# Setting Uniform MIDI Velocity ## Overview In Logic Pro, you can quickly set all MIDI notes in a region to the same velocity value. This is useful for creating consistent dynamics, programming drum hits, or normalizing velocity data before applying further editing. ## Method 1: Using the MIDI Transform Window (Recommended) The MIDI Transform window provides the most control and can be saved as a preset for repeated use. ### Steps: 1. **Select the MIDI region(s)** in the Tracks area or timeline 2. **Open MIDI Transform:** Go to `Window > MIDI Transform` (or press `⌥⌘T`) 3. **Choose a preset or create new:** - Click the **Preset dropdown menu** at the top - Select **"Fixed Velocity"** if available, OR - Select **"Create Initialized User Preset"** to start from scratch 4. **Configure the transform:** - **Set the operation mode:** Choose **"Fixed Value"** from the mode dropdown - **Parameter:** Set to **"Velocity"** - **Value:** Enter your desired velocity (0-127, typically 64-100 for moderate to strong) 5. **Apply:** Click **"Select and Operate"** (applies and keeps selection) or **"Operate"** (applies immediately) ### Example Settings: ``` Conditions: None (to affect all notes) Operations: - Velocity: Fixed Value = 80 ``` ### Assigning a Keyboard Shortcut to MIDI Transform Preset Once you've created a MIDI Transform preset, you can assign a custom keyboard shortcut for instant access. **Steps:** 1. **Save your MIDI Transform preset first:** - In the MIDI Transform window, configure your desired velocity setting - Click the **Preset menu** (top of window) - Select **"Create User Preset"** - Name it descriptively (e.g., "Set Velocity 80" or "Drum Velocity 100") - Click **OK** 2. **Open Key Commands:** - Go to `Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit...` (or press `⌥K`) 3. **Find your preset:** - In the search field (top right), type **"MIDI Transform"** - Scroll through results to find **"MIDI Transform Presets"** section - Locate your saved preset by name (e.g., "Set Velocity 80") 4. **Assign the shortcut:** - Click on your preset name to select it - Click in the **"Key"** field at the bottom - Press your desired key combination (e.g., `⌃⌥V` for Control-Option-V) - Logic will warn you if that shortcut is already assigned - Click **Assign** (or choose a different combination if conflicted) 5. **Test it:** - Close Key Commands window - Select a MIDI region - Press your new shortcut - the transform should apply instantly! **Recommended Shortcuts:** - `⌃⌥V` + number keys (e.g., `⌃⌥V` then `8` for velocity 80) - `⇧⌘V` (Shift-Command-V) for your most-used velocity - `⌃V` (Control-V) if not already assigned **Pro Tip:** Create multiple presets with different velocity values (60, 80, 100, 120) and assign each to a different shortcut for instant access to common dynamics. ## Method 2: Piano Roll Editor (Quick Method) For quick edits within the Piano Roll, you can paint or select velocity values directly. ### Steps: 1. **Open Piano Roll:** Double-click the MIDI region 2. **Select all notes:** Press `⌘A` 3. **Use the Velocity Tool:** - Click the **Velocity view** at the bottom of the Piano Roll (shows vertical bars) - Select all velocity bars (they should highlight when notes are selected) - **Click and drag** any velocity bar to the desired height - **Hold Shift** while dragging to snap to specific values - All selected notes will snap to the same velocity ### Alternative (Velocity Lane): 1. In Piano Roll, open **Velocity lane** at bottom 2. Select all notes (`⌘A`) 3. In the velocity lane, **Option-drag** across all bars - this sets them to the same value ## Method 3: Event List (Precise Control) For exact numerical control, use the Event List editor. ### Steps: 1. **Select MIDI region** 2. **Open Event List:** Press `E` or go to `Window > Event List` 3. **Select all notes:** Press `⌘A` (or select specific notes) 4. **Edit velocity column:** - Click in the **Vel** (Velocity) column for any selected note - Type the desired value (0-127) - Press **Return** - All selected notes will update to this velocity ## Method 4: MIDI Draw (For Setting While Recording) Set a fixed velocity before or during recording to ensure all incoming notes have the same velocity. ### Steps: 1. **Open Piano Roll** for your MIDI track 2. **Enable MIDI Draw:** Press `D` or click the **MIDI Draw button** (pencil icon) 3. **Select Velocity** from the MIDI Draw dropdown 4. **Set fixed value:** Click to create a horizontal line at your desired velocity 5. **Record or draw notes** - they will all use this velocity value ## Common Velocity Values - **ppp (very soft):** 20-30 - **pp (soft):** 40-50 - **mf (medium):** 60-70 - **f (loud):** 80-95 - **ff (very loud):** 100-115 - **fff (maximum):** 120-127 **Standard default:** 64 (middle velocity) **Programming drums:** Often 100-127 for consistent, strong hits **Humanization starting point:** 80 (allows variation up and down) ## Use Cases ### Programming Electronic Drums Set all kick hits to velocity 120 for consistent punchy sound, then add subtle variations manually. ### Normalizing Recorded MIDI If you recorded with inconsistent playing dynamics but want even velocity for further editing. ### Creating Velocity Templates Use MIDI Transform presets to quickly apply common velocities (e.g., "Soft Strings 40", "Hard Drums 110"). ### Before Humanization Set uniform velocity first, then apply Logic's MIDI Transform humanization with controlled randomization. ## Pro Tips 1. **Save Transform Presets:** Create and save MIDI Transform settings for velocities you use frequently (e.g., "Drum Velocity 100", "String Velocity 60") 2. **Undo is your friend:** Press `⌘Z` if the velocity change isn't what you wanted 3. **Region vs Track:** These methods work on selected regions - if you want to affect an entire track, select all regions first 4. **Velocity Compression:** Instead of fixed values, you can also use MIDI Transform to compress velocity range (e.g., scale all velocities to 50-90 range) 5. **Copy velocity patterns:** Use `Option-drag` in velocity lane to copy velocity patterns from one section to another ## Keyboard Shortcuts Reference - **Open Piano Roll:** `⌘E` or double-click region - **Open Event List:** `E` - **MIDI Transform:** `⌥⌘T` - **Select All:** `⌘A` - **MIDI Draw:** `D` - **Undo:** `⌘Z`