Music Lesson: Understanding Quantization

Introduction

So let's have a look at this section here. This is obviously me having played this, you know, to the best of my ability, along to a click. We are able to edit MIDI data in a way that can be positive or negative, depending on what you're looking for stylistically. This relates directly to the timing of your performance.

Timing and Performance

I'll be the first to admit that my timing wasn't exactly great. However, I can enhance this timing much better by doing one simple thing: quantizing.

What is Quantizing?

Quantizing is the ability to move notes or MIDI data to the closest point on the grid that I define. This will make more sense if I open up the piano roll editor. There are two ways of doing that:

• Double click on the region to open the piano roll editor.
• Press P to open the piano roll editor.

Analyzing the Performance

In the piano roll editor, I am looking at where I am in the grid and how off my performance is in relation to that. I noticed:

• Some notes were a little bit early.
• None were late.

What I want to do is take all this information, especially if I'm working on something that requires a very strict on-the-grid sound, like a dance record where certain genres prefer it to be exactly on the grid.

Using the Quantize Function

I can use the quantize function to correct my timing. Here's how I usually do it, and then I'll show you the quickest way:

1. Select All: In the piano roll, click and press Command + A.
2. Press Q for time quantize.

Now, this action shifts the notes to the closest 16th note, which is essentially a division of the bar.

Let's look at the first bar:

• The three notes now land on the beginning of bar 11.
• The other three notes don't.

These three notes were actually closer to the last division of bar 10, while the two other notes were closer to the beginning of bar 11.

To correct this:

• I would drag those notes over to align them properly.

I nailed it on bar 12, didn't nail it on bar 13, and nailed it on bar 14. When I say "nailed it," I mean that the computer has helped me achieve this.

Strength of Quantization

I'm going to undo this back to my unquantized state to illustrate that you don't have to go all the way with quantization.

We have the ability to select the strength of quantization. When I selected all and pressed Q, it quantized to the closest 16th note. However, if I adjust the strength slider, I can achieve a more natural performance:

• I'm now 53.4% more on than I was before.
• I'm not as off as I was before either.

Flexibility in Quantization

There's a lot of flexibility when it comes to the quantization feature in Logic. Instead of quantizing from here anymore, I will:

1. Open the Inspector.
2. Open the Region Parameters box.

Region parameters show you the settings for that specific region. When I click on the "More" option, you can see further options.

Quantizing from Region Level

Notice at the top right, there's a Quantize setting. If I set it to 16th note, this will yield the same results as if I had done it in the piano roll editor.

Applying Quantization

I will take the piano roll editor away, quantize from the region level, and set it to my 16th note setting.

Remember that slider we had in the piano roll? It isn't available here, but we do have a strength option. By clicking and dragging up and down, I achieve a similar effect to what you would have seen with the slider in the piano roll.

Conclusion

So, that is how quantization works in Logic!