Improve the tempo analysis using hints in Logic Pro for Mac
In Hint mode, you can add downbeat hints, beat hints, and time signature hints to audio files or regions in the Smart Tempo Editor, then update the tempo analysis to apply the changes. You can edit hints in the Smart Tempo Editor by moving or deleting them. You can also convert beat hints to downbeat hints, and convert downbeat hints to beat hints.
After you add and edit hints, you must trigger a new tempo analysis to apply the changes.
In many cases, adding a few downbeat hints at the beginning is sufficient for an accurate tempo analysis of the audio file, region, or selection. If you find after adding some initial hints that the tempo analysis needs further improvement, you can add more downbeat hints, and also add beat hints to increase the precision of the tempo analysis.
When the time signature is not detected correctly, you can add a general time signature hint in the Signature display, or add specific time signature hints on downbeat hints. This is especially important for files with time signature changes, which can only be detected using time signature hints. When the detected time signature is incorrect, adding time signature hints can help the tempo analysis accurately detect the time signature.
Important: For hints to take effect, you must perform a new tempo analysis, which may change the position of or remove existing beat markers. For this reason it’s recommended that you first make changes in Hint mode and apply the changes; then, if more specific corrections are needed, edit beat markers in Beat Marker mode. You can also Protect Smart Tempo edits by locking a range in Logic Pro for Mac.
Define a tempo range
When a bar contains hints on each beat, or when you set downbeat hints in three consecutive bars, then apply changes to update the tempo analysis, Logic Pro for Mac defines a tempo range, which lasts until the next hint. Because a tempo range sets the tempo until the next hint, you may want to delete any following hints placed where no tempo correction is needed, and where no tempo change occurs. You can add another tempo range at any position where tempo correction is needed or where a tempo change occurs by adding hints for an entire bar, or adding downbeat hints for three consecutive bars.
When you double or halve the tempo of an audio file, Logic Pro sets a new tempo range starting from the beginning of the musical material in the file (overwriting any hints that are not yet applied). When you’re editing a selection, the new tempo range starts from the beginning of the selection.
By default, the Smart Tempo Editor opens in Hint mode. If you have switched to Beat Marker mode after opening the Smart Tempo Editor, you must turn on Hint mode to add and edit hints.
In the Logic Pro Smart Tempo Editor, click the Hint Mode button in the control bar.
Click the Hint Mode button again to turn off Hint mode.
When you press the D key on your computer keyboard while in Beat Marker mode, the Smart Tempo Editor switches to Hint mode so that you can add hints using the D and T keys.
In the Logic Pro Smart Tempo Editor, do one of the following:
With the pointer in the upper part of the main display, click at each position where you want to add a downbeat hint.
With the pointer in the lower part of the main display, click at each position where you want to add a beat hint.
Note: You can add downbeat hints and beat hints in separate passes, or add both in a single pass.
Click the Preview button in the Smart Tempo Editor menu bar. While the file plays, press the D key on your computer keyboard at each position where you want to add a downbeat hint. Press the T key at each position where you want to add a beat hint.
When playback is stopped, pressing the D key starts playback of the file. Subsequent presses of the D key set downbeat hints.
Note: You can add downbeat hints and beat hints in separate passes, or add both in a single pass.
In the Logic Pro Smart Tempo Editor, place the pointer over a downbeat hint.
Click the time signature indicator at the top of the downbeat hint, then choose a new time signature from the menu that appears.