#38 - Smart Tempo Deep Dive For Custom Beat Mapping

Welcome to video 38 of "Newbie to Ninja” here on Why Logic Pro Rules! If you’re brand new to Logic Pro, this series will help you go from feeling like a beginner to complete comfort in Apple’s amazing DAW.

Smart Tempo is Logic Pro's fantastic system that allows you to record audio and MIDI without a metronome. Instead, have the metronome follow you! In today's video let me show you how to beat map your recordings effortlessly.

00:00 - Intro
00:45 - ‘Keep’ Tempo Mode
2:00 - ‘Adapt’ Tempo Mode
5:55 - Manually remove or add tempo changes
6:56 - ‘Auto’ Tempo Mode
10:43 - Free Tempo Recording
14:52 - Smart Tempo Editor overview
16:44 - Tempo Resolution Settings
18:12 - Double Time or Half Time Custom Tempo Map
21:05 - Importing Audio Files with their own Custom Map
22:16 - Editing Smart Tempo Analysis with Beat Markers
28:33 - Hint Mode For Editing Smart Tempo Analysis

[mackclive]

I've been using Logic for over a decade and find most functions as it has grown over the years, user friendly and intuitive. Unfortunately I've found SMART TEMPO to be the opposite. It has frustrated me on a number of occasions since version 10.4, but I've kept going back to it as I record a lot of acoustic guitar and have found beat mapping really time consuming and cumbersome. 

I found your video tutorial a couple of days ago and decided to follow the 30 minutes, step by step to see if I could get a handle on it. What a GREAT VIDEO TUTORIAL this is Chris. Well done. I still find Smart Tempo finicky, but now having applied the process you outline, I've mapped 3 old acoustic song files (which had been sitting and gathering dust) using both the HINT MODE and BEAT MODE and can now use all the brilliant sounds and midi effects synchronised to it professionally. And having the ability to go back to smart tempo at any time to adjust it is brilliant . 

The directions on using the SMART TEMPO EDITOR as a separate workspace (e.g. using Option Spacebar to play the file) from the MAIN TRACKS WINDOW was one of the main issues I had in understanding it previously. In short this appears to be the ONLY SMART TEMPO INSTRUCTION VIDEO I'LL NEED now and in the future. Great job. Thank you.

[stoxxhunter]

I have avoided using smart tempo as I didn’t really understand it. This video has completely changed my perspective as a guitarist now I am free to record parts and not have the issue of being slightly out of time to a locked click and tempo. This a phenomenal and just in time for the weekend! Awesome video. Great job. Keep them coming. Thanks

[andrew-pc]

This was really good. Thank you.

A lot of people talk about DAW recording as if everything has to mechanically be locked to a grid. But that’s only true if you don’t use this kind of functionality.

Side remark: I’ve never had a good experience recording to the metronome. I much prefer to set up a simple drummer track or program a drum loop myself. That always feels way better. Of course the problem can be that the loop I use can subtly alter the feel of how I want to play and change the idea.

[rickomuzik]

Always use this feature esp when doing rubato it works so well!

[officespace]

Brilliant thankyou! I especially appreciate you showing the pre 10.7.5 functionality as my computer can’t upgrade beyond 10.7.4, and this was exactly what I was looking for

[SincerelyYoursWill]

Thanks for making this deep dive video regarding Smart Tempo & Beat Mapping. It has definitely taken some time for me to wrap my head around how to get the most out of this. Your tutorial helped me realize that having the flex on when making edits can create unintended changes; and that should be turned off.

I also appreciate that you took the time to demonstrate how to use beat mapping for Logic users like myself NOT on 10.7.5 but earlier versions. As well show how there has been improvements, in this regard, with the hint feature locating the down beat.

Again thanks for this vid, it definitely will be bookmarked when I need to figure out how to line up tempo changes that are played without a click.

[DanNelder]

This is such a good video, unfortunately this feature is so unintuitive to use i may have to watch this video 10x to understand fully. Thanks!

[markrobertjustin]

thank you so much for clearing up a very confusing, but helpful part of LOGIC. I read the Apple Manual, it made things more confusing, like most of the apple instructions ( they try to address every aspect for every possible use - which makes most of their information even more confusing !!!! ) I now can actually use smart tempo, specifically the smart tempo editor . Thank You ! Thank you ! Thank you! I really appreciate your efforts.

[jeanphilippedrouin]

Thanks excactly what I needed! I have been following your channel for quite some times now.

[wangxiaoclark]

very helpful. thank you very much for the high quality video tutorial

[BrianHuether]

Great lesson on this very deep tool! What I am trying to figure out is how to get one audio file to conform to other. For instance if I record guitar once, then record again - same exact playing - both times no click, and first set up the tempo map of first recording, how do I have the second recording's downbeats match up with first?

[TheDoodostudio]

Thank you so much, Chris! This is an amazing tutorial (as usual), super clear and practical! You unstuck me thank to the last chapter at 28:33 Thanks again!

[djerikfox]

..thank you sooo much for these amazing tutorials!! please, is there an easy way to import a song in logic which is not recorded by the click and sync it to the tempo click..? regards

[sdcokeland]

when i’m making the custom click track, i can’t figure out how to use beat mapping or hints without it speeding up/slowing down the audio around where i move the beats. do y’all have any ideas?

[fbcca]

I have a techno track that's straight 4-in-the-floor at 130 bpm, and smart tempo insists it's in 3/4 at 172. No amount of cajoling or bribery will convince it otherwise.

[youngcardinal]

videos like this remind me i stilll have much to learn lol

[lonelycake]

Does anyone understand the “maintain relative positions of all other regions” option?

[tomallonsmusicalcreation]

What’s the “tempo resolution” set tó in the last part (rignt at the end of the videó”) Smoothed ör beats? Thanks á bunch really!

[petegreenfield]

I like your tutorials, but found this one way too confusing from about halfway. I will try it again and in any event, thanks for making it!