How to change tempo without affecting the music (only the grid)

Here are the details again. Basically the same as before, but slightly more descriptive and complete. Here are two procedures. But before you try either of them, set your bar ruler to display TIME (see below for details).

_METHOD #1_
1• in the arrange page, select all regions (CMD-A). Then SMPTE-lock those regions.
2• open the automation event list on any track containing automation (using your key command)
3• open the automation event arrange window (standard key command CMD-1)
4• select ALL (standard key command CMD-A)
5• SMPTE-Lock the automation regions (using your key command)

Now adjust your tempo. When you're done, make sure to SMPTE-unlock automation and regions.

_METHOD #2_
1• in the arrange page, select all regions (CMD-A). Then SMPTE-lock those regions.
2• open the automation event list on any track containing automation (using your key command)
3• click the hierarchy arrow in the event list. You'll now see a bunch of regions in the list named "Automation"
4• select ALL (CMD-A)
5• SMPTE-Lock the regions (using your key command)

Now adjust your tempo. When you're done, make sure to SMPTE-unlock automation and regions.

A few more things...

Before you do either procedure, set the bar ruler in the (normal) arrange page to display Time. Assuming you get everything locked according to either method above, when you change your tempo you will NOT see automation or regions move in the arrange page. This is absolutely normal behavior when the bar ruler is set to display Time. If the bar ruler is set to display Beats, you will see automation and regions expand or compress as you change the tempo (and that's normal too). But the acid test to make sure you're doing this right (and that your system is acting right) is to set the bar ruler to display Time first. Then try either method. If, when you change the tempo nothing moves in the (normal) arrange page, all is well.

Good luck!

Check out Region>Lock SMPTE Position.

Christian

There is also an automation arrange page level, i.e. you see the automation as objects on the arrange page. It's really difficult to find - this is Logic, after all.

here's how i do it - after checking on your arrange page that you have the link box checked, go to the aforementioned automation event list, then click the crooked arrow "one level up" button at top left of the event list. This should take you to what looks like an arrange page, but with just the automation data in folders - incredibly useful, incredibly undocumented 9 at least up to L9 - maybe not so these days . . )

anyway, i mention this, because you can also lock these automaion folders to SMPTE, which might be slicker

mp

You're close!

1• Open the automation event list on a track that contains automation. You will now see what looks like a normal event list but it's displaying only the automation data on that track

2• Click the hierarchy arrow to take you "up a level" so that the automation event list (AEL) now shows you the names of all of the automation regions within the (hidden) automation arrange page. What you'll see is a list of items all starting at bar 1 1 1 1 called "Automation". (If the position of the items is not 1 1 1 1, you have a problem. See below).

3• Select All (CMD-A) and then use whatever method you prefer to SMPTE-lock them (menu item or key command)

= OR =

Do Step #1. Then hit CMD-1 to open a new Arrange window. When you do this right after opening an AEL you will see the automation arrange page. Move the AEL out of the way or simply close it. Then, similar to Step #3, select all of the automation regions in the automation arrange page (CMD-A) and SMPTE-lock them.

Note: if your automation events are not all starting at 1 1 1 1 then it's an indication that your song's start marker was moved to before bar 1 and you're on your way to having a corrupted song.

Final caveat: don't attempt to write new automation while the old automation data is SMPTE-locked. It'll create a nice lil' mess. So after you're done changing the tempo (or whatever your reason for SMPTE-locking regions and automation), the first thing you should do is unlock them both before proceeding with any additional recordings. It's very easy to forget that the automation data is locked because you can't see that it's in a locked state unless you're looking at the AEL or the automation arrange page.

Message was edited by: iSchwartz

yes! Malcolm and iShwartz, I saw that trick with the Automation Arrange page on a macprovideo tnt tutorial before. Did you see it it too?

It's great to have it available. Though the Original Poster started off the thread with "This is a very basic problem." I read that to mean he wanted a simple solution. As great as the Automation Arrange function is it ain't the simplest of methods. Then again there's more than one way to skin a cat in Logic and the good people on these forums help provide all the different methods to do so!

