Quantize and Snap

The quantization grid in the MIDI editor serves two functions:

  • When drawing in and moving MIDI events, the grid ensures that the notes snap to the correct positions, analogous to the snap in the Project window.

  • Irregularities when recording MIDI can be evened out with quantization. In doing so, the note starts and/or lengths are moved to corresponding grid positions. In addition, you can use functions such as Soft Q or Humanize to make the quantization less mechanical and adapt it to the rhythmic properties of the project (Swing).

Snap

You make the most important settings for the grid in the two fields of the toolbar in the MIDI Editor.

Use the button in front to activate or deactivate the snap. When snap is active, the positions and lengths of the notes snap only to multiples of the grid values when they are drawn in and changed with the mouse.

The note length snaps according to the length quantize value, even if the start position is not on the grid (relative grid).

If you hold down the Alt key while moving or drawing MIDI events, the snap is temporarily overridden.

In the two menus behind it, you set the grid value for the start position and the length. The setting Beats at the Start Position causes quarter notes to serve as the grid unit for time signatures based on quarter notes, and eighth notes for time signatures based on eighth notes. The snap therefore follows the time signature and follows any time signature changes. # in the field for the length quantization value means that the length quantization value should correspond to the set start quantization value.

The grid display in the MIDI editor adapts to the set start quantize value. If a swing value is specified in the quantization options (which are also the basis for the snap), this is also reflected in the grid of the MIDI editor, i.e. the spacing of the grid lines is alternately different.

Quantization

By clicking the button Quantize in the upper right corner of the MIDI Editor or the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Q you quantize all selected MIDI notes with the default quantization.

The preset default quantization is Start Q and causes only the start time of the notes to be shifted to the set grid values.

For further control over quantization and to select a different default quantization (Start and Length, Length, or Soft Q), open the Quantize Settings dialog (see below) by right-clicking this button or using the keyboard shortcut Alt + Q.

All quantization functions can always be reached via the menu MIDI functions > Extended quantize.

If no notes are selected in the MIDI Editor, all notes of all selected MIDI objects will be quantized.

Notes:

  • You can also perform quantization of all selected MIDI objects without opening the MIDI Editor, corresponding menu commands are located in the menu Object > Quantize.

  • If the button Input Q is active in the section MIDI of the Track Editor, MIDI recordings are already quantized during recording.

  • All quantizations are virtual. With Undo Quantize (Menu MIDI Functions > Extended Quantize) you can reset all notes to their original positions. This works even after the project has been saved.

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