In DP/Edit beats-single note dragging

[bannerj]

I've gone to project>Modify Conductor Track>Adjust Beats and click

adjust: beats
move one beat at a time
Preseverve realtime performances
snapping: None

How the heck do you get your pointer to grab the beat and move it? I've tried holding down several keys, but I can't get the thing to move in the tempo ruler.

I'm trying to adjust the sequence to mannually map the grove of a drum beat that is dynamic.

[simonr]

I regularly use adjust beats. It's a great timesaver when trying to match the tempo of an audio file that the beat detection engine will not detect accurately enough to form a reliable tempo map.

It's a bit of a misnomer as you are not moving 'beats' (i.e. those found by the beat detection engine). You are moving the required beat in the timeline. I have not used 'single beat' yet , but using 'measure' I click and drag the timeline beat (for example 11/1/000, bar 11 beat 1) to match up with the corresponding audio beat. Obviously you have to have the time format set so that you can see bars and beats in the timeline.

Hope that helps.

[ganapatimusic]

In case you haven't checked DP needs to be IN conductor track mode for adjust beats to function- you can open the adjust beats window while in manual mode and you won't be able to drag barlines or beat lines - which is done in the sequence editor if memory serves. Consider adjusting tempo by measure rather than by beat as drummers don't usual think of the tempos they are playing to as changing one beat at a time, except during an extended tempo change (ritarando or accelerando). But if adjusting by measure doesn't capture the right tempo 'feel' then try other increments.
Sometimes a drummer may have played solid on the beginning or end of a bar and been early or late on the other side of the bar so sometimes you have to place bar or beat tempo changes at places slightly different then the drummers accent.

[bannerj]

Thanks for the replies. I am totally new to the conductor track, have tried to understand it before, but the manual is so difficult and incoherent to me. I set the tempo control to "conductor." Is that what is meant by "conductor mode"?

As an alternate method, I tried to "record beats." After I went through the song tapping in the tempo I can see a series of lines in the conductor track with little tiny dots on the top. I can move these around and the click will sync to them. However, after doing this all the wave forms in each track are done when I finish.

I'm assuming that all my troubles are preference/setup issues.

Thanks again for your help

[Phil O]

I regularly use adjust beats. It's a great timesaver when trying to match the tempo of an audio file that the beat detection engine will not detect accurately enough to form a reliable tempo map.

It's a bit of a misnomer as you are not moving 'beats' (i.e. those found by the beat detection engine). You are moving the required beat in the timeline. I have not used 'single beat' yet , but using 'measure' I click and drag the timeline beat (for example 11/1/000, bar 11 beat 1) to match up with the corresponding audio beat. Obviously you have to have the time format set so that you can see bars and beats in the timeline.

Hope that helps.

I haven't been a part of this thread (been lurking), but thank you for that info. I've been looking for a feature like this for a while and didn't know where to find it. (was right in front of me)

Thanks again!

Phil

[bannerj]

I'm still having trouble...can't get anything to show up in the conductor track to move and am still confused about what I am dragging. THe screenshot in the manual doesn't make sesnse to me

[Phil O]

bannerj,

Are you still having trouble? I didn't mean to abandon you. If you still need help, post back and I'll try to help out.

In general here's how I'm doing it:

1. In the sequence editor, make sure you have a ruler that has Measures as a scale.
2. Go to Project/Modify Conductor Track/Adjust Beats. (an Adjust Beats window appears.)
3. In the Adjust Beats window, select Drag beats in Graphic Editor (and whatever other options you want).
4. Make sure Tempo Control is in Conductor Track Mode. (Tempo Control Drawer)
5. Now when you place the cursor over the ruler you can drag the measure or beat marker left or right.

I hope this helps. I'm using this feature for the first time myself, so bear with me.


Phil

[simonr]

If it helps to clear it up slightly - when you select adjust beats nothing comes up in the timeline like a dot or anything.

The clue that adjust beats is in action is that your cursor will change to a vertical line with two arrows when you mouse over the sequence editor window.

As you click and hold on beat 1 of a bar, a dark vertical line can be seen. When you start to drag the timeline, a red vertical line shows under your cursor - this is where the timeline 'beat' will be dropped. The dark line stays on the timeline beat. You use the red line to line up with the audio. When you drop it, the audio/timeline will redraw to match up with what you did.

So in summary you drag the timeline to match the audio.

Hope that helps rather than hinders.

SimonR

[bannerj]

I think the issue is that I don't have the measures as a scale in the sequence editor on my powermac. I've got it setup right on my laptop and found that I can move the beats, but something is set up wrong on the powermac adn now I can't figure out how to set the scale back to measure, but I haven't consulted the manual yet though.

thanks for your help

[simonr]

It's under the SETUP menu in Time Formats. There's loads of setting you could choose.