An example of the MIDI/score relationship

When Cubase stores a MIDI note’s position, it makes the measurement in an absolute value, called ticks. There are 480 ticks to a quarter note. Have a look at the example below:

Figure: A quarter note at the end of a 4/4 measure

The note is on the fourth beat of the measure. Now, let’s say you change the time signature to 3/4. This shortens the length of a “measure” to only three quarter notes – 1440 ticks. Suddenly our quarter note is in the next measure:

Figure: The same note in 3/4

Why? Since you are not changing the MIDI data in the track/part (that would ruin your recording!) by changing the time signature, the note is still at the same absolute position. It is just that now each “measure” is shorter, which effectively moves the note in the score.

What we are trying to get across here is that the Score Editor is an “interpreter” of the MIDI data. It follows rules that you set up by making settings in dialogs, on menus, etc. And this interpretation is “dynamic”, or in other words, it is constantly updated whenever the data (the MIDI notes) or the rules (the score settings) change.