Groove Quantize

Groove Quantize allows you to change the "feel" of an existing performance. This is especially handy for spicing up step-entered MIDI data or performances that need tight, groovin' timing.

The best way to learn how to use Groove Quantize is by experimentation. Other than the Groove Source itself, the settings that will effect Groove Quantize the most are the Resolution, Strength Duration, Strength Time, and Strength Velocity.

Event Filter

By default, Groove Quantize will only affect Note events. You can also Groove Quantize other types of events by using Cakewalk's Event Filter.

Groove File Locations

By default, Cakewalk looks to the installation directory to find files with the .GRV extension. You can change the directory that Cakewalk searches for Groove templates by choosing Options | Global, and entering the path in the Groove Quantize field. You can also use the browse button to the right of the field to navigate to the proper folder. Every time you add or change a line you have to restart Cakewalk for the change to take effect.

Groove Templates Included With Cakewalk

There are twelve DNA groove templates included with Cakewalk. For more information about these templates please read the file WC.TXT that is in your Cakewalk directory.

Try It Out

Below is an outline on how to use the Groove Templates included with Cakewalk. In this example, we'll use Cakewalk's Groove Quantize feature to change the "feel" of the percussion parts. Groove Quantization can be used over any track and is not limited to drum parts.

Open FUNKRAVE.WRK and Press Play to hear the original drum track. You may also want to Solo the drum track so the other instruments won't distract you from the original feel of the drums. To Solo the drums select track 5 and press "/" (the slash key).

Select the track and the region that you would like to affect with Groove Quantize (track 5 for our demo). Remember any track that is highlighted is considered "selected" and will be affected by the Groove Quantize command. Define the region by setting the From and Thru markers. You can easily set the From and Thru marker times by dragging the mouse in the Measure pane over the measures you want to affect. For this example, we'll perform Groove Quantization over all measures in the song. The quick keys for this are CTRL+F9 (From=Start) and CTRL+F10 (Thru=End).

Choose Edit | Groove Quantize to open the dialog box that contains the DNA Groove Templates. Pull down the Groove Source menu to see a list of the available Groove Templates. Choose one, change any settings that you like, and Click OK.

First Play FUNKRAVE.WRK with the newly altered drum groove with the drum track soloed. Then un-solo the drum track by pressing "\" (the back slash key). Return to the original "feel" of the song by using Edit | Undo Groove Quantize (CTRL+Z).

Use Groove Quantize again to audition other Groove Templates and parameter changes. Use Edit | Undo and Edit | Redo as many times as you like to audition all 12 groove templates with different parameters.

Another good way to hear the differences between these templates is to create a basic drum pattern that is strictly quantized and apply the various Groove templates to the drum pattern.

Creating Your Own Groove Templates

Here are the steps to create your own Groove templates.

1. Record a track in Cakewalk.
2. Determine what region of the track you want to use for the groove template.
3. Highlight the track, set From and Thru to the appropriate region, choose Edit | Copy and click OK. This copies the selected region to the clipboard.
4. Choose Edit | Groove Quantize.
5. Select <Clipboard> as the Groove Source.
6. Click Define.
7. In the Define Groove dialog box type in a name for the File and the Pattern, then click OK.

Now your groove will appear in the Groove Source drop-down list.

It is a good idea to test the groove before saving it to make sure that you like it. To test it follow steps 1-3 then select another track to Groove Quantize.

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