For a lot of us, Logic is all about MIDI. With its huge selection of synths, keys and virtual instruments – it’s a songwriter’s dream.
But drawing in MIDI notes is never fun, is it? You pull up the Piano Roll, select the Pencil Tool, and then painstakingly etch in each note.
Some notes need to be long, and some need to be short. Most need to line up to the grid.
Logic’s Pencil Tool does try to help you out. It always draws in a note the same length as the last note you drew. But the length never seems to match what you want for this new note!
And then you look at the latest Studio One update. With it’s shiny Drum Step Sequencer. And you’re like, “what the heck Logic?”
Painting MIDI Like Picasso
Don’t jump ship though! Logic has had your back all along with its Paint Brush Tool.
The Paint Brush let’s you literally paint in MIDI notes. And they follow the pattern you set with the Time Quantize menu in the Piano Roll.
Want quarter note kicks? Paint them in!
Want 16th note hi-hats? With the flick of the wrist.
Need a slick snare roll? Slide across the grid 🙂
Highlights in this week’s video:
- Painting MIDI with the Logic Paint Brush (1:41)
- Painting Complicated Note Patterns (4:54)
- Painting in Acoustic Drum Patterns (5:18)
- Painting Velocity with the Step Editor (5:52)
- Key Commands for Setting Time Quantize Parameters (6:42)
- Painting in Key Parts With Scale Quantize (7:34)
What do you love about MIDI in Logic? Let me know in the comments below:
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This is awesome. A very nice feature to get started on creative ideas without needing to overthink or drain yourself in the process.
I didn’t know about the paint tool. And I have to say I’m really excited to work with some synth instruments in the key quantization (I didn’t know this was here either). Even just thinking about the application of this gives me a few different ideas to try in my music!
Thanks so much for the video!!!
You bet Corey! Thank you 🙂
Hey Chris,
Really nice. I’ve spent so much time tweaking Drummer to get the feel I want that I forget about converting to midi and getting that drum roll or fill I was hoping for. Also quantizing the scale with some backup parts with other instruments – I get so tunnel vision about what I’m doing that I don’t think about some of the tools that exist to help me, so thanks again for everything.
Best,
Michael
Hey Mike, I totally understand. Sometimes it’s easy to be so focused trying to get Drummer to do one thing with the XY pad. But a quick convert to MIDI and swipe of a paintbrush can also do the trick. Thanks for sharing 🙂
If you set your quantize value up/down key command to something you can do entirely with your non-mousing hand, then you’re really cooking! E.g. if you’re right-handed, set the command to a combination that your left hand can handle alone. Your right hand can stay on the mouse, operating the paint brush. Just like Live. 😉
Love it!! Thanks so much for sharing that CK 🙂