Intro to Smart Tempo in Logic Pro for iPad

Use Smart Tempo in Logic Pro for iPad to analyze and adjust the tempo of audio recordings to match the project's tempo. This allows for more seamless integration of different recordings, regardless of their original tempo, into a single project. This can be helpful for music production, remixing, and other audio editing tasks.

Here are some practical uses for Smart Tempo:

Improved workflow: Smart Tempo can save you time and effort by adjusting the tempo of audio recordings to match the project’s tempo, so that you don't have to manually adjust the tempo of each recording.
Consistency: Smart Tempo can help maintain a consistent tempo throughout the project, which can be important for creating a cohesive and polished final product.
Flexibility: Smart Tempo also allows you to import loops, samples, and other audio files that have been recorded at different tempos, and use them in your project without the need to manually time stretch them to match your project tempo.
Experimentation: You can use Smart Tempo as a creative tool to experiment with different tempos and grooves to see how they sound in your project.

Open the Smart Tempo menu

In Logic Pro, tap an audio region to select it.
Tap the audio region again, then tap Tempo.

Smart Tempo Menu

Analyze Tempo: Perform a new tempo analysis of the region. For example, when you import an audio recording into a Logic Pro project, Smart Tempo automatically detects the tempo of the recording and adjusts it to match the project’s tempo. If a recording does not contain tempo information, or if the automatic detection is not accurate, you can use Analyze Tempo to edit or reset the tempo of a recording manually.
Edit Smart Tempo: Opens the Smart Tempo pop-up menu with the following options:
Note: Edit Smart Tempo is only available if the audio file the region refers to contains tempo information. If it’s unavailable, tap Analyze Tempo, then open the Smart Tempo pop-up again.
- Tempo: Doubles or halves the tempo of the audio file. This item also shows the detected file tempo; if multiple tempo events are detected (shown as Variable), the bpm value shows the average tempo of the file. You can select the tempo and enter a new file tempo.
- Mode: Select Variable or Constant tempo.
  - Variable Tempo: Lets the detected tempo follow the natural fluctuations that may occur in the recording (such as in live recording of drums or a solo musician). This mode is likely more accurate on performances recorded without a metronome.
  - Constant Tempo: Forces the detected tempo to find a constant one. This mode will likely be more accurate on recordings involving a drum machine or a sequencer.
- Time Signature: Shows the detected time signature. Drag the time signature values to manually adjust the time signature from the pop-up menu.
- Shift Downbeat: Adjust the timing of the downbeat. For example, if you have a 4/4 time signature with the correct tempo detected, but the upbeat (beat 4) is detected as the downbeat (beat 1), you can use shift downbeat to correct this (move the downbeat from beat 4 to beat 1). Tap the left arrow if the downbeat is ahead, or tap the right arrow if the downbeat is behind.
Apply Region Tempo to Project: Applies the tempo of the selected region to the project tempo. This can be useful when working with recordings that have a consistent tempo throughout, such as electronic drum loops or samples, and you want to use that tempo for the whole project.
Apply Project Tempo to Region and Downbeat: Keeps the project tempo, adapts the region tempo to the project tempo, and aligns the region downbeat with the project. This option can be particularly useful when working with electronic drum loops or samples because they often have a consistent tempo throughout, and aligning them with the project’s tempo and downbeat can make it easy to incorporate them into the project. It can also be useful when working with live recordings, where the tempo and downbeat may not be consistent or may not match the project’s tempo and downbeat.
Write Project Tempo to Audio File: Save the tempo information of the project into the audio file. This feature is helpful if the project’s tempo curve was modified and you want to print that tempo into the file. This option is also beneficial when you are sharing audio files with other musicians or producers, and you want to ensure that the tempo of the audio file will match the tempo of their project.
Remove Tempo Information: Discards all tempo information from the audio file, including the tempo analysis results. Use only when you’re sure you don’t want to preserve any tempo information in the file.

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Logic Pro User Guide for iPad

Intro to Smart Tempo in Logic Pro for iPad

Open the Smart Tempo menu

Smart Tempo Menu