Specifications

78 Chapter 8 Using Apple Loops
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 the Apple Audio Loops. Activating the Change Display Only
option doesn’t help.
There is, however, a solution:
1 Cut the Apple Audio Loop at the precise position(s) of any chord changes.
2 Match the chords displayed in the Chord Track with the chord progression in the cut
Apple Loop files by manually entering the chords of each section in the Chord track.
The individual Apple Loop parts will then be transposed accordingly.
3 Enter the inverted Transposition values of the chord root note changes in the Region
Parameter box of each section, so that playback of the Apple Loop parts will match the
original Apple Loop file.
As an example:
 The Apple Audio Loop contains a chord progression with root notes of: C, F, G and C.
Cut it at these chord change positions.
 Enter C, F, G and C at the corresponding positions in the Chord track. Assuming the
original key is C, this is equivalent to a transposition of the second Region by +5 and
the third Region by +7 semitones. If you played the entire part at this point, the
original audio material would be transposed by the amounts just entered in the
Chord track, which isn’t what you want!
 Set the Transpose value of the second Region to –5, and of the third Region to –7 in
their respective Region Parameter boxes.
Playback of the whole part will now sound as it did before the cuts, and the correct
chords are displayed in the Chord track.