Quantize dialog

When you use the Process > Quantize command, the Quantize dialog box appears. Quantize has two different forms.

Process > Quantize. This is the standard quantizing command that adjusts the start time and duration of selected notes so that they line up with a fixed size grid.

Process > Groove Quantize. This command extracts a grid or “groove” from an existing piece of music (the “groove pattern”), and then applies it to another piece of music to produce a similar rhythmic feel.

Use the following fields in the Quantize dialog box to control standard quantizing:

Preset menu

Save or select settings that you use often in the drop-down menu. To save a new group of settings, type a name into the menu, and click the Save button. To delete a group, select it and click the Delete button.

Resolution

Set the note resolution. The smaller the note value, the more precise the quantization. See Resolution.

Change

MIDI Event Start Times. Select this option if you want the start times of the MIDI events in the selected data to move.

Note Durations. Select this option if you want the length of notes to be edited to fit into the size you chose in the Resolution field.

AudioSnap Beats. Select this option if you want AudioSnap transients to move.

Audio Clip Start Times. Select this option if you want the beginnings of audio clips to move.

Only Notes, Lyrics, and Audio. If you select this option, SONAR will not modify other events, like controllers.

Options:

Strength. This value determines how closely SONAR moves the selected notes to the resolution value, or “grid.” See Strength.

Swing. Use this value to make groups of even eighth notes (or whatever note you want to enter in the Resolution field) “swing,” instead of playing with exact eighth note rhythm. A value of 50 percent, or “50-50,” produces equal durations for both notes—no swing. A larger value makes the first note longer, and vice versa. See Swing.

Window. This value determines whether SONAR quantizes notes that are far from the quantization points, or leaves them alone. A value of 100 percent quantizes every note. See Window.

Offset. This value moves the quantization grid forward or backward in the track, away from the beat boundaries. See Offset.

Auto XFade Audio Clips. This option becomes available if you enable the Audio Clip Start Times check box. If you enable this option, and the process of quantizing audio clips results in overlapping clips or gaps between clips, a crossfade is automatically added to the overlapping or empty area. You specify the length of the crossfade in XFade field. The Max Gap value specifies the widest gap that will be filled with an automatic crossfade.

Audition button

Click this button to hear your edit before you actually apply it to the selected data.

For step by step instructions:

To use the Quantize command

Defining a groove

To save a groove pattern

To copy an existing groove

To delete a groove

Groove Quantize tips

 

See also:

Changing the timing of a recording