To double time drums in Logic Pro, you can employ various methods depending on whether you are using Logic's intelligent Drummer track, MIDI regions, or audio drum loops. The most direct method for generated drum parts involves using the ProDrummer Editor.
Double Timing with Logic Pro's Drummer Track
Logic Pro's Drummer is an intelligent virtual session player that generates dynamic and realistic drum performances. You can easily adjust its rhythmic feel, including double time, directly within the editor.
Using the ProDrummer Editor for Kick and Snare
For acoustic kick and snare drum patterns generated by the Drummer track, Logic Pro offers a specific control to create half-time or double-time variations. This is ideal for quickly adding rhythmic intensity without manually programming.
- Select the Drummer Region: Click on the green Drummer region in your project's Tracks area.
- Open the Drummer Editor: The Drummer Editor will appear at the bottom of the Logic Pro window.
- Locate the Kick & Snare Slider: In the Percussion section of the Drummer Editor, you'll find a horizontal slider dedicated to the Kick & Snare patterns.
- Engage Double Time (2x): At the right end of the Kick & Snare slider, you will see options like 1/2 (half time) and 2x (double time). Clicking on 2x will immediately double the rhythmic feel of the kick and snare drums, making them play at twice their original subdivision while maintaining the overall groove of the Drummer performance.
- Tip: After engaging the 2x option, experiment with the other controls in the Drummer Editor, such as "Complexity" and "Fills," to further refine the double-time groove and ensure it integrates seamlessly with your song.
Double Timing MIDI Drum Regions
If you're working with MIDI drum patterns that you've programmed yourself or imported, you have granular control over individual notes to create a double-time effect.
Adjusting Note Density in the Piano Roll Editor
The most common way to double time a MIDI drum pattern is by editing its note durations and density.
- Open the Piano Roll Editor: Double-click the MIDI drum region in the Tracks area.
- Select Notes: Select the notes you want to double time (e.g., all hi-hat notes or an entire pattern).
- Increase Note Frequency:
- Manually Add Notes: Insert new notes on the subdivisions where you want the double-time feel. For example, if a hi-hat pattern consists of quarter notes, add new hi-hat notes on the eighth-note subdivisions to double the perceived speed.
- Quantization: Select the relevant notes and change the quantization value in the Piano Roll's inspector to a shorter duration (e.g., quantize to 1/8th notes instead of 1/4 notes).
- Velocity Editing: Adjust the velocity of new or existing notes to maintain a natural dynamic feel in your double-time pattern.
Employing MIDI FX for Rhythmic Repetition
Logic Pro's MIDI FX plugins can also simulate a double-time feel, especially for sustained drum sounds or percussive elements.
- Arpeggiator: Insert an Arpeggiator MIDI FX plugin on your drum track. By setting a fast Rate (e.g., 1/16 or 1/32) and ensuring the drum sound sustains (or by adjusting the note length in the Arpeggiator's settings), the Arpeggiator can rapidly re-trigger the notes, creating a double-time or even triplet-based effect.
Double Timing Audio Drum Loops
While less about rhythmic subdivision and more about overall playback speed, you can also manipulate audio drum loops to achieve a double-time effect using Flex Time.
Speeding Up Loops with Flex Time
Flex Time allows you to manipulate the timing and tempo of audio regions without affecting pitch, which can be useful for making an audio loop play faster.
- Enable Flex Time:
- Click the Flex Time icon in the track header (it looks like a waveform with a squiggly line).
- Ensure the appropriate Flex Mode (e.g., Slicing or Rhythmic) is selected for your drum track.
- Adjust Region Tempo/Length:
- If the loop is an Apple Loop or has embedded tempo information, you can often double its playback speed directly in the Region Inspector.
- Alternatively, with Flex Time enabled, you can manually shorten the audio region by dragging its right edge inward. Reducing its length to half will effectively double its playback speed, giving a double-time feel.
Table: Methods for Double Timing Drums in Logic Pro
| Method | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Drummer Track (ProDrummer Editor) | Built-in 2x option on the Kick & Snare slider for instant rhythmic density increase. | Quickly creating a natural, groove-aware double-time feel for acoustic kick and snare within Logic's intelligent Drummer performances. |
| MIDI Regions (Piano Roll) | Manually adding/duplicating notes or using quantization to increase note frequency. | Custom, precise double-time patterns for individual drum elements in user-programmed or imported MIDI. |
| MIDI FX (Arpeggiator) | Rapidly re-triggering MIDI notes to create a fast, continuous rhythmic pattern. | Creative rhythmic variations, instant double-time feel on sustained or repeated drum sounds (e.g., cymbals, synth drums). |
| Audio Regions (Flex Time) | Adjusting the playback speed of an entire audio loop to play twice as fast. | Accelerating pre-recorded audio drum loops or samples; less about rhythmic subdivision, more about overall playback tempo. |
By understanding these different approaches, you can effectively double time your drum parts in Logic Pro, whether for creative variation, energy boosts, or specific song sections.
