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Using the timeline grid

GarageBand includes a timeline grid that lets you automatically align items in the timeline and the editor with measures, beats, and notes in the beat ruler.

When you turn on the timeline grid, the following actions snap to the nearest grid position in the timeline:

The grid also applies to items in the editor, if the editor is open. The grid applies to individual notes in Software Instrument tracks in the editor, as well.

You can set the grid to any of the following note values:

You can set the editor to snap to a different grid value than the timeline, using the grid menu in the upper-right corner of the editor.

The timeline grid can also be set to Automatic. If you set the grid to Automatic, the grid value changes as you zoom in or zoom out. The grid value changes between measures, 1/4 notes, 1/8 notes, 1/16 notes, and 1/32 notes, depending on the zoom level.

To use the timeline grid, do any of the following:

In notation view, the grid menu controls the note value to which notes are “rounded” for display.

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