Need midi stretching in Key Editor

[feelingthin]

Hi, does anyone know how to take say starting on bar one, we have 6 notes and we move the 6th note (compress all 6 notes) to bar 2, we end up with 5 notes per bar or quintuplet 1/4s. This is something Ableton can do, and I cannot figure it out. What if I want to throw in some quintuplet hats or septuplet grooves over 4/4?? It can be done in the top window, but for some reason the time stretch tool doesn’t work on a selected group of midi notes.

[alin89c]

This PLE preset would stretch the selected notes by 1% (click to see the screenshot).

A) Save two presets:
→ one to stretch the notes (“PLE stretch”)
→ one to shorten the notes (“PLE shorten”)

B) Create a macro for each PLE preset.

Macro 1 (“StretchM”):

1. PLE stretch
2. Edit - Cut
3. Edit - Paste

Macro 2 (“ShortenM”)

1. PLE shorten
2. Edit - Cut
3. Edit - Paste

C) Create a keyboard command for each macro.

When executing one of the two macros, make sure that the Project Cursor (the playhead) is located at the start of the selected note group. You do this by hitting the “L” key.

If anyone finds a way to stretch/shorten a note group by 1 tick (or a quarter note, etc), I’d also love to know how.

[feelingthin]

Thank you for the solution! I’ll have to figure out the math for each n-tuplet. Cubase has the stretch tool in the key editor. All they need to do is make it work with midi notes! This is the only thing that I prefer Ableton for. Most users will shy away from logical editors and want a simple intuitive way to stretch notes.

[feelingthin]

This makes quintuplet 1/16th notes.

[alin89c]

@feelingthin

Thank you for the solution!

Don’t mention it. It was my pleasure.

@feelingthin

Cubase has the stretch tool in the key editor. All they need to do is make it work with midi notes!

From a user’s perspective, yes. This is how it looks like. Easy-peasy. But, from a back-end perspective, it might not be as doable… And I really don’t think Ableton can do what you’re saying. AFAIK, you can only multiply or divide by 2.

Example

[Shor]

This can actually be done in the arrangement in Cubase. Just cut down midi event to the part you want to stretch, and then use the stretch tool. So I am also hoping this is something we can get transferred to the piano roll.

Also in your example above in Live, if you try dragging the 2nd marker above the midi notes, you can accomplish the stretch the OP wants to do. That lets you stretch free hand.

[alin89c]

Thank you for the Ableton tip. I didn’t know of the possibility to time stretch directly in the Ableton’s Key Editor (Piano Roll window). I guess Cubase is behind on this one…

And a little bit of corrections:

@Shor

This can actually be done in the arrangement in Cubase

Arrangement Window (Ableton)
Project Window (Cubase)

@Shor

Just cut down midi event to the part you want to stretch

Not “MIDI event”. “MIDI part” is what I think you mean.

[Shor]

Haha I appreciate the corrections.
As I was typing it I did have this feeling of “what the hell was it called here again?”, so thanks for correcting me, even if I do realise my point did come across

[feelingthin]

I sorted it out. I can make any tuplet I want in the midi quantize panel. Woah! How did I miss it?? This makes me an official Cubase fan boy.

[messengero]

EXACTLY !!! I would love to see that in Cubase, please!

[arieln]

I would love to see midi stretching implemented!
N-tuples would be so much easier!
Adjusting harp glissandos, runs or generating variations are also among the very practical use cases.

[alin89c]

Stretching (and compressing) is possible via two macros. Read the following post.

[new tool for the Key editor] MIDI warp

Yes. Step 1. If on MAC, in a Finder window hit cmd+option+g and paste the following address: ~/Library/Preferences/Cubase 11/Presets/Logical Edit/ If on Wndows, hit win+r and paste the following address: %APPDATA%\Steinberg\Cubase 11_64\Presets\Logical Edit\ Note: you need to replace “11” with whatever Cubase version you have. Step 2. Copy the following files in the folder you navigated to. Shorten by 1.1 per cent.xml (1.2 KB) Stretch by 1.1 per cent.xml (1.2 KB) Step 3. Cr…

[Akanomad]

Hello,
I would love to see an option in Cubase to easily stretch or shrink a selected group of MIDI notes inside a MIDI event. For example, to extend or compress their overall duration by a given proportion (like one third).
As far as I know, this is quite straightforward in DAWs like Ableton, but currently seems difficult or not directly available in Cubase Pro 14. I think it would be a great feature for workflow flexibility.

[alin89c]

@Akanomad

For example, to extend or compress their overall duration by a given proportion (like one third).

Really? You can extend MIDI notes in Ableton by one third? Oh, and by the way, in “Cubase English” we say MIDI part, not MIDI event (just so you know).

[Akanomad]

Thanks for the clarification. I’ve since looked into it and now understand the difference between MIDI part and MIDI event in Cubase’s terminology. That said, I’d appreciate it if we could keep the tone constructive rather than condescending!

[Johnny_Moneto]

Funnily trying to stretch for defined proportion might be easier in Cubase than in other DAWs thanks to the Logical Editor - as long as the beginning of the first selected note is to remain at its position.
It is the “stretching by a free amount” where Cubase lacks functionality.

[alin89c]

@Akanomad

Thanks for the clarification. I’ve since looked into it and now understand the difference between MIDI part and MIDI event in Cubase’s terminology

I’m glad I could help. Good luck!