Dynamic marks indicate the dynamic level at which a performer should play a musical phrase or section. You can add dynamic marks such as p (piano), ff (fortissimo), and sfz (sforzando). Dynamic marks are visual symbols only, and don’t affect the volume of notes during playback.
You can add slurs to indicate notes that should be played legato, and add dynamic crescendo and decrescendo symbols (sometimes called hairpins). Automatic slurs can cover a selected group of notes, and adjust when the notes are copied, moved, or transposed. Using key commands, you can quickly add and edit automatic slurs for an entire phrase, part, or score.
After adding these symbols, you can adjust their length to indicate which notes they apply to. These symbols are visual symbols only, and have no effect on playback.
The Part box is available when Show Advanced Tools is selected in Logic Pro Advanced preferences.
If the Dynamics section of the Part box isn’t visible, click the Dynamics button in the Part box.
Drag a dynamic symbol from the Part box to the place in the score where you want to add it.
You can add and edit automatic slurs, which automatically adjust to cover a selected group of contiguous notes. Automatic slurs adjust when notes are copied, moved, or transposed. They do not overlap with notes, accidentals, or most score symbols.
Click the Slurs and Crescendi button in the Part box to show slurs, crescendo, and other symbols.
In the Score Editor, select the notes that you want the slur to apply to.
Do one of the following:
Drag an automatic slur (with both up and down curves) from the Part box over the selected notes.
Select an automatic slur in the Part box, then click the selected notes with the Pencil tool.
If no notes are selected, drag or click on a note, then drag the left or right edge of the slur to cover the intended notes.
You can also add an automatic slur when no note is selected by selecting an automatic slur in the Part box, making a long click with the Pencil tool near a note, then dragging out the automatic slur to cover additional notes.
An automatic slur cannot extend across region boundaries. If you want to add an automatic slur extending between two regions, first merge the regions.
You can add a series of automatic slurs to a line, a part, or a full score. By selecting the start and end notes for each individual slur, then applying the relevant key command, you can add multiple automatic slurs in one operation. Each pair defined by the start and end note receives an automatic slur. Individual automatic slurs cannot extend across region boundaries.
Select the start and end notes for each individual slur you want to add.
Use the “Create Auto Slurs for non-contiguous selected notes” key command.
To edit the start or end point of an automatic slur: Drag the start or end point to another note with the same voice in the same region.
To edit the curve of an automatic slur: Drag one or more of the inner handles.
To convert an automatic slur to a manual slur: Control-click the slur, then choose Convert to Manual Slur from the shortcut menu.
Note: A manual slur cannot be converted to an automatic slur.
To reposition an automatic slur relative to notes: Control-click the slur, then choose one of the following from the shortcut menu:
To position the slur above notes: Choose Slur Above.
To position the slur below notes: Choose Slur Below.
To return to the automatic position of the slur: Choose Slur Auto Direction.
To open the Score Layout settings, do one of the following:
Choose File > Project Settings > Score, then click the Layout tab.
Control-click the slur, then choose Settings: Extended Layout from the shortcut menu.
The Score Layout settings include a Slurs section where you can edit automatic slur settings that apply to existing automatic slurs and become the default for new ones, as well as Line Thickness settings that affect automatic and manual slurs.
To convert an automatic slur to a manual slur: Use the Convert Auto Slur key command.
Note: A manual slur cannot be converted to an automatic slur.
To revert all edits made to an automatic slur: Use the Reset Auto Slur key command.
To add an automatic slur with the direction set automatically: Use the Slur Auto Direction key command.
To add an automatic slur above selected notes: Use the Auto Slur Above key command.
To add an automatic slur below selected notes: Use the Auto Slur Below key command.
To position a selected automatic slur above selected notes: Use the Auto Slur Above key command.
To position a selected automatic slur below selected notes: Use the Auto Slur Below key command.
To return a selected automatic slur to the automatic position: Use the Slur Auto Direction key command.
To set the selected note as the final note of an automatic slur: Use the Slur Last Note key command.
Automatic slurs are useful in many instances, but using a manual slur may be preferable in situations where independent placement or more complex curves are needed. They are also necessary in cases where you need an enclosing slur above note groups with one or more automatic slurs.
Click the Slurs and Crescendi button in the Part box to show slurs, crescendo, and other symbols.
Do one of the following:
Drag a manual slur from the Part box to the place in the score where you want it to start (the left edge).
Select a manual slur in the Part box, then click with the Pencil tool at the place where you want the slur to start.
Drag the handles to reshape the slur.
Note: These are slurs, not ties. Ties cannot be inserted manually, but are displayed automatically if a MIDI note’s length requires it. For more information, see Control the appearance of tied notes.
Drag a crescendo from the Part box to the place in the score where you want it to start (the left edge).
The crescendo remains selected, and small square handles appear at its end points.
Drag the handles to extend the crescendo to the place where you want it to end (the right edge).
To move a slur or crescendo: Select the item, then drag (from the center). Notice that as you move the handle, alignment guides indicate the note to which it is attached.
To change the length of a slur or crescendo: Drag the rightmost handle. Notice that as you move the handle, alignment guides indicate the note to which it is attached.
In Linear Score view, you can extend a slur to a position not visible in the Score Editor by dragging its rightmost handle to the right border of the Score Editor. The score scrolls automatically. When the end position for the slur appears in the window, move the pointer back to the left slightly to stop scrolling, then position the end of the slur. It is important that you do not release the mouse button during the entire process.
In Page Score view, you can simply drag the right handle to the desired destination on a lower staff. The slur is displayed in several sections.
The length can exceed the end of the MIDI region. It’s possible to drag the right handle of a crescendo to a position in the next MIDI region on the same track.
To change the contour of a slur: Drag one or more of the inner handles until the slur shows the correct contour.
To change the opening angle of a crescendo: Drag one or more of the rightmost handles vertically.
To change the overall angle of a crescendo: Drag one or more of the rightmost handles vertically.
The start position and length of these symbols can also be edited in the Event List or Event Float window, by changing the corresponding numerical parameter.
You can also add notes and other symbols to multiple regions.