Create steps in the Step Editor

Create steps in the Step Editor

The Step Editor provides several unique methods for creating and editing MIDI events. In some situations, manual entry of MIDI note and controller events is more efficient than performing and recording them. One example would be the creation of 1/16 note hi-hats in a region when the tempo is 180 bpm, which would be difficult to play.

You can also record events with a MIDI keyboard, and then refine your performances in the Step Editor.

Add a step

  1. Select the Pencil tool.

  2. Command-click a time position on the appropriate lane.

    Figure. Creating an event on a lane.

  3. Drag up or down to alter the event value before you release the mouse button.

Add multiple steps

  • With the Pencil tool, Command-drag horizontally over the time position on the appropriate lane.

    Figure. Creating multiple events by dragging horizontally on a lane.

This action results in a freehand curve of new events that follows the (vertical and horizontal) Pencil tool movements in the lane.

Edit multiple steps in a linear fashion

  1. Select the Line tool.

    Figure. Line tool in Tools menu.

  2. Command-click a position on the lane.

    A help tag appears, showing the exact position and event (step) value in the top line.

  3. Move the mouse to the end point of the line. This can be to the right or left.

    Figure. Dragging a line with the Line tool.

    As you move the mouse, you see a line trailing behind the Line tool, with the exact position and event value shown in a help tag.

  4. Click the end point to change the values of several event beams, aligned along the line.

Create or alter a linear series of steps in sections

  1. Select the Line tool.

    Figure. Line tool in Tools menu.

  2. Command-click a position on the appropriate lane.

    A help tag appears, showing the exact position and event value in the top line.

  3. Move the mouse to the end point of the line (to the right or left).

    Figure. Dragging a line with the Line tool.

    As you move the mouse, you see a line trailing behind the Line tool, with the exact position and event value shown in a help tag.

  4. Command-click the end point.

    Another line is immediately drawn from the end point of the original line.

Create new events when other events already exist in a lane

  1. Select the Line tool.

    Figure. Line tool in Tools menu.

  2. Click a position on the appropriate lane.

    A help tag appears, showing the exact position and event value in the top line.

  3. Move the mouse to the end point of the line (to the right or left).

    Figure. Dragging a line with the Line tool.

    As you move the mouse, you see a line trailing behind the Line tool, with the exact position and event value shown in a help tag.

  4. Option-click the end point.

The values of existing events in the area between the line start and end points are aligned along the line (creating a crescendo, for example). New events are created at every (unoccupied) grid value.

Assign a fixed step value

You can assign a fixed value when creating event steps. When enabled, the Fix Value item in the Lane Set pop-up menu prevents any event value from being altered with the Pointer or Pencil tool.

This is ideal when adding steps with the Pencil tool, as all are assigned the value of the previously selected event. This allows you to draw a succession of events with the same value, such as a row of 1/16 note hi-hats, for example.

  1. Choose Fix Value in the Lane Set pop-up menu.

  2. Click any existing event with the Pencil tool to use its value as a preset.

In Fix Value mode, it’s impossible to alter an event value by clicking it.

Note: When adding events with the Line tool in Fix Value mode, the preset value is always used as the starting value of the line.