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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

Overview of the Piano Roll Editor in Logic Pro for Mac

In Logic Pro for Mac, the Piano Roll Editor shows the notes in a MIDI region as color-coded bars in a time grid. Horizontal lines show the time position and note length, and the vertical position indicates pitch. A keyboard along the left edge of the Piano Roll Editor provides a reference for the pitches of notes. The info display after the tool pop-up menus in the Piano Roll Editor menu bar shows the note name and time position under the pointer.

Some software instruments—most often, drum and percussion instruments—provide names for the MIDI notes (for example, if the MIDI note G#2 plays a cowbell, the instrument displays “Cowbell” next to the keyboard at the left edge of the Piano Roll Editor). When displayed MIDI regions are played back by an instrument that provides note names, you have the option to show only those note names (called “Drum Names” in Logic Pro), in which case the keyboard is replaced by a table showing those note names.

You can also switch to Collapse Mode view, which shows only those lanes in the Piano Roll Editor that are used by notes in the MIDI regions you’ve selected.

The Piano Roll Editor can display the MIDI regions on a track, in a folder, or on multiple tracks in the project. See View multiple regions in the Piano Roll Editor in Logic Pro.

You can record notes into the Piano Roll Editor directly when the MIDI In button is activated using step recording techniques. See Use step input recording. Make sure the MIDI Out button is activated so that you can hear notes that you add, select, or click.

Figure. Piano Roll Editor, pointing out MIDI note event.

You can open the Piano Roll Editor as a pane in the main window, or as a separate, resizable window.

Open the Piano Roll Editor

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:

Select a software instrument (or external MIDI instrument) track or a MIDI region, then click the Editors button .
Select a software instrument (or external MIDI instrument) track or a MIDI region, then choose View > Show Editors.
Double-click a MIDI region (if Piano Roll is chosen from the Logic Pro > Settings > General > Editing > Double-Clicking a MIDI Region Opens pop-up menu).
The Piano Roll Editor opens below the Tracks area. On the left are controls for quantizing the timing and pitch of MIDI regions, adjusting their pitch, and editing the velocity of MIDI notes. Along the top of the Piano Roll Editor is a ruler showing time divisions, and a menu bar with local menus, tools, and other controls. The header shows the name of the selected region (or the number of regions, if more than one is selected).

Switch the Piano Roll Editor to show only drum names

In Logic Pro, choose View > Drum Names in the Piano Roll Editor menu bar.
The keyboard disappears and only the note numbers and drum names are shown.

Switch the Piano Roll Editor to Collapse Mode view

In Logic Pro, click the Collapse Mode button in the Piano Roll Editor menu bar.

Open the Piano Roll Editor as a separate window

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:

Choose Window > Open Piano Roll (or press Command-4).
Drag the Piano Roll Editor by its title out of the main window.

Vertically resize the Piano Roll Editor

In Logic Pro, place the pointer in the bar at the top of the Editors window, then drag upward.
Drag downward to make the editor smaller again.

Hide or show the local Piano Roll Editor inspector

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
- To hide the Piano Roll Editor inspector: Choose Hide Local Inspector from the Piano Roll Editor View menu.
- To show the Piano Roll Editor inspector: Choose Show Local inspector from the Piano Roll Editor View menu.

Set the Link mode for the Piano Roll Editor

You can turn on Content Link for the Piano Roll Editor, so that it always displays the contents of the currently selected MIDI region.

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:
- To set the Link mode to Content: Click the Link button in the Piano Roll Editor menu bar.
- To set the Link mode to Off: Click the Link button in the Piano Roll Editor menu bar again.

Same Level Link is not available for the Piano Roll Editor. To learn more about using Link modes, see Link windows in a Logic Pro project.

Change the background for the Piano Roll Editor

By default, the Piano Roll Editor shows notes on a dark background. You can change the background in Display settings if you prefer a lighter background.

Choose Logic Pro for iPad > Settings > Display.
Click Editors, then select the Piano Roll: Bright background checkbox.

Close the Piano Roll Editor

In Logic Pro, click the Editors button .

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: PDF

Logic Pro Effects: PDF

Helpful?

Logic Pro User Guide for Mac