Apple Logic Express 7 - Manual (Page 422)

422 Chapter 15 Score Editor
MIDI Meaning
The settings in this window determine, if and to what extent, the insertion of the
symbols listed here affect the MIDI playback of notes that these symbols are attached
to. The window is opened from the Layout > MIDI Meaning menu.
Two parameters can be determined for each symbol listed here. These symbols change
the MIDI output of all notes they are attached to:
Velocity
This value is added to, or subtracted from the original velocity value of the
corresponding note.
Length
The original note length is shortened in accordance with the percentage chosen here.
This only affects the playback of the note, not the score display. The note length
change can be seen in the Event Parameter box or in the Event Editor window.
How It Works
The MIDI Meaning functions are most useful to users who insert notes with the mouse.
This makes it possible to work as if writing music on paper. First, you write/insert the
notes. They will all have the same velocity, and identical rhythmic note values will have
exactly the same length. Accents and phrasing marks are then attached to some of the
notes, which changes the velocity and (playback) length of these notes. This makes
playback sound much more realistic and “alive”.
The default settings in this window (in new songs) are 0 for velocity, and 100% (no
change) for length. If you don’t change these values, the symbols will remain purely
graphic and will not affect MIDI playback. If you record your Regions in real time, it’s
better to leave these settings at the defaults, as the notes probably already sound the
way you want them to.
Important: If you do use MIDI Meaning, you need to adjust the settings before you
begin to insert accents and so on. This is because the settings have no influence on
accents and phrasing marks that have already been inserted.
Once set, the velocity and length of notes will be changed as soon as you attach one of
these symbols to a note. When you delete the symbol, note velocity and length are
reset to their initial values.