Steinberg Cubase LE Operation Manual
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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 parameters. The main difference is that track parameters don’t affect\ the actual MIDI events on the track in any way, while MIDI functions change the events “permanently” (although recent changes can be u\ n- done). Use the following guidelines to decide which path to choose: • If you want to adjust a few parts or events only, use MIDI functions. Th\ e track parameters and effects affect the output of the whole track (although t\ hey can be made permanent in a specific area with the Merge MIDI in Loop functio\ n). • If you want to experiment with different settings, track parameters can \ be the best way to go. • Track parameter settings are not reflected in the MIDI editors, since the\ actual MIDI events aren’t affected. This can be potentially confusing; if yo\ u’ve e.g. transposed notes using track parameters, the MIDI editors will still sho\ w the notes with their original pitch (but they will play back at their trans\ posed pitch). MIDI functions can be a better way in those cases. Of course, there are also MIDI functions that have no track parameter counterpart, and vice versa. What is affected by the MIDI functions? Which events are affected when you use a MIDI function depends on the function, the active window and the current selection: • A MIDI function may only apply to MIDI events of a certain type. For example, quantization affects notes only, while the Delete Controlle\ rs function ob- viously applies to MIDI controller events. • In the Project window, the MIDI functions apply to all selected parts, a\ ffecting all events (of the relevant types) in them. • In the MIDI editors, the MIDI functions apply to all selected events. If\ no events are selected, all events in the edited part(s) will be affected.
CUBASE LEMIDI processing and quantizing 18 – 333 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 notes are affected (not other event types). It is also possible to quantize audio events, which is especially useful when working with Cubase LE’s loop splicing features – see page 266. For example, if you record a series of eighth notes, some of them may end up slightly beside the exact eighth note positions. Quantizing the notes with the quantize grid set to eighth notes will move the “misplaced” notes to exact positions.
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
CUBASE LEMIDI processing and quantizing 18 – 335 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 the Presets functions (see page 337). The dialog contains the following settings: Grid display The grid display shows one bar (four beats), with blue lines indicating the quantize grid (the positions that notes will be moved to).
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 feel. When you adjust the Swing slider, the result is shown in the grid display below. A straight eighth note grid compared with a grid with 62% swing. Tuplet Allows you to create more rhythmically complex grids, by dividing the grid into smaller steps.
CUBASE LEMIDI processing and quantizing 18 – 337 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 you to store the current settings as a Preset, available on the Quantize menus in the Toolbars. The usual Preset procedures apply: •To store the settings as a Preset, click the Store button. •To “load” a stored Preset, showing the stored settings in the dialog, just select it from the pop-up menu. This is useful if you want to modify an existing Preset. •To rename the selected Preset, double click on the name and type a new one. •To remove a stored Preset, select it from the pop-up menu and click Remove. • You can also create Presets by having the program analyze an audio event and extract the groove in the audio. See page 280. Only notes within the indicated zones will be affected by quantizing.
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 sixteenth notes). Events that already are within the specified distance from the quantize grid will not be quantized. This allows you to keep slight variations when you quantize, but still correct notes that are too far from the grid. The Random 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 sixteenth notes). Events will be quantized to random positions within the specified “dis- tance” from the quantize grid, thus creating a more “loose” quantizing. Much like the Non Quantize setting, this allows for slight variations, while at the same time keeping notes from ending up too far from the grid. The Iterative Strength setting This affects the results of the Iterative Quantize function, as described below.
CUBASE LEMIDI processing and quantizing 18 – 339 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 change you make in the dialog is immediately applied to the selected MIDI parts or notes. A great way of using this feature is to set up a playback loop, and adjust the settings in the dialog until you get the desired result. ❐When you apply quantize, the result is based on the original position of the notes. Therefore, you can freely try different quantize settings with no risk of “destroying” anything. See also Undo and Freeze Quantize, below. The Auto Quantize function If you activate the AQ button on the Transport panel, all MIDI record- ings you make are automatically quantized according to the settings you have made in the Quantize Setup dialog.
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 that the operation is not based on the notes’ original positions but on their current, quantized position. This makes it possible to repeatedly use Iterative Quantize, gradually moving the notes closer to the quantize grid until you’ve find the desired timing. Quantize Lengths ❐This function is only available from within the MIDI editors. This function (on the Advanced Quantize submenu on the MIDI menu) will quantize the length of the notes, without changing their start posi- tions. At its most basic level, this function will set the length of the notes to the Length Quantize value on the MIDI editors’ toolbar.