Same notes "touching"...Is there a command to separate?

[buzzsmith]

Hi...

I'm currently re-assigning to better sounding VIs some pretty complex orchestral GM MIDI files and, for some reason, the arranger/sequencer guy likes to stretch the notes to full value. (Probably quantizes attacks and releases)

This is not a big deal except when identical notes (when viewed in the Graphic Editor) "touch". IOW, if the guy sequences 4 quarter note A-440s, each one is 480 ticks in length. Most of my VIs will not sound the subsequent identical notes, so I've had to manually look at each track to shorten by a few ticks each repetitive note. We're talking hundreds of these instances in one song.

(I don't really want to do a global command to shorten the duration of all entries by 5-10 ticks, but that would probably work and not affect the final product too much.)

I've looked in the manual, and I've looked within the Search function of DP, but no luck yet.

Is there a simple command or procedure or previous forum discussion to make this process quicker? DP manual page #s are AOK, as well.

Thanks!

Buzzy

[Tim]

You could use Search to highlight all notes that are exactly 480 ticks (1 beat), then shorten just those.

[buzzsmith]

You could use Search to highlight all notes that are exactly 480 ticks (1 beat), then shorten just those.

Thanks, Tim.

I just used quarter notes as an example. Sometimes the simultaneous identical notes are eighths, half or whole all quantized to full value.

Appreciate it, however.

Buzzy


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[Dan Worley]

Make a selection and go to Region > Change Duration and subtract 0|001 from all durations.

c-ya,

Dan Worley

[buzzsmith]

Make a selection and go to Region > Change Duration and subtract 0|001 from all durations.

c-ya,

Dan Worley

That's what I was thinking in my original post...(see parentheses)

I seem to remember that 1 tick is not quite enough for some of the VIs to play the subsequent notes, but I'll start there.

Thanks for your input, Dan. It appears to verify that there is not a global command to shorten durations for just the touching same notes.

c-ya, 2!

Buzzy


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[Shooshie]

Personally, I'd do it the way Tim described, saving each search for quarter, eighth, sixteenth, triplets, etc., so that I could return to each one when needed. It would only take a second or two if you've already got the search saved. That's going to be one of those things that's just going to take a little time, so you can watch the results to make sure that you don't mess up anything.

If the guy will be making any more files for you, ask him to make a separate copy before he quantizes attacks and releases. Sounds like he prepared the file for a score. I always make a copy of the performance file before doing the score, since the two are totally different beasts.

Shooshie

[Dan Worley]

I have a question: What if he set the ticks to 960 or even higher, and then subtracted one tick? How could that mess anything up? This is assuming the VIs being used recognize that small of a change and play separate notes. I've tested it on some VIs and it does work.

He doesn't have to subtract from every note, just highlight the sections that are causing problems and apply.

c-ya,

Dan Worley

[Dan Worley]

Make a selection and go to Region > Change Duration and subtract 0|001 from all durations.

c-ya,

Dan Worley

That's what I was thinking in my original post...(see parentheses)

I seem to remember that 1 tick is not quite enough for some of the VIs to play the subsequent notes, but I'll start there.

Sorry, I missed that when I first read it, Buzzy.

Good luck.

c-ya 3,

Dan Worley

[buzzsmith]

Personally, I'd do it the way Tim described, saving each search for quarter, eighth, sixteenth, triplets, etc., so that I could return to each one when needed. It would only take a second or two if you've already got the search saved. That's going to be one of those things that's just going to take a little time, so you can watch the results to make sure that you don't mess up anything.

If the guy will be making any more files for you, ask him to make a separate copy before he quantizes attacks and releases. Sounds like he prepared the file for a score. I always make a copy of the performance file before doing the score, since the two are totally different beasts.

Shooshie

Yes, I've emailed the guy and asked him 2 things...

1. Don't do this anymore!

2. If a part is marked Flute, for instance, stay within the range of a real flute!

2b. Split the strings into 3 or 4 parts so I don't have to do it from a multiple part strings track!

Am I becoming a curmudgeon?!!

Buzzy



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[Tim]

You could use Search to highlight all notes that are exactly 480 ticks (1 beat), then shorten just those.

Thanks, Tim.

I just used quarter notes as an example. Sometimes the simultaneous identical notes are eighths, half or whole all quantized to full value.

You can search for (exact) quarters, eighths, sixteenths, and whatever else all at once by adding multiple Event Attributes (Notes/Duration/is/) in a Search.

[FMiguelez]

.

What works VERY nicely for me, especially if you want to make sure notes OF ALL VALUES to not touch or overlap each other:

- Select all your notes
- With the cursor hand, manually diminish the length of the longest one until it doesn't overlap the next one (all notes will follow). Don't worry about the apparent mess this creates. Most notes will be extremely short after this, like staccatos.
- Then, after you are certain all notes are pretty short and none are overlapping, just apply the Change Duration command (to all the selected notes), and, as if by magic, they will all set their release properly, no matter what the value of each note is (eight, quarter, etc.). They won't overlap anymore. Each release will now be at x|x|479 (or x|x|239, etc)

I've fixed many scores that look horrible in QS using this method. This takes no longer than 5 seconds!

Just make sure you set the proper parameters in the Change Duration command. I think you need to set Extend all the Notes' Release, and UNcheck the By no more Than... tick box.

The ONLY caveat: this method might "erase" any rests there may be between phrases, so work with not too long phrases or sections to avoid that, or simply correct the few rests that may have become "extended releases".

Very cool, and it always works for me pretty fast, especially for continuos notes styles, like left hand Piano arpeggios, etc.

[FMiguelez]

.

Oh, great. Now that I reread your question again, I noticed you are having trouble with REPEATED notes and the way your VIs play those....

Sorry, Buzzy... then what I described won't work that great in that case, I'm afraid.

Should've read more carefully the first time

[buzzsmith]

I appreciate all of the input.

I think I'm gonna try the simplistic approach by selecting all, and shortening the durations by a tick or two...more if the VIs still don't respond correctly to the repeated notes.

This guy has a great ear for doing these difficult orchestral transcriptions and I have no clue why he quantizes so heavily. I don't think it's for printing purposes.

Maybe he's just OCD! (like me!)

Buzzy

[cowtothesky]

That's how I do it. I select the note and turn off the snap to grid function and just push it back a little. In the rare VI that I use that I actually want them to overlap, I create a 2nd track using the same VI and put the note there so that they do overlap.

There is probably an easier way of doing it, but it works for me.

[mess]

Could always save an insert preset on your MIDI track with a Change Duration plug-in set to subtract 1 tick.