# Step Input Recording ## What Is Step Input? Step Input lets you enter MIDI notes one at a time without playing in real-time. It's Logic's version of Ableton's headphone icon step recording mode. ## Quick Start: Use Your MIDI Keyboard 1. **Open Piano Roll** - Select a MIDI region and press `⌘E` 2. **Enable Step Input** - Go to `Record > Step Input` (playhead turns **blue**) 3. **Set grid size** - Use `⌃←` / `⌃→` to change note duration 4. **Play notes** - Each note you play advances the playhead automatically That's it. Play your MIDI keyboard and it enters notes one at a time. ## Without a MIDI Keyboard ### Use Step Input Keyboard 1. **Open Piano Roll** (`⌘E`) 2. **Show Step Input Keyboard** (`⌥⌘K`) 3. **Click notes** on the floating keyboard - playhead advances automatically ### Or Use Musical Typing 1. **Open Piano Roll** (`⌘E`) 2. **Enable Musical Typing** (`⇧⌘K`) 3. **Type notes** on your computer keyboard ## Grid Resolution Shortcuts Change note duration while entering notes: - `⌃←` - Larger grid (longer notes) - `⌃→` - Smaller grid (shorter notes) - `←` / `→` - Move playhead backward/forward - `⌥←` / `⌥→` - Jump to previous/next bar ## Troubleshooting **Notes don't advance the playhead?** - Enable Step Input: `Record > Step Input` (playhead should be **blue**) - Make sure you're in Piano Roll, not the main tracks area - Don't have transport recording enabled (red button) ## For Drum Programming: Use Step Editor 1. **Create MIDI region** 2. **Press `D`** to open Step Editor 3. **Click grid squares** to add kicks, snares, hi-hats 4. **Drag velocity bars** to adjust hit strength ## Key Shortcuts | Action | Shortcut | |--------|----------| | Open Piano Roll | `⌘E` | | Step Input Keyboard | `⌥⌘K` | | Musical Typing | `⇧⌘K` | | Step Editor | `D` | | Enable Step Input | `Record > Step Input` | | Smaller grid | `⌃→` | | Larger grid | `⌃←` |