Logic Pro X User Guide
- Welcome
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- What is Logic Pro?
- Workflow overview
- Logic Pro project basics
- Advanced tools and additional options
- Undo and redo edits
- Manage Logic Pro content
- How to get help
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- Projects overview
- Create projects
- Open projects
- Save projects
- Delete projects
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- Play a project
- Set the playhead position
- Control playback with the transport buttons
- Use transport shortcut menus
- Use transport keyboard shortcuts
- Customize the control bar
- Change the LCD display mode
- Monitor and reset MIDI events
- Use the cycle area
- Use the Chase Events function
- Control Logic Pro using Apple Remote
- Control Logic Pro projects using Logic Remote
- Preview projects in the Finder
- Close projects
- View project information
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- Overview
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- Before recording software instruments
- Play software instruments
- Record software instruments
- Record additional software instrument takes
- Overdub software instrument recordings
- Spot erase software instrument recordings
- Use Note Repeat
- Record to multiple software instrument tracks
- Replace software instrument recordings
- Record multiple MIDI devices to multiple tracks
- Record software instruments and audio simultaneously
- Use step input recording techniques
- Use the metronome
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- Overview
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- Regions overview
- Select regions
- Select parts of regions
- Cut, copy, and paste regions
- Move regions
- Add or remove gaps
- Delay region playback
- Loop regions
- Repeat regions
- Resize regions
- Mute and solo regions
- Time stretch regions
- Split regions
- Demix MIDI regions
- Join regions
- Create regions in the Tracks area
- Normalize audio regions in the Tracks area
- Create aliases of MIDI regions
- Clone audio regions
- Change the color of regions
- Convert audio regions to Sampler sample zones
- Rename regions
- Delete regions
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- Overview
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- Add notes
- Select notes
- Snap items to the grid
- Move notes
- Copy notes
- Change the pitch of notes
- Resize notes
- Edit note velocity
- Quantize the timing of notes
- Quantize the pitch of notes
- Change note articulations
- Lock the position of events
- Mute notes
- Change note color
- View note labels
- Delete notes
- Time stretch notes
- View multiple MIDI regions
- Split chords
- Automation/MIDI area in the Piano Roll Editor
- Open other editors
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- Flex Time and Pitch overview
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- Flex Pitch algorithm and parameters
- Edit the pitch of audio in the Audio Track Editor or a zoomed in track
- Edit the pitch of audio in the Tracks area when the track is not zoomed in
- Correct the timing of audio regions with Flex Pitch
- Quantize the pitch of audio regions
- Create MIDI from audio recordings
- Change the gain of audio regions
- Use Varispeed to alter the speed and pitch of audio
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- Mixing overview
- Set channel strip input formats
- Set channel strip pan or balance positions
- Mute and solo channel strips
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- Plug-ins overview
- Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
- Insert a plug-in on a track using drag and drop
- Activate plug-ins on inactive channels
- Use the Channel EQ
- Work in the plug-in window
- Work with plug-in settings
- Work with plug-in latencies
- Work with Audio Units plug-ins
- Support for ARA 2 compatible plug-ins
- Use the Plug-in Manager
- Work with channel strip settings
- Surround panning
- Use the I/O Labels window
- Undo and redo Mixer and plug-in adjustments
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- Smart Controls overview
- Show Smart Controls for master effects
- Choose a Smart Control layout
- Automatic MIDI controller assignment
- Map screen controls automatically
- Map screen controls
- Edit mapping parameters
- Use parameter mapping graphs
- Open the plug-in window for a screen control
- Rename a screen control
- Use articulation IDs to change articulations
- Assign hardware controls to screen controls
- Compare Smart Control edits with saved settings in Logic Pro
- Use the Arpeggiator
- Automate screen control movements
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- Live Loops overview
- Start and stop cells
- Work with Live Loops cells
- Change loop settings for cells
- How the Live Loops grid and Tracks area interact
- Edit cells
- Edit scenes
- Work in the Cell Editor
