Steinberg Cubase SX/SL 3 Operation Manual
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CUBASE SX/SL23 – 512 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 effects (see page 492). For example, the MIDI functions transpose and quantize are also available as a track parameter and a MIDI effect, respectively. 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 undone). Use the following guidelines to de- cide which path to choose: • If you want to adjust a few parts or events only, use MIDI functions. The track parameters 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, 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 you’ve e.g. transposed notes using track parameters, the MIDI editors will still show the notes with their original pitch (but they will play back at their transposed 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 Controllers function ob- viously 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 selected events. If no events are selected, all events in the edited part(s) will be affected.
CUBASE SX/SLMIDI processing and quantizing 23 – 513 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 au- tomatically be excluded from quantizing, etc. • Normally, MIDI quantizing affects MIDI notes only (not other event types). However, you can choose to move the controllers together with their repective notes by activating the “Move Controller” option in the Quantize Setup dialog, see page 518. •It is also possible to quantize audio events, which is expecially useful when working with Cubase SX/SL’s loop slicing features, see page 457. 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 SX/SL23 – 514 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). By default, this allows you to quantize to exact note values (straight, triplet or dotted notes) only. If you want more options, select “Quantize Setup...” from the MIDI menu (or “Setup...” from the Quantize pop-up menu) to open the Quantize Setup dialog. Straight note values Triplet note values Dotted note values
CUBASE SX/SLMIDI processing and quantizing 23 – 515 Any settings you make in the dialog are immediately reflected in the Quantize pop-up menus. However, if you want your settings perma- nently available on the Quantize pop-up menus, you have to use the presets functions (see page 517). 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). 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.
CUBASE SX/SL23 – 516 MIDI processing and quantizing Swing The Swing slider is only available when a straight note value is se- lected 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 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. 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. Only notes within the indicated zones will be affected by quantizing.
CUBASE SX/SLMIDI processing and quantizing 23 – 517 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 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 grooves, see page 518: 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.
CUBASE SX/SL23 – 518 MIDI processing and quantizing 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 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. 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. Extracting a groove You can extract the groove from an audio event or MIDI part and turn it into a Quantize preset: •To extract the groove from an audio event, you use Hitpoints and the “Create Groove Quantize” function. See page 458. •To extract the groove from a MIDI part, you select the part and select “Part to Groove” from the Advanced Quantize submenu on the MIDI menu. In both cases, the resulting groove appears on the Quantize 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.
CUBASE SX/SLMIDI processing and quantizing 23 – 519 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, page 522. The Auto Quantize function If you activate the Auto Q button on the Transport panel, all MIDI re- cordings you make are automatically quantized according to the set- tings you have made in the Quantize Setup dialog.
CUBASE SX/SL23 – 520 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.