Steinberg Cubase Studio 4 Operation Manual Studio Manual

							321
MIDI realtime parameters and effects
MIDI effects
Cubase comes with a number of MIDI effect plug-ins, ca-
pable of transforming the MIDI output from a track in vari-
ous ways.
Just like the MIDI modifiers, MIDI effects are applied in real 
time to the MIDI data played back from the track (or to 
MIDI you play live “thru” the track).
What are MIDI effects?
Although a MIDI effect can be similar to an audio effect, 
it’s important to remember that you’re not processing the 
sound resulting from MIDI playback, but the MIDI data (the 
“instructions” for how the music should be played back). 
A MIDI effect will change properties of the MIDI events 
(e.g. change the pitch of notes) and/or generate new MIDI 
events (for example, a MIDI delay may add new MIDI 
notes, “echoing” the original notes).
ÖThe included MIDI effect plug-ins are described in the 
separate manual “Plug-in Reference”.
Insert and send effects
As with audio effects, there are two ways to route the MIDI 
events on a track to an effect:
ÖIf you add an insert effect, the MIDI events will be sent 
to the effect, which will process the data and pass it on to 
the track’s MIDI output (or to another insert effect).
In other words, the MIDI events will be routed “through” the insert effect.
ÖIf you use a send effect, the MIDI events will be sent 
both to the track’s MIDI output and to the effect.
That is, you will get both the unprocessed MIDI events and the output of 
the MIDI effect. Note that the effect can send its processed MIDI data to 
any MIDI output – not necessarily to the one used by the track.
There are separate sections in the Inspector for MIDI in-
serts and MIDI sends.
MIDI Inserts section
This allows you to add up to four MIDI insert effects. The 
section contains the following items:
ÖEffects that display their controls in the Inspector can 
be opened in a separate control panel window by press-
ing [Alt]/[Option] and clicking the Edit button.
Item Description
Preset Manage-
ment buttonClick this to open the track presets pop-up menu and se-
lect an insert preset or apply an insert from a track preset, 
see “Inserts and EQ settings from track presets” on page 
310.
Bypass button Click this to temporarily disable all insert effects for the 
track (useful for comparing with the unprocessed MIDI, 
etc.).
Inserts section 
tabThis is in blue if an insert effect is activated.
Effect selection 
pop-up menu 
(x 4)Selecting an effect from this pop-up menu automatically 
activates it and brings up its control panel (which can be 
a separate window or a number of settings below the in-
sert slot in the Inspector).
To remove an insert effect completely, select “No Effect”.
On button (x 4) Allows you to turn the selected effect on or off.
Edit button (x4) Click this to bring up the control panel for the selected 
effect. Depending on the effect, this may appear in a sep-
arate window or below the insert slot in the Inspector. 
Clicking the button again hides the control panel. 
						

							322
MIDI realtime parameters and effects
MIDI Sends section
This allows you to add up to four MIDI send effects. Unlike 
audio send effects, you can select and activate send ef-
fects individually for each track. The section contains the 
following items:
ÖEffects that display their controls in the Inspector can 
be opened in a separate control panel window by press-
ing [Alt]/[Option] and clicking the Edit button.
About presets
Several of the MIDI plug-ins come with a number of pre-
sets for instant use. The controls for handling presets con-
sist of a Presets pop-up menu along with Store (+) and 
Remove (-) buttons.
To load a preset, select it from the Presets pop-up menu.
To store your current settings as a preset, click the (+) 
button to the right.
A dialog appears, asking you to specify a name for the preset. The stored 
preset will then be available for selection from the pop-up menu for all in-
stances of that MIDI plug-in, in all projects.
To remove a stored preset, select it and click the (-) but-
ton to the right.
Item Description
Bypass button Click this to temporarily disable all send effects for the 
track (useful for comparing with the unprocessed MIDI, 
etc.).
Sends section 
tabThis is in blue if any send effect is activated.
Effect selection 
pop-up menu
(x 4)Selecting an effect from this pop-up menu automatically 
activates it and brings up its control panel (which can be 
a separate window or a number of settings below the 
send slot in the Inspector).
To remove a send effect completely, select “No Effect”.
On button 
(x 4)Allows you to turn the selected effect on or off.
Pre/Post button 
(x4)If this is activated, the MIDI signals will be sent to the 
send effects before the MIDI modifiers and insert effects.
Edit button 
(x4)Click this to bring up the control panel for the selected 
effect. Depending on the effect, this may appear in a sep-
arate window or below the sends slot in the Inspector. 
Clicking the button again hides the control panel.
Output pop-up 
menu (x4)This determines to which MIDI output the effect should 
send the processed MIDI events.
Channel setting 
(x4)This determines on which MIDI channel the effect should 
send the processed MIDI events.
Remove button Store button 
						

