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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Nov 2002
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OP
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My keyboard playing is very uneven in tempo - tends to slow down and speed up a lot over the course of a piece.
I know I could play along with a click track, but I find that difficult and also playing sounds very stiff.
I am wondering if there is some way that I could record a free-playing keyboard piece in midi, with all of the uneven tempos, and then have Real Band "sort it out" into a steady beat.
I have been trying to play around with the "Align music to click track" function, but no success so far.
I want to play freely (unevenly) and have the software even it out to a steady beat.
Can this be done?
Many thanks for any suggestions you can offer.
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Are you recording MIDI or Audio from your keyboard?
It may be a little easier if you record MIDI and convert to audio later by sending the MIDI back to the keyboard.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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If it's only a bit out you could try quantizing
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PG Music Staff
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I agree with Bob Calver above me - quantizing could be your friend here.
The Edit menu contains commands relating to editing (changing) a song. This menu has standard editing features such as cutting, pasting, quantizing, etc. The editing commands normally affect the marked (highlighted) area of all selected tracks.
The Quantize feature can be used on MIDI data only hence it should suit your needs, presuming you are using a MIDI keyboard. This command “rounds” the times of notes to the nearest user-specified time interval. This is very useful for correcting timing errors like you described. Both the start times and durations of MIDI notes can be quantized. The resolution setting will determine the degree to which the timing is rounded. For example, if you choose a resolution of a sixteenth note, the notes in the marked area will be rounded off to the nearest sixteenth note. You may choose any resolution setting anywhere from a whole note down to a 32nd note.
Cheers,
Deryk
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FWIW I'm not sure if he wants to be able to adjust the rest of any generated tracks to match his playing, or if he wants to smooth out his playing after the fact.
Some clarity on that would help.
One option is is fix his timing (like the quantize mentioned), the other involves creating a tempo map to match his playing; two different goals.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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OP
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Many thanks to you guys for your suggestions. To clarify, what i'm trying to do is in fact just to smooth out my uneven playing after the fact (not to adjust generated tracks to match my playing).
I'll try and work with the quantizing function as you have recommended.
Best wishes to all!
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I will suggest that you pick the tempo that you want your track to be then in the piano roll view move, truncate, and/or lengthen your played note until you have them exactly where you want them. It takes a little work and time but you will get exactly what you want. IMHO this is the best approach to poorly timed MIDI tracks. YMMV
PS - If your timing is way off then quantize may not work.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Quantize is one way to get it smoothed out.... you have to record it as midi to use quantize. However, I recommend using the "humanize" setting so that it doesn't make it rock solid like a clock. Humans, even when playing to a click will be off the beat by a very slight amount. Could be a few milliseconds but that is enough to make it sound human and not robotic.
Learn how to play with a click.
Actually, I never play with a click. I use and have used the drum track in BB and RB as my timer and click. It's the perfect solution as most everyone has played in a band with a drummer so following the drums is a natural thing.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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I, too, prefer drum tracks. Easier for me to hear.
...Deb
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Another trick (if your playing is far enough out that quantizing doesn't fix it):
Run your recorded song through the ACW. (Audio Chord Wizard)
Make sure you allow it to change the Tempo map in the options that appear.
It will temporarily render your song to audio so you can hear it in the ACW. You'll need a default DXi/VSTi synth for this (even if it is the windows default); again, this is a temporary 'render to audio' just so you can hear it in the ACW ..
Adjust the Tempo map to match your playing measure by measure (just listen along and tap the F8 key on the first beat of each measure as you listen, that simple).
Then send that back to BiaB/RB.
Now you have a tempo map that matches your playing .. but the MIDI should be adjusted to the new Tempo map also.
The Tempo map may show one measue at 120 BPM, and the next at 118, etc. .. but now your playing will be on the '1' of each measure.
Now erase everything in the tempo map and set the starting tempo to whatever it should be. Sounds weird, but the MIDI is adjusted to the tempo map, no matter what you set it to do.
Your MIDI playing should now adjust over time to make it match the desired fixed tempo ..
(you can still use quantize afterwards if needed, but probably very minimal if at all at this point)
It's a little advanced, but many other DAWs can't do this any easier, if at all.
Last edited by rharv; 05/08/20 11:48 AM.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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I, too, prefer drum tracks. Easier for me to hear.
...Deb Same here!
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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rharv,
Neat little trick you've described in you post Bob.
It looks like a sure fire winner in the Tips & Tricks forum section.
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For the really intricate stuff I use step sequencer to put it in a step at a time, so then I can listen to it at speed and correct any mistakes I made. Hard to believe I can make mistakes a step at a time but I can!
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
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