Select version:

Modifying this control will update this page automatically

Welcome
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 11
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.8
- What’s new in Logic Pro for Mac 10.7.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.7
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.6
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.5
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.4
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.3
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.2
- What’s new in Logic Pro 10.0
- Get started overview
- Workflow overview
- Logic Pro main window
- Projects
- Playback and navigation
- Tempo, key, and time signature
- Patches
- Arranging regions
- - Piano Roll Editor
  - Audio Track Editor
- Session Players
- Smart Controls
- Live Loops
- Mixing
- Apple Loops
- Smart Tempo
- Sharing
- What is Logic Pro for Mac?
- Logic Pro project basics
- Use menu commands and key commands
- Use the complete set of Logic Pro features
- Undo and redo edits
- Manage Logic Pro content
- How to get help
- Hardware connection overview
- Projects overview
- Create projects
- Open projects
- Save projects
- Delete projects
- Use Logic Remote to control Logic Pro projects
- Preview projects in the Finder
- Close projects
- View project information
- Tracks overview
- Control timing with the groove track
- Use selection-based processing
- Edit track parameters
- Overview
- Use the metronome
- Using loops and other media in Logic Pro
- Bookmark folders in the All Files Browser
- Import compressed audio files
- Arranging overview
- Extract vocal and instrumental stems with Stem Splitter
- - Remove silent passages
  - Uses for Remove Silence
- Create groove templates
- Overview
- Select audio regions
- Cut, copy, and paste audio regions
- Move audio regions
- Trim audio regions
- Split and join audio regions
- Snap edits to zero crossings
- Delete audio regions
- Use Flex Time and Pitch in the Logic Pro for Mac Audio Track Editor
- Use automation in the Audio Track Editor
- Overview
- View multiple MIDI regions
- Split chords
- Automation/MIDI area in the Piano Roll Editor
- Open other editors
- Session Players overview
- The Session Player Editor
- Choose a Session Player type and style
- Chords and Session Players
- Choose Session Player presets
- Follow rhythm of chords and other tracks
- Work with Drummer multi-channel kits
- Convert Session Player regions to MIDI or pattern regions
- Flex Time and Pitch overview
- Use Varispeed to alter the speed and pitch of audio
- Logic Pro for Mac advanced editors overview
- Mixing overview
- - Channel strip types
  - Channel strip controls
- Set channel strip input formats
- Set channel strip pan or balance positions
- Mute and solo channel strips
- Work with channel strip settings
- Surround panning
- Use the I/O Labels window
- Undo and redo Mixer and plug-in adjustments
- Automation overview
- Track automation vs. region automation
- Show automation curves
- Choose automation modes
- - Select, copy, and move automation
  - Delete automation
- Snap automation to grid positions
- Edit automation in the Automation Event List
- Write automation with external controllers
- 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
- Use the Arpeggiator
- Automate screen control movements
- Live Loops overview
- Start and stop cells
- Work with Live Loops cells
- - Record to cells
  - Record and edit takes in cells
- Change loop settings for cells
- How the Live Loops grid and Tracks area interact
- Edit cells
- Edit scenes
- Work in the Cell Editor
- Bounce cells
- Record a Live Loops performance
- Change Live Loops grid settings
- Control Live Loops with other devices
- Step Sequencer overview
- Use Step Sequencer with Drum Machine Designer
- Record Step Sequencer patterns live
- Step record Step Sequencer patterns
- Load and save patterns
- Modify pattern playback
- Edit steps
- Edit rows
- Step Sequencer inspector
- Customize Step Sequencer
- Global changes overview
- - Add arrangement markers
  - Edit arrangement markers
- Control transposition with the Pitch Source parameter
- Control project volume
- Overview
- Add notes
- Use automation in the Score Editor
- Share a score
- Sharing overview
- Share songs to the Music app
- Share songs using AirDrop
- Share songs using MailDrop
- Share a project to GarageBand for iOS
- Share a project to Logic Pro for iPad
- Overview of surround and spatial audio
- - Overview of spatial audio with Dolby Atmos
  - - Bed tracks and object tracks
    - Rendering a Dolby Atmos mix in Logic Pro for Mac
- - Surround Panner overview
  - Surround Panner parameters
- - 3D Object Panner overview
  - 3D Object Panner parameters
- - Bounce surround audio files
  - Export ADM BWF files
- Video and synchronization overview
Touch Bar shortcuts
- Environment overview
- Common object parameters
- - Environment Layers overview
  - Create, name, delete, and switch layers
- Customize the Environment
- - Effects overview
  - Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
- - Instruments introduction
  - Add, remove, move, and copy plug-ins
