Snap items to the grid

Snap items to the Piano Roll Editor grid

The Piano Roll Editor has a grid, similar to the Tracks area grid. When Show Advanced Tools is selected in the Advanced preferences pane, you can set the Snap value for the Piano Roll grid, independent from the Snap value for the Tracks area grid. The Piano Roll Editor Snap pop-up menu contains additional values including specific note values.

The Snap pop-up menu setting applies to moving, copying, cutting, and resizing note events; moving, adding, and resizing markers; and setting the cycle area. You can snap notes and other items using either relative or absolute positioning, and can temporarily override the snap grid, allowing finer edits and adjustments.

Set the Snap value for the Piano Roll Editor grid

  • Choose a value from the Snap pop-up menu in the Piano Roll Editor menu bar:

    Figure. Snap pop-up menu in the Piano Roll Editor menu bar.

    • Smart: Edit operations snap to the nearest bar, beat, sub-beat, and so on, depending on the current ruler division value and the zoom level.

    • Bar: Edit operations snap to the nearest bar.

    • Beat: Edit operations snap to the nearest beat in a bar.

    • Division: Edit operations snap to the nearest division (this is the time signature shown in the LCD and ruler).

    • Ticks: Edit operations snap to the nearest clock tick (1/3840 of a beat).

    • Frames: Edit operations snap to the nearest SMPTE frame.

    • Note values: Choose a note value between 1/1 (whole note) and 1/64–triplet.

By default, the Snap functionality is relative, so that when you move notes or other items, they retain their relative distance from their original position. You can override relative positioning with the Snap Notes to Absolute Value option.

Snap to an absolute position

  • Choose Snap Notes to Absolute Value from the Snap pop-up menu.

When Snap Notes to Absolute Value is active, moving an event moves it to the exact grid position, not a relative position. For example, from position 1.2.1.16 to around bar 2 results in it being snapped to the beginning of the bar (position 2.1.1.1), rather than its relative position (2.2.1.16). Absolute positioning is useful when you want notes to fall exactly on the beat, but it can result in a more mechanical rhythmic feel.

Override the snap grid

Do one of the following:

  • Hold down Control while performing the editing operation.

    The division value chosen in the LCD (1/16, for example) determines the editing grid scale.

  • Hold down Control-Shift while performing the editing operation.

    The editing grid switches to ticks.

For more information about snapping items to the grid, see Snap items to the grid.