Logic Pro 9 User Manual - Help Library - Apple

Triplets, Dotted Note Groups
The “Next three notes are triplets” key command is self-explanatory. The rhythmic value
of the triplets corresponds to the currently selected note value in the Step Input Keyboard
window. If an eighth note is selected, an eighth-note triplet will be created. After three
notes have been inserted, binary values will be inserted, unless the command is reused.
The “Next two notes are a dotted group” key command works in a similar way, but it has
a special feature. When you use this key command, a pair of notes that complement each
other will be inserted—a dotted eighth and a sixteenth note, for example.
Interaction with Other Key Commands
When Step Input mode (the MIDI In button) is activated in the Score Editor, Piano Roll
Editor, or Event List, the Step Input key commands have priority over all other key
commands.
This means that you can assign keys or key combinations to these functions even if these
keys or key combinations are already assigned to other functions. As long as Step Input
mode is active, these key assignments will apply; if Step Input mode is turned off, other
assignments for the same keys will have priority.
Note: Because you can use key assignments that are already in use for other functions,
avoid using keys that are assigned to functions that you might also want to use when
working in Step Input mode. For example, the Space bar is used for Play/Stop/Continue,
so assigning it to Rest could be problematic.
Using a MIDI Keyboard for Step Input
Note input via MIDI works in the same way as input via the Step Input Keyboard (see
Using the Step Input Keyboard). One difference, of course, is that you press keys on your
real-world MIDI keyboard, rather than clicking onscreen keyboard notes.
MIDI note velocity information—how hard you strike the keys on your MIDI keyboard—is
sent when you use MIDI Step Input.
You can insert chords by simply playing the chord on the MIDI keyboard. You don’t need
to turn on Chord mode to insert a chord.
It is recommended that you keep the Step Input Keyboard window open when first using
these functions, to make the learning process easier. After you are familiar with it, you
can leave the Step Input Keyboard window closed, because it is just an aid for MIDI step
input, not a requirement.
It is also recommended that you use the Input key commands (see Using Step Input
Keyboard Key Commands) to quickly switch values such as the note length, or to determine
the insert position.
Chapter 14 Recording in Logic Pro
477