Macro Objects

Macros are not actually Environment objects. Rather, they are collections of other Environment objects and their cabling.

To create a new macro

Select all Environment objects that you want to include, then choose New > Macro.
Logic Pro encloses all selected objects in a frame with a gray background.

If some of the objects selected when a macro is being created have cables leading to unselected objects, these cables are deleted when the macro is created. A warning notifies you of this. In this situation, the macro is made from a copy of the original selection of objects, and the original collection of objects remains unchanged.

Macros are limited in size. The limit depends on the memory usage of the individual objects within the macro. This limit is typically between 100 and 200 objects.

You can nest macros—a macro can contain other macros as objects.

To unpack a macro

Double-click any empty (blank) section of the macro object.
The macro reverts back to its component objects and cables.

Macros have a lot in common with standard Environment objects—you can connect cables to and from them, they can be resized, they have their own parameters and icons, they can be chosen as destinations in the Arrange window track list, and they can be copied or dragged between Environment layers (including between projects).

Defining a Macro’s Input and Output

Because a macro is a collection of objects, individual objects need to be specified as the macro’s input and output. This can be done in two ways: by name or by default.

If you name one object “Macro-In” and another “Macro-Out,” these will automatically become the macro’s input and output.
If there is no object named “Macro-In,” the upper-leftmost object becomes the macro’s input.
If there is no object named “Macro-Out,” the lower-rightmost object becomes the macro’s output.

Cables leading into the macro deliver events to the macro’s input object, and cables leading from the macro’s outlets carry events leaving the macro’s output object.

Macro Parameters

Macros have the following parameters:

Auto Fader checkbox: If you select a group of faders and create a macro from them, selecting this box makes them behave as if they were cabled serially.
Show All checkbox: This checkbox determines which objects remain visible when integrated into a macro. When selected, all objects are visible (assuming the macro is not resized to hide some of them). When unselected, only fader, monitors, ornament, and keyboard objects are visible. You can change this checkbox at any time.
No Reset checkbox: This checkbox, when active, prevents the macro from responding to reset messages (set in Logic Pro > Preferences > MIDI > Reset Messages).
Protected checkbox: Activate to protect a macro. Protected macros cannot be unpacked, so make sure you’ve made a copy of the objects and cabling before creating a protected macro.