Assign key commands in Logic Pro

You can assign particular computer keyboard keys to Logic Pro functions and control surface messages to particular commands—effectively teaching Logic Pro to understand these messages.

If your computer has a Touch Bar, you can assign key commands to appear in the Touch Bar as one of the key commands screen shortcuts. See Overview of Touch Bar shortcuts in Logic Pro for more information.

Assign a function to a key

In Logic Pro, select a command in the Command column.
Click the Learn by Key Label button.
Press the relevant keyboard key, along with the modifier key or keys—Shift, Control, Option, Command.
If the key command assignment is already used by Logic Pro, an alert appears. You have the following options:
- Cancel: Click Cancel if you don’t want to change the existing assignment.
- Replace: Click Replace if you want to replace the existing assignment with the selected function.
- OK: Click OK if you want to assign the key command combination to the selected function, while retaining the existing key command or function.
If the key command assignment is already used by macOS, typing the key command triggers the system function, indicating the key command is not available. For example, if you press Option-Command-D, the Dock in the Finder is shown or hidden, indicating the key command is not available. In this case, choose another keyboard assignment.
Click the Learn by Key Label button again.

The Learn by Key Position button works in a similar way, differing in that you can assign, for example, different commands to the alphanumeric keyboard and the numeric keyboard.

Assign a function to the Touch Bar

In Logic Pro, select a command in the Command column.
Click the Learn Touch Bar button.
Tap the relevant Touch Bar button, along with the modifier key or keys—Shift, Control, Option, Command.
If the Touch Bar button is already assigned, an alert appears. You have the following options:
- Cancel: Click Cancel if you don’t want to change the existing assignment.
- Replace: Click Replace if you want to replace the existing assignment with the selected function.
In the Label column, type a short name for the command. The name should be eight characters or less, so it fits on the Touch Bar button.
In the Color pop-up menu, choose a color for the Touch Bar button.

The button you assigned to the Touch Bar can be accessed from the Key Commands screen. For more information about using the Touch Bar, see Overview of Touch Bar shortcuts in Logic Pro.

Learn a controller assignment

In Logic Pro, click the Learn New Assignment button.
Select the command in the Command column.
Send a MIDI message from your controller.

The Assignments field displays the learned assignment, showing one or all of the following:

The name of the control surface—or the MIDI string, if the assignment is from an unsupported control surface
The name of the control
The zone and mode that the assignment belongs to

The Learn New Assignment button becomes unavailable when the entire message has been received. This avoids reception of further messages that may be sent by the device when you release the button.

Delete a key command or controller assignment

In Logic Pro, do one of the following:

To delete a key command assignment: Select the related command in the Command column, then click the Delete button.
To delete a controller assignment: Select the related command in the Command column, then click the Delete Assignment button.

Helpful?

Logic Pro User Guide

Assign key commands in Logic Pro

Assign a function to a key

Assign a function to the Touch Bar

Learn a controller assignment

Delete a key command or controller assignment