Create an assignment with Learn MIDI in Logic Pro for iPad

With Learn MIDI, you move a physical control on your MIDI controller and tap or move a learnable function or plug-in parameter in Logic Pro for iPad—in either order—to create an assignment between the two. Learn MIDI features three types of assignments: plug-in assignments, channel strip assignments, and keyboard shortcut assignments.

You create assignments using the Learn MIDI dialog. When you move or touch a control in Logic Pro or on your controller, the Learn MIDI dialog displays a control row containing the control’s name or the MIDI message sent by the controller. You complete an assignment by touching a control on your MIDI controller or a learnable control in Logic Pro while learning is active. For each completed assignment, the control row displays the assignment type, the Logic Pro control name, and the controller’s MIDI message, as well as additional information along the top.

Figure. The Learn MIDI dialog showing control rows and the Start Learning button.

After creating an assignment, you can reassign the onscreen control or MIDI message, edit the assignment’s settings, and delete an assignment.

To use Learn MIDI, first connect a MIDI controller. See Connect external devices.

Create an assignment

In the Learn MIDI dialog, tap the Start Learning button, if it isn’t already on.
Touch or move a control in Logic Pro or on your MIDI device.
Touch or move a control on your MIDI device or in Logic Pro.
Tap the Stop Learning button to complete the assignment.
If you don’t tap the Stop Learning button, learning remains active, allowing you to make further assignments.

To make another assignment after you’ve ended learning, tap the Start Learning button again, then repeat steps 2 through 4.

Create an assignment for a keyboard shortcut

You can perform various functions in Logic Pro using keyboard shortcuts assigned to your MIDI controller. Some of these, such as play, are assigned using the onscreen control; others, such as copy and paste, are assigned using a menu in the Learn MIDI dialog.

In the Learn MIDI dialog, tap the Start Learning button, if it isn’t already on.
Tap the More button in the Learn MIDI dialog, tap Create Assignment to Keyboard Shortcut, then choose a keyboard shortcut.
Touch or move a control on your MIDI device.
Tap the Stop Learning button to complete the assignment.

Create an assignment with a MIDI note message

Learn MIDI ignores note messages while learning is active, which allows you to play software instruments while making assignments. However, you can change this setting so that you can create assignments for buttons that send note messages, or for knobs and faders that use note messages for touch and release messages.

In the Learn MIDI dialog, tap the More button , then turn off Ignore MIDI Notes While Learning.

You can then assign note messages to controls in Logic Pro in the same way that you assign other hardware controls.

Create an assignment for controls with multiple parameters

You can create assignments for controls that have multiple parameters, such as the XY pad in Phat FX or the EQ band for Channel EQ.

In the Learn MIDI dialog, tap the Start Learning button, if it isn’t already on.
Tap or drag the control point or EQ band in Logic Pro.
A control row for each parameter is shown in the Learn MIDI dialog.
For each parameter, tap the MIDI value in its control row, then touch or move a control on your MIDI device.
Tap the Stop Learning button to complete the assignment.

Reassign an assignment

In the Learn MIDI dialog, tap the Start Learning button.
Do one of the following:
- Tap the control name in the control row that you want to reassign.
- Tap the MIDI value in the control row that you want to reassign.
Touch or move a control in Logic Pro or on your MIDI device.
Tap the Stop Learning button to complete the reassignment.

Assignments are saved automatically during the learning process. Focused-track assignments are saved globally with the app, allowing you to use assignments in all your projects. Pinned assignments are saved locally with the current project. For information about focused-track assignments and pinned assignments, see Set a Learn MIDI assignment to pinned or focused.

If you delete the Logic Pro app and its data, you also delete any focused-track assignments you made.

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Logic Pro User Guide for iPad