How to Make Velocity Fade Piano Roll
- 1). Open your preferred digital audio workstation; for example, Pro Tools, Logic or Reason. Double-click the desktop icon. It may take a few seconds for the program to fully load. When it does, the last saved project session will open automatically. If this isn't the right project, click "File" and click "Open New." Select the correct session from the drop-down menu.
- 2). Click "S" to solo the MIDI track containing the note you want to fade. This mutes all other tracks and makes it easier to identify the specific note in the piano roll editor.
- 3). Open the piano roll editor window. The method for doing this varies slightly according to which workstation you use, but the various windows are typically accessed quickly by a tab. For example, in Logic the "Piano Roll" tab is at the bottom of the "Arrange" window. Selecting the piano roll editor opens a new window over whichever window you were previously viewing.
- 4). Play the track, either by hitting the space bar or clicking the "Play" button on the navigation section. Let the track roll so you can identify the note you want to fade.
- 5). Double-click on the note or select "Automation" from the tool bar at the top of the page. This opens the note as a wave form graphic, inside a grid. The horizontal axis represents time, specifically the duration of the note. The vertical axis represents velocity, specifically the speed at which the MIDI key was struck to create the note. When dealing with MIDI, velocity is often analogous with "volume." Just above the base line of the grid is a second, horizontal line. This line represents zero velocity, or silence.
- 6). Click on the part of the note where you want the fade to begin. Typically this is toward the end of the note, to enhance a natural fade. By clicking, this creates an automation point.
- 7). Click on the zero line at the point where you want the note to completely fade out. The second click creates a sloped automation line.
- 8). Drag the line up and down to modify it. Click below or above it to create automation steps. The gradient of the line is directly proportionate to the intensity of the fade. For example, a severe gradient causes an abrupt, almost sudden fade. A gentle slope creates a smooth, natural fade sound.