Note play period (Gate settings)
Overview
Gate settings in ChordWalk control how long each note or rest (step) is played. Common note values, like half notes, quarter notes, dotted notes, and triplets, have specific lengths in beats. You can adjust these lengths using Gate Settings to change the feel of your music, such as making notes short and clipped for staccato effects. However, be careful with very short Gate Settings, as some virtual instruments might not produce any sound.
The table below illustrates the length, in beats, between each note or rest value (step) for common note values.
Half notes: Occur on alternate beats.
Quarter notes: Occur on every beat.
Dotted notes: Last one and a half times the length of their standard step length.
Triplets: Three notes played in the same time as two equivalent steps. Each triplet note is about 0.66 times the length of its equivalent step.
Other notes in the chart occur at shorter intervals proportionally related to a quarter note. When played for their full duration, notes follow these standard values. However, you can adjust the play length of each step using the Gate Setting.
For staccato (short and clipped) playing, lower the Gate Setting. Adjusting Gate Settings for individual notes in sequences and patterns can dramatically change your music's dynamics.
Important Tips:
Some instruments, like strings, bassoons, hard rock guitars, and synths, may sound fuzzy or muddy if notes are held for the full step duration.
Be cautious with very low Gate Settings (below 50%), as some virtual instruments, especially synths, strings, and guitars, may not produce any sound at all.