Ever since demoing Studio One a while back, I've been missing the "humanize" function for midi. It basically takes for example a midi piano or midi drum part, and makes it sound more like it has been played instead of programmed:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU5nI-jmEas
 
How do you guys approximate this in Sonar, short of playing it? In Pro Tools, I've been using "randomize", but it's not as good as humanize in S1, IMO.

select the midi track then go process-run-Cal then select Humanize
 
might work
 
martin

I like it, thanks!

"Humanize" = "Randomize". If PT doesn't do it as well as S1, it isn't because they are fundamentally different, but because the parameters are different.

My approach to humanize is to use a tempo map. That's a great way to make a piece breathe, which imo is far more important than introducing a bit of slop.

Both functions randomizes timing and velocity, but S1 sounded more musical to my ears. The CAL script in SONAR does a good job to my ears as well, just checking it out now.

Another option is to click on the MIDI track and in the FX box right click on insert MIDI effects/uncatagorized/quantize.  In the quantize window you will see the usual options like  swing, strength etc as well as random.  Personally I like this method over cal but YMMV.

I'll check it out, thanks!

[link=hhttp://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3604884]This is what you want for drum parts[/link].
Here's how to humanize hi-hats.
 
In general, I think "humanization" based on randomness is mostly bogus. The menu should be called "number of beers consumed." I think most people humanize just fine, but don't have the chops to control their playing. Using quantize strength at around 85% takes out most of the timing issues but still lets a part "breathe."

In my mind, these functions are good for midi parts that have been programmed by mouse, not played. Great for when I don't have a midi keyboard with me. For example a piano chord can sound pretty "off" to my ears if it is programmed, without the small variations from playing stuff by hand that I'm used to hearing.