  - Use multi-output instruments
- - Alchemy overview
  - Alchemy interface overview
  - Alchemy Name bar
  - Alchemy file locations
  - - Preset browser overview
    - Browser results list
  - - Main filter controls
    - Filter types
  - Alchemy master voice section
  - Alchemy Extended parameters
- - Drum Kit Designer overview
  - Edit pane
  - Use Drum Kit Designer
  - Extended parameters
  - Drum Kit Designer mappings
- - Drum Machine Designer overview
  - Drum Machine Designer interface
  - Kit controls
  - - Pad controls bar
    - Use pad controls
  - Kit Tone and Effect Smart Controls
  - Kit Piece Tone and Effect Smart Controls
- - Drum Synth overview
  - Drum Synth Kicks
  - Drum Synth Snares and Claps
  - Drum Synth Percussion
  - Drum Synth Hats and Cymbals
- - ES1 overview
  - Global parameters
  - - Filter parameters
    - Overdrive the filter
  - Amplifier parameters
  - MIDI controller assignments
- - ES2 overview
  - ES2 interface overview
  - - Use the dynamic stage
    - Enhance sounds with the Sine Level control
  - ES2 integrated effects processor controls
  - Use ES2 in Surround mode
  - Extended parameters
  - - Use randomization parameters
    - Restrict randomization
- - EFM1 overview
  - Modulation parameters
  - Global parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Create random sounds
  - Extended parameters
  - Assign MIDI controllers
- - ES E overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - LFO parameters
  - Filter parameters
  - Envelope parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Extended parameters
- - ES M overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - Filter and filter envelope controls
  - Level envelope and output controls
  - Extended parameters
- - ES P overview
  - Oscillator parameters
  - LFO parameters
  - Filter parameters
  - Envelope and level controls
  - Integrated effects processor
  - Extended parameters
- - - EVOC 20 PS overview
    - Vocoder basics
  - EVOC 20 PS interface
  - Analysis controls
  - (U/V) detection parameters
  - Formant filter controls
  - Modulation parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Vocoder history
  - EVOC 20 block diagram
- - Quick Sampler overview
  - Add audio to Quick Sampler
  - Quick Sampler waveform display
  - Use Flex in Quick Sampler
  - - Mod Matrix pane
    - LFO controls
  - Quick Sampler Pitch controls
  - Quick Sampler Filter controls
  - Quick Sampler filter types
  - Quick Sampler Amp controls
  - Quick Sampler extended parameters
- - Retro Synth overview
  - Analog oscillator controls
  - Sync oscillator controls
  - - Table oscillator parameters
    - Use the Wavetable menu
  - FM oscillator controls
  - Filter controls
  - Filter types
  - Amp and effect controls
  - Global and controller settings
  - Extended parameters
- - Sample Alchemy overview
  - Interface overview
  - Add source material
  - Edit mode
  - Play modes
  - Source overview
  - Synthesis modes
  - Granular controls
  - Additive effects
  - Additive effect controls
  - Spectral effect
  - Spectral effect controls
  - Filter module
  - Lowpass, bandpass, and highpass filters
  - Comb PM filter
  - Downsampler filter
  - FM filter
  - Envelope generators
  - Mod Matrix
  - Modulation routing
  - Motion mode
  - Trim mode
  - More menu
- - Sampler overview
  - Load and save instruments in Sampler
  - Sampler articulation handling
  - Sampler memory management
  - Sampler extended parameters
- - Sculpture overview
  - Sculpture interface
  - - Pickup parameters
    - Spread controls
  - Global parameters
  - Amplitude envelope parameters
  - Use the Waveshaper
  - Filter parameters
  - Output parameters
  - Use surround range and diversity
  - Define MIDI controllers
  - Extended parameters
- - Studio Bass overview
  - Main view parameters
  - Details view parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - String and position MIDI channel assignments
- - Studio Horns overview
  - Extended parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - Section MIDI channel assignments
- Studio Piano
- - Studio Strings overview
  - Extended parameters
  - Keyswitch mapping
  - Section MIDI channel assignments
- - Ultrabeat overview
  - Ultrabeat interface
  - Synthesizer section overview
  - Filter section controls
  - Distortion circuit controls
- - Utility instruments
  - External Instrument
  - Klopfgeist
- - Vintage B3 overview
- - Vintage Clav overview
  - Vintage Clav interface
  - Extended parameters
  - - D6 Clavinet history
    - D6 mechanical details
- - Vintage Electric Piano overview
  - Vintage Electric Piano interface
  - - Model controls
    - Pitch controls
  - Extended parameters
  - - Rhodes models
    - Hohner and Wurlitzer models
  - MIDI controller assignments
- - Vintage Mellotron overview
  - Vintage Mellotron controls
- - Legacy instruments overview
  - - Bass
    - Church Organ
    - Drum Kits
    - Electric Clav(inet)
    - Electric Piano
    - Guitar
    - Horns
    - Piano
    - Sound Effects
    - Strings
    - Tuned Percussion
    - Voice
    - Woodwind
    - Tonewheel Organ
- - Synthesizer basics overview
  - Synthesizer fundamentals
Glossary
Copyright

