Edit a drummer’s performance in Logic Pro for iPad

There are several settings in the Drummer Editor in Logic Pro for iPad that affect the drummer’s playing style. You can access these settings using the Main button and Details button in the Drummer Editor menu bar.

Figure. The Main button and Details button in the Drummer Editor.

In the Main view, you can edit the complexity and intensity of the performance; choose whether a pattern is played on the toms, cymbals, hi-hat, or percussion instruments; and mute and unmute the drum and percussion kit pieces. You can also choose between variations for the drum and percussion kit pieces.

The Details view provides settings for fine-tuning a drummer performance, including swing, hi-hat opening for acoustic drummers, and humanize for electronic and percussion drummers. The controls shown in the Details view are different for acoustic and electronic drummers.

Adjust the complexity or intensity of the performance

In the Drummer Editor in Logic Pro, drag the Complexity slider or Intensity slider to adjust the performance.

The higher you drag the respective slider, the greater the complexity or intensity of the performance.

Mute or unmute a drum or percussion instrument

In the Drummer Editor in Logic Pro, do one of the following:

To include the piece in the performance: Tap the kit piece so that it’s yellow (unmuted).
To remove a piece from the performance: Tap the kit piece so that it’s dimmed (muted).

Some kits allow you to select only one kit piece in a row for a performance.

Choose a pattern variation for drum or percussion instruments

In the Drummer Editor in Logic Pro, tap a kit piece, then choose an increment from the Pattern Variations slider.
In some cases, you can select more than one instrument in a row.

Edit fills and swing settings

Reduce or increase the number and length of fills: In the Drummer Editor in Logic Pro, drag the Fills slider vertically.
Adjust the shuffle feel of the currently playing pattern: In the Drummer Editor menu bar, tap the Details button, then drag the Swing knob.
Tip: 63% is often an ideal value for swing.
Determine whether the swing is based on eighth notes or sixteenth notes: In the Drummer Editor menu bar, tap the Details button, then tap the 8th button or 16th button.

Edit other acoustic drum performance settings

In Logic Pro, tap the Details button in the Drummer Editor menu bar, then do any of the following:
- Drag the Feel knob to the right to have the performance play ahead of the beat, or to the left to have it play behind the beat.
- Turn on the Auto Hi-Hat button to control the degree to which the hi-hat is opened and closed during the drum performance.
- Drag the Hi-Hat Opening slider to adjust the degree to which the hi-hat is opened and closed during the drum performance.
  Note: This is only relevant if the hi-hat is unmuted in the Main view.
- Drag the Ghost Notes slider to adjust the level of ghost notes—syncopated snare and kick hits—in the beat.
  Note: The presence of ghost notes depends on the chosen drummer and the complexity setting.

Edit other electronic drum and percussion performance settings

In Logic Pro, tap the Details button in the Drummer Editor menu bar, then do any of the following:
- Turn on the Auto Half-time button to have Drummer regions generated in half time, if the project tempo is a multiple of the preferred tempo.
- Drag the Humanize slider to generate drum patterns that are not perfectly quantized, making the performance more realistic, or human. You can tap the Lock Settings button in the Drummer Editor menu bar to prevent any changes to the humanize setting when switching presets or drummers.
- Drag the Phrase Variation slider to determine the amount of rhythmic change that occurs over the course of several bars within a region. You can tap the Lock Settings button in the Drummer Editor menu bar to prevent any changes to the phrase variation setting when switching presets or drummers.

Lock performance settings

After you make changes to the drummer’s performance, you can lock the performance settings to prevent any changes when switching presets. You can lock the settings for fills, swing, humanize, and phrase variation.

In Logic Pro, tap the Lock Settings button on the right side of the Drummer Editor menu bar, then choose the settings you want to lock.

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Logic Pro User Guide for iPad