User guide

Chapter 28 Creating Apple Loops 645
Global Tracks and Apple Loops
You can use the global tracks to change global events such as tempo, time signature,
and key during a project. The following section summarizes how these changes in the
global tracks affect the playback of Apple Loops.
Tempo and Beat Mapping Track
Apple Loops adjust automatically to the tempo of these tracks.
Signature Track
Apple Loops can contain information about their original key, and can be transposed
automatically. They will be played back at the project key by default, which is defined
by the first key signature event. No distinction is made between major and minor keys
for these global transposition functions; in fact, only the root of the initial key signature
is relevant for playback of Apple Loops.
Note: When you change the key signature after importing Apple Loops, the playback
of SIALs is not affected. They behave like normal MIDI regions. The playback of MIDI
regions is not affected by key signature changes, only the display in the Score Editor!
The playback transposition for Apple Loops is controlled by the root note of chords in
the Chord track. These root notes determine the global playback transposition—
relative to the current key signature—shown in the Signature track. If no chords are
available in the Chord track, the global playback key for Apple Loops is determined by
the very first key signature in the Signature track (default: C major).
Chord Track
The root notes of chords in the Chord track determine the transposition (pitch shifting)
of all Apple Loops.
The Change Display Only mode does not work with Apple Loops used on audio tracks.
This shouldn’t pose a problem, as you won’t normally need this function when working
with Apple Loops. There is one exception, however: some Apple Loops contain chord
progressions. These chord progressions are not displayed in the Chord track.
Unfortunately, you can’t use the Chord track’s Change Display Only mode to match the
displayed chords to what is actually being heard. All changes in the Chord track will
affect the transposition of (audio, not instrument) Apple Loops. Activating the Change
Display Only option doesn’t help.