Dragging MIDI data from one track to another - Strange Behavior

[lunar-david]

Hello. When I try to move MIDI data from one track to another by dragging in the Sequence editor, Shift is not constraining the direction once the dragged data reaches the destination track. Shift is only constraining the direction if I move the data to another position *within the same track*. But if try to drag it up into a different track, Shift has no effect.

I used to be able to do this in DP 8. Has anyone encountered this?

Also, even though I am *not* pressing Option as I drag, the MIDI notes are being *copied* once they are dragged into a different track. ???

This has been such an intuitive way for me to work with MIDI notes in the past; I hope this isn't a permanent change?

Thanks.

DP 11.32
Macbook Air M2, OS 14.6

[stubbsonic]

When I'm in the Tracks Overview, I can drag MIDI selections freely, but it snaps to whatver "cell" value the current zoom level dictates. If I hold down command it freely moves without snapping. Holding down shift has no effect that I can recognize.

In the MIDI editor, if I hold shift before clicking and dragging, it constrains my movement to whichever direction I initially move in (vertical or horizontal). If I drag at all before pressing Shift, then shift has no effect.

I can't move MIDI between tracks in the Sequence Editor window.

And in no cases, am I getting option-drag behavior from shift.

[mikehalloran]

Like Stubs, I cannot duplicate your issue.

The first thing I would try is to update to 11.33 and see if this is a bug that has been quashed. If that doesn’t do it, you’ll need to reach out to MOTU Support. Please let us know what happens.

[HCMarkus]

Let me mention that dragging MIDI Data is super efficient in the Tracks Overview... all controllers come along for the ride.

[stubbsonic]

Good point, also, zooming in and holding COMMAND (grid-snap off) whilst selecting gives you more granular control of your selection range. In most cases, I don't hold COMMAND for the drag operation, just the selection part-- as needed.

[lunar-david]

Thanks. I will try upgrading to 11.33.

[dix]

Hello. When I try to move MIDI data from one track to another by dragging in the Sequence editor, Shift is not constraining the direction once the dragged data reaches the destination track. Shift is only constraining the direction if I move the data to another position *within the same track*. But if try to drag it up into a different track, Shift has no effect.

I used to be able to do this in DP 8. Has anyone encountered this?

Also, even though I am *not* pressing Option as I drag, the MIDI notes are being *copied* once they are dragged into a different track. ???

This has been such an intuitive way for me to work with MIDI notes in the past; I hope this isn't a permanent change?

Thanks.

DP 11.32
Macbook Air M2, OS 14.6

Constrain, dragging MIDI between tracks (by holding shift) in the SE is a known bug introduced in DP10. It used to be a crucial part of my workflow, and checked whether it had been fixed with every update for a while, but eventually gave up.

Back when I first reported it to MOTU they said it would be addressed in the future update, but so far it has not. Do report it to support again though. I’d love to have that functionality back.

[lunar-david]

Thank you. This is really good to know. I will definitely mention this to support.

[L2A]

Hello. When I try to move MIDI data from one track to another by dragging in the Sequence editor, Shift is not constraining the direction once the dragged data reaches the destination track. Shift is only constraining the direction if I move the data to another position *within the same track*. But if try to drag it up into a different track, Shift has no effect.

I used to be able to do this in DP 8. Has anyone encountered this?

Also, even though I am *not* pressing Option as I drag, the MIDI notes are being *copied* once they are dragged into a different track. ???

This has been such an intuitive way for me to work with MIDI notes in the past; I hope this isn't a permanent change?

Thanks.

DP 11.32
Macbook Air M2, OS 14.6

Pack Clip => Drag to another track (copy or move) => Unpack Clip (If necessary)

[bayswater]

dragging MIDI between tracks (by holding shift) in the SE is a known bug introduced in DP10. It used to be a crucial part of my workflow, and checked whether it had been fixed with every update for a while, but eventually gave up.

I gave up on it too. I was able to get it to work sometimes by having a very short delay between shift and drag, but it was too inconsistent to be part of a workflow.

[Bobbyd]

I also do dragging between tracks in the tracks window. I tried it in the sequence editor and the MIDI notes transposed up in the same track while dragging.

[bayswater]

I tried what I used to do to remind myself, and to see if it still works.

After selecting the MIDI notes, I start dragging them and then press ALT-SHIFT as soon as possible after the notes start to move. When the cursor gets to the target track, I see a rectangle appearing that shows where the notes will go. Whether snap is on or not, that rectangle snaps to the position in the target track that matches the position in the originating track. Releasing the mouse put the notes where they should be.

Dragging within track, again pressing Shift immediately after the notes start to move, preserves the position, or the pitch depending on which way the notes are first moved.

Dragging to a new track and pressing just shift (not alt) right after they start moving, copies the notes rather than moving them, which does not seem right. The same rectangle appears to position the notes. This does not keep the notes at the correct pitch so you have to use the rectangle to get that right too.

All of this depends on getting the timing right between the time the notes start moving and the pressing of the modifier keys.

I also remember that timing of this sort was difficult with bluetooth keyboards and pointers. There seem to be a longer latency and it doesn't seem to be consistent. I switched away from Bluetooth on my DP computer because I found the latency made rapid complicated editing difficult. Maybe this bluetooth latency makes it difficult to get the means of moving notes to work properly.

[James Steele]

Moved to the "Troubleshooting" forum.