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Fixing Overlaps

One of the things that make MIDI data sound fakey is when notes overlap in a solo instrument. A clarinet is not going to still be playing note 1 while starting note 2, but an accordian will, that's why it sound like an accordian. Here's a way to fix any overlapping notes in Digital Performer without changing non-overlapping notes.

•Select the data you want to correct.

•Go Region > Change Duration to open the Change Duration window.

•In the Change Duration mini-menu, select Subract.

•In the Subtract window, enter 50 ticks, and hit Apply.

This shortens all notes in your selection by 50 ticks. This assumes that your no overlap exceeds 50 ticks, and no note has a duration of less than 50 ticks.

•Go Region > Change Duration to open the Change Duration window again. This time, select Extend Durations from the mini-menu.

•In the Extend Durations window, select "add no more than" and in the corresponding box, enter 0/055. Hit Apply.

For notes which ended 55 or more ticks before the start of the next note, i.e. notes which didn't overlap, this will add 55 ticks to their length--they are now 5 ticks longer than they were. For notes which ended less than 55 ticks before the start of the next notes, i.e. notes which did overlap, this will extend their durations right up to the start of the next note without going past.

•Go Region > Change Duration to open the Change Duration window again, and select Subract from the mini-menu.

•In the Subtract window, enter 5 ticks, and hit Apply.

You just shortened all notes by 5 ticks. The non-overlapping notes are now at their original length, and the overlapping notes end 5 ticks before the start of the next note.

•Now find and select only the last note of your selection.

Since there was no "next note" to extend this note to, it is 55 ticks shorter than it was originally.

•Go Region > Change Duration to open the Change Duration window again, and select Add from the mini-menu.

•Enter 0/55 and hit Apply.