Move notes

Move notes in the Piano Roll Editor

You can move selected notes in the Piano Roll Editor to change their time position. When you move notes, they move according to the current Snap value for the Piano Roll Editor.

When you drag a note, a help tag shows its current time position and pitch. Its deviation from the starting pitch is shown as a positive or negative value.

You can also move notes using an Event Float window. For information, see Event Float window.

Tip: The info display in the Piano Roll Editor menu bar shows the note name and time position under the pointer. Watch the info display as you move notes to ensure that you move them to the correct position.

Move notes

  • Select one or more notes, then drag left or right.

Move notes in finer increments

  1. Select the notes.

  2. Hold down Control, then drag the notes to the new position.

    The drag resolution depends on the current Snap value and zoom level (see Snap items to the Piano Roll Editor grid).

    Alternatively, you can press Control-Shift as you drag to move the notes in tick steps, overriding the Snap value.

Limit dragging to one direction

  1. Choose Logic Pro > Preferences > General (or use the Open General Preferences key command).

  2. Click Editing, then select the Limit Dragging to One Direction In Piano Roll and Score checkbox.

    Figure. General Editing preferences indicating options to limit note movement dragging.

This option helps you avoid accidentally transposing notes when moving them horizontally, or changing their time position when moving them vertically. The initial direction—vertical or horizontal—restricts movement to this plane while the mouse button is pressed. Release the mouse button and click the event to move in the other direction.

Move notes using key commands

Use any of the following key commands:

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by SMPTE Frame

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by SMPTE Frame

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by 1/2 SMPTE Frame

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by 1/2 SMPTE Frame

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by 5 SMPTE Frames

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by 5 SMPTE Frames

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by SMPTE Bit

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by SMPTE Bit

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Tick

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Tick

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Division

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Division

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Beat

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Beat

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Bar

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Bar

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Nudge Value

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Nudge Value

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by Sample

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by Sample

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by 1 ms

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by 1 ms

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Right by 10 ms

  • Nudge Region/Event Position Left by 10 ms

The selected events are shifted one step right or left, by the unit defined in the particular key command.

Move other MIDI data along with notes

  • Choose the Include Non-Note MIDI Events setting from the Piano Roll Editor Functions menu to tie other data (such as pitch-bend, modulation, aftertouch, or poly pressure) in a region to the region’s notes.