The Humanize page appears in the Humanize Track property window (invoked by Track-Humanize) together with the Selection page, which specifies the range of the song to be adjusted.

It also appears in the Adjust Events property window, invoked from segment sheets, when Humanize is selected in the Operation page.

Music is generally presented as if notes always occur on simple fractional divisions of the beat.  This is the basis of staff notation and the grid lines that are used in segment sheets, and is indeed the case for the underlying rhythms of almost all music.

However, music that is actually performed on such exact time divisions generally sounds mechanical and lifeless, precisely because of the accuracy of the timing.  The human expression of real performances always involves some variation from precise timing.

You can use the Humanize operation to add a little randomness to the locations or durations of events to simulate this effect, and produce a performance that is more realistic and satisfying to the ear.

The opposite effect is to Quantize events by moving them to, or closer to, precise time divisions.

Controls

Humanize By

The Variance specifies the extent of humanizing to apply to the events.  It is expressed as fractions of a quarter note, which represent the size of the maximum range of randomness to be applied.

For example, humanizing by Qtn/8 means that event shifts may range from an advance of Qtn/16 to a delay of Qtn/16.

Apply To Locations

Specifies that the locations of events are to be humanized by the extent specified.

Preserve Sequence

Specifies that event sequence will be preserved during humanizing.  In other words, an event that occurs before another event will still occur before it, even after their locations have both been humanized.

If Apply To Locations is not selected, this option is inactive.

Apply To Durations

Specifies that the durations of events are to be humanized by the extent specified.

Preserve Overlaps

Specifies that event overlaps will be preserved during humanizing.  In other words, two events that overlap will still overlap, even after their locations and durations have both been humanized.

If any of Apply To Locations, Preserve Sequence or Apply To Durations are not selected, this option is inactive.

At Segment Limits

Specifies what should happen to events whose location would be adjusted beyond the start or end of their segment.

Limit Events - move the events hard up against the start or end of the segment.  This may cause noticeable timing aberrations.

Wrap Events - wrap events around to the start or end of the same segment.  This is appropriate for repetitive patterns, such as in rhythm or drum segments.

Delete Events - delete the events.  Their absence may be noticeable.

Transfer Events - transfer the events to the prior or next segment.  If that is a repeat or autostyle segment, it is converted to a standard segment first, so it can accept the transferred event.