Control playback in Logic Pro for Mac

You can use the transport buttons in the control bar to control playback, or to set the playhead position. You can click the buttons to activate or deactivate functions, or use the corresponding key commands to speed up your workflow.

The default set of transport buttons includes the Rewind, Forward, Stop, Play, and Record buttons to the left of the LCD, and the Cycle, Replace, Autopunch, Solo, and Click (Metronome) buttons to the right of the LCD. You can customize the control bar to show additional buttons for other functions. See Customize the control bar in Logic Pro for Mac.

Control playback with the default transport buttons

In Logic Pro, click any of the following:

Rewind/Fast Rewind button: Moves the playhead one bar to the left. Click and hold to fast rewind, or drag to scrub playback. Command-clicking moves the playhead to the previous marker.
Forward/Fast Forward button: Moves the playhead one bar to the right. Click and hold to fast forward, or drag to scrub playback. Command-clicking moves the playhead to the next marker.
Stop button: Stops playback or recording. Click a second time to move the playhead to the start of the project, or to the left locator position when in Cycle mode. Right-click for more stop options. You can also press Return.
Play button: Starts playback at the playhead position, or from the left locator position when in Cycle mode. Right-click for more play options. You can also press Return.
Record button: Starts or stops recording on record-ready tracks. You can also press Asterisk (*).

Use additional transport buttons

In Logic Pro, click any of the following:

Go to Beginning button: Moves the playhead to the start of the project.
Go to Position button: Moves the playhead to a target bar or time position that you specify in the Go to Position dialog.
Go to Left Locator button: Moves the playhead to the left locator position shown in the ruler. The left locator defines the cycle area start point. Use the cycle area to repeatedly play, or record over, a section.
Go to Right Locator button: Moves the playhead to the right locator position shown in the ruler. The right locator defines the cycle area end point. Use the cycle area to repeatedly play, or record over, a section.
Go to Selection Start button: Moves the playhead to the start point of the first selected region or event. You can also press Shift-Return.
Play from Beginning button: Plays from the start of the project.
Play from Left Window Edge button: Plays from the leftmost visible point in the active workspace.
Play from Left Locator button: Plays from the left locator position shown in the ruler. The left locator defines the cycle area start point. Use the cycle area to repeatedly play, or record over, a section.
Play from Right Locator button: Plays from the right locator position shown in the ruler. The right locator defines the cycle area end point. Use the cycle area to repeatedly play, or record over, a section.
Play from Selection button: Plays from the start point of the first selected region or event. You can also press Shift-Return.
Pause button: Pauses playback or recording, until you click either the Pause or Play button.
Flashback Capture button: Captures the most recent performance, even if Logic Pro was not in record mode while you were playing.

Download the guides:

Logic Pro User Guide: PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: PDF

Logic Pro Effects: PDF

Control Surfaces Support Guide: PDF

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Logic Pro User Guide for Mac

Control playback in Logic Pro for Mac

Control playback with the default transport buttons

Use additional transport buttons