Getting to Know the Transform Window

The Transform window is so-named because it transforms MIDI events—based on conditions, operations, and values you choose—into different types of events, or events with different values.

The Transform window is extremely powerful, and is the ideal tool for edits that would otherwise be impossible (or at least, incredibly tedious). For example, imagine an orchestral project that has been sent to you for editing. The individual violin and viola parts were recorded with a different string library, and feature aftertouch information (in 200 MIDI regions) that introduces a weird pitch modulation, and some sample layer switching artefacts when played with your string samples. After looking at this aftertouch information, you discover that only a small range of values are causing the problem. You have a few options:  edit your sampler instruments, manually strip out all aftertouch information (region by region, or globally, thus losing the performance benefits that the aftertouch information provides) or alter the problematic values in the Transform window. Option three sounds like the way to go.

A number of preset transform sets are available for many common editing tasks. These may be all you’ll ever require, but should the need arise, you can freely create and save your own transform sets, and recall them later.

Tip: The Environment contains a similar transformer object that you can use for real-time transformations of MIDI events. For details, see Transformer Objects.

To open the Transform window
Do one of the following:
  • Choose Window > Transform from the main menu bar (or use the Open Transform key command, default assignment:  Command-4).

  • If you want to transform events (that you have selected in one of the MIDI editors) choose a preset from the Functions > Transform menu.

You can certainly choose the Window > Transform command while you are in a MIDI editor, but you will need to manually select a preset.