Region Automation: Program Change — Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day

Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day. #LogicProX @StudioIntern1

  Region Automation: Program Change

One of the vast array of things that can be automated.

I thought things might get confusing if there were program change events in a region and automation was used to make a program change. No, it’s not. The “automation” is accomplished with Program Change events. If you create an automation point the event is inserted in the region.

The Region Automation commands as found in the Key Commands are not the only things that can be automated. Any MIDI event can be programmed for any channel. It’s a different way of adding events to the MIDI region.

Region-based vs. track-based automation — Logic Pro X

Logic Pro offers two types of automation: track-based automation, and region-based automation. Track-based automation can be applied to the entire track, from the beginning to the end of your project. Region-based automation only applies to the specific region the automation parameters are connected to. With track-based automation, if you re-record, move or copy regions (either to another point on the same track, or to another track) the automation data remains tied to the initial point on the track in which it was created. With region-based automation, if you re-record the region, the automation is lost; if you move or copy the region (either to another point on the same track, or to another track) the automation remains with the region. Region-based automation is particularly useful when you are automating instrument parameters.

Show automation curves — Logic Pro X

Before you can add automation points to a track’s automation curves, you need to show the automation curves. Automation curves are displayed as colored curves and points on top of audio and MIDI regions across the track, running the length of the project. You can choose whether to view and edit automation across the track (track-based automation) or only within the track’s regions (region-based automation).

⇧ SHIFT – ⌃ CONTROL – ⌥ OPTION – ⌘ COMMAND

Command    Key Touch Bar
- Views Showing Time Ruler
Region Automation: Volume
Region Automation: Panorama
Region Automation: Balance
Region Automation: Modulation
Region Automation: Breath
Region Automation: Foot Control
Region Automation: Portamento Time
Region Automation: Expression
Region Automation: Sustain Pedal
Region Automation: Control Change 20
Region Automation: Control Change 21
Region Automation: Control Change 22
Region Automation: Control Change 23
Region Automation: Control Change 24
Region Automation: Control Change 25
Region Automation: Control Change 26
Region Automation: Control Change 27
Region Automation: Control Change 28
Region Automation: Control Change 29
Region Automation: Control Change 30
Region Automation: Control Change 31
Region Automation: Control Change 32
Region Automation: Surround Angle
Region Automation: Surround Diversity
Region Automation: Surround LFE
Region Automation: Channel Pressure
Region Automation: Pitch Bend
Region Automation: Program Change
Region Automation: Note Velocity

Region Automation: Breath — Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day

Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day. #LogicProX @StudioIntern1

  Region Automation: Breath

Automation is the “program” that is applied to the tracks in the project. The sounds that are made come from the MIDI instruments or audio files that “sound” at a point in time. What happens to the sound is modified by plugins. All of the things that can occur over time — changes to plugins, volume, pan, all of it — the automation — is the program that gets written to create the finished product.

It appears that almost every single bit of what Logic can do is available as an “automation” parameter. We program the environment through automation, and allow real-time control to be applied — and recorded!

The available commands are a subset of what can actually be automated by selecting from the drop-down menu. I’m not sure that I am ready to learn how to progam using faders 😉

Region-based vs. track-based automation — Logic Pro X

Logic Pro offers two types of automation: track-based automation, and region-based automation. Track-based automation can be applied to the entire track, from the beginning to the end of your project. Region-based automation only applies to the specific region the automation parameters are connected to. With track-based automation, if you re-record, move or copy regions (either to another point on the same track, or to another track) the automation data remains tied to the initial point on the track in which it was created. With region-based automation, if you re-record the region, the automation is lost; if you move or copy the region (either to another point on the same track, or to another track) the automation remains with the region. Region-based automation is particularly useful when you are automating instrument parameters.

