PT Logic

Logic Pro Auto-input

Jay Denson

Jay Denson

Logician
As a (retired) studio engineer I expect auto-input to work as follows: when the track is rolling (in sync in tape analogy) I should hear only the track until I punch in. Then I should hear only input until I punch out again when I get the track again. Metering follows audio - track when rolling and input during record.

Logic manual says 'When it comes to judging punch-in and punch-out points during punch recording, you should turn on auto input monitoring (which it is, by default). This setting allows you to hear the input signal only during the actual recording; before and afterward you’ll hear the previously recorded audio on the track. If auto input monitoring is turned off , you will always hear the input signal'.

Which is what I expect and what I have described above. But it isn't what I get - I hear the input signal at all times - regardless of the input button status on the channel strip and regardless of the auto-input status on the control bar. Can anyone help me to achieve what I want - as described above?

Many thanks in advance, Jay
 
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You dont do anything with the input monitoring button, ie leave it off. What you do need is to makes sure punch in on the fly and auto input monitoring are ticked. (Under the main record menu or right click or control click on the record button in the transport). These are ticked by default and can normally be eleft on all the time.

Make sure count in is set to 0 bars

For on the fly:

  • Record enable the track (it will monitor the input at this point while playhead is stationary)
  • Hit the play button or shortcut (input should stop and you hear the audio on the track)
  • Hit the record button or shortcut (R) the input monitoring should take over the recorded audio playback)
  • Hit stop

For autopunch

  • Set autopunch the locators (shows red area in ruler)
  • Place playhead before the first locator somewhere)
  • Hit the record button (or R shortcut)
  • Stop
 
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Hi Pete

Thanks for replying. I don't have 'punch in on the fly' in the record menu - I have 'allow quick punch-in". I assume that's the same thing in the latest version of LPX?

In any event - I have this and auto-input checked. I still get input mixed with existing audio prior to the punch-in. It's like my auto-input button doesn't function. What I want is exactly what you describe in your reply:

In analog tape terms:
Stop = Input (i.e. track is not rolling)
Play = Sync (i.e. track is rolling in Play)
Record = Input (i.e track is rolling in Record)

But in Logic the Auto-input button has absolutely no effect on the behaviour - I get Input at all times - mixed along with the track if it's rolling. And that's just what I don't want. When the track is rolling (e.g. prior to a punch-in) I don't want to hear or see (meter) Input.

I would only expect to hear a mix of input and track if I enable the Input button on the channel strip - rather like hitting Ready Tape and Ready Group on an SSL console although it isn't what I would normally use unless the overdub artist is complaining they can't hear themselves prior to a punch-in - and they are usually inexperienced people.

Like I said - it's as if my auto-input function is not functioning. Any ideas??

Jay
 
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I'm confused now. I don't know of an auto input button, where are you seeing this?

You are right regarding punch on the fly, it is now called
quick punch in.

I'll have another look, but i tested earlier and all is working as in the manual (and as I described above).
 
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Hi Pete. Auto-input button is in my control bar - I put it there in Customize Control Bar. It's linked to the Record menu - i.e. it follows the selection in the menu.

Jay
 
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Hi Pete . Jay again. I just checked everything. It does not work for me - what it should do (and what I want it to do) is what you and the manual say. I'm stumped.

Jay
 
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Hi Pete. Also if the track is armed and rolling (not in Record) the meter does not read the track but the input. Only by un-arming the track do I get metering of the existing audio. I expect the metering to follow the monitoring as it would do back in the days of tape.

Jay
 
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Ah, OK I see that optional button. You don't really need it. It is the same as the tick in the menu I mentioned. As you can leave that ticked as it is by defualt, no need to have it as a custom item in the control bar, IMO it just clutters things.

But if you do have it, then it needs to be on (ie purple)

So, I have no idea why this is not working for you, it does work as expected when i test it.

Jay Denson said:
I expect the metering to follow the monitoring as it would do back in the days of tape.
Click to expand...

Yes, this is the way it works for me.
 
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Make sure in preferences input monitoring for focused track is not checked.
And are you sure you are not using hardware monitoring via your audio interface?
 
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Hi Volovicg and Pete

Thanks, as always, for your help.

In preferences input monitoring for focused track is not checked. I don't think I am using hardware monitoring - I am monitoring the armed track. I have software monitoring enabled in Preferences. And independent monitoring for record enabled channel strips is unchecked. It's like AIM is simply not functioning in my version of LPX - 10.2.4. noget:

How would I go about re-installing LPX? And do you think it might help?

Jay
 
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Jay Denson said:
How would I go about re-installing LPX? And do you think it might help?

Jay
Click to expand...

The usual answer would be to trash preferences, and start project from the default "new project" as opposed to any user generated template you may have built. ie go back to a default install.

I am perplexed though.

Does this mean that if you do a mix, and you have a microphone on, then the mix includes that instead of the recorded audio? Because in your first post you say " I hear the input signal at all times "
 
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Hi Volovicg and Pete

I think I've solved it!! I am hearing the input via my audio interface as well as via the channel. With the signal in the Saffire turned off AIM works as expected with one shortcoming: the metering does not follow the AIM logic but always reads Input when the track is armed even when rolling not in Record. I like the metering to follow the monitoring mode but I can live with this if that's the way it is.

Jay
 
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Jay Denson said:
I think I've solved it!! I am hearing the input via my audio interface as well as via the channel.
Click to expand...

Great news. I was just about to say before going any further you could see what happens using your mac inbuilt system audio in Audio preferences, this would of course bypass your interface.

Regarding the metering, it's not something I've noticed, when track is armed I can't think of a reason I'd need to see anything in the meter other than the current mic input signal - I suppose it could be useful to doublecheck the level matches closely if doing a punch in. But then if you do punch ins, there is nearly always going to be some editing so adding or taking off a bit of gain to match is not a big issue.

And of course if you are punching in, it should be (like in the old days) wit the same mic and gain settings.
 
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Hi Volovicg and Pete

Thanks for that - I've done that. Regarding the metering - it's just what I was always used to. I can live with it the way it is.

Thanks again for all your help.

Jay
 
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Hi Volovicg

I usually have meters post-fade. I tried making it pre-fade but it made no difference - if the track is armed the meter reads input at all times.

I should mention that, in the three years I have been using LPX, it is only last week that I have recorded someone playing and singing live. So I have never encountered the question of input monitoring before.

What if the artist wants hardware monitoring (if, for example, latency was a problem)? I can easily set up hardware monitoring but it would mean having input monitoring via the channel at the same time as monitoring via the Saffire, since I would normally have the stereo mix in the cans. Is there a way round this? If I make a cue mix on an aux how can I route that to one of the two spare outputs of the Saffire?

The Saffire manual says 'You must also ensure that you are not monitoring the same signals from within your DAW at the same time, otherwise you will be monitoring the same signal twice (once direct from Saffi re MixControl AND a second time (with latency) from your DAW.)'


Jay
 
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