Working areas in Logic Pro for iPad

Logic Pro for iPad provides different working areas, each optimized for a particular way of working or a specific task. Only one working area can have key focus at a given time. Tapping in another working area makes it the focused area.

Figure. Logic Pro interface showing Tracks area, inspector, and Piano Roll Editor open.

You can show or hide working areas in different combinations, depending on what you want to accomplish. Many working areas can be resized for either a larger, more detailed view or a minimized view, making it easier to view several of them together. You can also zoom in or out in the Tracks area, the Audio Editor, and the Piano Roll Editor for either a more detailed or a more comprehensive view.

You can switch between the Tracks area and Live Loops using the buttons in the control bar:

Figure. Section of the Tracks area menu bar showing Live Loops button and Tracks area button.

The buttons to show and hide the Browser, inspector, Fader, editors, Plug-ins area, Mixer, and Play Surfaces are on the view control bar, located along the bottom of the Logic Pro interface.

Figure. View control bar showing Browser, inspector, Fader, Editors, Plug-ins, Mixer, and Play Surfaces buttons.

Certain combinations of working areas are not supported. For example, if the Browser is open and you tap the Inspector button, the Browser closes, and the inspector opens in the space previously occupied by the Browser.

If you find while working that the screen becomes cluttered by too many working areas open at once, you can quickly close all working areas except the Tracks area (or Live Loops grid) by double-tapping the view control bar.

You can use Logic Pro in both landscape and portrait orientation on your iPad. Certain tasks might be more suited to one orientation or another ; for example, you can see a larger part of a Tracks area arrangement in landscape orientation, whereas using the Mixer in portrait orientation lets you view the full height of the channel strips.

Control how working areas update using Catch Playhead

The Tracks area, Audio Editor, and Piano Roll Editor show the playhead, which moves from left to right as the project plays. For each of these working areas, you can control whether or not they scroll horizontally as the playhead moves using the Catch Playhead function. When Catch Playhead is turned on, the working area follows the playhead during playback or recording. When Catch Playhead is turned off, the working area does not update, even when the playhead moves out of the visible portion of the timeline. Additionally, when the playhead is not visible in the working area, you can have the area scroll to show the playhead position.

Split View, Slide Over, and Stage Manager

You can also multitask between Logic Pro and other iPad apps in Split View and Slide Over. In Split View you can use Logic Pro together with another app, each occupying half of the iPad screen. After you open both apps in Split View, you can adjust the amount of the screen each app occupies by dragging the divider between the two apps.

In Slide Over, the other app appears as a smaller window that slides in front of Logic Pro. You can move the app to see different areas of Logic Pro under it or move it offscreen until you want to use it again.

If your iPad supports Stage Manager, you can move and resize the Logic Pro window when Stage Manager is turned on and use Stage Manager to multitask with other iPad apps.

For information about using Split View, Slide Over, and Stage Manager, see the iPad User Guide.

Resize a working area

Many working areas, including the Editors area, Plug-ins area, Mixer, and Play Surfaces, can easily be resized to fill more of the Logic Pro interface.

Drag the resize handle on the right edge of the local menu bar, then drag vertically to resize the area.
Tap the resize handle to expand the area to its maximum size. Tap the handle again to return to the previous size.

Zoom the Tracks area, Piano Roll Editor, or Audio Editor

Do any of the following:

Pinch vertically to zoom in or out vertically.
Pinch horizontally to zoom in or out horizontally.

Close all working areas except the Tracks area or Live Loops grid

In Logic Pro, double-tap the view control bar.
To reopen the previously open working areas, double-tap the view control bar again.

Control how working areas update using Catch Playhead

In Logic Pro, tap the More button in the menu bar for the Tracks area, Audio Editor, or Piano Roll Editor to set the Catch Playhead mode for that working area.
Tap one of the Catch Playhead options:
- Off: The working area does not scroll so the playhead remains visible.
- Automatic: The working area scrolls so that the playhead remains visible as it moves.
- Catch Now: The working area scrolls to show the playhead position. This option is available only when the playhead is not currently visible.

Use Logic Pro in Split View

Tap the Multitasking button at the top of the iPad screen.
Tap Split View.
To adjust Split View, drag the handle between the two app windows left or right.

Use Logic Pro in Slide Over

Tap the Multitasking button at the top of the iPad screen.
Tap Slide Over.
To move the Slide Over window, drag it by the handle on the bottom of the window.

To learn more about working in Split View and Slide Over, see the iPad User Guide.

Download this guide: PDF

Helpful?

Logic Pro User Guide for iPad

Working areas in Logic Pro for iPad

Control how working areas update using Catch Playhead

Split View, Slide Over, and Stage Manager

Resize a working area

Zoom the Tracks area, Piano Roll Editor, or Audio Editor

Close all working areas except the Tracks area or Live Loops grid

Control how working areas update using Catch Playhead

Use Logic Pro in Split View

Use Logic Pro in Slide Over