Any experienced Logic users?

Hi,

I've been doing some jamming with my band with no metronome or click.  I now want to bring in the MIDI drums to Logic and set them to a consistent tempo, so I can copy and paste sections, etc. for sketching out a new track - then re-record the guitars. 

How can I get it to work out where the beats are, etc.?

I appreciate this maybe isn't the best forum to ask on - are there any you would recommend?

I've been using Logic since V2 and was a beta-tester in the Emagic days.
I also write articles on Pro Tools, Logic and music production in general.

You want to use Logic's 'Smart Tempo' feature to create a tempo map from the drum recording.
Have a look here.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102165

This will get you started, but there is a lot of complexity here that might take a bit of time to get to grips with.

The way I'd do it though is to drag it into Pro Tools and (IF POSSIBLE) use Beat Detective to map it to a consistent tempo, then bring it back into Logic.

You can do this in Logic Pro; there is no need to get ProTools and use that and then import the finished job back into Logic Pro.

Search on YouTube for Logic Pro Smart Tempo, kind of as octatonic said, except having someone show you will be easier to learn than reading the long Apple support article. You will also come across the Flex tool

 I am sorry I am too busy preparing to play in church tomorrow morning to help you now. If you haven't mastered it by Monday I can help further.

Whistler said:

You can do this in Logic Pro; there is no need to get ProTools and use that and then import the finished job back into Logic Pro.

Yes, you can.
I said how I would do it, not that it was the only way.

I can beat detective an entire multi track drum performance in about 3 minutes in Pro Tools, unless there are tricky performance elements that force me to tackle it section by section.

Logic' Smart Tempo isn't as precise as Beat Detective IMHO, which is why I would personally move it to Pro Tools to work on that element. but then I'd also mix in PT too.

YMMV.

octatonic said:

Logic' Smart Tempo isn't as precise as Beat Detective IMHO ... but then I'd also mix in PT too.
YMMV.

I didn't know that but then I don't have ProTools, which is where my mileage varies from yours. Thank you for explaining.

Whistler said:

octatonic said:

Logic' Smart Tempo isn't as precise as Beat Detective IMHO ... but then I'd also mix in PT too.
YMMV.

I didn't know that but then I don't have ProTools, which is where my mileage varies from yours. Thank you for explaining.

I also don't have ProTools, @Whistler - any advice on getting started with it @octatonic and whether it might be worth using it as a more general tool?  I've never looked at it, tbh!

imalrightjack said:

Whistler said:

octatonic said:

Logic' Smart Tempo isn't as precise as Beat Detective IMHO ... but then I'd also mix in PT too.
YMMV.

I didn't know that but then I don't have ProTools, which is where my mileage varies from yours. Thank you for explaining.

I also don't have ProTools, @Whistler - any advice on getting started with it @octatonic and whether it might be worth using it as a more general tool?  I've never looked at it, tbh!

I'll try the Smart Tempo stuff now and see if I get any joy.  Thanks, chaps.

See how you go with Smart Tempo first.

I started in Logic and learned Pro Tools because that is what most people in the US use to mix records, or at least they did. 
There are some audio post workflows that are impossible in other DAW's.

Pro Tools is fairly expensive and requires a yearly support contract, so I wouldn't necessarily rush into it.

FWIW, I do anything requiring midi/VI's in Logic.
But I track and mix only in Pro Tools now.
I can edit in either but Pro Tools is, all things being equal, a lot faster for most things.

Hello @imalrightjack here we go with how I give drums a consistent time. Using a segment from my drumming yesterday in church, this is what I do:

1. Open a blank Logic Pro session and prepare it to have one audio track. Import your drum audio into the track. Click on the Global Tracks icon (or press the letter G).



2. Detect the tempo of the audio. I cannot remember where it is in the menu, I just remember option-command-T and it does it, after which you will see a small screen asking you which result you want to use. Normally, the top one will be right but not always. Once you have clicked OK I believe the tempo details have now been written to the audio track. Looking at the tempo changes, it just goes to prove that I am human - the song's tempo was 116bpm which you are unlikely to guess from my playing!



3. Click on the flex button. It is the blue button (now that I have clicked on it) underneath the fast forward button in the control bar - the grey header bar. That will add the same blue button to the track icons. Select something from the pop-up menu underneath the button (partially hidden in the screenshot).



4. Edit > Tempo > Show Tempo List (or shift-option-T). Select all and deselect the first tempo (120bpm in my example).



5. After deleting (backspace) all the highlighted tempos and you should see something like this. I have changed the project tempo to 116bpm. I can now play drums at a perfect and consistent tempo. Hooray! Has it worked for you? If it has, you now have a piece with a single tempo and you can choose the tempo.



The final thing to do is save (I tend to bounce it) your audio file at the tempo you want to work at and in the Finder you will have your file ready to add to your project.

Thank you enormously both. 

Have a chat with the contributors to the topic: Replace recorded snare drum with snare sample... as they have experience of live and MIDI drums in Logic.

Thanks!