Control playback with the transport buttons

Control playback with the transport buttons

You can use the transport buttons in the control bar to control playback, or to set the playhead position. You can click the buttons to activate or deactivate functions, or use the corresponding key commands to speed up your workflow.

The default set of transport buttons includes the Rewind, Forward, Stop, Play, and Record buttons to the left of the LCD, and the Cycle, Replace, Autopunch, Solo, and Click (Metronome) buttons to the right of the LCD. You can customize the control bar to show additional buttons for other functions. For more information, see Customize the control bar.

Control playback with the default transport buttons

Click any of the following:

  • Rewind/Fast Rewind button: Moves the playhead one bar to the left. Click-hold to fast rewind, or drag to scrub playback. Command-clicking moves the playhead to the previous marker.

    Figure. Transport buttons with Rewind button selected.

  • Forward/Fast Forward button: Moves the playhead one bar to the right. Click-hold to fast forward, or drag to scrub playback. Command-clicking moves the playhead to the next marker.

    Figure. Transport buttons with Forward button selected.

  • Stop button: Stops playback or recording. Click a second time to move the playhead to the start of the project, or to the left locator position when in Cycle mode. Right-click for more stop options. Default key command assignment: Return.

    Figure. Transport buttons with Stop button selected.

  • Play button: Starts playback at the playhead position, or from the left locator position when in Cycle mode. Right-click for more play options. Default key command assignment: Return.

    Figure. Transport controls, showing Play button

  • Record button: Starts or stops recording on record-enabled tracks. Default key command assignment: Asterisk (*).

    Figure. Transport buttons with Play button selected.

Use additional transport buttons

Click any of the following:

  • Go to Beginning button: Moves the playhead to the start of the project.

    Figure. Transport buttons, showing all additional buttons.

  • Go to Position button: Moves the playhead to a target bar or time position that you specify in the Go to Position dialog.

  • Go to Left Locator button: Moves the playhead to the left locator position shown in the ruler. The left locator defines the cycle area start point. Use the cycle area to repeatedly play, or record over, a section.

  • Go to Right Locator button: Moves the playhead to the right locator position shown in the ruler. The right locator defines the cycle area end point. Use the cycle area to repeatedly play, or record over, a section.

  • Go to Selection Start button: Moves the playhead to the start point of the first selected region or event. Default key command assignment: Shift-Return.

  • Play from Beginning button: Plays from the start of the project.

  • Play from Left Window Edge button: Plays from the leftmost visible point in the active workspace.

  • Play from Left Locator button: Plays from the left locator position shown in the ruler. The left locator defines the cycle area start point. Use the cycle area to repeatedly play, or record over, a section.

  • Play from Right Locator button: Plays from the right locator position shown in the ruler. The right locator defines the cycle area end point. Use the cycle area to repeatedly play, or record over, a section.

  • Play from Selection button: Plays from the start point of the first selected region or event. Default key command assignment: Shift-Return.

  • Pause button: Pauses playback or recording, until you click either the Pause or Play button.

  • Capture Recording button: Captures the most recent performance, even if Logic Pro was not in record mode while you were playing.