Question

Hi There,

I have a few ideas that I'd like to see added to the editing window, specifically for midi.

1.  Ability to control gain for individual midi notes in the same event (as opposed to the gain for the whole event, or having to split the event over three or more tracks)

2. Pitch bend editing for individual notes within same event (again, not everything within the event, only specific notes)

3. Retrograde, Inversion and Retrograde-Inversion tool(s) would be a great addition and could be added to the step record menu

4.   Negative harmony tool within the step record menu

I feel that these tools would speed up workflow and make Studio One's midi editing the most powerful amongst all DAWs...Thanks

Answer 1

1) Gain - its the term used to describe amplification of a track/guitar/mic.  Typically, you would adjust the velocity of a midi note to change it's loudness.  Velocity can be automated.

3 + 4)  Negative harmony and inversion/retrograde are composing terms and usually done after you have written your piece and harmonised it.  You can't "write a piece in negative harmony", only "reharmonise" a piece of harmonic content around a specific pitch centre.  This can only be done after you write a piece or transcribe a piece to reharmonise afterwards.  There are some great videos about it but you need to have a good grasp of functional harmony (cadences, voicings, inversions).  For example - if you find it difficult understanding the fact that a major chord is an inversion of a minor chord - due to the fact that both chords are made of a minor third + a major third, ( in a minor chord the minor third is first harmony with a major third stacked on top to complete a perfect fifth) then a lot of negative harmony won't make sense.