop-up menu. In Hint mode, this adds a general time signature hint for the file. In Beat Marker mode, this sets the time signature for the complete file, removing any signature changes.
Tempo pop-up menu: Shows whether the file has a constant or variable tempo. By choosing the alternative option, you can trigger a new analysis of the audio file.
Metronome button: Turn the metronome on or off.
Volume slider: Adjust the relative volume between the metronome and the audio file. Dragging the slider to the right decreases the volume of the metronome click. Dragging the slider to the left decreases the volume of the audio file.
Preview button: Start or stop playback of the audio file.
Cycle button: Turn Cycle mode on or off. If a selection exists, the Cycle area matches the selection. If no selection exists, the Cycle area extends to cover the entire length of the audio file.
Horizontal Zoom slider: Drag left or right to show a smaller part of the file or region in more detail or to show a larger part of the file or region in less detail.
Overview: Shows the entire audio file or MIDI region. The visible area of the file appears highlighted in a white rectangle, which you can drag left and right to view different sections in the main display below. Double-click a point in the overview to play from that position.
Main display: Shows the visible area of the audio file or MIDI region, with downbeats and beats detected by the tempo analysis.
Note: Edits you make in the Smart Tempo Editor do not alter the audio data in the source audio file, but only the tempo information Logic Pro for Mac uses to conform (flex) the file to the project tempo.
Open the Smart Tempo Editor
In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
Select the region, click the Editors button
, then click the Smart Tempo button.Use the Show/Hide Smart Tempo Editor key command.
Select a region in the Tracks area, then choose Window > Open Smart Tempo Editor.
Start or stop file or region playback
In Logic Pro, click the Preview button
on the right side of the Smart Tempo Editor menu bar (or use the Play/Stop Selection key command, Option-Space bar).
Scroll and zoom in the Smart Tempo Editor
In Logic Pro, do any of the following:
Press the Left Arrow to scroll left.
Press the Right Arrow to scroll right.
Press the Up Arrow to zoom out so that the entire audio file or MIDI region is visible.
Press the Down Arrow to zoom in incrementally until the pointer is centered in the main display.
Select sections of the file or region
To select the section from the start of the file or region to the pointer, press Shift-Left Arrow.
To select the section from the pointer to the end of the file or region, press Shift-Right Arrow.
Apply tempo actions to the file or region
You can choose the following tempo actions from the Edit menu in the Smart Tempo Editor menu bar:
Apply Region Tempo to Project Tempo: Applies the tempo of the selected region to the project tempo. In the Apply Region Tempo to Project Tempo dialog you can select additional options:
Align downbeat to nearest project downbeat: Aligns the region downbeat to the nearest downbeat in the project, regardless of Project Tempo mode.
Maintain relative positions of all other regions: When selected, maintains the temporal relationship between regions in the project when applying the region tempo to the project tempo. This can be particularly useful in Adapt mode.
Apply Project Tempo to Region and Downbeat: Keeps the project tempo, adapts the region tempo to the project tempo, and aligns the region downbeat with the project.
Maintain Time Position of All Regions: When selected, maintains the temporal relationship between regions in the project when making edits in the Smart Tempo Editor. This can be particularly useful in Adapt mode.
Snap to Transients: After choosing this command in Hint mode, any hints you add or move snap to transients. In Beat Marker mode, any beat markers you move snap to transients, as well as beat markers already selected when you choose the command.
Apply Changes: Perform a new tempo analysis of the file or region or of the current selection, incorporating hints and other changes made since the last analysis.
Analyze Tempo: Perform a new tempo analysis of the file or region or the current selection. Appears in place of the Apply Changes menu item after you have applied changes, and before any new edits to hints are made (and when you have only edited beat markers, or when viewing a MIDI region in the Smart Tempo Editor).
For MIDI regions, this command reanalyzes the region based on the original positions of MIDI note events when the file was first recorded or analyzed, or for projects created in earlier versions of Logic Pro for Mac, the first time you open the region in the Smart Tempo Editor.
Clear Hints: Removes all downbeat hints, beat hints, and time signature hints.
Remove Tempo Information: Discards all tempo information from the file, including the tempo analysis results. Use only when you’re sure you don’t want to preserve any tempo information in the file.
Revert to Original Recording Tempo: Delete the tempo analysis, preserving the tempo of the original recording.
Edit Smart Tempo Multitrack Set: Opens the Smart Tempo Multitrack Set window showing the current multitrack set.
Change the view of the Smart Tempo Editor
Scroll in Play: After the playhead reaches the center of the display, it stays centered, and the display scrolls while the file or region plays.
Show Tempo Curve Overlay: Shows the tempo analysis results as a segmented curve in the overview.
Show Transients: Shows transients as dashed vertical lines in the main display.
When you edit beats or other tempo information in the Smart Tempo Editor, the edits are saved when you save the project.