- Record a Live Loops performance
- Change Live Loops grid settings
- Control Live Loops in Logic Pro with other devices
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- Overview
- Add notes
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- Part box overview
- View score symbols
- Select score symbols
- Add notes and rests
- Add notes and symbols to multiple Logic Pro regions
- Add key and time signature changes
- Change the clef sign
- Add dynamic marks, slurs, and crescendi
- Change note heads
- Add symbols to notes
- Add trills, ornaments, and tremolo symbols
- Add sustain pedal markings
- Add chord symbols
- Add chord grids and tablature symbols
- Add bar lines, repeats, and coda signs
- Add page and line break symbols
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- Select notes
- Move and copy notes
- Change note pitch, duration, and velocity
- Change note articulations
- Quantize the timing of notes
- Restrict note input to the current key
- Control how ties are displayed
- Add and edit tuplets
- Override display quantization using tuplets
- Add grace notes and independent notes
- Delete notes
- Use automation in the Score Editor
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- Staff styles overview
- Assign staff styles to tracks
- Staff Style window
- Create and duplicate staff styles
- Edit staff styles
- Edit staff, voice, and assign parameters
- Add and delete staffs or voices in the Logic Pro Staff Style window
- Copy staffs or voices in the Logic Pro Staff Style window
- Copy staff styles between projects
- Delete staff styles
- Assign notes to voices and staffs
- Display polyphonic parts on separate staffs
- Change the staff assignment of score symbols
- Beam notes across staffs
- Use mapped staff styles for drum notation
- Predefined staff styles
- Share a score
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- Environment overview
- Common object parameters
- Customize the Environment
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- Fader objects overview
- Use fader objects
- Play back fader movements
- Work with object groups
- Fader styles
- Fader functions: MIDI events
- Fader functions: range, value as
- Fader functions: filter
- Vector fader
- Special faders overview
- Cable switchers
- Meta event faders
- SysEx faders
- Work with SysEx messages
- Special functions
- Ornament objects
- MMC record buttons
- Keyboard objects
- Monitor objects
- Channel splitter object
- Physical input objects
- Physical input objects
- MIDI click objects
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- Key commands overview
- Browse, import, and save key commands
- Assign key commands
- Copy and print key commands
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- Global Commands key commands
- Global Control Surfaces Commands
- Various windows
- Windows Showing Audio files
- Main Window Tracks and Various Editors
- Live Loops Grid
- Various Editors
- Views showing Time Ruler
- Main Window Tracks
- Mixer
- MIDI Environment
- Piano Roll
- Score Editor
- Event Editor
- Step Editor
- Step Sequencer
- Project Audio
- Audio File Editor
- Smart Tempo Editor
- Sampler
- Step Input Keyboard
- Tool key commands in Logic Pro
- Touch Bar shortcuts
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- Working with your control surface
- Connect control surfaces
- Add a control surface to Logic Pro
- Automatic assignment for USB MIDI controllers
- Grouping control surfaces
- Control Surfaces preferences overview
- Modal dialog display
- Tips for using your control surface
- Control surfaces supported by Logic Pro
- Software and firmware
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- Learn about Effects
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- Learn about Amps and Pedals
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- Bass Amp Designer overview
- Bass amplifier models
- Bass cabinet models
- Build a custom combo
- Amplifier signal flow
- Pre-amp signal flow
- Use the D.I. box
- Amplifier controls
- Bass Amp Designer effects overview
- Bass Amp Designer EQ
- Bass Amp Designer compressor
- Bass Amp Designer Graphic EQ
- Bass Amp Designer Parametric EQ
- Bass Amp Designer microphone controls
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- Use MIDI plug-ins
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- Arpeggiator overview
- Arpeggiator control parameters
- Note order parameters overview
- Note order variations
- Note order inversions
- Arpeggiator pattern parameters overview
- Use Live mode
- Use Grid mode
- Arpeggiator options parameters
- Arpeggiator keyboard parameters
- Use keyboard parameters
- Assign controller parameters
- Modifier MIDI plug-in controls
- Note Repeater MIDI plug-in controls
- Randomizer MIDI plug-in controls
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- Use the Scripter MIDI plug-in
- Use the Script Editor
