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Using Smart Tempo in Logic without changing _any_ of the timing

erikradbo

Senior Member
I'm trying out Logics Smart Tempo for a piece where I initially played piano to a click. Then added 10+ VI's that do different things during the song. Since the piano isn't following the tempo perfectly I thought it'd be nice to use Logics smart tempo function to update the tempo map to match the piano playing perfectly to make it easier to align the other parts with the piano.

Is this possible without changing anything in the music? I have selected "Maintain Time positions of all regions", the smart tempo mapping is doing a fantastic job of mapping the tempo of the piano, I then set smart tempo mode to adapt and select "remove original recording tempo and analyse again". The tempo from the piano region is getting into the global tempo curve as desired, and the tempo now matches the piano. But some regions are moving around just a little so the timing is changed. Is there a way around this? I just want the tempo map to update and keep the music sounding exactly the same.
 
I am trying it here and while the regions length changes, their starting positions are not.

I'm guessing that's the issue then, if the piano region changes in length and another region keeps it starting point in the middle of the piece, the mutual timing is changed. Or did you find a way where the actual music is untouched in timing?
 
SMPTE lock all events. Simples way: select all regions and open the piano roll. Then select all in the piano roll and lock.
 
Great idea, but doesn't seem to solve the problem. The regions are still moving...

Are you sure that the regions move? If you change the tempo, time locked events will change their position in relation to the new tempo, so while visually they change, in fact they remain untouched.

E.g. when changing the tempo from "100" to "50" would place an event at 1_3_1_1 to 2_1_1_1 to keep it at the same position.
 
SMPTE lock all events. Simples way: select all regions and open the piano roll. Then select all in the piano roll and lock.
Are you sure that the regions move? If you change the tempo, time locked events will change their position in relation to the new tempo, so while visually they change, in fact they remain untouched.

E.g. when changing the tempo from "100" to "50" would place an event at 1_3_1_1 to 2_1_1_1 to keep it at the same position.

I'm certain the regions change their relative timing. Watch this 90 second clip to see what happens:



In short,
1. The "Dämpat piano" region and the "tundra EVO" region are next to each other, the note in Tundra EVO starts at the second chord of a "chord - some more notes - chord sequence" in the piano region.
2. Locking everything to SMTPE
3. Applying Smart tempo from piano region to Global tempo track.
4. The note in Tundra EVO now starts at the first chord of the same piano sequence.

Interestingly, this is when locking to SMTPE according to @Ashermusic in the main window. If I do it according to @Saxer in the piano roll, the timing still changes but not as much.
 
Somebody give me a step by step descrip[iton and I will see if I can reproduce it.

Sure, will just have to do it from scratch in a new file to make it possible to replicate.

In the meantime, does anyone know how to export the smart tempo data as a separate midi file, in order to make a click track out of it.
 
Sure, will just have to do it from scratch in a new file to make it possible to replicate.

In the meantime, does anyone know how to export the smart tempo data as a separate midi file, in order to make a click track out of it.

Create a blank MIDI region, select it and only it export as a MIDI file and the tempo will be embedded.

OR: Open an EXS245 and load Dry Standard kick and create C#1 cross stick quarter notes for the length of the project and do the same.
 
Create a blank MIDI region, select it and only it export as a MIDI file and the tempo will be embedded.

OR: Open an EXS245 and load Dry Standard kick and create C#1 cross stick quarter notes for the length of the project and do the same.

I meant how to export the smart tempo analysis from the midi file without first using it in the global tempo track, i.e. when this tempo is still only embedded in this single midi file.

But, simplest way might be to save as a new file, export the smart tempo analysis to the global track, make a midi file out of as you describe, then go back to the old logic file with the old tempo and import it. But it would make sense if I could just export that smart tempo map into a midi file directly.
 
While it may exist, I am not aware of any method of embedding a tempo track into MIDI file without exporting it.

Ok. I think my question hasn't been really understood though. If you do the following:
1. Record a midi region playing something free hand on, say, a piano
2. Go into the smart tempo analyse function and analyse it.
3. You now have beat markers embedded in that piano midi file that only exist there and are not part of the songs actual tempo track, because you haven't chosen to apply it to the tempo track yet.
4. Can those beat/tempo markers, that only exist in this piano midi file at the moment, be used for anything else than exporting them to the global tempo track. Say, to create a midi drum file?
 
I think what you're looking for is the local Edit menu in the Smart Tempo editor:
 

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By the way, you can play the file and enter downbeats (D) and other beats (T) from the computer keyboard in real time.

It knows to change time signatures if you hit, say, D and then 4 x T followed by D and 5 x T.
 
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