Steinberg Cubase AI - 10.0 Operation Manual

Operation Manual

Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Lillie Harris, Christina Kaboth, Insa Mingers, Matthias Obrecht, Sabine Pfeifer, Benjamin Schütte, Marita Sladek

This PDF provides improved access for vision-impaired users. Please note that due to the complexity and number of images in this document, it is not possible to include text descriptions of images.

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media except as specically allowed in the License Agreement. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any purpose, without prior written permission by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Registered licensees of the product described herein may print one copy of this document for their personal use.

All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners. For more information, please visit www.steinberg.net/trademarks.

Cubase_10.0.0_en-US_2018-11-14

7 Introduction

7 Platform-Independent Documentation 7 PDF Documents and Online Documentation 8 Conventions 8 Key Commands

10 Setting up Your System

10 Setting up Audio 17 Setting up MIDI 19 Synchronizers

21 Audio Connections

21 Audio Connections Window 22 Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs 23 Adding Input and Output Busses 24 Presets for Input and Output Busses 24 Monitoring Bus 25 Bus Congurations

27 Project Window

28 Showing/Hiding Zones 28 Project Zone 39 Left Zone 44 Lower Zone 49 Right Zone (not in Cubase LE) 54 Keyboard Focus in the Project Window 55 Zooming in the Project Window 58 Snap Function 61 Cross-Hair Cursor 61 Edit History Dialog 63 Color Handling

67 Project Handling

67 Creating New Projects 67 Hub 69 Project Assistant Dialog 69 Project Files 70 Template Files 71 Project Setup Dialog 74 Opening Project Files 75 Saving Project Files 76 Reverting to the Last Saved Version 76 Choosing a Project Location 77 Self-Contained Projects

79 Tracks

79 Track Inspector Settings Dialog 80 Track Control Settings Dialog 82 Audio Tracks 88 Instrument Tracks 93 Sampler Tracks (Cubase Elements only) 98 MIDI Tracks 104 FX Channel Tracks

109 Group Channel Tracks 114 Ruler Track 115 Folder Tracks 117 Other Tracks

124 Track Handling

124 Adding Tracks via the Add Track Dialog 124 Adding Other Tracks 124 Adding Tracks Using Track Presets 125 Adding Tracks by Dragging Files from the

MediaBay

126 Exporting MIDI Tracks as Standard MIDI Files 128 Removing Selected Tracks 128 Removing Empty Tracks 128 Moving Tracks in the Track List 128 Renaming Tracks 128 Automatically Assigning Colors to New Tracks 129 Showing Track Pictures 130 Setting the Track Height 131 Selecting Tracks 132 Deselecting Tracks 132 Duplicating Tracks 132 Disabling Tracks (Cubase Elements only) 133 Organizing Tracks in Folder Tracks 133 Handling Overlapping Audio 134 Events Display on Folder Tracks 134 Modifying Event Display on Folder Tracks 134 Track Presets

140 Parts and Events

140 Events 144 Parts 145 Editing Techniques for Parts and Events

157 Range Editing

157 Creating a Selection Range 158 Editing Selection Ranges

162 Playback and Transport

162 Transport Panel 166 Transport Menu 170 Transport Bar 174 Transport Pop-Up Window 175 Time Display Window 176 Left and Right Locators 178 Setting the Project Cursor Position 178 Auto-Scroll Settings Menu 179 Time Formats 180 Pre-Roll and Post-Roll 181 Punch In and Punch Out 181 Metronome Click 186 Chase

Table of Contents

187 On-Screen Keyboard

187 Recording MIDI With the On-Screen Keyboard 187 On-Screen Keyboard Options

189 Recording

189 Basic Recording Methods 192 Monitoring 195 Audio Recording Specics 199 MIDI Recording Specics 204 Remaining Record Time 205 Lock Record

206 Importing Audio and MIDI Files

206 Audio File Import 212 MIDI File Import

215 Quantizing MIDI and Audio

215 Quantize Functions 216 Quantizing MIDI Event Starts 216 Quantizing MIDI Event Lengths 217 Quantizing MIDI Event Ends 217 Quantizing Audio Event Starts 218 Quantize Panel

224 Fades and Crossfades

224 Event-Based Fades 228 Creating Clip-Based Fades 229 Crossfades 231 Auto Fades and Crossfades

235 Arranger Track (Cubase Elements only)

235 Adding Arranger Events on the Arranger Track 236 Arranger Editor 239 Setting up an Arranger Chain and Adding

Events

241 Jump Mode 243 Arranging Music to Video

244 Markers

244 Position Markers 244 Cycle Markers 245 Markers Window 248 Marker Track 250 Importing and Exporting Markers

251 MixConsole

251 MixConsole in Lower Zone 252 MixConsole Window

296 Audio Effects

296 Insert Effects and Send Effects 298 Insert Effects 303 VST Effect Selector 303 Send Effects 308 Dither Effects (Cubase Elements only) 308 Effect Control Panel 310 Effect Presets 315 System Component Information Window

317 Direct Oine Processing

318 Direct Oine Processing Workow 318 Direct Oine Processing Window 322 Built-In Audio Processes 327 Direct Oine Processing Key Commands

329 Time Stretch Algorithms

329 Standard 330 Limitations

331 Audio Functions

331 Detect Silence Dialog 334 Spectrum Analyzer Window 336 Statistics Window

338 Sample Editor

340 Sample Editor Toolbar 344 Info Line 344 Overview Line 345 Sample Editor Inspector 346 Ruler 346 Waveform Display 348 Range Editing 350 Regions List 352 Snap Point

355 Hitpoints

355 Calculating Hitpoints 358 Locating to Hitpoints in the Project Window 358 Slices 360 Creating a Groove Quantize Map 361 Creating Markers 361 Creating Regions 361 Creating Events 362 Creating MIDI Notes