- Scripter API overview
- MIDI processing functions overview
- HandleMIDI function
- ProcessMIDI function
- GetParameter function
- SetParameter function
- ParameterChanged function
- Reset function
- JavaScript objects overview
- Use the JavaScript Event object
- Use the JavaScript TimingInfo object
- Use the Trace object
- Use the MIDI event beatPos property
- Use the JavaScript MIDI object
- Create Scripter controls
- Transposer MIDI plug-in controls
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- Learn about included Instruments
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- Alchemy overview
- Name bar
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- Alchemy source overview
- Source master controls
- Import browser
- Source subpage controls
- Source filter controls
- Source filter use tips
- Source elements overview
- Additive element controls
- Additive element effects
- Spectral element controls
- Spectral element effects
- Pitch correction controls
- Formant filter controls
- Granular element controls
- Sampler element controls
- VA element controls
- Source modulations
- Morph controls
- Master voice section
- Alchemy extended parameters
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- Logic Pro Quick Sampler overview
- Add content to Logic Pro Quick Sampler
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler waveform display
- Use Flex in Logic Pro Quick Sampler
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler Pitch controls
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler Filter controls
- Quick Sampler filter types
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler Amp controls
- Logic Pro Quick Sampler extended parameters
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- Sculpture overview
- Sculpture interface
- Global parameters
- Amplitude envelope parameters
- Use the Waveshaper
- Filter parameters
- Output parameters
- Use surround range and diversity
- Assign MIDI controllers
- Extended parameters
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- Ultrabeat overview
- Ultrabeat interface
- Synthesizer section overview
- Filter section controls
- Distortion circuit controls
- Glossary
Work in the Logic Pro Smart Tempo Editor
In the Smart Tempo Editor, you can view and edit Smart Tempo analysis results, including beat markers and other tempo information. After you record an audio or MIDI region or import a file using Smart Tempo, you can refine the tempo analysis and correct any tempo detection errors to define the musical intent more accurately. When working in Adapt mode, tempo and time signature changes are transferred to the project tempo and time signature tracks.
When you open the Smart Tempo Editor, the audio file or MIDI region is displayed along with the tempo analysis results. The entire audio file or MIDI region is shown in the overview, with the visible area of the file highlighted by a colored rectangle. The main display shows the visible part of the file, with the detected beats indicated by orange beat markers. Beat markers for downbeats are displayed more prominently than for other beats.
You can preview the file or region; make quick tempo, beat, and timing adjustments; or make more complex edits to the tempo information for a single beat, a selection, or the entire file or region. The tempo analysis, and any edits you make in the Smart Tempo Editor, are stored in the audio file, so you can still access them if you copy the file or use it in another project. For MIDI regions, the analysis and edits are stored with the project.
You can make adjustments in two different ways: by playing the file or selection and tapping the D and T keys on your computer keyboard to indicate downbeats (D) and beats (T), or by editing beat markers in the main display. When tapping in a selection, only the downbeats or beats in the selected area are changed.
Each beat marker has several handles, each with a different function. Holding the pointer over a handle displays a tag showing the handle’s function. You can make a selection before clicking a handle; if there is no selection, Logic Pro makes a default selection of the beats affected by the edit. Depending on the selection, not all editing functions may be available.
You can view any of the audio files in a Smart Tempo multitrack set, including the downmix, in the Smart Tempo Editor. Edits to the Smart Tempo analysis results of the downmix are applied to all audio files in the multitrack set.
The Smart Tempo Editor includes the following controls and working areas:
Edit pop-up menu: Choose tempo actions including adapting the project tempo to a region, maintaining the relative position of all regions, reanalyzing the file or region, and removing tempo edits made to the file. When an audio file used in a Smart Tempo multitrack set is selected, you can also open the Smart Tempo Multitrack window.
