MIDI and Audio Regions Compared

The following overview sums up the main differences between audio and MIDI regions.

Feature
MIDI regions
Audio regions
Composed of discrete data
Yes
No. Audio regions are just references to parts of audio files.
Can be named
Yes
Yes
Quantize parameter available
Yes
Yes, for flex-enabled audio regions.
Q-Swing parameter available
Yes
Yes, for flex-enabled audio regions.
Loop option available
Yes
Yes
Transposition parameter available
Yes
No, but you can use the Time Machine and Pitch Shifting functions (in the Sample Editor and Arrange window). Audio Apple Loops can be transposed.
Delay parameter available
Yes
Yes
Velocity parameter available
Yes
No
Gain parameter available
No
Yes
Dynamics parameter available
Yes
No
Fade In/Speed Up parameter available
No
Yes
Gate Time parameter available
Yes
No
Curve parameter available
No
Yes
Clip Length parameter available
Yes
No
Fade/Slow Down parameter available
No
Yes
Score parameter available
Yes
No
Follow Tempo parameter available
No
Yes
Can be freely positioned
Yes
Yes
Left or right corner edit
Yes
Yes, and this affects the audio region, but not the position of the audio waveforms relative to the time axis of the sequencer.
Can be cut with the Scissors tool
Yes
Yes, creates a new audio region.
Can have aliases made of them
Yes
Yes, although these are known as cloned (audio) regions, to differentiate them from alias (MIDI) regions.
Left corner may be dragged to conceal data at beginning
No
Yes
Have a variable musical reference point
No
Yes, a variable anchor. This affects all regions derived from a given audio file, and can change the position of the audio, relative to the time axis of the sequencer.
Can be turned off with the Mute function
Yes
Yes
Can be placed in folders
Yes
Yes
Can be soloed
Yes
Yes

Naturally, some of the Inspector playback parameters (such as Transposition) that can be applied to MIDI events have no effect on audio signals. Equivalent operations for most of these are available as destructive edit operations in the Sample Editor.

The fundamental functions (such as a freely determinable position and length, the ability to create complex arrangements with the aid of folders, and the ability to name, mute, and solo) are generally available to all types of regions (MIDI regions, audio regions, folder regions, or copies of these, and alias or cloned regions).