Steinberg Cubase LE Operation Manual

18
MIDI processing and quantizing 

CUBASE LE18 – 332 MIDI processing and quantizing
Introduction
This chapter describes the various MIDI processing functions available  
on the MIDI menu. These offer various ways to change MIDI notes and 
other events, in the Project window or within a MIDI editor.
MIDI functions vs. track parameters
In some cases, the result of a MIDI function can also be obtained by 
using MIDI track parameters and (see page 320). For example, 
the MIDI functions transpose and quantize are also available as track...

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Quantizing
What is quantizing?
Quantizing in its fundamental form is a function that automatically 
moves recorded notes, positioning them on exact note values:
However, quantizing is not only a method of correcting errors, it can 
also be used creatively in various ways. For example, the “quantize 
grid” does not have to consist of perfectly straight notes, some notes 
can automatically be excluded from quantizing, etc.
• When quantizing MIDI, only the...

CUBASE LE18 – 334 MIDI processing and quantizing
Setting Up
At its most basic, setting up quantizing consists of selecting a note 
value from the Quantize pop-up menu on the toolbar (in the Project 
window or a MIDI Editor).
Straight note values
Triplet note values
Dotted note values 

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By default, this allows you to quantize to exact note values (straight, 
triplet or dotted notes) only. If you want more options, select “Quan-
tize Setup...” from the MIDI menu (or “Setup...” from the Quantize pop-
up menu) to open the Quantize Setup dialog.
❐Any settings you make in the dialog are immediately reflected in the 
Quantize pop-up menus. However, if you want your settings permanently 
available on the Quantize pop-up menus, you have to use...

CUBASE LE18 – 336 MIDI processing and quantizing
The Grid and Type pop-ups
These are used to determine the basic note value for the quantizing 
grid. In other words, these have the same functionality as the Quantize 
pop-up menu on the Toolbar.
Eighth note triplets selected as quantizing grid.
Swing
The Swing slider is only available when a straight note value is selected 
for the grid and Tuplet is off (see below). It allows you to offset every 
second position in the grid, creating a swing or shuffle...

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Magnetic Area
This allows you to specify that only notes within a certain distance 
from the grid lines should be affected by quantizing. 
•When the slider is set to 0%, the Magnetic Area function is deactivated, 
i.e. all notes are affected by quantizing.
If you move the slider gradually to the right, you will note how the magnetic areas are 
shown around the blue lines in the grid display.
Presets
The controls in the lower left corner of the dialog allow...

CUBASE LE18 – 338 MIDI processing and quantizing
Auto and Apply
These functions allow you to apply quantizing directly from the dialog, 
as described below.
❐If you don’t want to apply the quantizing you have set up in the dialog, you 
can close the window by clicking its standard close box. You can also leave 
the dialog open while you continue working.
The Non Quantize setting
This is an additional setting that affects the result of the quantizing. It 
allows you to set a “distance” in ticks (120ths of...

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Applying quantize
There are several ways to apply the quantize:
•The standard method is to select “Over Quantize” from the MIDI menu 
(or using a key command, by default [Q]).
This quantizes the selected MIDI parts or notes, according to the current Quantize 
pop-up menu setting.
•You can also apply quantizing directly from the Quantize Setup dialog, 
by clicking the “Apply” button.
•If you activate the “Auto” checkbox in the Quantize Setup dialog, any...

CUBASE LE18 – 340 MIDI processing and quantizing
Iterative Quantize
Another way to apply “loose” quantization is to use the Iterative Quan-
tize function on the MIDI menu. It works like this:
Instead of moving a note to the closest quantize grid position, Iterative 
Quantize moves it only part of the way. You specify how much the 
notes should be moved towards the grid with the Iterative Strength 
setting in the Quantize Setup dialog.
Iterative Quantize is also different from “regular” quantization, in...