# Step Input Recording ## Overview Step Input (also called Step Recording) in Logic Pro allows you to enter MIDI notes one at a time without playing in real-time, similar to Ableton's headphone icon workflow. This is perfect for programming complex parts, entering notes you can't physically play, or working when you don't have a MIDI controller connected. **Logic's equivalent workflow:** - **Step Input Keyboard** (on-screen MIDI keyboard) - **MIDI Step Editor** (similar to Ableton's step sequencer view) - **Keyboard shortcuts** for advancing notes and changing grid resolution ## Method 1: Step Input Keyboard (Closest to Ableton Workflow) The Step Input Keyboard is Logic's equivalent to Ableton's headphone icon step recording mode. ### Activating Step Input Mode 1. **Open Piano Roll Editor:** Select a MIDI region and press `⌘E` (or double-click region) 2. **Open Step Input Keyboard:** Go to `Window > Show Step Input Keyboard` (or press `⌥⌘K`) 3. **Alternative:** Press `⇧⌘K` to toggle the on-screen Musical Typing keyboard A floating keyboard window will appear that you can click to input notes. ### Step Input Workflow **Basic operation:** 1. **Position playhead** where you want to start entering notes 2. **Set note duration** using the Step Input Keyboard's duration buttons: - Whole note, half note, quarter note, eighth note, sixteenth note, etc. 3. **Click a note** on the Step Input Keyboard (or play on your MIDI keyboard) 4. **The playhead automatically advances** by the selected note duration 5. **Repeat** - click next note, playhead advances again **Duration controls in Step Input Keyboard:** - Click the note value buttons at the bottom of the keyboard - Duration affects both the note length AND how far the playhead advances ### Keyboard Shortcuts for Step Input **Changing grid resolution (similar to Ableton's ⌘1, ⌘2):** - `⌃←` (Control-Left Arrow): Decrease grid division (larger grid) - `⌃→` (Control-Right Arrow): Increase grid division (smaller grid) - Or use: `⌘1` through `⌘9` for specific grid values (if assigned in Key Commands) **Navigation:** - `←` (Left Arrow): Move playhead backward by grid division - `→` (Right Arrow): Move playhead forward by grid division - `⌥←` (Option-Left): Jump to previous bar - `⌥→` (Option-Right): Jump to next bar **Adding notes:** - Click on Step Input Keyboard, OR - Play notes on connected MIDI keyboard, OR - Use computer keyboard with Musical Typing enabled (`⇧⌘K`) **Velocity control:** - The Step Input Keyboard has a **velocity slider** - All notes entered will use this velocity until you change it - Range: 1-127 ## Method 2: MIDI Step Editor (Pattern-Based) For drum programming and repetitive patterns, Logic has a dedicated Step Editor similar to hardware drum machines. ### Opening Step Editor 1. **Select MIDI region** 2. **Open Step Editor:** Press `D` (or go to `Window > Open Step Editor`) 3. You'll see a grid-based pattern editor ### Step Editor Features **Grid-based input:** - Click on grid squares to add notes - Each row represents a different note/pitch - Columns represent time divisions **Pattern length:** - Set pattern length (1 bar, 2 bars, etc.) - Pattern can loop and repeat **Velocity editing:** - Each step shows a velocity bar - Click and drag to adjust individual step velocities **Best for:** - Drum programming - Repetitive basslines - Arpeggio patterns - Rhythmic sequences ## Method 3: Real-Time Step Input with MIDI Keyboard If you have a MIDI keyboard connected, you can use real-time step input (notes advance as you play). ### Setup 1. **Open Piano Roll** (`⌘E`) 2. **Enable Step Input Mode:** - Go to `Functions > MIDI Step Input` (or assign keyboard shortcut) - Or use default shortcut `⌃⌥⌘K` if available 3. **Set step resolution** using grid division controls ### Workflow 1. **Position playhead** at start point 2. **Set grid resolution** (`⌃←` / `⌃→` to adjust) 3. **Play note on MIDI keyboard** - note is entered and playhead advances automatically 4. **Continue playing** - each note advances the playhead by the grid division 5. **Play chord** - all notes are entered at the same position, then playhead advances **Advantages:** - Use your MIDI keyboard for faster input - Can enter chords in one step - More ergonomic than clicking ## Customizing Grid Resolution Shortcuts To replicate Ableton's `⌘1`, `⌘2` grid resolution workflow: ### Assigning Custom Shortcuts 1. **Open Key Commands:** `Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit...