Logic Pro X Tutorial: Become a Power User Part 5 – Flex Time (Page 2)

Continuing our look at using Flex Time with Logic Pro X… 11: In our final example we’re going to explore how Flex Time can be used to discreetly time-correct a performance. Unmute the drums and take a listen to the integrity of their timing. Listen closely and you’ll identify two errors in bar 2, with […]

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Continuing our look at using Flex Time with Logic Pro X…

11: In our final example we’re going to explore how Flex Time can be used to discreetly time-correct a performance. Unmute the drums and take a listen to the integrity of their timing. Listen closely and you’ll identify two errors in bar 2, with both a snare hit and a kick being slightly out-of-time.

12: If you want to edit across a number of tracks at the same time, you’ll need to create a phase-locked Edit Group. Enable the Group via the mixer, using the Group box just beneath the output assignment. In the Inspector, make sure you’ve checked Editing (selection) and Phase-Locked Audio as part of the Group Settings.

13: With the drums now placed into an Edit Group, all Flex Time edits will be applied across all three tracks simultaneously. Before we can start editing, though, we need to assign each of the tracks their own Flex mode. As the source is percussive, pick either the Slicing or Rhythm Flex Time modes.

14: To make the edit, we want to move just a single drum hit. We can do this using the ‘three Flex Markers’ icon, which you’ll find as you move towards the bottom of the region. Note how the points to either side of the snare are fixed, allowing you to reposition the offending note without affecting the rest of the region’s timing.

15: Repeat the process on the kick that plays out-of-time towards the end of bar 2. Note how you can either reposition it to the nearest grid point or, by dragging down onto an adjacent track lane, in respect to the Transient Marker on another track. In this case, we can lock the kick to our percussion track.

16: Carrying out a lot of Flex Time editing can tax your CPU. Track freezing can be applied at ‘source’ level, though, effectively creating an offline render of your Flex Time edits. Enable the Freeze icon by [Ctrl]-clicking on the track list and selecting Track Header Components>Show Flex from the contextual menu.

17: As part of the track’s Properties (found in the Inspector), you can move between two different Freeze modes – Source Only and Pre Fader. The Source Only option is intended for Flex Time editing, in that only the Flex Edits are rendered, leaving the remaining plug-in CPU usage in real time. Pre Fader, of course, would render both Flex Time edits and plug-ins.

18: With the Freeze mode selected, click on the Freeze icon in the track list to enact the offline render. Once frozen, the track looks much the same, although you won’t be able to carry out any further audio editing unless the track is temporarily unfrozen. Freezing is best done just before you start mixing, clawing back valuable CPU resources for additional plug-ins.

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