Change Events...

The Change Events dialog contains some special editing functions. Proceed as follows:

1. Select the events to which you want to apply the editing functions.

The Change Events functions are mainly used with notes, but the Scale Tempo function will also affect controllers and pattern changes (see below).

2. Select Change Events from the Edit menu or the context menu for the selected events.

The Change Events dialog appears.

3. Make settings for one of the functions in the dialog and click the Apply button next to the settings.

All settings can be made by clicking the spin controls or by clicking in a value field and entering a value numerically. The functions are described below.

4. If you like, use other settings in the same way.

You can use the transport controls as usual while the dialog is open. This allows you to play back the events to check out the changes.

5. When you are done, close the dialog.

Transpose

This function transposes the selected notes up or down, by the specified number of semitones.

Velocity

Adjusts the velocity of the selected notes.

The Add field lets you add a fixed amount to the velocity values.

To subtract, enter a negative amount. Note that the possible velocity range is 0-127. Adding an amount to a note with velocity 127 will not make any difference.

The Scale field allows you to scale velocities by a percentage factor.

Scaling with a factor above 100% will increase the velocity values, but also make the difference between soft and hard notes bigger. Scaling with a factor below 100% will decrease the velocity values, but also make the difference between soft and hard notes smaller.

By combining the Add and Scale functions, you can adjust the "dynamics" of the notes in various ways.

For example, by using a Scale factor below 100% and Add a suitable amount, you can "compress" the velocity values (decreasing the difference between the velocity values without lowering the average velocity).

Scale Tempo

This function will make the selected events play back faster (Scale factor above 100%) or slower (Scale factor below 100%). This is achieved by changing the position of the events (starting from the first selected event) and adjusting the length of the notes accordingly.

The buttons [*2] and [/2] are "shortcuts" to Scale factors 200% and 50%, respectively.

These are probably the most common values used, simulating double tempo and half tempo.

This function affects all types of events: notes, controllers and pattern changes!

Alter Notes

This function alters the properties pitch, length and velocity of the selected notes in a random fashion.

The function will only "use" values that already exist among the selected notes.

For example, if you have selected notes within a specific pitch interval, the altered notes will remain within this pitch interval. Similarly, only velocity values and note lengths that were already used in the selection will be applied by the Alter function. You could say that the function "shuffles" the existing properties in a selection and redistributes them among the notes.

This means that the less variation there is among the selected notes, the less the effect of the Alter function.

You can adjust the amount of Altering with the Amount value.

This function is especially useful for experimenting with REX loops. Select some notes on a Dr.Rex track and use Alter Notes to create instant variations, without losing the timing and rhythmic feel of the loop!