View pop-up menu: Choose view options, including scroll in play and showing an overlay of the tempo curve. When an audio file used in a Smart Tempo multitrack set is selected, you can also choose to view the downmix waveform.
Catch button: Turn on Catch mode, so that the visible part of the display follows the playhead during playback.
Filename display: Shows the name of the file or region displayed in the Smart Tempo Editor. When an audio file that is part of a Smart Tempo multitrack set is selected, the Filename display becomes a pop-up menu where you can select any file used in the set, including the downmix file.
Bar and Beat display: Shows the current playhead position in bars and beats.
Tempo display: Shows the detected file tempo; if multiple tempi are detected, shows as Variable. You can select the tempo and enter a new file tempo.
Double Tempo and Half Tempo buttons: Use to double or halve the tempo of the audio file, or of the current selection.
Signature display: Shows the detected time signature at the playhead position. To change the time signature, click the display and choose a new time signature from the pop-up menu. Editing the signature changes the time signature for the complete file, removing any signature changes.
Tempo pop-up menu: Shows whether the file has a constant or variable tempo. By choosing the alternative option, you can trigger a new analysis of the audio file.
Metronome button: Turn the metronome on or off.
Volume slider: Adjust the relative volume between the metronome and the audio file.
Preview button: Start or stop playback of the audio file.
Cycle button: Turn Cycle mode on or off. If a selection exists, the Cycle region matches the selection. If no selection exists, Cycle mode extends the length of the audio file.
Horizontal Zoom slider: Drag left or right to show a smaller part of the file or region in more detail, or show a larger part of the file or region in less detail. Click left or right on the arrows to change the zoom level.
Overview: Shows the entire audio file or MIDI region. The visible area of the file appears highlighted in a colored rectangle.
Main display: Shows the visible area of the audio file or MIDI region, with markers showing the detected beats and downbeats.
Note: Edits you make in the Smart Tempo Editor do not alter the audio data in the source audio file, but only the tempo information Logic Pro uses to conform (flex) the file to the project tempo.
Open the Smart Tempo Editor
In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
Control-click a region in the Tracks area, then choose Tempo > Show/Hide Smart Tempo Editor from the shortcut menu.
Select a region in the Tracks area, then choose Window > Open Smart Tempo Editor.
Use the Show/Hide Smart Tempo Editor key command.
Start or stop file or region playback
In Logic Pro, click the Preview button (with the speaker icon).
Scroll and zoom in the Smart Tempo Editor
In Logic Pro, do any of the following:
Press the Left Arrow to scroll left.
Press the Right Arrow to scroll right.
Press the Up Arrow to zoom out so that the entire audio file or MIDI region is visible.
Press the Down Arrow to zoom in incrementally until the pointer is centered in the main display.
Set downbeats and beats
In Logic Pro, start playback of the file or region, or of the current selection.
While the file is playing, press the D key on your computer keyboard to indicate downbeats, and press the T key to indicate beats.
Change the time signature
In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
To change the time signature of the audio file or selection: Click the Signature display, then choose a new signature from the pop-up menu.
To add a time signature change at a downbeat: Place the pointer next to a downbeat in the main display, then choose a new signature from the Signature pop-up menu that appears next to the downbeat.
Changing the signature replaces any signature stored in the audio file.
Double or halve the file or region tempo
In Logic Pro, you can change the tempo of the audio file (if there is no selection) or the current selection:
To double the tempo: Click the X2 button in the Tempo display.
To halve the tempo: Click the /2 button in the Tempo display.
Edit beat markers
When you place the pointer over a beat marker, a set of circular handles appears along the length of the beat marker. Dragging the pointer vertically over each handle shows a tag describing the function of that handle. Press and hold the Command key while dragging a beat marker to have it snap to significant analysis points.
To set a beat as the downbeat: Place the pointer over the beat marker and click the Set Downbeat handle.
Setting a beat as the downbeat also moves the region, unless the project tempo is set to Keep and Flex & Follow is set to Off. This handle is not available for beat markers already on a downbeat.