` (or press `⌥K`) 2. **Search for:** "Division" or "Grid" 3. **Find these commands:** - "Set Division to 1/4" - "Set Division to 1/8" - "Set Division to 1/16" - "Set Division to 1/32" 4. **Assign shortcuts:** - Select the command - Click in the "Key" field - Press your desired shortcut (e.g., `⌘1` for 1/16, `⌘2` for 1/8, etc.) - Click "Assign" 5. **Save your key command set** **Recommended mapping (similar to Ableton):** - `⌘1`: Set Division to 1/16 note - `⌘2`: Set Division to 1/8 note - `⌘3`: Set Division to 1/4 note - `⌘4`: Set Division to 1/2 note ## Comparison: Logic vs Ableton Step Input | Feature | Ableton | Logic Equivalent | |---------|---------|------------------| | **Activate step mode** | Click headphone icon | Open Step Input Keyboard (`⌥⌘K`) | | **Enter notes** | MIDI keyboard or computer keys | Step Input Keyboard, MIDI keyboard, or Musical Typing (`⇧⌘K`) | | **Advance playhead** | Arrow keys | Automatic after note entry | | **Change grid resolution** | `⌘1`, `⌘2` | `⌃←`, `⌃→` or custom assigned `⌘1-9` | | **Set velocity** | Vel knob or fixed velocity | Velocity slider in Step Input Keyboard | | **Pattern view** | Drum rack step mode | MIDI Step Editor (`D`) | ## Workflow Example: Programming a Drum Beat ### Using Step Input Keyboard: 1. **Create MIDI region** on drum track 2. **Open Piano Roll** (`⌘E`) 3. **Show Step Input Keyboard** (`⌥⌘K`) 4. **Set grid to 1/16 notes** (`⌃→` to decrease division) 5. **Set duration to 1/16 note** (click 1/16 button on Step Input Keyboard) 6. **Set velocity to 100** (drag velocity slider) 7. **Click kick drum note (C1)** - playhead advances 1/16 8. **Click** to skip step forward without entering note 9. **Click snare note (D1)** at beat 2 10. **Continue pattern** - each click advances by 1/16 ### Using Step Editor: 1. **Create MIDI region** on drum track 2. **Open Step Editor** (`D`) 3. **Click grid squares** to add kick, snare, hi-hat pattern 4. **Adjust velocities** by dragging velocity bars 5. **Set pattern length** to 1 or 2 bars 6. **Duplicate region** to repeat pattern ## Pro Tips 1. **Combine methods:** Use Step Input for complex parts, then switch to Piano Roll for fine-tuning 2. **Use Caps Lock for MIDI Input:** Press Caps Lock to enable MIDI input keyboard mode (different from Step Input but useful) 3. **Quantize after step input:** Even with step input, you can still quantize for swing or humanization 4. **Save Step Input templates:** Create empty regions with your preferred grid settings 5. **Use Musical Typing without MIDI keyboard:** Press `⇧⌘K` to use computer keyboard as MIDI input 6. **Velocity layers:** Create multiple passes with different velocity settings for dynamic variation ## Keyboard Shortcuts Summary | Action | Shortcut | |--------|----------| | **Open Piano Roll** | `⌘E` | | **Show Step Input Keyboard** | `⌥⌘K` | | **Show Musical Typing** | `⇧⌘K` | | **Open Step Editor** | `D` | | **Increase grid division (smaller)** | `⌃→` | | **Decrease grid division (larger)** | `⌃←` | | **Move forward one division** | `→` | | **Move backward one division** | `←` | | **Next bar** | `⌥→` | | **Previous bar** | `⌥←` | | **Select All** | `⌘A` | | **Delete** | `Delete` or `Backspace` | ## Common Use Cases ### When to Use Step Input - **Programming drums** when you don't have drum pads - **Entering complex chord progressions** one note at a time - **Writing bass lines** with precise timing - **Creating arpeggios** with exact note placement - **Transcribing music** from audio or sheet music - **Working without MIDI controller** (laptop on the go) - **Teaching MIDI concepts** - step input makes the process visible ### When to Use Real-Time Recording - You can play the part in real-time - You want natural timing variations (groove, feel) - Working with velocity-sensitive performance - Recording expressive parts (leads, pads, etc.)