Quantize region parameter in Logic Pro for Mac

The Quantize parameter applies visual quantization to notes, setting the shortest note value that can be displayed.

Note: When Logic Pro is operating is Simplified mode (that is, when Enable Complete Features is not selected in Logic Pro > Settings > Advanced), the Grid pop-up menu appears in the Score Editor menu bar. You can set the visual quantization for the Score Editor using the Grid pop-up menu.

For example, a note with a short note value, such as a 32nd note, can only be displayed at its original length if Quantize is set to 32 or shorter. If Quantize is set to 8, the 32nd note is displayed as an eighth note (the shortest note value displayed at that Quantize setting).

Figure. Display quantization parameters in the Quantize pop-up menu.

Settings in the Quantize pop-up menu that display a single value, such as 8, 16, or 128, represent the minimum displayed note value for that Quantize setting. For settings that display a pair of values, the first value represents the minimum note value for duple rhythms, and the second value displays the minimum note value for triple rhythms (or triplet figures in a duple-rhythm context). Following is a list of the triple Quantize settings and their corresponding note values.

Quantize setting				Corresponding note value
3				1/2-note triplets
6				1/4-note triplets
12				1/8-note triplets
24				1/16-note triplets
48				1/32-note triplets
96				1/64-note triplets
192				1/128-note triplets
384				1/256-note triplets

When a single-value setting is used, automatic triplets are not displayed at all (except for triplets inserted with the pointer, using an N-tuplet object).

Important: The Quantize parameter must be set to a triple quantization value to enable the automatic display of triplets.

You can override the Quantize value for a group of notes using tuplets; see Add and edit tuplets in the Score Editor.

The Quantize pop-up menu also includes a Default setting for new MIDI regions, which can only be set with the Insert Defaults setting; not for existing regions. If Default is chosen, the Quantize setting of new MIDI regions is dependent on the current division value in the LCD. If the division value in the LCD is a duple value (such as 4, 8, or 16), the Quantize value is set to that note value plus the next highest triple value (such as 6, 12, or 24). If the division value is a triple value, the Quantize value is set to that value plus the duple value that is divisible by that (triple) value.

For example, a global division value of 1/8 results in an 8,12 Quantize setting for new regions; a value of 1/12 becomes a 4,12 Quantize value; a value of 1/16 results in a Quantize value of 16,24, 1/24 in 8,24, and so on.

Note: If a particular Quantize value has already been set in the Insert Defaults, all new regions use this value, regardless of the division value in the LCD. You can change any of these values at any time.

For swing notation, use 8,12 for the Quantize parameter to display eighth-note triplets and also display two uneven notes on one beat as regular eighth notes. For double-time passages containing sixteenth notes, you can either cut the MIDI region containing the double-time passage (in the Tracks area) and assign it a higher Quantize value with the double-time note value, or use hidden N-tuplets for the sixteenth notes. For more information, see Add and edit tuplets in the Score Editor.

For swing sixteenth notes (shuffle funk, hip hop, and so on), the same principle applies. In this case, choose 16,24 as the Quantize parameter.

You can fix the display quantization of all MIDI events in the projects using the Score Editor’s Functions > Quantization > Fix displayed Note Positions and Fix displayed Note Positions and Durations commands. These commands may be useful for exporting projects (complete with display Quantize settings) to other notation programs that don’t feature display quantization. The commands are also available from the shortcut menu when you Control-click notes in the score.

Set the visual quantization value

Choose a value from the Quantize pop-up menu in the Region inspector.

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Logic Pro User Guide: PDF

Logic Pro Instruments: PDF

Logic Pro Effects: PDF

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Logic Pro User Guide for Mac

Quantize region parameter in Logic Pro for Mac

Set the visual quantization value