⇧ SHIFT – ⌃ CONTROL – ⌥ OPTION – ⌘ COMMAND

Command    Key Touch Bar
- Views Showing Time Ruler
Region Automation: Volume
Region Automation: Panorama
Region Automation: Balance
Region Automation: Modulation
Region Automation: Breath
Region Automation: Foot Control
Region Automation: Portamento Time
Region Automation: Expression
Region Automation: Sustain Pedal
Region Automation: Control Change 20
Region Automation: Control Change 21
Region Automation: Control Change 22
Region Automation: Control Change 23
Region Automation: Control Change 24
Region Automation: Control Change 25
Region Automation: Control Change 26
Region Automation: Control Change 27
Region Automation: Control Change 28
Region Automation: Control Change 29
Region Automation: Control Change 30
Region Automation: Control Change 31
Region Automation: Control Change 32
Region Automation: Surround Angle
Region Automation: Surround Diversity
Region Automation: Surround LFE
Region Automation: Channel Pressure
Region Automation: Pitch Bend
Region Automation: Program Change
Region Automation: Note Velocity

Region Automation: Expression — Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day

Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day. #LogicProX @StudioIntern1

  Region Automation: Expression

I am somewhat curious about the number of Region Automation commands. It is possible that the set is a holdover from Logic Pro 9. If I use the pop-up menu for Region Automation choice I can select any of the 128 MIDI CC messages.

You can choose both the MIDI channel number and the CC message that you want to automate.

Whole programs written to the 16 channels and 128 parameters. The clock is a bit limited by the MIDI implementation.

Looking forward to MIDI 2.0 and what it might bring…

MIDI Clock is 24 PPQN (parts per quarter note)

MIDI Time Code uses absolute time in its messages (the actual time on the clock from the beginning of the song or reference point in hours, minutes, seconds, frames, and subframes). This data can then be translated into SMPTE messages (the kind of synchronization data used in film and television).

Use the Automation/MIDI area in the Piano Roll Editor — Logic Pro X

Note: Region-based automation is effectively the same as MIDI Draw in previous versions of Logic Pro. If you had MIDI Draw data in a project created in a previous version of Logic Pro, it appears as region-based automation data.

⇧ SHIFT – ⌃ CONTROL – ⌥ OPTION – ⌘ COMMAND

Command Key Touch Bar
– Views Showing Time Ruler
Region Automation: Volume
Region Automation: Panorama
Region Automation: Balance
Region Automation: Modulation
Region Automation: Breath
Region Automation: Foot Control
Region Automation: Portamento Time
Region Automation: Expression
Region Automation: Sustain Pedal
Region Automation: Control Change 20
Region Automation: Control Change 21
Region Automation: Control Change 22
Region Automation: Control Change 23
Region Automation: Control Change 24
Region Automation: Control Change 25
Region Automation: Control Change 26
Region Automation: Control Change 27
Region Automation: Control Change 28
Region Automation: Control Change 29
Region Automation: Control Change 30
Region Automation: Control Change 31
Region Automation: Control Change 32
Region Automation: Surround Angle
Region Automation: Surround Diversity
Region Automation: Surround LFE
Region Automation: Channel Pressure
Region Automation: Pitch Bend
Region Automation: Program Change
Region Automation: Note Velocity

Show/Hide Automation A ⌃1⃣ — Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day

Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day. #LogicProX @StudioIntern1

  Show/Hide Automation   A   ⌃1⃣

Expose the automation lanes for tracks. This is why we have computers for making music 😉

Show automation curves — Logic Pro X

Before you can add automation points to a track’s automation curves, you need to show the automation curves. Automation curves are displayed as colored curves and points on top of audio and MIDI regions across the track, running the length of the project. You can choose whether to view and edit automation across the track (track-based automation) or only within the track’s regions (region-based automation).

⇧ SHIFT – ⌃ CONTROL – ⌥ OPTION – ⌘ COMMAND

Toggle Current Track Automation Write/Read — Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day

Logic Pro X keyboard command of the day. #LogicProX @StudioIntern1

  Toggle Current Track Automation Write/Read

Switch between Read automation and Write automation.

Read automation performs automation moves. Turning automation off is like muting the actions.’

Write automation writes over (replaces) any automation currently on the track. This is not a typical command.

When switching to Write automation Logic issues the warning

“Write” mode erases multiple parameters in one go without touching anything!
In most cases it is better to use “Latch” or “Touch”.

and waits for you to confirm what you are doing. The warning is only issued once (per session apparently.) The warning is issued if you create a key command to perform the operation.

Choose automation modes — Logic Pro X

Write: Erases existing automation on the track as the playhead passes over it. Records the new control movement or deletes the existing data if you do nothing.

⇧ SHIFT – ⌃ CONTROL – ⌥ OPTION – ⌘ COMMAND