I am developing DOWNBEAT, a paid macOS Audio Unit plugin for Logic Pro live playback control. The plugin reads marker, tempo, and time signature data from a user-selected Logic Pro project and lets performers build a stage setlist. During live use, the performer needs to click a song in DOWNBEAT and have Logic Pro move the playhead directly to that song’s marker position.
The current reliable method uses Logic Pro controller assignments mapped to “Go to Marker Number 1” through “Go to Marker Number 20.” This works for markers 1-20, but Logic Pro does not appear to expose direct “Go to Marker Number 21” or higher commands.
I need to know whether Apple provides any supported public API, control-surface API, MIDI Device Script capability, Audio Unit host interaction, Apple Event, or other documented mechanism that allows a third-party macOS app/plugin to move Logic Pro’s playhead directly to a bar/beat position or marker position without opening a modal window.
This is for live performance, so reliability is critical. Methods that open the “Go to Marker” or “Go to Position” window and type values are not acceptable, because they create visible UI interruptions during a show.
What I have already tested:
Logic Pro controller assignments:
“Go to Marker Number 1” through “Go to Marker Number 20” work.
“Go to Marker Number 21” does not appear to exist as a direct assignable command.
Logic Pro MIDI Device Script / Lua control-surface script:
I created a temporary MIDI Device Script that mapped a test control to “Go to Marker Number 1.”
That worked.
I then mapped another test control to “Go to Marker Number 21.”
That did not work.
I also tested “Go to Marker Number...” and it did not provide a usable direct non-modal workflow.
MIDI Machine Control / SMPTE Locate:
Logic received incoming MIDI, but location behavior was not reliable enough for live use.
In multi-tempo projects, locate results could land incorrectly or cause visible playhead jumps.
Logic Environment meta events:
Tested incoming MIDI through the Logic Environment.
MIDI was visible, but it did not provide reliable direct marker navigation.
Mackie Control / MCU direction:
Research suggests MCU marker commands do not provide direct absolute marker selection beyond the limited marker/function range.
Specific questions:
Is there a supported public way for a third-party macOS app, Audio Unit plugin, MIDI Device Script, or Logic Pro control-surface integration to set Logic Pro’s playhead directly to a specific bar/beat position?
Is there a supported public way to trigger direct marker navigation beyond “Go to Marker Number 20” without opening a modal window?
If the answer is no, is the recommended Apple-supported approach for this use case to limit direct marker navigation to the first 20 markers?
Is there any supported Logic Pro control-surface API or developer program path that would allow this kind of direct live-performance marker navigation?
Topic:
Media Technologies
SubTopic:
Audio
0
0
191