Display Preferences in Logic Pro

Display preferences consist of the following tabs:  General, Arrange, Mixer, and Piano Roll.

Figure. Display preferences.
To open Display preferences
Do one of the following:
  • Choose Logic Pro > Preferences > Display (or use the Open Display Preferences key command).

  • Click the Preferences button in the Arrange toolbar, then choose Display from the pop-up menu.

General Display Preferences

This pane allows you to alter the appearance of several onscreen components that are used throughout the program.

Figure. General Display preferences.
  • “Large local window menus” checkbox: The title and items of the local menus are displayed in the normal system font. If unselected, a smaller font is used.
  • Wide Playhead checkbox: A thicker playhead is used in all windows.
  • Show Help Tags checkbox: This enables help tags throughout Logic Pro. When you hold the mouse pointer over parameters and tools, a small pop-up description (and/or value) of the item appears onscreen. When editing, the function name, region or event name/number, position, and parameter values are shown.
  • “Show default values” checkbox: When selected, this option displays default values for parameters in help tags. This makes it easier to determine the amount of variance from the default value.

Arrange Display Preferences

These preferences specifically affect the appearance of the Arrange area.

Figure. Arrange Display preferences.
  • Automation Transparency: Regions slider: Higher values increase the color intensity of regions (in comparison to the track automation lane).
  • Automation Transparency: Other Data slider: Brightens the display of (inactive) automation data. Note that this functionality is dependent on the zoom level of the region.

Mixer Display Preferences

These preferences specifically affect the appearance of the Mixer area.

Figure. Mixer Display preferences.
  • “Open plug-in window on insertion” checkbox: With this checkbox selected, the window of an effect or software instrument plug-in is automatically opened after inserting it in the appropriate channel strip slot.

Piano Roll Display Preferences

These preferences specifically affect the appearance of the Piano Roll area.

Figure. Piano Roll Display preferences.
  • Background Type buttons: These buttons allow you to choose between a dark or bright color set in order to edit the color setup.
  • White Keys and Black Keys fields: Double-click the color field to open the Colors window. Select or determine the color for the grid lines, aligned with the white keyboard keys. Do the same for the black keyboard keys.
  • C, D, E Key Brightness slider: Allows you to intensify the brightness of these specific keys in all octaves, making transposition easier by providing a consistent reference point.
  • Bar Lines slider and Dotted checkbox: The Bar Lines slider determines the transparency of the bar lines. The Dotted checkbox changes the appearance of the solid bar line to a dotted line.
  • Beat Lines slider and Dotted checkbox: The Beat Lines slider determines the transparency of the beat lines. The Dotted checkbox changes the appearance of the solid beat line to a dotted line.
  • Division Lines slider and Dotted checkbox: The Division Lines slider determines the transparency of the division lines. The Dotted checkbox changes the appearance of the solid division line to a dotted line.
  • Reset button: Resets all user changes to default values.