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Logic Pro for Mac Smart Tempo overview

Smart Tempo features powerful tempo analysis, loop detection, and editing capabilities for Logic Pro for Mac. With Smart Tempo, you can record a performance without the metronome or import an audio file, then have Logic Pro analyze the 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 or by importing external audio files, 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 Smart Tempo 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 than using audio quantization, particularly when Smart Tempo is set to Bars or Beats. 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 Smart Tempo 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 Smart Tempo parameter is active conform to the project tempo.

  • 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 Smart Tempo setting

In the Region inspector for audio regions, you use the Smart Tempo pop-up menu to control whether Logic Pro ignores the file tempo of the region or whether Logic Pro uses the file tempo as a reference. See Choose the Smart Tempo setting.

You can also change the default settings for the Smart Tempo setting 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 don’t 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

You often create a remix by combining files recorded at different tempos. With the Project Tempo mode set to Keep, imported files don’t affect the project tempo.

Imported audio files conform to the project tempo, as long as their Smart Tempo setting is active. Setting the Smart Tempo parameter for the audio regions to Bars or Bars and Beats uses beat markers to conform imported audio files at the bar or beat level. You can transpose the audio regions from the files as needed so they play back in the same key. Any audio regions with their Smart Tempo parameter set to Off keep their original tempo, and don’t 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. When you don’t want the Smart Tempo analysis results to be shared across audio files, you can use the workflow described in Use Smart tempo with a single region.

Use Smart tempo with a single region

In cases where you don’t want the Smart Tempo analysis results to be shared across audio files, and when 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), do the following:

  1. In Logic Pro, 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.

  2. Turn on the Smart Tempo Editor metronome and audition the file to verify that the Smart Tempo analysis is correct, making any needed edits.

  3. Choose Apply Region Tempo to Project Tempo from the Edit menu (or Control-click the region in the Tracks area and choose the corresponding command from the shortcut menu).

  4. 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

Control Surfaces Support Guide: PDF

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