Logic Pro 9 Found why I wasn't seeing data in Piano Roll

[edurbrow]

I had (and probably still do, if I find the file) a problem with note velocities not showing up in the piano roll window. I found the answer to a related problem. Often I would open a Piano Roll window and there would be NO data to be seen. I just figured out why.

There are so many things that can go wrong if you just are working along and happen to click somewhere. It is possible to have a track highlighted in the Arrange window but no regions selected. With track zoom on, I'll think, this is the track I'm working on. So, I'll open the piano roll but there is no data to be seen. It is very easy to do if you click anywhere in the background in the Arrange window. The track is still selected and the track zoom is on. A region has to be selected to view the data.

These are the kinds of things they don't seem to tell you to watch out for in the manual and are, I think hard to diagnose from my poor descriptions, but I imagine other beginners could easily do the same and be just as stumped, especially if they are coming from a different DAW that works differently. Like clicking in the top of the arrange window and trying to drag the cursor, only to get a strange cycle with stripes. This took me quite a while to get the answer to and I still often 'miss'. I wish the lanes up there were a little more distinct somehow. At least now I know it is the skip cycle.

Now here is an important new question: How do you know which track you are looking at in a piano roll window? I can't find the name of the track anywhere in one. I very often will open several piano roll windows with cmd 6 and I cannot tell which tracks are which.
cheers,

 

[kendradog]

How do you know which track you are looking at in a piano roll window? I can't find the name of the track anywhere in one. I very often will open several piano roll windows with cmd 6 and I cannot tell which tracks are which.
cheers,

At the top of the piano roll, to the left of the "Snap:" drop down menu is a box that gives the note selected and its position. The left of that box is another box that has information in two formats:
(1) If all the notes selected are from one region, then the number of selected notes, then a slash, then the name of that region.

(2) If the notes are from different region, then the number of notes, a slash, then the number of different regions.

See "Displaying multiple MIDI regions in the Piano Roll editor".

As for track names rather than region names, I'm not sure.

 

[Eli]

It is possible to have a track highlighted in the Arrange window but no regions selected. With track zoom on, I'll think, this is the track I'm working on. So, I'll open the piano roll but there is no data to be seen. It is very easy to do if you click anywhere in the background in the Arrange window. The track is still selected and the track zoom is on. A region has to be selected to view the data.

What you can do is open the Piano Roll to display the region data you want, then disable the chain link icon. By doing this, the Piano Roll will retain the current selection regardless of what is selected or clicked on in the Arrange Window.

 

[edurbrow]

Thank you for your detailed explanation. I guess it pays to name the regions something recognizable.

 

[Tangra]

I can't find the name of the track anywhere in one. I very often will open several piano roll windows with cmd 6 and I cannot tell which tracks are which.

The Piano Roll shows the name of the selected region, but you can hit Option + E to open the Event Float (which is very useful) and you can find the Region name in both - see the yellow lines in the image below. Note the Track number is shown in the Event Float (the green guide line). Same in the Event List !

Have a look at the Logic 9 User Manual P.97 - Working at Different Hierarchy Levels which can be useful. I point that cause the Event Float and the Piano Roll combination is just a trick to see two Hierarchy Levels at same time ! You can organize your workaround by customizing the "Configure Track Header" dialog etc.

A.G

 

[edurbrow]

Thanks Eli. I'll try that.

 

[edurbrow]

I can't find the name of the track anywhere in one. I very often will open several piano roll windows with cmd 6 and I cannot tell which tracks are which.

The Piano Roll shows the name of the selected region, but you can hit Option + E to open the Event Float (which is very useful) and you can find the Region name in both - see the yellow lines in the image below. Note the Track number is shown in the Event Float (the green guide line). Same in the Event List !

Have a look at the Logic 9 User Manual P.97 - Working at Different Hierarchy Levels which can be useful. I point that cause the Event Float and the Piano Roll combination is just a trick to see two Hierarchy Levels at same time ! You can organize your workaround by customizing the "Configure Track Header" dialog etc.

A.G

Another good tool and good tips. Thank you.