Tempo problems with imported audio files

Yes... here is what is happening.... because you have smart tempo set to ON and align bars and beats on imported audio... when the audio is imported, it is automatically flex enabled.

If the embedded audio has tempo embedded in it - and you turn flex on - logic will calculate the variance between the current tempo and the embedded tempo and adjust (stretch or compress) the audio accordingly. Which is great when desired... in your case however....you can turn the option to align beats and bars to off in import or..... after you import it....you can

edit->tempo-> remove tempo from original file

then right click on the region and select reset flex markers.

Now all will be right with the world.....

tlbraund:

JotaGi is right: you shouldn't have any flex markers in the dance tracks.

Why ?

Cause these dance tracks have just 1 steady tempo, no need to have for Flex time markers in them for the

tracks to be constantly aligned to grid.

please try this:

1)

In Smart Tempo Project Settings, the setting for imported audio files should be set to ON.

(so not: On+align bars and not: On+align bars and beats)

2)

Just for testing, import a Dance Track in Logic that you don't have ever imported into Logic.

3)

Check the Inspector, at the left side of your screen (if not visible, hit the key I).

What does the setting "Flex en Follow" says?

Is it just "On" ?

Cause that is the correct setting.

4)

Change the Tempo in the Transport Bar Tempo field.

Does the dance track follow this new set Tempo ?

And doesn't the dance track fluctuate in Tempo ? (it shouldn't).

Hi tlbraund, if I understand you correctly, what happens with the audio tracks is that they keep playing back at their original tempos, instead of conforming to project tempo. Could you perhaps describe what you are doing (and how) in more detail? Posting a few screenshots would help as well.

Also, what genre of music are the tracks you're trying to mix? Do they have roughly the same tempo, or do the tempos vary a lot?

As a couple of ideas, from my own experience, you could start by identifying the first downbeat of each track and edit the start of their respective regions accordingly (so that the region starts on the downbeat). The next step would be to time-stretch the audio of the tracks whose tempo does not correspond exactly to the project tempo. I suppose, here's where the Flex functionality should be used. I'd suggest to insert Flex markers every 16 or 32 bars and just drag them to the nearest measure while monitoring the transients visually (if they align with the grid or not). You might have to zoom in to do so.

Finally, just as a note, you may try to make this work in Logic, of course. However, have you tried Ableton Live? In my opinion, Logic has never been the right tool for making DJ mixes. It's so much easier to do so in Live.

tlbraund, I think you're having these issues with audio changing tempo because you have flex markers somewhere in the track, messing with the timing. Indyuser pointed out that the first step is to remove tempo information from the audio file, and the second is to reset flex markers. Have you done all of that?

Also, if you could upload the problematic tracks (or the whole Logic project) somewhere to share with us, that would be great. This way we'll be able to test it on our machines. Cheers!

@tlbraund:

Again, please respond on this, its crucial for further helping you:

First, The Key Question for OP is:

Do the Tracks that you wanna DJ mix in Logic all have 1 constant tempo (like electronically produced music)

or not ? (like old disco music)

This is very important to know regarding further workflow in Logic.

I am assuming you checked the sample rate of your project against that of the audio files....

Regardless - compress and send your project to logicprose@icloud.com if you want me to take a look.

Edit: Sorry JotaGi - I had to walk away from my desk and did not press send prior to your message.

No worries, glad to help. Indyuser is right on the issue, by the way.

I'd just want to add that to do what you want (i.e. making a mix to listen to) in Live is a breeze compared with the workflow in Logic. It's a good exercise in DAW problem-solving though, I might even give it a go myself 😀

Side note: I worked for many years in Ableton Live, making DJ mixes myself and i find the timestretch algorithm

used in Logic way, way, way better sounding than the algorithm used in Live.

Vnahaze2000, Live actually has a number of time-stretching algorithms. Which one do you refer to?

Yes i know that.

Complex and Complex Pro, which should be the best sounding algo's, really lead to muffled transients and phasey sounding.

Really awfull.

First, The Key Question for OP is:

Do the Tracks that you wanna DJ mix in Logic all have 1 constant tempo (like electronically produced music)

or not ? (like old disco music)

This is very important to know regarding further workflow in Logic.

Side note: I worked for many years in Ableton Live, making DJ mixes myself and i find the timestretch algorithm

used in Logic way, way, way better sounding than the algorithm used in Live.(regarding keeping pitch the same when stretching; something that is desired imho when doing DJ mix proudctions).