In the same way you can transpose, change velocity, etc in the Info line for a midi event, please let us set non-destructive quantize for that event. That way you can record something, and quickly set it to snap all notes to say 16th notes with 90% strength. And then you can always return to what you had or change the quantization. You can do this per track with the midi plugin “Quantizer”, but my workflow would be quicker if it were per event (also I’d prefer be able to set it differently for different events).
You can always put events back to their original position before any quantize was applied by using “undo quantize”. Is that what you are looking for?
I’d like there to be a menu item next to “transpose” and “Change velocity” that says “Quantize” and lets you select which grid amount (bar/ 1/2 / 1/4 1/8 dotted etc). And then the strength. And then you can adjust it whenever and it remembers where the original notes are. Is there a way to “Undo Quantize” say if you come back days later? Or do you mean “Undo quantize” right after you quantize and then if you don’t like it?
One use scenario is that I record a part, and want to record other midi instruments. And I’d like the part I recorded to be tighter to the grid, but I also want to be able to come back to the way it was originally played in days or weeks.
Yes, not only days. You can undo quantize even years later.
I just realized that the button is called “Reset Quantize” nowadays, at least for MIDI. You can find it in the left zone of the Key Editor:
A word of caution: you should not touch the button “Freeze MIDI Quantize”, as this will make any quantization permanent and irreversible.
The “Reset Quantize” can also be found in the Quantize Panel.
Ahh, I didn’t realized that quantizing was non-destructive when you hit “Quantize” other than immediately hitting “undo”. Awesome.
Still would prefer they add the option in the Info Line (Logic used to do it like that where you could just set a midi object’s quantize at any point and change it whenever). But defnintely a first world problem - ha. I can live with that.
Thank you for your time Johnny.
Since 1989. 
I had a similiar discussion with another ex-Logic user some time ago. After analyzing the way Logic does it I came to the conclusion that Logic’s design is not as good as Cubase’s design. Of course, that is just my opinion.
In Cubase you can have track quantizing functions (as you found out already) by inserting a MIDI plugin.
Other than that quantizing in Cubase is a “do it now” operation, ie. you press the quantize button and the current settings are applied to the selected items. It never shows you what you have done in the past. The parameters only show you what will happen when you execute the quantize command.
The quantize settings are displayed in various areas of Cubase but these are just different access points. Cubase only has one quantize panel for anything (again, the MIDI plugin is the exemption).
It is a slightly different workflow but you will see that the quantize panel in Cubase will adapt to the circumstances that it is used in. E.g. select various audio events on different tracks but the same position → you will get special settings for quantizing audio to one more master events.
Or if you use a Groove Quantize Preset you will get yet different parameters.
Excellent, thank you Johnny. Very kind of you.
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