Live's Export MIDI File resolution is 96 ppqn.

[kb420]

Hey Tom, when you imported your 960 PPQN midi file into Live, what was your grid set to in the midi editor window? I don't have the file you are working with, but I have at times noticed Live moving events to what ever grid I have set up which is why I often turn the gird off. I'm just wondering if it had something to do with that.

Maybe you could post a link to your 960 PPQN midi file so that we could take a look at it.

[adhmzaiusz]

If you have to run visual tests to find out how many ppqn lives resolution is, then it probably doesn't matter to the ear anyways. I used to sequence on my mpc where it was 96 and I never noticed anything quantized to 96th notes

If your ear can tell the difference of 96 or 480 you might as well be superman.

[contakt321]

Interesting thread, I am very curious to see what the deal is.

All that said, MPC's resolution is only 96 - I am fine

[tomjordan]

Your ear can't tell, but it does highly color the feel of a sequence if you work with finer-grained timings.

The reason why I did the test in the first place was because my sequences sound better in Logic and I wanted to know if the resolution had anything to do with it.

I can still use Live for more quantized-parts, and I absolutely love everything else about the program.

But for those few tracks where you need the extra resolution, it would be nice to not have to break the flow and render them in in Logic first.

(I prefer to write in Live, then mix in Logic).

[tomjordan]

Hey Tom, when you imported your 960 PPQN midi file into Live, what was your grid set to in the midi editor window? I don't have the file you are working with, but I have at times noticed Live moving events to what ever grid I have set up which is why I often turn the gird off. I'm just wondering if it had something to do with that.

Maybe you could post a link to your 960 PPQN midi file so that we could take a look at it.

Thanks.. I didn't think of that... I'll check up on this and get back to you soon.. and post the MIDI file.

[Angstrom]

Hey Tom, when you imported your 960 PPQN midi file into Live, what was your grid set to in the midi editor window? I don't have the file you are working with, but I have at times noticed Live moving events to what ever grid I have set up which is why I often turn the gird off. I'm just wondering if it had something to do with that.

Maybe you could post a link to your 960 PPQN midi file so that we could take a look at it.

Thanks.. I didn't think of that... I'll check up on this and get back to you soon.. and post the MIDI file.

this seems unlikely, as in my own test I exported and re-imported a dense midi file (of notes). The re-imported version was simplified, but not onto the beat

[tomjordan]

I thought that there was hope there for a moment..

I did the test again with the grid set specifically to "off" and got the same results.. I don't usually work with the grid on so I didn't think to check it.
Is there a place where the visual grid differs from the quantize grid? Because I may be missing something.

[Angstrom]

[kb420]

Tom, you are correct. I did my own experiment.

Things are not as bad as they seem. I set the grid to a resolution of 1/4096 which is the closest that you can get the grid to 960 PPQN (which would actually be 1/3840). I then drew a midi note on every step starting from G8 and working my way down to C2 so that you would be able to hear the pitch dropping at this high resolution.

I saved this two ways:

1. I saved the Set itself.
2. I exported the midi file.

Here are my results.

I closed Live and reopened it. I started the Set and everything was as it should be. All of the midi notes were in their place and the file actually sounded the same.

I opened the exported Midi file, and found that you are correct. Live did export the midi file at a much lower resolution.

Good find!!!!


But, I only think there is a problem with the midi file export. My results show that if you save your Set in Live, it's resolution is just fine. Only the midi file export is a problem.

[TRS80]

A happy end to this thread will be finding out how to export MIDI from Live at the highest possible rez.

The MMA has been "discussing" the MIDI 2.0 spec for years. Has it been implemented anywhere? What's the big delay?

[tomjordan]

Very cool ! Thanks for the heads up )

[kb420]

Now it's up to you to submit the problem to Ableton Tech support and come back with an answer on why there is a difference between the two!!!!

[tomjordan]

Here's the original file's tick values in Logic:



Here's the imported/exported from Live version, viewed in Logic:

[tomjordan]

Now it's up to you to submit the problem to Ableton Tech support and come back with an answer on why there is a difference between the two!!!!

sounds good.. i'll do it tomorrow or the next day.. time to get back to making music !

I'm gonna do some more tests at a very slow tempo to see what the difference between some small tick values sounds like.

I'm happy that this may be an import/export glitch.. although I hope it can import high ppqn.. that's what I really need it to do.

[Tone Deft]

Now it's up to you to submit the problem to Ableton Tech support and come back with an answer on why there is a difference between the two!!!!

sounds good.. i'll do it tomorrow or the next day.. time to get back to making music !

you'll do it tomorrow or the next day??

christ...