Use Apple Pencil with Logic Pro for iPad

Key focus

Similar to an external keyboard, when Apple Pencil is connected, Logic Pro displays a frame around the working area that currently has key focus.

Basic one-finger gestures

Any gesture you perform with one finger (tap, double-tap, touch and hold, or drag) can also be performed with Apple Pencil. This provides more precise editing when you’re drawing automation curves or adjusting regions and note events.

Handwriting

Instead of using your keyboard to enter text in a text field, you can write with Apple Pencil in that field, and Scribble automatically converts your handwriting into typed text. You can use it to name tracks in the Tracks area and in Step Sequencer, or to name tracks, regions, cells, and Mixer groups in the inspector.

Double-tap on Apple Pencil side

A double-tap on the side of Apple Pencil toggles between two edit modes, automatically selecting the corresponding button in the menu bar. This function is supported in the Tracks area, Live Loops grid, Editors area, and Mixer.

Logic Pro uses two memory locations to dynamically store two edit modes, and by double-tapping, you recall one or the other.

• Active edit mode: This is the currently selected function button. Tapping a different button (with your finger or the Apple Pencil), changes the edit mode reflected by the highlighted button.

• Previous edit mode: This memory location stores the edit mode that was previously active when you used the double-tap on Apple Pencil.

Apple Pencil hover

Apple Pencil (2nd generation) and Apple Pencil Pro can interact with Logic Pro by hovering over the screen without touching it. Apple Pencil hover works with iPad Pro 13-inch (M4), iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (6th generation), iPad Pro 11-inch (M4), iPad Pro 11‑inch (4th generation), iPad Air 13-inch (M2), and iPad Air 11-inch (M2).