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MIDI Quantize Part 2
In the last Pro Tools Corner we took a look at the basics of MIDI quantization and I gave you some tips on how to get started (if you missed it, you can find part 1 of this article here). This week we dive a bit deeper into Pro Tools’ MIDI quantizing features, adding groove and input quantize to your sequencing arsenal.
Groove Quantize
The Pro Tools MIDI quantize function actually serves two functions, grid quantizing (which we covered last week) and a feature known as “groove” quantizing. Groove quantizing can be accessed and used much like grid quantizing. Instead of choosing an absolute grid resolution, users can choose a groove template from the list of pre-installed templates, or even create their own templates from scratch.
Event > MIDI > Grid/Groove Quantize:
Putting the “groove” in grid/groove quantize:
A groove template is sort of like a quantize recipe, unlike grid quantizing which snaps notes to the nearest quantize value on the bar|beat grid, groove quantize snaps notes to pre-set offsets (relative to the absolute grid) as defined within a groove template. For example, a 1/8th note swing template may include instructions that say: “take every note that falls on the off beat and move it 40 ticks later in time.” So a straight 1/8th note rhythm that started as: “1 and 2 and 3 and 4” would now look something like: 1 (and+40 ticks) 2 (and+40 ticks) 3 (and+40 ticks), etc. Groove Templates can be quite complex, storing relative note offsets at 32nd note intervals within multi bar patterns. Groove templates also have the ability to store dynamics (velocity) and duration data on each note within the groove, adding even more dimensions of flexibility over traditional quantize.
Using Groove Quantize:
Groove quantize works much like traditional quantize. Select the notes you wish to apply a groove template to and hit apply in the Grid/Groove quantize window. Notice that your options change a bit when you select a groove, instead of grid parameters like swing, include within, exclude within, strength, etc. you will see only three sliders: Timing, Velocity, and Duration. Each note of a groove can hold information on any of these three dimensions.
Timing: Represents the strength at which the selected notes will lock rhythmically to the groove template. A setting of 100% will follow the groove template exactly. Values under 100% will move notes closer to the template and values over 100% will over-exaggerate the groove or feel.
Duration: A groove template can contain information on note length, making parts of a performance or “groove” more staccato/legato. Again settings of 100% would follow the template exactly while settings >100% would over-exaggerate dynamics. Some groove template will not have useful duration information.
Velocity: Since a groove can be much more then just a rhythmic feel, groove templates have the ability to store dynamic (velocity) information from the source material they are extracted from. For example, a 1/8th note hi hate pattern may be completely straight but have lots of dynamic variations that give it character and make it “groove.” Again settings of 100% would follow the template exactly while settings >100% would over-exaggerate dynamics. Some groove templates will note have useful velocity information.
Other Considerations:
Pre-quantize: This check box will pre-quantize the selected MIDI to the absolute grid. This is generally a good idea because groove templates are based on relative offsets from the absolute grid, so the changes to your notes may not be what you expect if they are not pre-quantized.
“Template Contains”: This tells you the duration (in bars) and meter of the groove template. For example, you may extract a 4 bar groove that contains variations over those 4 bars, the contains field can give you an idea of what to expect over the period of your selection.
“Show Comments”: This button will show any comments associated with the groove template. Users can choose to save comments when they extract grooves using beat detective.
Tips:
- Remember that groove templates are not intelligent. Unlike a real musician who could interpret a groove flexibly, groove templates are rigid and may not translate to your current sequence. For example, if a template had a triplet fill on the “and” of 4 and your performance didn’t, you could be in for a very un-intuitive surprise.
- Try using groove templates just for their dynamics or duration information. Remember you can uncheck any of the three groove template dimensions (timing, velocity, duration) to leave them out of the equation. This works great for breathing dynamic life into lifeless midi performances where the timing is otherwise correct.
- The pre-installed groove templates are fine to start with, but by extracting your own with beat detective you can really maximize the groove template feature. Be sure to check out these beat detective and groove extraction tutorials from previous Pro Tools Corner articles here. Besides analyzing audio, Beat Detective can be used to extract grooves from existing MIDI.
Pro Tip: Input Quantize
Input quantize allows you to take the power of grid/groove quantize and have it apply automatically to all MIDI in real time as you record it. This is great when you are just laying out ideas for an arrangement and you want everything to quantize automatically to the grid without having to select notes and bring up the grid/groove quantize window.
To Activate Input Quantize:
- Choose Event > MIDI > Input Quantize
- Configure the Grid/Groove quantize settings to taste just as you would configure them for a selection based quantize. You can even use a groove template if you’d like.
- Check “Enable Input Quantize”
- Now when you record MIDI, the notes will be automatically quantized according to the settings in Input Quantize.
- Remember to de-activate Input Quantize when you are ready to lay down MIDI without being quantized, otherwise everything you do could mistakenly get hard quantized to the grid, killing any groove you play in.
To practice using input quantize and to better understand how it reacts, try setting up the grid to quantize everything to a whole note. Activate Input Quantize and record in some MIDI. Notice how all the notes automatically snap to the whole note grid no matter how fast you play. Remember, notes can overlap each other in Pro Tools, so when you are using input quantize with very rigid grid settings (less then a 1/16th note) be aware that some notes may be quantized to hide underneath others.
Pro Tools Tid Bits:
- The public beta for Digidesign’s Sampler, “Structure” is in full swing. Check out Digidesign.com for more info.
- IK Multimedia announced the upcoming release of Ampltube: Jimi Hendrix Edition, a complete software recreation of Jimi’s classic amp and effects rig. IK also announced an update to their SampleTank software (v2.5)
- Celemony’s Melodyne Uno has been update to v1.8
- RTAS support will soon be available for all FabFilter plug-ins
- Native Instruments showed off KORE 2, an update to their KORE platform, at this year’s Musik Messe in Frankfurt Germany. KORE 2 is scheduled to be released in June 2007.
If you have a Pro Tools related question that you would like me to take a shot at answering or have any feedback, please send it to brian@audioMIDI.com. I will do my best to select the questions that seem to stump the most people.
As always, stay tuned to the audioMIDI.com eNews for the latest reviews and new product info.
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