Logic Pro for Mac Smart Tempo overview

Smart Tempo brings powerful new tempo analysis and editing capabilities to Logic Pro for Mac. With Smart Tempo, you can record a performance without the metronome, then have Logic Pro analyze the recorded region and either apply the region tempo to the project, or apply the project tempo to the region and flex the region. Smart Tempo also makes it easy to create remixes using audio files and MIDI regions with different tempos that all conform to the project tempo, or to adapt the project tempo to the tempo of an imported audio file or MIDI region.

Figure. Project showing recording, Adapt mode chosen, tempo changes in the Tempo track, and the Smart Tempo Editor open.

You can use Smart Tempo by making free tempo recordings in a new or existing project, and then viewing the analysis results in the Smart Tempo Editor and adding hints to improve the tempo analysis or editing beat markers to correct the analysis results. You can also choose the Project Tempo mode to set the overall tempo behavior for the project, and use the Flex & Follow setting for individual audio regions to set how they interact with the chosen Project Tempo mode.

Unlike audio quantization, which identifies transient peaks in an audio file, Smart Tempo analysis places beat markers based on the musical tempo detection of an audio file. When used with complex musical material, Smart Tempo analysis can deliver better results (particularly when Flex & Follow is set to Bars or Beats) than using audio quantization. You can view and edit Smart Tempo beat markers and other tempo information in the Smart Tempo Editor.

You can also use Smart Tempo with MIDI regions in a project. MIDI regions always follow the project tempo, and so behave similarly to flexed audio files with the Flex & Follow region setting set to On. Because MIDI regions have no source audio file, the Smart Tempo analysis and any edits you make in the Smart Tempo Editor are saved directly to the MIDI regions and stored with the project.

Free tempo recording

Using free tempo recording, you can record audio in a new or existing project without a metronome or a defined project tempo. When you are done recording, you can choose whether to apply the tempo of the recorded region to the project, apply the project tempo to the region, or proceed without analyzing the region tempo or changing the project tempo. Free tempo recording is useful when you want to capture ideas quickly without worrying about the precise tempo, record material with flexible tempo and preserve the nuances of tempo and timing, or record complex parts more slowly, then speed them up to match the project tempo.

When you start a free tempo recording, recording starts immediately, without a count-in. The metronome is turned off and the selected track or tracks are soloed, so no other sound is audible during the recording. When you finish, you can choose which tempo behavior to apply to the newly recorded region and the project. You can set the default behavior for free tempo recordings in the Smart Tempo project settings.

After making a free tempo recording, you can view the analysis results in the Smart Tempo Editor, add hints to improve the analysis, and edit beat markers to correct the analysis results for specific beats.

The Project Tempo mode

The Project Tempo mode determines whether the project tempo is maintained, or adapts to the tempo of audio recordings, imported audio files, and MIDI regions. You choose the Project Tempo mode in the LCD Tempo display.

The Project Tempo modes are:

Keep Project Tempo: Maintains the project tempo when you record audio or MIDI, or when you import audio files. Audio regions for which the Flex & Follow parameter is not set to Off conform to the project tempo. Choose this mode to work as in previous versions of Logic Pro for Mac.
Adapt Project Tempo: Alters the project tempo to match the tempo of recorded or imported regions. When you move or copy regions, the tempo information of the regions moves with them. Choose this mode for free recording without the metronome or other tempo reference, or when you want the project tempo to follow region edits.
Automatic: Logic Pro chooses the appropriate behavior (Keep or Adapt) based on whether or not a musical tempo reference (such as the metronome or another region) is present. When a musical tempo reference is present, the project tempo is maintained. When no musical tempo reference is present, the project tempo adapts to match the tempo of recorded or added material.

In the Tempo track, the Tempo curve changes color depending on the Project Tempo mode and tempo analysis:

Blue: The project tempo is unchanged.
Orange: The project tempo will be defined by the tempo of a new recording.
Red: The existing project tempo will be replaced, affecting existing regions.

Each Project Tempo mode is useful for different workflows. For detailed information about Project Tempo modes, see Choose the Project Tempo mode. You can also set the Project Tempo mode in the Smart Tempo project settings.

The Flex & Follow audio region parameter

When Flex is enabled for a track, the Flex & Follow pop-up menu is available in the Region inspector for audio regions, replacing the Flex checkbox in earlier versions of Logic Pro. You use the Flex & Follow setting to enable Flex for a region, to control whether it follows the project tempo, and to set whether it additionally uses Smart Tempo beat markers at the bar or beat level.

The choices for the Flex & Follow parameter are:

Off: The region is not Flex enabled, and does not follow changes to the project tempo.
On: The region is Flex enabled, and so follows any manual Flex edits. It also follows changes to the project tempo.
Bars (On + Align Bars): The region is Flex enabled, and follows project tempo changes. Additionally, Smart Tempo beat markers are used to conform the region to the project tempo at every downbeat (bar).
Beats (On + Align Bars and Beats): The region is Flex enabled, and follows project tempo changes. Additionally, Smart Tempo beat markers are used to conform the region to the project tempo at every beat.

There is no Flex & Follow setting for MIDI regions. MIDI regions always follow the project tempo, similarly to flexed audio regions with Flex & Follow set to on.

For information about choosing Flex & Follow settings, see Choose the Flex & Follow setting. You can change the default settings for the Flex & Follow region parameter for new recordings and imported audio files in the Smart Tempo project settings, and set whether they are trimmed to the downbeat.

Musical tempo reference

When using Smart Tempo in Adapt mode (or when Auto uses Adapt behavior), the results depend on whether a musical tempo reference is present in the part of the project to which you are recording or adding a file. A musical tempo reference exists when the metronome is active, when audio, MIDI, or Session Player regions are present in the part of the project where you are working, or when Cycle mode is turned on.

In most cases, when you hear any musical material while recording, a musical tempo reference is present. If you do not hear any material, no musical tempo reference is present.

Tip: To avoid having a musical tempo reference while recording, solo the track you are recording to before recording.

Use Smart Tempo with remixes

When creating a remix, you often work by combining files recorded at different tempos, and that may contain tempo changes. With the Project Tempo mode set to Keep, imported files do not affect the project tempo.

Imported audio files conform to the project tempo, as long as their Flex & Follow parameter is not set to Off. By setting the Flex & Follow parameter for the audio regions to Bars or Bars and Beats, beat markers are additionally used to conform them at the bar or beat level. The audio regions from the files can be transposed as needed so they play back in the same key. Any audio regions with their Flex & Follow parameter set to Off keep their original tempo, and do not conform to the project tempo. MIDI regions always follow the project tempo.

Use Smart Tempo with existing projects

You can use Smart Tempo with existing projects, including projects created in an earlier version of Logic Pro. For most projects, the workflow described in Use Smart Tempo with multitrack audio files is recommended, because it allows you to define which audio files contribute to the Smart Tempo analysis, and allows the analysis results to be shared between all audio files. In cases where you do not want the Smart Tempo analysis results to be shared across audio files, and in which the project contains a single region having a clearly audible and consistent rhythmic pattern throughout (for example, a stereo recording of the overhead mics of a drum kit), you can use the following workflow:

After opening the project, make sure the Project Tempo mode is set to Keep, and open the audio file corresponding to the rhythmic region in the Smart Tempo Editor. Turn on the Smart Tempo Editor metronome and audition the file to verify that the Smart Tempo analysis is correct, making any needed edits. After verifying and correcting the region, choose Apply Region Tempo to Project Tempo from the Edit pop-up menu (or Control-click the region in the Tracks area and choose the corresponding command from the shortcut menu). In the dialog, make sure both the “Align downbeat to nearest project downbeat” and “Maintain relative position of all other regions” checkboxes are selected, then click Apply. This writes the analyzed tempo from the selected region to the Tempo track, aligns the selected region to the downbeat, and maintains the relative positions of the other regions (as well as other data such as automation curves) to the analyzed region. Using this workflow, tempo-synced regions (such as Apple Loops or Session Player regions) and effects added to the project also conform to the project tempo.

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: PDF

Logic Pro Effects: PDF

Helpful?

Logic Pro User Guide for Mac