Jump to content

Lock SMPTE - Automation [HOW TO]


Danny Wyatt

Recommended Posts

When you change the tempo of your track and lock the SMPTE, the automation isn't locked so you will see that things adapted to the new tempo, but not the automation.

With the help (and patience) of David, I was able to figure it out and here's a detailed explanation to those interested in knowing. Hopefully this will save you some time and headaches ;)

Sorry if some of these steps are basic and obvious, but I will be explaining everything so everyone can understand how to get there.

Note: I don't know if this is the same in all Logic versions and the "Main Window" in older versions is probably called "Tracks Window" or something like that.

 

1 - Here's your project with some automation, original tempo of 120 bpm, unlocked SMPTE

1539989838_1-originalautomationoriginaltempounlockedSMPTE.png.6b87eda7843f34fe0aacaec5798c957b.png

 

2 - If you change the tempo to, for example, 60 bpm, and you don't lock the SMPTE, this is what you get (tempo changed, but the automation remained the same)

262839397_2-originalautomationnewtempounlockedSMPTE.png.3850bbd2a7b0dd6088f09c0b407923bd.png

 

3 - If you don't have it set yet, go to Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit...

650272128_3-keycommands.png.6a8626b4e169b9519b07e62e190066e1.png

 

4 - Find the option "Track Automation Event List" and set a shortcut for it

446701094_4-trackautomationeventlistshortcut.png.48628640171c39ddffd99f0d012db6c9.png

 

5 - Once you're done, close the Key Commands window and hit that shortcut. You will now see this window

966654754_5-trackautomationeventlistwindow.png.5fa336cdbd50bcad142de2953be7bcaf.png

 

6 - Without closing it, go to Window > Open Main Window (or if you have a shortcut for that, SMASH IT :P)

2063561194_6-openmainwindow.png.d81b6ca8a9c329fc5c777da49e06ce39.png

 

7 - Now you will see a new window (Main Window) with all the tracks and their automation regions

95248569_7-mainwindow.png.1348d47f9db400d137cb62be0410cc1a.png

 

8 - Select all of them, right click, and go to SMPTE Lock > Lock SMPTE Position

560614653_8-lockSMPTE.png.c05bc5a2f984817cf20bea4b21150504.png

 

9 - You will now see the lock icon on all your automation regions

1569698478_9-lockedSMPTE.png.b88bdd5c2d8d446efeb5105493dee442.png

 

10 - Change the tempo of your track (in my example is from 120 bpm to 60 bpm). Now you can see the difference, side by side. Left: tempo changed, without locked SMPTE. Right: tempo changed, with locked SMPTE.

1628163955_10-syncedautomationbeforeandafter.png.f618abd937a1d355e005f1213df1af9c.png

 

11 - Select the automation regions again, right click, and go to SMPTE Lock > Unlock SMPTE Position. You're done! :)

1468403605_11-unlockSMPTE.png.badd9e982484d413d48d886c85219485.png

 

Hope this is helpful and feel free to leave a comment or ask any questions if something isn't working ;)

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

speakerfood said:
Thanks. I used to draw regions over these kinds of automations, but this is a better solution.

You're welcome :)

Yeah, sometimes I do that as well, when I want to drag automation. Sometimes we just forget where the automation is, though, and we don't want to have lots of empty regions that maybe we will eventually delete once we unlock the SMPTE.

Glad you find this useful!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 year later...

oh man, got burned by this issue today, happy now to come across your tutorial! thank you.

Maybe the question is, if we're SMPTE locking our regions, is there any case where we would NOT want to also SMPTE lock the automation? I'm thinking there isn't a use case for this, and so logic should be smart enough to keep the automation in line with our regions. Please send feedback to apple! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 hours ago, studioj said:

Maybe the question is, if we're SMPTE locking our regions, is there any case where we would NOT want to also SMPTE lock the automation? I'm thinking there isn't a use case for this, and so logic should be smart enough to keep the automation in line with our regions.

Personally, I believe that it’s not because we don’t see a reason for something that makes the proof there isn’t. "Absence of evidence/proof is not evidence/proof of absence."

Perhaps the solution could be to have an option popping up when using SMPTE-lock or a preference/setting available (or both) as it’s already the case when moving regions…

Edited by Atlas007
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, Atlas007 said:

Personally, I believe that it’s not because we don’t see a reason for something that makes the proof there isn’t. "Absence of evidence/proof is not evidence/proof of absence."

Perhaps the solution could be to have an option popping up when using SMPTE-lock or a preference/setting available (or both) as it’s already the case when moving regions…

Although I am locking regions and markers all the time as I mess with tempo, definitely don't want pop ups... that's why I have that preference set to "Always" for moving automation with regions. I think as long as that pref is set to 'Always' then automation should always stick with the regions, wherever they are. So this feels like an implementation hole to me. the workaround is tedious to say the least but I'm glad it's available as an option. this part of Logic feels like a hold over from 20 year old code to me, and needs work to modernize. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...