							323
MIDI realtime parameters and effects
Applying a MIDI insert effect – an example
Here is a step-by-step example of how to add a MIDI in-
sert effect to a MIDI track:
1.Select the MIDI track and open the Inspector.
2.Open the MIDI Inserts tab in the Inspector.
Alternatively you could use the mixer: bring up the ex-
tended mixer panel and select “Inserts” on the view op-
tions pop-up menu for the track’s channel strip.
3.Click in one of the insert slots to open the MIDI effect 
pop-up menu.
4.Select the desired MIDI effect from the pop-up menu.
The effect is automatically activated (the power button for the insert slot 
lights up) and its control panel appears, either in a separate window or in 
the MIDI Inserts section below the slot (depending on the effect).
Now all MIDI from the track will be routed through the ef-
fect.
5.Use the control panel to make settings for the effect.
All included MIDI effects are described in the separate manual “Plug-in 
Reference”.
You can bypass the insert effect by clicking its power 
button (above the insert slot).
To bypass all insert effects for the MIDI track, use the 
bypass button in the MIDI Inserts section in the Inspector, 
in the mixer channel strip or in the Track list.
To remove an insert effect, click in its slot and select 
“No Effect”.
Managing plug-ins
Selecting Plug-in Information from the Devices menu 
opens a window in which all loaded plug-ins, audio and 
MIDI, are listed.
To view the MIDI effect plug-ins, click the MIDI Plug-ins 
tab.
The leftmost column allows you to deactivate plug-ins.
This is useful if you have plug-ins installed that you don’t want to use in 
Cubase. Only plug-ins that are activated (ticked checkbox) will appear 
on the MIDI effect pop-up menus.
Note that plug-ins that are currently in use cannot be deactivated.
The second column shows how many instances of each 
plug-in are currently used in the project.
The remaining columns show various information about 
each plug-in and cannot be edited. 
						

							26
MIDI processing and quantizing 
						

							325
MIDI processing and quantizing
Introduction
This chapter describes the various MIDI processing func-
tions available on the MIDI menu. They offer various ways 
to edit MIDI notes and other events, either in the Project 
window or from within a MIDI editor.
MIDI functions vs. MIDI modifiers
In some cases, the result of a MIDI function can also be 
obtained by using MIDI modifiers and effects (see “MIDI 
realtime parameters and effects” on page 315). For exam-
ple, the operations “Transpose” and “Quantize” are avail-
able as MIDI modifiers as well as MIDI functions.
The main difference is that MIDI modifiers and effects 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 undone). 
Use the following guidelines to decide which path to 
choose for operations that are available both as modifiers 
or effects and as functions:
If you want to adjust a few parts or events only, use MIDI 
functions. The MIDI modifiers and effects affect the output 
of the whole track (although they can be made permanent 
in a specific area with the Merge MIDI in Loop function).
If you want to experiment with different settings, use 
MIDI modifiers and effects.
MIDI modifiers and effects settings are not reflected in 
the MIDI editors, since the actual MIDI events aren’t af-
fected. This can be potentially confusing; if you’ve e.g. 
transposed notes using modifiers, the MIDI editors will still 
show the notes with their original pitch (but they will play 
back at their transposed pitch). Therefore MIDI functions 
are a better solution if you want to see the effects in the 
MIDI editors.
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 cur-
rent selection:
Some MIDI function only apply to MIDI events of a certain 
type.
For example, quantization affects notes only, while the Delete Controllers 
function obviously applies to MIDI controller events.
In the Project window, the MIDI functions apply to all 
selected parts, affecting all events (of the relevant types) 
in them.
In the MIDI editors, the MIDI functions apply to all se-
lected events. If no events are selected, all events in the 
edited part(s) will be affected.
The Quantizing functions
What is quantizing?
Quantizing in its fundamental form is a function that auto-
matically moves recorded notes, positioning them on ex-
act note values:
However, quantizing is not only a method of correcting er-
rors, it can also be used creatively in various ways. For ex-
ample, the “quantize grid” does not have to consist of 
perfectly straight notes, some notes can automatically be 
excluded from quantizing, etc.
ÖWhen quantizing MIDI, only MIDI notes are affected 
(no other event types).
However, you can choose to move the controllers together with their re-
spective notes by activating the “Move Controller” option in the Quantize 
Setup dialog, see “The Move Controller setting” on page 328.
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. 
						

