You can record to an audio or MIDI cell, even while other cells are playing. The settings for audio signal flow, software instruments, and the metronome are the same as when you record regions in the Tracks area.
If you need both hands to play an instrument while recording, you can set the length of the recording to a predefined value (determined by the cell length); otherwise you can set it to the nearest bar or beat while recording.
When the end of the recording length is reached, you can stop recording and automatically play what you recorded, continue recording multiple takes to the cell, or merge software instrument performances.
Once you have enabled tracks for recording, a Cell Record button appears on empty cells when you move the pointer over them. Clicking the Cell Record button triggers the cell to start recording at the next quantize start point. If the quantize start is longer than one bar, recording begins at the next bar.
You can use the Record Into Cell key command to trigger cells to start and stop recording and to set the record length while recording. You can assign the key command to a controller, such as a footswitch or pedal to accelerate your workflow.
You can control cell recording using the following parameters in the Cell inspector:
Recording: Determines what happens to existing cell content when you record in a cell. You can replace the previous performance with the current one, record new performances to a take folder, or, for software instruments, merge the performances.
Rec-Length: Determines the duration of the recording. You can set it to match the Cell Length value, or manually set it to the next bar or beat while recording.
At Rec-End: Determines what happens when the Record-Length is reached. You can set it to immediately play back what you record, continue recording multiple takes of a performance, or merge multiple software instrument performances, depending on the Recording setting.
Note: You can’t record to Session Player or pattern cells.
The recording mode determines what happens to existing cell content when you record to a cell. You can replace a previous recording or create multiple takes. With software instruments, you can also record continuously in a loop, merging each pass in a single cell. This can be useful for creating drum patterns or melodies on the fly. You can choose one of three recording modes:
Takes: Each new recording is added to a take folder in the cell. After recording, you can preview the takes and choose the one you want to use in the cell.
Merge: Each new recording merges with the previous recording.
This mode is available only for software instruments.
Replace: Each new recording replaces the previous recording.
In Logic Pro, do either of the following:
Select the cell you want to record to, then choose a mode from the Recording pop-up menu in the Cell inspector.
Control-click the cell you want to record to, choose Recording > Mode, then choose a recording mode from the submenu.
You can set the length of the cell recording using the Rec-Length parameter. You can choose from the following settings:
Cell Length: The length of the recording is determined by the Cell Length value under the Play From settings in the Cell inspector.
Automatic (Bars): The length of the recording is set to the nearest bar when you click the cell or use the Record Into Cell key command while recording.
Automatic (Beats): The length of the recording is set to the nearest beat when you click the cell or use the Record Into Cell key command while recording.
In Logic Pro, do either of the following:
Select the cell you want to record to, then choose a setting from the Rec-Length pop-up menu in the Cell inspector.
Control-click the cell you want to record to, choose Recording > Rec-Length, then choose a setting from the submenu.
The At Rec-End action determines what happens at the end of a recording pass. Depending on how you set this up, it can be useful for recording multiple takes of a performance, or for merging multiple performances when recording a software instrument. You can choose either of the following settings:
Play Cell: At the end of the recording, Live Loops stops recording and the cell immediately begins playing the performance you just recorded.
Continue Recording: At the end of the recording, Live Loops continues recording and overwrites the previous recording, creates takes, or merges each subsequent recording, depending on the recording parameter. When Continue Recording is selected and the Rec-Length parameter is set to Automatic, a Plus button (+) is visible in the middle of the cell while the cell is recording. Clicking the button sets the Rec-Length to the nearest bar or beat and starts the next recording pass.
In Logic Pro, do either of the following:
Select the cell you want to record to, then choose a setting from the At Rec-End pop-up menu in the Cell inspector.
Control-click the cell you want to record to, choose Recording > Rec-End Action, then choose a setting from the submenu.
In Logic Pro, click the Record Enable button in the track header of the track containing the cell you want to record to.
Select a cell and set the parameters for Recording, Rec-Length, and At Rec-End in the Cell inspector if necessary.
Do any of the following:
Move the pointer over an empty cell and click the Cell Record button in the center of the cell.
Select a cell and use the Record Into Cell key command (Option-R).
Control-click a cell and choose Record Into Cell from the shortcut menu.
If cells are already playing, recording starts at the next Quantize Start point.
Play, sing, or otherwise create the sound you want to record.
If the Rec-Length is set to Cell Length and the At Rec-End action is set to Change to Play Mode, recording stops automatically and the cell plays.
If you use different cell recording settings, do either of the following:
If the Rec-Length is set to Automatic and the At Rec-End action is set to Continue Recording, click the Plus button (+) in the cell to set the record length to the nearest bar or beat.
If the Rec-Length is set to Automatic and the At Rec-End action is set to Change to Play Mode, or the Rec-Length is set to Cell Length and the At Rec-End action is set to Continue Recording, click the Play button in the cell to stop recording and play the cell.
You can also use the Record Into Cell key command to start and stop cell recording and set the record length while recording.
In some cases it can be convenient to set the cell length, recording mode, and MIDI quantization for cells before recording. You can set defaults for all cells of a particular type (audio or MIDI).
In Logic Pro, click in the Live Loops grid to ensure it is active.
Select a track of the type for which you want to set the defaults.
Deselect all cells in the grid (use Shift-D).
In the Cell inspector, Cell: Audio Defaults or Cell: MIDI Defaults appears, depending on the track type you selected.
In the Cell inspector, set the default values, including default cell length, recording settings, or quantize value for MIDI recordings.
Note: Some default settings you make in the Cell inspector apply to both newly recorded cells and regions of the specified type.
You can also set defaults for individual cells. This can be useful when you want to predefine different recording lengths for different scenes, while keeping automatic recording lengths in bars as a general default.
In Logic Pro, select one or more cells for which you want to set recording defaults. The cells must all be of the same type (audio or MIDI).
In the Cell inspector, set the default values, including default cell length, recording settings, or quantize value for MIDI recordings.