To move an individual beat: Click and hold the Move Marker handle and drag the beat marker to a new position.
To scale beat markers in a selection: Make a selection, click and hold the Scale Selection handle for a beat marker in the selection, then drag to scale the selected beat markers.
If you drag a Scale Selection handle when there is no selection, Logic Pro automatically selects the bar in which the beat marker is located. If the beat marker is a downbeat, the preceding and following bars are selected.
To scale preceding beat markers and move following beat markers: Make a selection, click and hold the Scale Left, Move Right handle for a beat marker, then drag the beat marker. The selected area is scaled, and beats to the right of the selected area are moved. If you click and hold the handle on a downbeat, the preceding bar and the following part of the file are selected. This is useful for correcting tempo detection where the music temporarily slows down or speeds up.
To scale all beat markers in the file or region (or in a selection): Click and hold the Scale All handle for a beat marker, then drag the beat marker.
To move all beat markers in the file or region (or in a selection) by the same amount: Click and hold the Move All handle for a beat marker, then drag the beat marker left or right.
Select sections of the file or region
To select the section from the start of the file or region to the pointer, press Shift-Left Arrow.
To select the section from the pointer to the end of the file or region, press Shift-Right Arrow.
Apply tempo actions to the file or region
You can choose the following tempo actions from the Edit menu in the Smart Tempo Editor control bar:
Apply Region Tempo to Project Tempo: Applies the tempo of the selected region to the project tempo. In the Apply Region Tempo to Project Tempo dialog you can select additional options:
Align downbeat to nearest project downbeat: Aligns the region downbeat to the nearest downbeat in the project, regardless of Project Tempo mode.
Maintain relative positions of all other regions: When selected, maintains the temporal relationship between regions in the project when applying the region tempo to the project tempo. This can be particularly useful in Adapt mode.
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.
Maintain Time Position of All Regions: When selected, maintains the temporal relationship between regions in the project when making edits in the Smart Tempo Editor. This can be particularly useful in Adapt mode.
Revert Changes: Discard all edits in the current Smart Tempo Editor session (the initial tempo analysis is preserved).
Analyze Again: Perform a new tempo analysis of the file or region or the current selection.
If no musical tempo reference is present, the tempo, downbeat, and beat positions are reanalyzed. If a musical tempo reference is present, only beat positions are analyzed, not the tempo or downbeat.
For MIDI regions, this command reanalyzes the region based on the original positions of MIDI note events when the file was first recorded, first analyzed, or for projects created in earlier versions of LP, the first time you open the region in the Smart Tempo Editor.
Remove Original Recording Tempo and Analyze Again: Delete the existing tempo and perform a new tempo analysis.
Use this feature with caution. In most cases it is best to keep the original file tempo. The primary use of this feature is to remove original recorded tempo data that you know is invalid–for example, for a recording without a metronome in Keep mode.
For MIDI regions, this command reanalyzes the region based on the current positions of MIDI note events, replacing the original positions of MIDI note events when the region was first recorded, first analyzed, or for projects created in earlier versions of LP, the first time you open the region in the Smart Tempo Editor.
Revert to Original Recording Tempo: Delete the tempo analysis, preserving the tempo of the original recording.
Edit Smart Tempo Multitrack Set: Opens the Smart Tempo Multitrack Set window showing the current multitrack set.
Set Average Tempo for Selection: Sets a single average tempo for the selected area of the file or region.
Set Average Tempo within each Bar: Sets an average tempo within each bar of the selected area of the file or region.
Extend First Tempo in Selection to Beginning: Sets the part of the region preceding the selection to use the first (leftmost) tempo in the selection.
Extend Last Tempo in Selection to End: Sets the part of the region following the selection to use the last (rightmost) tempo in the selection.
Scroll in Play: After the playhead reaches the center of the display, it stays centered, while the display scrolls as the file or region plays.
When you edit beats or other tempo information in the Smart Tempo Editor, the edits are saved when you save the project.