Refine note length in a short MIDI passage.

Describe the articulation

Try a specific request such as: “Make the bass notes shorter for a tighter articulation. Keep the existing velocities.” CutTempo proposes edits to existing notes; it does not add notes, sustain-pedal data or controller curves.

A duration-focused instruction is an intent, not a separate field lock. Candidates may contain changes to both velocity and duration. Check both columns and restore any unwanted change.

Keep the edit inside the passage

1. Choose a supported small .als file using the preparation guide. Selecting it uploads it for inspection.
2. Confirm the tracks and a clip-local range measured in quarter-note beats.
3. Request the articulation, then review the candidate’s velocity and duration changes.
4. Download a candidate and listen in Live for the resulting gaps and overlaps.

A duration must stay between 0.5× and 1.5× its source length. Both the source note’s full interval and the proposed interval must fit the confirmed range. Note starts stay fixed: this workflow does not add swing, strumming or rubato.

Native note-length tools

Live 12 Standard and Suite include Span, which provides legato, tenuto and staccato articulation with length offset and variation. It lets you work within Live’s MIDI editor and hear the result through your instrument. Read Ableton’s MIDI Tools manual and edition comparison.

Listen through the intended instrument

Note duration does not guarantee how long a sound rings: the instrument’s envelope and other settings also matter. CutTempo previews simple sine voices at an assumed tempo, rather than rendering the sounds in your Live Set. Real Live opening, playback, editing, saving and reopening remain pending verification.

See the symbolic review example and the native-tool comparison to decide whether preparing a small set is useful for your edit.