Lock SMPTE - Automation [HOW TO]

[Danny Wyatt]

When you change the tempo of your track and lock the SMPTE, the automation isn't locked so you will see that things adapted to the new tempo, but not the automation.

With the help (and patience) of David, I was able to figure it out and here's a detailed explanation to those interested in knowing. Hopefully this will save you some time and headaches

Sorry if some of these steps are basic and obvious, but I will be explaining everything so everyone can understand how to get there.

Note: I don't know if this is the same in all Logic versions and the "Main Window" in older versions is probably called "Tracks Window" or something like that.

 

1 - Here's your project with some automation, original tempo of 120 bpm, unlocked SMPTE

 

2 - If you change the tempo to, for example, 60 bpm, and you don't lock the SMPTE, this is what you get (tempo changed, but the automation remained the same)

 

3 - If you don't have it set yet, go to Logic Pro > Key Commands > Edit...

 

4 - Find the option "Track Automation Event List" and set a shortcut for it

 

5 - Once you're done, close the Key Commands window and hit that shortcut. You will now see this window

 

6 - Without closing it, go to Window > Open Main Window (or if you have a shortcut for that, SMASH IT )

 

7 - Now you will see a new window (Main Window) with all the tracks and their automation regions

 

8 - Select all of them, right click, and go to SMPTE Lock > Lock SMPTE Position

 

9 - You will now see the lock icon on all your automation regions

 

10 - Change the tempo of your track (in my example is from 120 bpm to 60 bpm). Now you can see the difference, side by side. Left: tempo changed, without locked SMPTE. Right: tempo changed, with locked SMPTE.

 

11 - Select the automation regions again, right click, and go to SMPTE Lock > Unlock SMPTE Position. You're done!

 

Hope this is helpful and feel free to leave a comment or ask any questions if something isn't working

[David Nahmani]

Great! Thank you for adding the detailed how-to.

[Danny Wyatt]

David Nahmani said:

Great! Thank you for adding the detailed how-to.

Always a pleasure

[Atlas007]

Thank you very much!

[Danny Wyatt]

Atlas007 said:

Thank you very much!

always a pleasure to share some tips

[speakerfood]

Thanks. I used to draw regions over these kinds of automations, but this is a better solution.

[Danny Wyatt]

speakerfood said:

Thanks. I used to draw regions over these kinds of automations, but this is a better solution.

You're welcome

Yeah, sometimes I do that as well, when I want to drag automation. Sometimes we just forget where the automation is, though, and we don't want to have lots of empty regions that maybe we will eventually delete once we unlock the SMPTE.

Glad you find this useful!

[Danny Wyatt]

speakerfood said:

Thanks. I used to draw regions over these kinds of automations, but this is a better solution.

I just realized who you are… the other day when I left that comment I was like “I think I know this username…”

And today it just hit me… PlugSearch

[speakerfood]

Yes, that's right