JG

Hi JG99,

No, I never saw that video. First time I saw mention of this was during a discussion over at LPH about two years ago (or more) with respect to resyncing music when scoring on Logic 7. Locking automation events has become a regular part of my workflow ever since. Though honestly, in contrast to what the OP said, it's not a simple problem at all. It's a pretty complex one, but fortunately the solution is very simple, and takes only 4 key commands to accomplish 🙂 as follows:

• open automation event list (mine is CMD-E)
• open arrange window (CMD-1)
• select ALL (CMD-A)
• SMPTE-Lock (mine is CMD-L)

Then close window 2x (mine is ESC)

Make your changes. Then reverse the procedure, this time using unlock-SMPTE (mine is CMD-U).

So in terms of keystrokes for locking or unlocking, hold down CMD and go bink, bink, bink, bink. Then let go of CMD and bink-bink on ESC to get back to my previous view. 😉

Thanks iSchwartz,

You're completely correct. It's not a simple problem. I think smpte locking automation is genius.

You must have set up your key commands different to me. I don't have a 'bink' key on my keyboard. 😉

JG99 wrote:
You must have set up your key commands different to me. I don't have a 'bink' key on my keyboard. 😉

LOLOLOLOL! I'm reading this just as I'm out the door to having a meeting with my attorney and your post put me in a much better mood. Thanks! 🙂

Oh, and BTW I'm pleading not guilty to all the charges, include modifying my key commands without a proper permit, trespassing on undocumented features, creating a nuisance (well, I'm not totally innocent of that one) and writing cues without first establishing a tempo. Well, OK, I'm kinda guilty of that too but, see, it wasn't my fault. The director re-edited the film and...

"Yes, that's right your honor, the butler did it!"
😉

{quote:title=iSchwartz wrote:}
Oh, and BTW I'm pleading not guilty to all the charges, include modifying my key commands without a proper permit, trespassing on undocumented features, creating a nuisance (well, I'm not totally innocent of that one) and writing cues without first establishing a tempo. Well, OK, I'm kinda guilty of that too but, see, it wasn't my fault. The director re-edited the film and...

"Yes, that's right your honor, the butler did it!"
😉

LOL. You're definitely guilty of one thing - posting awesome solutions for Logic issues on these forums. Of course that's true of many of the regulars here - hopefully myself included.

Point the judge to this thread if you need a character reference! 😉

JG, thanks for the awfully kind words about my posts! And right back atcha, my fellow duck!

Ojan, when you say the automation disappears, do you mean:

• it gets erased (yellow lines disappear from the arrange page, or, the regions in the automation-arrange page disappear)?

• it flies off to some nether part of the song?

• something else?

BTW, by any chance is your song start marker set to somewhere before or after bar 1 1 1 1?

Hey, no problem with replying when you did. Sometimes I'm glued to the internet, sometimes not. Anyway, yours is an interesting problem so let's go to the next step!

BTW, are you working on L8 or L9?

After reading your post I double-checked my procedure to make sure it's kosher (technical term). It is, but... my first attempt at locking everything and changing the tempo resulted in mayhem. Scratched my head for a while, then did a bunch of undo's and tried again. This time everything worked as expected. This was a reminder that Logic is kinda like that... Try something the first time, it goes bonkers (so does they guy doing it). Try it again and it works. Been this way forever. Kinda like kicking your equipment rack to get the compressor to work for another few weeks before it goes kerflooey again. Anyway...

My suggestion is to try it again. If it doesn't work, hit UNDO enough times until you get back to square 1 and then try one more time. If that still doesn't work, post back and if I'm not busy I'll take a look at your file, if you want. Details on how we would do that to follow, pending success or failure of your re-try.

Hi Ojan,

If you want, send me a file and I'll have a look. I've set up a temporary email address for you. If you opt to send me a file, save under a new name with the assets box unchecked , zip (compress) the file, and then email it to the address listed in my profile (look under "geographic location"). That email address will expire after I receive your file.

Message was edited by: iSchwartz