							326
MIDI processing and quantizing
Setting up quantize on the toolbar
At its most basic, setting up quantizing consists of select-
ing a note value from the Quantize pop-up menu on the 
toolbar (in the Project window or a MIDI editor).
This allows you to quantize to exact note values (straight, 
triplet or dotted notes) only. 
Setting up quantize in the Quantize Setup 
dialog
If you want more options than those available on the pop-
up menu, select “Quantize Setup…” from the MIDI menu 
(or “Setup…” from the Quantize pop-up menu) to open 
the Quantize Setup dialog.
The grid display in the middle of the dialog shows one bar 
(four beats), with blue lines indicating the quantize grid 
(the positions that notes will be moved to). Value changes 
in the grid, presets and quantize options will be graphically 
reflected here, see below. 
Straight note values
Triplet note values
Dotted note values
!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 “Presets” on page 327). 
						

							327
MIDI processing and quantizing
The Quantize Setup dialog contains the following settings:
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 func-
tionality as the Quantize pop-up menu on the toolbar.
Swing
The Swing slider is only available when a straight note 
value is selected for the grid and Tuplet is off (see below). 
It lets you 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.
A straight eighth note grid compared with a grid with 60% swing.
Tuplet
Allows you to create more rhythmically complex grids by 
dividing the grid into smaller steps.
Magnetic Area
This allows you to specify that only notes within a certain 
distance from the grid lines should be affected by quantiz-
ing. 
When the slider is set to 0%, the Magnetic Area func-
tion is deactivated, i.e. all notes are affected by quantizing.
If you move the slider gradually to the right, you will note how the mag-
netic 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, which will then be 
available on the Quantize menus on the toolbars. The 
usual preset procedures apply:
To store the settings as a preset, click the Store button. 
To load a stored preset into 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 in a new one. 
To remove a stored preset, select it from the pop-up 
menu and click Remove.
You can also create presets by extracting existing 
grooves from a MIDI part. 
Just select the desired MIDI part and drag it on the grid display in the 
middle of the Quantize Setup dialog or open the Advanced submenu on 
the MIDI menu and select “Part to Groove” (see “Part to Groove” on 
page 329).
Only notes within the indicated zones will be affected by quantizing. 
						

							328
MIDI processing and quantizing
Apply and Auto
These functions allow you to apply quantizing directly from 
the dialog, see below.
The Non Quantize setting
This additional setting 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 additional setting 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 “distance” 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
Here you specify how much the notes should be moved 
towards the grid when using the Iterative Quantize func-
tion, see below.
The Move Controller setting
When this is activated, controllers related to notes (pitch 
bend, etc.) are automatically moved with the notes when 
these are quantized.
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 Quantize” 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. 
The Auto Quantize function
If you activate the Auto Q button on the Transport panel, 
all MIDI recordings you make are automatically quantized 
according to the settings you have made in the Quantize 
Setup dialog.
Iterative Quantize
Another way to apply “loose” quantization is to use the Iter-
ative Quantize function on the MIDI menu. It works like this:
Instead of moving a note to the closest quantize grid posi-
tion, 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 also differs from “regular” quantization 
in that the operation is not based on the notes’ original po-
sitions 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 
found the desired timing.
!If you don’t want to apply the quantizing you have set 
up in the dialog, close the window by clicking its 
standard close box. 
!When you apply quantize, the result is based on the 
original position of the notes. Therefore, you can 
freely try out different quantize settings with no risk of 
“destroying” anything. See also “Undo Quantize” on 
page 329. 
						

