Get started with project playback in Logic Pro for Mac

You can play back the project at any time to hear your latest changes. You control playback and navigate the project using the playhead, the ruler, and the transport buttons, located in the control bar.

The playhead extends from the top to the bottom of the Tracks area, and moves as the project plays, showing the currently playing point in the project. At the top of the playhead is a triangle that you can drag to move the playhead to a different time position, or scrub the project by moving the playhead across the Tracks area to quickly locate a particular musical passage.

At the top of the Tracks area, the ruler shows units of time in bars, beats, and beat divisions (depending on the zoom level).

The control bar contains a group of buttons called transport buttons that you can use to control playback, move the playhead, and start recording. The transport buttons include the following:

You can use the cycle area to define part of a project to play back repeatedly. The cycle area can be used for composing, practicing a part before recording, recording multiple takes, and other purposes. When you turn on the cycle area, it appears as a yellow strip in the upper part of the ruler.

For iPad users, a separate app is available that you can use to navigate Logic Pro projects, and perform mixing, editing, and other functions, on your iPad. The Logic Remote app is available on the App Store.

For more information about playback and navigation, see Play a project and Control playback. For information about using the cycle area, see Use the cycle area.