Piano Roll Editing

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konradh
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2011/04/11 14:49:45 (permalink)

Piano Roll Editing

Maybe this is dumb, but I am not clear on the piano roll tools.
 
1-In older version, if I hovered the mouse over the end of a note, the cursor changed to a two-sided arrow and I could drag the note to make it longer or shorter.  I used this quite a bit for strumming effects where notes start at different ticks but all cut off together.  Also, sometimes two notes of the same pitch would overlap each other or have gaps between them so I would drag the edges to create a perfect legato—something that is hard to see in the staff view.  I don't know how to do this now.
 
2-Don't laugh—well, go ahead since I won't know—but when I hover over a note the cursor keeps changing to weird shape that looks like a dropper or something—kind of a square with a pointer coming out of it.  It erases notes when I click, even though it does not look like the razor blade tool.  What is this thing?
 
The basic things I need to do in piano roll are stretch or shrink note duration by dragging the edges, move them up or down to different pitches, erase them, or right click to fix properties.
 
Not the biggest issue in the world, but ideas would be welcome.  Thanks!
#1

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    stickman393
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    Re:Piano Roll Editing 2011/04/11 15:17:23 (permalink)
    Welcome to Hell.

    In Sonar X1, the mouse behavior and edit tools have changed sufficiently from previous versions that I highly advise you to read the section in the manual about this.

    Search the manual for the "Smart tool" and "Piano Roll View", "Editing Midi Notes".
    I don't have the manual handy so I can't give you the exact reference.

    Some folks like the changes; some hate them. Before you make up your mind, you need to read the manual and learn about how the Cakewalkers intended folks to use the new tools in the PRV.

    Hope that helps.
    #2
    konradh
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    Re:Piano Roll Editing 2011/04/11 15:35:46 (permalink)
    Thanks, Stickman.  I find the help/manual organization a bit odd and Cakewalk has a tendency towards cryptic comments.  That said, I'm sure I will figure it out.

    Best regards, Konrad
    #3
    garrigus
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    Re:Piano Roll Editing 2011/04/11 16:04:21 (permalink)
    1. You can still do this. Press F5 to choose the Smart tool, then hover your mouse over the ends of the notes to change length.

    2. That is either the Erase tool or the Glue tool... not sure by your description.

    Just press F5 to choose the Smart tool and it will allow you to do most of the edits that you're used to doing.

    Scott

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    #4
    dmbaer
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    Re:Piano Roll Editing 2011/04/11 16:04:41 (permalink)
    Section "Working with MIDI Notes" in the Tools chapter.  Starts on p. 461.
    #5
    brundlefly
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    Re:Piano Roll Editing 2011/04/11 16:05:41 (permalink)
    I think you are describing the 'Glue" tool, which is the default action when you hover over an existing note with the Draw tool. It lets you drag from one note to another note at the same pitch to "glue" them together.

    The short answer is that you can click your mouse wheel to bring up the Tools HUD (Heads Up Display), and choose the Smart Tool (the star), and it will let you drag durations and start times.
    #6
    Bristol_Jonesey
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    Re:Piano Roll Editing 2011/04/12 06:42:51 (permalink)
    I was playing around in the PRV last night, and after a while, it did all start to make sense and upon reflection, seems quite intuitive.

    Different, but not difficult.

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    Karyn
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    Re:Piano Roll Editing 2011/04/12 08:04:49 (permalink)
    +1 to drop "those" posts down the list...    (and also to agree with the above)

    Mekashi Futo
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    #8
    DBerriman
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    Re:Piano Roll Editing 2011/04/12 11:22:54 (permalink)
    Here's what I've found.  First, choose the smart tool, it does work well.  It's pretty darn "smart", actually.

    You must click inside the roll first in order to free up your smart tool from macro editing.  Once you're inside the roll and can edit individual notes, you must learn exactly how the tool works.  It's very intuitive, as someone else said, imo.  Click the sides and stretch or shorten it, or grab the top and increase or decrease velocity (volume) by sliding "up" or "down".  The tool changes automatically depending on the positioning of the pointer on the note.  There are moments when you might want to choose the exact tool you want to do extensive work with.  But, for the most part, the "smart tool" does much of what you'll need when inside piano roll view.  Just my .02.

    Good luck.
    #9
    DBerriman
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    Re:Piano Roll Editing 2011/04/12 11:25:50 (permalink)
    Oh yeah, and right click deletes a note (or many at a time as you can keep "right click" held down and slide all over the piano roll erasing stuff if you want).  Very nice tool. 

    Also, Press alt and left click to add notes to the piano roll.  Put me down in the group that loves the smart tool.
    #10
    dmbaer
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    Re:Piano Roll Editing 2011/04/12 13:40:18 (permalink)
    DBerriman


    Put me down in the group that loves the smart tool.
    +1.  Put me down in that group as well.

    #11
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