Logic Pro User Guide
- Welcome
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- 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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- 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
- 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 in Logic Pro for Mac
- Normalize audio regions in the Tracks area
- Create aliases of MIDI regions
- Convert repeated MIDI regions to loops
- Change the color of regions
- Convert audio regions to samples for a sampler instrument
- Rename regions
- Delete regions
- 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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- 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 formats
- Set channel strip pan or balance positions
- Mute and solo channel strips
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- Plug-ins overview
- Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
- Insert a plug-in on a track using drag and drop
- Activate plug-ins on inactive channels
- Use the Channel EQ
- Work in the plug-in window
- Work with plug-in settings
- Work with plug-in latencies
- Work with Audio Units plug-ins 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
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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
- 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
- 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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- 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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- Ultrabeat overview
- Ultrabeat interface
- Synthesizer section overview
- Filter section controls
- Distortion circuit controls
- Glossary
- Copyright
Choose the Project Tempo mode in Logic Pro for Mac
The Project Tempo mode determines whether the project tempo is maintained, or adapts to the tempo of recordings and imported audio or MIDI regions. Each mode is useful for different situations, as described in the following sections:
Keep Project Tempo mode
In Keep Project Tempo mode, Logic Pro for Mac maintains the project tempo. When you make a recording or move regions to a different time position, the project tempo does not change. You can use Logic Pro functions, including the metronome and Cycle mode, the same as with earlier versions of Logic Pro. Audio recordings and imported audio files conform to the project tempo as long as their Flex & Follow parameter is set to On, On + Align Bars, or On + Align Bars and Beats.
Adapt Project Tempo mode
In Adapt Project Tempo mode, Logic Pro adapts the project tempo to a recording or an imported audio or MIDI file. When you choose Adapt mode in the Tempo display, the Tempo track opens so you can see how the project tempo changes after recording, importing files, or moving regions in the Tracks area. When you make a recording in an empty project with the metronome off, the project tempo adapts to the recording. During recording, red lines in the newly recorded region show detected tempo changes. If the metronome is on, it is used as the tempo reference and the project tempo does not change. The project tempo does not adapt to subsequent recordings in that part of the project, because the previous recording provides the tempo reference. If a recording extends beyond that part of the project, the project tempo adapts to the portion of the region extending beyond the borders of the first recording.
The project tempo does change to adapt to imported audio or MIDI files. When you move recorded or imported regions to a different time position, the project tempo at their original position “follows” them to the new position.
Adapt mode is mutually exclusive with Cycle mode. If the Cycle mode is on when you choose Adapt in the Tempo display, it is turned off, and the recording starts at the beginning of the Cycle region.
Important: In general, Adapt Project Tempo mode should be used only temporarily when making a free recording, when adding a file you want the project tempo to conform to, or when you specifically want the Tempo track to follow region edits you are making. Because it results in changes to the project tempo, it should be used with some caution.
Automatic mode
In Automatic (Auto) mode, Logic Pro determines whether to use Keep or Adapt behavior based on whether a musical tempo reference is present in the part of the project to which you record or add audio or MIDI. When a musical tempo reference exists, Logic Pro maintains the project tempo (Keep mode behavior). When no musical tempo reference exists, Logic Pro adapts the project tempo to the tempo of audio recordings or imported audio files (Adapt mode behavior).
When you make an initial recording in an empty project with Auto mode active, the metronome state determines which behavior is used. If the metronome is on, the project tempo is preserved as in previous versions of Logic Pro (Keep mode behavior). If the metronome is off, the project tempo changes to match the recording (Adapt mode behavior). In Adapt mode behavior, the project tempo does not change for any subsequent recordings you add in the same range as the first recording, or if you add or move files in that range, because a musical tempo reference now exists in that part of the project.
When Auto mode uses Keep behavior, there is no conflict with Cycle mode. When Auto mode uses Adapt behavior and the Cycle mode is on, it is turned off, and the recording starts from the beginning of the Cycle region.
Choose the Project Tempo mode
In the Logic Pro LCD, click the middle of the Tempo display, then do one of the following:
To maintain the project tempo: Choose Keep Project Tempo from the pop-up menu.
To adapt the project tempo to the tempo of a recording or imported audio file: Choose Adapt Project Tempo from the pop-up menu.
To have Logic Pro choose the project tempo behavior: Choose Automatic Mode from the pop-up menu.
You can set the default Project Tempo mode for a project in the Smart Tempo project settings.
Apply the tempo of a region to the project
In some cases you may want to have the project tempo follow the tempo of a region, regardless of the Project Tempo mode.
In Logic Pro, Control-click the region in the Tracks area, then choose Tempo > Apply Region Tempo to Project Tempo from the shortcut menu. In the Apply Region Tempo to Project Tempo dialog, you can also select the following options:
To align the region downbeat with the closest project downbeat: Select the “Align downbeat to nearest project downbeat” checkbox.
To move all other regions so that they keep the same relative position: Select the “Maintain relative position of all other regions” checkbox.
Click Apply.
The Apply Region Tempo to Project Tempo command is also available in the Tempo menu, and in the Edit menu of the Smart Tempo Editor.
Move the detected downbeat to align with the beat
When a region is moved so that the region start no longer aligns with a beat on the ruler, you can move the first detected downbeat in the region to the nearest beat. In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
Choose Edit > Move > To Beat from the menu bar.
Control-click the region, then choose Move > Move to Beat from the shortcut menu.
Edit the sole region in a part of the project
If a region is the sole region in a part of a project, trimming, moving, or deleting the region affects the project tempo if the Project Tempo mode is set to Adapt (or Auto with Adapt behavior).
Trimming the region also trims the corresponding project tempo events.
Moving the region also moves the corresponding project tempo events.
Deleting the region also deletes the corresponding project tempo events.
Download the guides:
Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF
Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF