Choose the Project Tempo mode in Logic Pro for Mac
The Project Tempo mode determines whether the project tempo is maintained, or adapts to the tempo of recordings and imported audio or MIDI regions. Each mode is useful for different situations, as described in the following sections:
Keep Project Tempo mode
In Keep Project Tempo mode, Logic Pro for Mac maintains the project tempo. When you make a recording or move regions to a different time position, the project tempo does not change. You can use Logic Pro functions, including the metronome and Cycle mode, the same as with earlier versions of Logic Pro. Audio recordings and imported audio files conform to the project tempo as long as their Flex & Follow parameter is set to On, On + Align Bars, or On + Align Bars and Beats.
Adapt Project Tempo mode
In Adapt Project Tempo mode, Logic Pro adapts the project tempo to a recording or an imported audio or MIDI file. When you choose Adapt mode in the Tempo display, the Tempo track opens so you can see how the project tempo changes after recording, importing files, or moving regions in the Tracks area. When you make a recording in an empty project with the metronome off, the project tempo adapts to the recording. During recording, red lines in the newly recorded region show detected tempo changes. If the metronome is on, it is used as the tempo reference and the project tempo does not change. The project tempo does not adapt to subsequent recordings in that part of the project, because the previous recording provides the tempo reference. If a recording extends beyond that part of the project, the project tempo adapts to the portion of the region extending beyond the borders of the first recording.
The project tempo does change to adapt to imported audio or MIDI files. When you move recorded or imported regions to a different time position, the project tempo at their original position “follows” them to the new position.
Adapt mode is mutually exclusive with Cycle mode. If the Cycle mode is on when you choose Adapt in the Tempo display, it is turned off, and the recording starts at the beginning of the Cycle region.
Important: In general, Adapt Project Tempo mode should be used only temporarily when making a free recording, when adding a file you want the project tempo to conform to, or when you specifically want the Tempo track to follow region edits you are making. Because it results in changes to the project tempo, it should be used with some caution.
Automatic mode
In Automatic (Auto) mode, Logic Pro determines whether to use Keep or Adapt behavior based on whether a musical tempo reference is present in the part of the project to which you record or add audio or MIDI. When a musical tempo reference exists, Logic Pro maintains the project tempo (Keep mode behavior). When no musical tempo reference exists, Logic Pro adapts the project tempo to the tempo of audio recordings or imported audio files (Adapt mode behavior).
When you make an initial recording in an empty project with Auto mode active, the metronome state determines which behavior is used. If the metronome is on, the project tempo is preserved as in previous versions of Logic Pro (Keep mode behavior). If the metronome is off, the project tempo changes to match the recording (Adapt mode behavior). In Adapt mode behavior, the project tempo does not change for any subsequent recordings you add in the same range as the first recording, or if you add or move files in that range, because a musical tempo reference now exists in that part of the project.
When Auto mode uses Keep behavior, there is no conflict with Cycle mode. When Auto mode uses Adapt behavior and the Cycle mode is on, it is turned off, and the recording starts from the beginning of the Cycle region.
