Use Step Sequencer edit modes in Logic Pro

You can control different aspects of the event triggered by a step using edit modes. You can choose the edit mode for a pattern, and view multiple edit modes for each row using subrows. Some edit modes are common to both note rows and automation rows, while others are specific to one row type.

The Edit Mode selector in the Step Sequencer menu bar controls the edit mode for all rows in the pattern. Step On/Off mode is always available on the left-side button on the selector. You can choose other edit modes from the menu on the right side of the selector. The chosen edit mode appears on the right-side button. Edit modes include the following:

Step Sequencer Edit Mode selector, showing different edit modes.

Edit modes for both row types

Step On/Off: Click steps to turn them on or off. Active steps appear highlighted in the step grid, while inactive steps appear darker.
Tie: Click the right edge of a step to tie it to the following step, or click the left edge to tie it to the previous step. The duration of the step is lengthened by the value of the step it is tied to.
Note: You can also tie steps in other edit modes (except Tie, Step Rate, and Loop Start/End) by pressing and holding Command-Option, then dragging from a step across one or more following steps.
Loop Start/End: When this mode is active, a frame appears around the row. Drag the left edge of the frame to set the start of the row relative to the overall pattern. Drag the right edge of the frame to set the end of the row relative to the overall pattern. You can also click a step to set the start or end point (whichever is closest) to that step, and drag vertically to other rows to set their start or end positions.
Chance: Drag vertically in the step to set the Chance percentage. Chance controls the probability that the step plays each time the pattern repeats. The active state of the step is determined when you edit the Chance value and does not change until you edit it again.
Start Offset: Drag vertically in the step to move the start offset of the step from –50 to +50 percent of the step rate.
Step Rate: Drag vertically in the step to set the length of the step (in note values, relative to the project tempo). This determines how long it takes for the playhead to move across the step, whether or not it is active.
Skip: Click a step to turn skipping on or off. When skipping is on, the step is skipped and playback moves immediately to the next step, in effect shortening the row by the duration of the skipped step.

Edit modes for note rows

Velocity: Drag vertically in the step to set the Velocity value from 1 to 127. Velocity typically controls the loudness of the note attack, but can control other parameters depending on the parameter mapped to Velocity for the patch.
Gate: Drag vertically in the step to set the Gate value as a percentage of the step. The Gate value shortens the note length to less than the duration of the step.
Note: Drag vertically in the step to set the Note value from –12 to 12 semitones, transposing the pitch of the step in notes.
When you change the pitch of a step in a fixed-pitch note row, the row header label changes to Melodic to indicate that the row contains multiple pitches.
Octave: Drag vertically in the step to set the Octave value from –2 to 8 octaves, transposing the pitch of the step in octaves.
Note Repeat: Drag vertically in the step to set the Note Repeat value from 1 to 16. Note Repeat controls how often the note repeats during the duration of the step.

Edit modes for automation rows

Value: Drag vertically to set the value for the automation parameter controlled by the row. The value range depends on which parameter the row is set to control.

Note: In the Edit Mode selector, choosing Velocity / Value sets the edit mode to velocity for note rows, and to the automation value for automation rows. In row headers, Velocity appears in the Edit Mode pop-up menu for note rows only.

View and edit multiple edit modes for a row using subrows

You can view and edit multiple edit modes for a row using subrows. When you click the disclosure arrow in the row header, a default set of subrows appear, each with its own edit mode. When you add a subrow, it defaults to the next available edit mode for that row type. Two subrows of a row cannot have the same edit mode.

Choose the edit mode for the pattern

The Edit Mode selector consists of three parts: Step On/Off can always be selected directly using the left-side button. The right-side button shows the edit mode currently selected in the Edit Mode pop-up menu, which is accessed using the arrows on the right side of the selector.

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:

To choose Step On/Off, click the button on the left side of the Edit Mode selector.
To choose a different edit mode, click the up and down arrows on the right side of the selector and choose the edit mode from the list.
When you choose an edit mode from the list, it becomes active for all rows. Subrows keep their current edit mode.

Change edit mode values for steps in the grid

In Logic Pro, in the Step Sequencer menu bar, choose an edit mode from the Edit Mode selector.
By default, each step shows the current value for the selected mode. You can change the display of step values in the step grid.
In the step grid, edit the value of each step.
For most edit modes (except Tie and Skip), you edit the value by dragging vertically in the step. The value appears above the step as you drag. Some edit modes have only on and off states, rather than a range of values. In this case, clicking the step switches between the two states. For Loop Start/End, clicking a step sets the loop start or loop end position (whichever is closer) to that step.

Create ramped values across steps

In Logic Pro, set the value of the first step you want to include in the ramp.
Press and hold Option-Shift, then drag across the steps you want to include in the ramp.
While still pressing and holding Option-Shift, make sure the last step in the ramp is set to the correct value.

When you finish, the values of all steps in the range increment or decrement in perfect intervals between the start and end steps.

Show subrows for a row

You can view and edit multiple edit modes for a row at the same time using subrows.

In Logic Pro, click the disclosure arrow to the left of the row header icon.
By default, several subrows appear below the row, depending on the row type.

You can Add subrows and change the edit mode for a subrow.

Change the edit mode for a subrow

In Logic Pro, choose a new edit mode from the Edit Mode pop-up menu, located in the upper-right area of the subrow header.

Add a subrow

When you add a subrow, it defaults to the next available edit mode for that row type. Two subrows of one row cannot have the same edit mode.

In Logic Pro, hold the pointer over the left edge of a subrow header, then click the Add Subrow icon that appears.
A subrow appears below the subrow, set to the next available edit mode for the row.
Click the Edit Mode pop-up menu and choose an edit mode for the subrow.
The steps in the subrow show the values for the selected edit mode.

Delete a subrow

In Logic Pro, hold the pointer over the left edge of the subrow header, then click the Delete Subrow icon that appears.

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: Apple Books | PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: Apple Books | PDF

Logic Pro Effects: Apple Books | PDF

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