CAKEWALK PRO AUDIO - What Is Key

8-41
Notation
Internally, Pro Audio stores times as ÒrawÓ ticks or clock pulses. The
timebaseÑthe number of pulses per quarter note (PPQ)Ñis adjustable,
from 48 to 480 PPQ. If you are using a timebase of 120 PPQ and the song
Þle is in 4/4 time, then a whole measure equals 480 ticks. See ÒSetting
the MIDI Timing ResolutionÓ on page 4-8 for more information about the
timebase.
Usually the easiest approach to working with meter changes is to set all
of them up before doing any recording. Use the Meter/Key view or the
Insert-Meter/Key Change command to add meter changes at the
desired measures.
What Is Key?
In musical terms, a key is a system of related notes based on the tonic
(the base pitch) of a major or minor scale. A key signature is a group of
sharps or ßats placed immediately to the right of the clef sign. The key
signature tells a performer that certain notes are to be systematically
raised or lowered.
There are Þfteen different key signaturesÑseven with sharps, seven
with ßats, and one without either. The Þfteen key signatures correspond
to Þfteen different major scales, and to Þfteen different minor scales (for
example, the key signature for C major is the same as for A minor).
The key signature affects several things in Pro Audio:
¥ The key signature controls how Pro Audio displays notes. In the
Event List view and some dialog boxes, Pro Audio converts the MIDI
pitch number to labels like Db (D-ßat in the key of C).
¥ The Staff view uses the key signature to display notation correctly.
¥ How the notes are transposed when the Diatonic option is enabled.
The key signature affects only how Pro Audio displays pitches for you.
Changing the key signature does not affect the MIDI key number (pitch)
stored with each note. To actually transpose pitches, use the Transpose
command or edit notes individually by using the Piano Roll, Event List,
or Staff views.
Frequently you use only one key signature for an entire song. The
default key is C. You can change these defaults by creating your own
default template Þle. For more information, see ÒTemplatesÓ on page
12-4.