Record Step Sequencer patterns live in Logic Pro for iPad

With Live Record, you can record both MIDI note events and automatable parameter events to a pattern region or pattern cell while the pattern is playing in Logic Pro for iPad. Notes matching existing note rows are recorded as steps in those rows, and new note rows are created for notes that do not match an existing row. Similarly, automation parameters for which a row exists are recorded to those rows, and new automation rows are created for parameters with no existing row.

When you play intervals or chords, steps on note rows matching the pitches played are turned on, unless Mono mode is active. Mono mode restricts note input so that only one step for each time position is active. That is, when multiple notes are played, only the last note received in the time range of the step is active.

During Live Record, when the selected row is a Melodic row, incoming note events turn on steps on that row only, with each active step set to the correct Note and Octave value. Live Pattern Recording on Melodic note rows is always monophonic. If notes are played simultaneously, the last note received during the time range of the step determines the pitch of that step.

When incoming note or automation events fall between steps, the step closest to the time position of the event is activated.

Drum Machine Designer is particularly suited to creating patterns with live recording.

Live Record options

You can control whether to capture note velocity and length during Live Record, as well as whether to quantize the recorded note or automation events to the start of the step they activate. The Live Record options include:

Velocity: When selected, the velocity of the incoming note events is applied to the newly activated steps. When deselected, the new steps retain the existing value of the step.
Note Length: When selected, the duration of notes played during recording is captured and played back. Step gate and tie values are modified to make the step the same length as the recorded MIDI event. If the played note is shorter than the step length, Step Sequencer reduces the gate value to shorten the step to match the played note. If the played note is held longer than the step length, a tie is activated for the step to increase its duration. The gate value is also adjusted for the tied step to match the length of the played note as closely as possible. When Note Length is deselected, tie and gate values do not change to reflect the duration of held notes. Only the step closest to the start of the incoming event is activated, at its standard step length.
In general, it’s best to keep Note Length off when recording drums, and turn it on when recording pitched instrument events.
Quantize: When Quantize is selected, notes snap to the start of active steps so that they play in perfect metronomic time, with no offset. When deselected, a Step Offset value is added to each active step so that the event is triggered at the precise time position of the played note.

Set Live Record options

In Logic Pro for iPad, do one of the following:
- Touch and hold the Live Record button .
- Tap the More button in the Step Sequencer menu bar, then tap Live Record.
Choose one of the following:
- To have recorded steps match the velocity of incoming note events, choose Velocity.
- To have recorded steps match the duration of incoming note events, choose Note Length.
- To add a step offset to recorded steps to match the start time of incoming note events, choose Quantize.

Create a live pattern recording

In Logic Pro, start the pattern playing by doing one of the following:
- Tap the Preview button in the Step Sequencer menu bar.
- Start the project playing. When the playhead reaches the start of the pattern region, recording starts, and continues until the playhead reaches the end of the pattern region.
  Note: You can extend recording time for the pattern by setting the cycle area to the start and end of the pattern region.
- For a pattern cell, tap the cell to start playback. Recording continues until the cell stops playing.
Tap the Live Record button in the Step Sequencer menu bar.
Perform the parts you want to record. Both played notes and controller-driven automation changes are recorded.
When you finish, tap the Live Record button again to stop recording.

Download this guide: PDF

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Logic Pro User Guide for iPad

Record Step Sequencer patterns live in Logic Pro for iPad

Live Record options

Set Live Record options

Create a live pattern recording