Intro to automation in Logic Pro for iPad

Automation refers to recording, editing, and playing back the movements of faders and knobs and the status of switches. Using automation, you can create changes over time to volume, pan, and other settings in the channel strips or plug-ins. For example, you can use automation to change the volume of an instrument throughout a project, create left-right pan movement and filter sweeps, mute a track during a section of the project, or create a fade-out at the end of a song.

In Automation view, you select an automation parameter to show and edit its individual automation points. The automation curve (the representation of the parameter’s value change over time) is automatically created by connecting those points with a straight line. You can also bend the lines to change the shape of the automation curve.

You can add automation to all track types and even add automation to regions and cells. Logic Pro also lets you embed automation data in Step Sequencer for creating tempo-based automation.

Track automation vs. region automation

Logic Pro offers two types of automation: track automation and region automation. Track automation (available in the Tracks area) applies to the entire track, from the beginning to the end of your project. Region automation (available in the Editors area) is embedded in the individual region. With track automation, if you re-record, move, or copy regions (either to another point on the same track or to another track entirely), the automation data remains tied to the initial point on the track in which it was created. However, with region automation, if you re-record the region, the automation is overwritten; if you move or copy the region (either to another point on the same track or to another track), the automation remains with the region. Region automation is particularly useful when you are automating instrument parameters.

Important: If you create region automation and track automation for the same parameter on a track, region automation has priority. Automation data created in Step Sequencer has priority over region automation.

Writing automation vs. drawing automation

You can create and edit automation in two ways:

You can write automation in real time by adjusting controls during playback to record those movements as automation data using various Automation modes.
You can also draw and edit automation graphically by using various functions and gestures.

Each parameter that can be automated is listed in the Automation Parameter pop-up menu. You can turn off individual automation parameters or turn off all automation parameters on a track.

Automation points vs. MIDI data points

In addition to channel strip and plug-in controls, you can also automate MIDI data.

Automation points: Any parameter value of a channel strip or plug-in control stored as automation data is called an automation point, visible in Automation view of the Tracks area or Editors area.
MIDI data points: You can also automate MIDI events, such as program change, expression, and MIDI control. Those values are referred to as MIDI data points, which look and behave like automation points in Automation view. They are only available with MIDI regions and Session Player regions in the Editors area.

Tip: Using the pinch gesture to zoom in vertically and horizontally helps create and edit automation points. Performing these edit tasks can be easier and more precise with Apple Pencil.

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Logic Pro User Guide for iPad

Intro to automation in Logic Pro for iPad

Track automation vs. region automation

Writing automation vs. drawing automation

Automation points vs. MIDI data points