This grid control constitutes the left pane of the track view, and contains one row for each track. Most track properties are editable via this grid. The grid's columns are described below.
Number
This column is the track number, which is read-only. The column caption is a number sign (#). Left-click in this column to select tracks. To move a track, left-click in this column, and while keeping the left mouse button pressed, drag the track to the desired location, and then release the left mouse button. Multiple selected tracks can be moved in the same manner.
Name
This is the track's name. Appropriately naming tracks makes compositions easier to manage. If you name multiple tracks at once, and the Unique track names option is enabled, sequential numbers are appended to the track names to make them unique. Polymeter supports Find and Replace for track names.
Type
This property selects the track's type, which determines what the track outputs, and how its steps are interpreted.
Channel
This property selects which MIDI channel the track outputs messages on.
Note
This property has different meanings depending on the track type.
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Note | Which note is output. The octave may be altered by the track's range, and the note may be altered via note modulation. The note may also be altered via a combination of scale, chord, index, and voicing modulation. |
| Key Aftertouch | For which note aftertouch is sent. |
| Control | Which continuous controller number is sent. |
| Patch | Unused. |
| Channel Aftertouch | Unused. |
| Wheel | Unused. |
| Tempo | Unused. |
| Modulator | Unused. |
| Internal | Which internal controller is accessed. |
For note tracks, the note property is normally displayed as a MIDI note name instead of a number (for example C4 instead of 60), however this behavior can be disabled by setting the Show Note Names option to false, and the note value can be entered numerically regardless of this option. For channel 10 only, the note property is normally displayed as a General MIDI drum name, using a drop list instead of an edit box, but this can be disabled by setting Show General MIDI Names to false.
Length
This is the length of the track, in steps. It can't be less than one, nor can it exceed the maximum track length. Increasing the length appends empty steps to the end of the track. Decreasing the length removes existing steps from the end of the track. To set the length visually instead of numerically, use the Track menu's Length command.
Quant
This is the duration of each track step, in ticks. If ticks are inconvenient, you can alternatively specify the duration as a fraction of a whole note, for example you can type 1/16 for a sixteenth note and this is automatically converted to the equivalent number of ticks. Quant values can also optionally be shown as fractions. The table below gives common Quant values for the default timebase (120 ticks per quarter note).
| Fraction | Ticks |
|---|---|
| 1/1 | 480 |
| 1/2 | 240 |
| 1/3 | 160 |
| 1/4 | 120 |
| 1/6 | 80 |
| 1/8 | 60 |
| 1/12 | 40 |
| 1/16 | 30 |
| 1/24 | 20 |
| 1/32 | 15 |
| 1/48 | 10 |
Changing a track's quant causes it to play at a different speed. You can compensate for this by stretching the track. Multiplying the track's quant by its length gives the duration of one cycle through the track, also known as its period.
Offset
This is the track's time offset, in ticks. Negative values make the track earlier; positive values make it later. The offset can also be altered via offset modulation.
Swing
This is the track's amount of swing, in ticks. Swing is a time offset that's applied to even-numbered steps. A positive value delays the even-numbered steps, and lengthens the odd-numbered steps to compensate. A negative value hastens the even-numbered steps, and shortens the odd-numbered steps to compensate. Swing is usually positive, and can't exceed the track's Quant. Setting swing to one-third of the track's Quant results in triplet feel. Swing affects all track types except Modulator.
|
| Positive | ||||
|
| Zero | ||||
|
| Negative |
Velocity
This is the track's velocity offset. It's a signed value that's added to the velocity values obtained from the track steps. The result is clamped so that it can't exceed the valid range of MIDI data, which can potentially result in clipping. Velocity affects all track types except Tempo and Modulator. The velocity can also be altered via velocity modulation. If a note's net velocity is zero, a note off command is sent.
Duration
This is the track's duration offset, in ticks. For note tracks, it's a signed value that's added to the durations of all notes played by the track. Positive values make the note longer (more legato), and negative values make it shorter (more staccato). Positive values may cause notes to overlap, in which case collisions may occur; see note overlap. The duration is clamped to prevent it from being less than one. The duration can also be altered via duration modulation.
For tempo tracks and tempo modulators, Duration is repurposed to be the range of the tempo change, as a percentage; see tempo tracks.
Range Type
This is the type of range to be applied to the track. Range only affects note tracks. The types are listed below.
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| None | No range is applied, and any range modulators targeting this track have no effect. |
| Octave | The output note is forced to stay within a one-octave range, the bottom of which is determined by the Range Start property. The note is shifted by as many octaves as necessary to keep it within the specified range. For chords and arpeggios, this produces inversions. |
| Dual | Similar to Octave except that it creates a two-octave range, and assigns the note to the upper or lower octave depending on its pitch. The Range Start property determines the start of the upper octave. If the note is below the Range Start value, it's shifted to the lower octave, otherwise it's shifted to the upper octave. |
The range's start note can be altered via range modulation, but only if range type isn't None. Range can be used to limit the width of note modulation. Range behaves differently when scale modulation and/or chord modulation are used.
Range Start
This is the starting note of the range to apply to the track. It only affects note tracks, and only has an effect if Range Type isn't None. Range start can be altered via range modulation.