Cakewalk // Documentation // SONAR X3 // Step recording
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Recording ► Step recording

Note: SONAR doesn't respond to sync signals while the Step Record dialog box is open and enabled.
MIDI data is recorded using step record even if the track is not armed. Loop markers are ignored. And step recording always uses the Sound on Sound (blend) record mode, regardless of the current record mode.
With Auto Advance disabled, you must click Advance each time you want to advance to the next step. While this requires more effort, it also provides you with more flexibility. For example, with Auto Advance disabled, you do not even need to play the notes at a single step at the same time! You can play any number of notes one at a time, and they will all be recorded at the same step until you click the Advance button. You can even record notes of different durations at the same step—simply record the notes of one duration, change the duration, and play more notes, without clicking Advance.
The Step Record dialog box has two modes: Basic (smaller with fewer options), and Advanced (larger, more options). To use Basic mode, click the Bas./Adv. button so that the Adv. button is displayed. To use Advanced mode, click the Bas./Adv. button so that the Bas. button is displayed.
A. Insertion point location B. Position slider C. Basic/Advanced button D. Step Record Toggle button to enable/disable step recording E. Click to move insertion point by step size F. Total step size display G. Custom tick size field
A. Randomize durations field B. Step pattern recording field C. Click to move insertion point by single beat D. Click to move insertion point by single measure
2.
3.
Make sure that the Basic mode of the Step Record dialog box is displayed (the Adv. button will be showing if the Basic mode is displayed; if the Bas. button is showing, click it).
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Click the Step Advance button to move the insertion point forward by the current step size, or click the Step Backwards button to move the insertion point backward by the current step size. SONAR displays the insertion point location in the Insertion point location field (see Basic mode picture above).
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For a tuplet step size, click a notehead icon to choose the “tuplet unit” (for example, for eighth-note triplets, choose an eighth note). Then enable the Tuplet check box and fill in the “n” in time of “n” fields. For example, if you want quarter-note triplets, click the quarter-note icon , enable the Tuplet check box, and fill in 3 in the time of 2, which means 3 quarter notes in the time of 2 quarter notes. If you want eighth-note triplets, click the eighth-note icon , enable the Tuplet check box, and fill in 3 in the time of 2. If you wanted 5 notes in one beat, click the quarter-note icon, enable the Tuplet check box, and fill in 5 in the time of 1.
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If you want to create a custom step size, click the n button , and fill in the number of ticks in the Ticks field.
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If you want duration and step size to be different, disable the Follow Step Size check box and fill in a percentage value in the % of Note Value field.
9.
Play a note or chord on your MIDI controller. When you release the note(s), the insertion point moves by the step size, if the Auto Advance check box is enabled. If Auto Advance is not enabled, you can release the notes and record more notes, or you can use the Navigation controls to advance the insertion point. If you are still holding down a note or notes when you advance the insertion point, the step size of the held notes is extended by the current step size.
11.
When you’re finished recording, close the dialog by clicking the X icon in the upper right corner, or by pressing SHIFT+R.
Note: Options that you choose in Advanced mode, such as Link to Now Time, are still in force when you use Basic mode.
Table 35.  
Disable the Follow Step Size check box, enter a number into the % of Note Value field (leave it at 100 if you want to follow step size), and enter the maximum duration that the step size should be randomized in the Randomize By field.
To choose a constant value for pitch, velocity, or channel, disable the Use Input check box next to the desired field, and fill in the value you want to use for that particular parameter.
Enable the Link to Now Time check box.
Click the Beat Backward button or the Beat Advance button.
Click the Measure Backward button or the Measure Advance button.
A plus sign appears after the value in the Step Size “n” Ticks field.
The total step size appears in the Step Size “n” Ticks field.
The new note appears in your track, and the Now Time moves the distance of the two combined steps that you entered. To toggle the plus sign on or off in the Step Size “n” Ticks field, press the + key on the Num Pad. To clear a large value from the Step Size “n” Ticks field, click a smaller value, or use a keyboard shortcut for a smaller value.
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Click the Activate Step Recording button in the Step Record dialog box so that the button is not red. This disables step recording, allowing you to use both the mouse, and any keyboard shortcuts that the Step Record dialog box uses, for other commands.
By default, opening the Step Record window will automatically enable step recording. SHIFT+R is the default shortcut to open the Step Record dialog box. Once the Step Record window is open, you can enable/disable step recording at will without closing the Step Record window: just click the Activate Step Recording button in the Step Record dialog box, or press SHIFT+R.
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