							329
MIDI processing and quantizing
Advanced Quantize functions
Quantize Lengths
This function (on the Advanced Quantize submenu on the 
MIDI menu) will quantize the length of the notes, without 
changing their start positions. At its most basic level, this 
function will set the length of the notes to the Length 
Quantize value on the MIDI editor toolbar. However, if you 
have selected the “Quantize Link” option on the Length 
Quantize pop-up menu, the function will resize the note 
according to the quantize grid, taking the Swing, Tuplet 
and Magnetic Area settings into account. An example:
1. Length Quantize set to “Quantize Link”.
2. Some 1/16th notes.
3. Here, the quantize value has been set to straight 1/16th notes with 
Swing at 100%. Since Snap is activated (see “Snap” on page 343), the 
quantize grid is reflected in the note display’s grid.
4. Selecting Quantize Lengths will adjust the note lengths according to 
the grid. If you compare the result to the first figure above, you will find 
that notes that started within the odd sixteenth note “zones” show the 
longer grid length, and notes in the even zones have the shorter length.
Quantize Ends
The Quantize Ends function on the Advanced Quantize 
submenu will only affect the end positions of notes. Apart 
from that, it works just like regular quantizing, taking the 
Quantize pop-up menu setting into account.
Undo Quantize
As mentioned above, the original position of each quan-
tized note is stored. Therefore, you can make the selected 
MIDI notes revert to their original, unquantized state at any 
time by selecting Undo Quantize from the Advanced 
Quantize submenu. This is independent from the regular 
Undo History.
Freeze Quantize
There may be situations when you want to make the quan-
tized positions “permanent”. For example, you may want to 
quantize notes a second time, having the results based on 
the current quantized positions rather than the original po-
sitions. To make this possible, select the notes in question 
and select “Freeze Quantize” from the Advanced Quantize 
submenu. This makes the quantized positions permanent.
Part to Groove
With this function, you can extract the groove from a se-
lected MIDI part and turn it into a Quantize preset. 
You can also extract grooves from audio, using e.g. hit-
points (see “Creating groove quantize maps” on page 257), 
or audio parts, rex parts or drum parts that have been pro-
cessed with the Detect Silence function. Since audio con-
tains no velocity information, velocity will remain unchanged 
after applying a Groove that you extracted from audio.
In both cases, the resulting groove appears on the Quan-
tize menus and you apply it as you would any Quantize 
preset. You can also view and edit the resulting quantize 
settings in the Quantize Setup dialog.
!This function is only available from within the MIDI 
editors.
!After you have performed a Freeze Quantize for a 
note, you cannot undo its quantization. 
						

							330
MIDI processing and quantizing
Transpose
The Transpose item on the MIDI menu opens a dialog with 
settings for transposing the selected notes:
ÖYou can also use the Transpose track for transposing, 
see “The Transpose functions” on page 111.
Semitones
This is where you set the amount of transposition.
Scale Correction
Scale Correction transposes the selected notes by for-
cing them to the closest note of the selected scale type. 
This can be used for creating interesting key and tonal 
changes, either by itself or in conjunction with the other 
settings in the Transpose dialog.
To activate Scale Correction, click the checkbox.
Select a root note and scale type for the current scale 
from the upper pop-up menus.
Select a root note and scale type for the new scale from 
the lower pop-up menus.
Make sure to select the correct root note if you want to keep the result in 
the same key as the original notes, or select an entirely different key if you 
want to experiment.
Keep Notes in Range
When this is activated, transposed notes will remain 
within the Upper and Lower Limit values.
If a note ends up outside the limits after transposition, it 
will be shifted to another octave, keeping the correct 
transposed pitch if possible.
If this isn’t possible (if you have set a very narrow range between the Up-
per and Lower Limit), the note will be transposed “as far as possible”, i.e. 
to the Upper or Lower Limit note. If you set the Upper and Lower Limits 
to the same value, all notes will be transposed to this pitch!
OK and Cancel
Clicking OK performs the transposition. Clicking Cancel 
closes the dialog without transposing.
Making your settings permanent
The settings described in the chapter “MIDI realtime para-
meters and effects” on page 315 do not change the MIDI 
events themselves, but work like a “filter”, affecting the 
music on playback. Therefore, you may want to make them 
permanent, i.e. convert them to “real” MIDI events, for ex-
ample to transpose a track and then edit the transposed 
notes in a MIDI editor. For this, you can use two com-
mands from the MIDI menu:
“Freeze MIDI Modifiers” – This applies all filter settings 
permanently to the respective track. 
With this function, the settings are “added” to the events on the track, 
and all modifiers will be set to zero.
“Merge MIDI in Loop” – This merges all selected tracks 
(or parts) to create a new track.
The settings are applied during the merge and will still be displayed later 
in the respective menus.
These two functions are described in the following sec-
tions.