Apple Logic Pro 8 - Manual (Page 844)

844 Chapter 36 Synchronizing Logic Pro
MIDI Machine Control
MMC is a set of MIDI commands that Logic Pro uses to control the transport functions
of any MMC-capable tape machine. The recording process can also be controlled and
automated from Logic Pro via MMC. This tape machine then provides the SMPTE signal
that Logic Pro uses as a synchronization source (with Logic Pro as the slave).
You can control connected devices from Logic Pro by using the normal transport
functions (including direct positioning and cycle jumps). Don’t forget that Logic Pro
needs to wait for the connected device to finish rewinding or forwarding. If MIDI
Machine Control is enabled, dragging the playhead will send MMC Locate commands
continuously, until the mouse button is released.
To switch on MMC, do one of the following:
m Control-click the Transport bar Sync button and enable the MIDI Machine Control
(MMC) setting in the shortcut menu.
m Choose File > Project Settings > Synchronization, and enable the Transmit MMC option
in the MIDI tab.
Logic Pro supports up to 64 MMC tracks, allowing devices such as the Alesis ADAT to be
operated via MIDI machine control.
Each Arrange track can act as a tape (control) track, by selecting an instrument with the
tape deck icon (#305).
You only need to create one instrument with the tape deck icon, and you may then
assign that same instrument to as many tracks as needed, to control your external
recorder. It’s a good idea to group these tracks together in their own folder. These
tracks must be placed at the top of the Arrange window track list. If you pack them into
a folder, this must be the first track in the list.
The tape deck icon is the only icon that actually affects the way an object behaves. All
other icons are purely graphical in nature.
If the tape track is the current record track, the following functions apply:
 Selecting the tape track switches the corresponding track on the tape machine to
record ready, and deactivates the record ready status of any other tracks. To select
several tracks for recording, use Shift when clicking.