364 Tempo Matching Audio

364 Algorithm Presets 364 Stretching Audio Events to the Project Tempo 365 Musical Mode

366 Audio Part Editor

367 Audio Part Editor Toolbar 371 Info Line 372 Ruler 372 Lanes 372 Operations

376 Sampler Tracks (Cubase Elements only)

376 Loading Audio Samples into Sampler Control 377 Loading MIDI Parts into Sampler Control 377 Creating Sampler Tracks 378 Sampler Control 387 Sample Editing and Playback Functions 389 Transferring Samples from Sampler Control to

VST Instruments

390 Pool

390 Pool Window 395 Working with the Pool

408 MediaBay and Media Rack

408 Media Rack in Right Zone (not in Cubase LE) 418 MediaBay Window 436 Working with Volume Databases 438 MediaBay Settings

439 Automation

439 Recording your Actions 439 Automation Curves 440 Static Value Line 440 Write/Read Automation 440 MIDI Part Data vs. Track Automation 441 Writing Automation Data 443 Editing Automation Events 447 Automation Tracks

449 VST Instruments

449 Adding VST Instruments (not in Cubase LE)

Table of Contents

449 VST Instrument Control Panel (not in Cubase

LE)

451 VST Instrument Selector 452 Creating Instrument Tracks 452 VST Instruments in the Right Zone (not in

Cubase LE)

453 VST Instruments Window (not in Cubase LE) 453 VST Instruments Window Toolbar (not in

Cubase LE)

454 VST Instrument Controls (not in Cubase LE) 455 Presets for Instruments 458 Playing Back VST Instruments 459 Latency 460 Import and Export Options 462 VST Quick Controls (not in Cubase LE)

464 Installing and Managing VST Plug-ins

464 Plug-ins and Collections 467 Adding New Plug-in Collections 468 Hiding Plug-ins 468 Reactivating Plug-ins from the Blacklist

470 Remote Controlling Cubase

470 Connecting Remote Devices 470 Removing the Remote Input from All MIDI

Inputs

471 Setting up Remote Devices 473 Remote Devices and Automation 473 Assigning Commands to Remote Devices 474 Generic Remote Page 479 Remote Control Editor (Cubase Elements only) 483 Apple Remote (macOS only) 484 VST Quick Controls (not in Cubase LE)

485 MIDI Realtime Parameters

485 MIDI Track Parameters 485 MIDI Modiers 490 Transpose and Velocity on the Info Line

491 Using MIDI Devices

491 Program Change Messages and Bank Select

Messages

492 Patch Banks 492 MIDI Device Manager

498 MIDI Functions

498 Transpose Setup Dialog 499 Merging MIDI Events into a New Part 500 Dissolve Part Dialog 502 Repeating MIDI Events of Independent Track

Loops

502 Extending MIDI Notes 503 Fixing MIDI Note Lengths 503 Fixing MIDI Note Velocities 503 Rendering Sustain Pedal Data to Note Lengths 504 Deleting Overlaps 504 Editing Velocity 505 Deleting Double Notes 505 Deleting Controller Data 505 Deleting Continuous Controller Data 506 Restricting Polyphonic Voices 506 Thinning Out Controller Data 506 Extracting MIDI Automation 507 Reversing the Playback Order of MIDI Events 507 Inverting the Order of Selected MIDI Events

508 MIDI Editors

508 Common MIDI Editor Functions 522 Key Editor 533 Key Editor Operations 541 Score Editor 548 Score Editor Operations 554 Drum Editor 567 Drum Editor Operations 570 Drum Maps

575 Chord Functions

575 Chord Track 576 Chord Events 580 Scale Events 581 Voicings 583 Converting Chord Events to MIDI 584 Controlling MIDI Playback Using the Chord

Track

587 Assigning Voices to Notes 587 Extracting Chord Events from MIDI 588 Recording Chord Events with a MIDI Keyboard

589 Chord Pads

589 Chord Pads Zone 592 Functions Menu 593 Chord Assistant 594 Chord Assignment 596 Swapping Chord Assignments 597 Copying Chord Assignments 597 Playing Back and Recording Chords 600 Player Setup 603 Chord Pads Setup Dialog 608 Chord Pads Presets 608 Creating Chord Events from Chord Pads 609 Creating MIDI Parts from Chord Pads

610 Editing Tempo and Time Signature

610 Project Tempo Modes 610 Tempo Track Editor 613 Tempo Changes for Projects 614 Setting up a Fixed Project Tempo 616 Beat Calculator 617 Set Denition from Tempo Dialog 618 Time Signature Events

619 Export Audio Mixdown

619 Export Audio Mixdown Dialog 624 Mixing Down to Audio Files 624 File Formats

632 Synchronization

632 Master and Slave 633 Timecode Formats 634 Clock Sources 635 Project Synchronization Setup Dialog 640 External Synchronization

641 VST System Link

641 Setting up VST System Link 645 Activating VST System Link 648 Application Examples

651 Video

651 Video File Compatibility 652 Frame Rates 652 Video Output Devices 653 Preparations for Creating Video Projects 654 Preparations for Video Playback

Table of Contents

657 Editing Video

658 ReWire (not in Cubase LE)

658 Introduction 658 Enabling ReWire Applications 659 Launching and quitting 660 Activating ReWire channels 660 Using the transport and tempo controls 661 How the ReWire channels are handled 661 Routing MIDI via ReWire 662 Considerations and limitations

663 Key Commands

663 Adding Key Commands 664 Searching for Key Commands 664 Removing Key Commands 664 Saving Key Commands Presets 665 Loading Key Command Presets 665 Importing Key Command Settings 665 Resetting Key Commands 666 Default Key Commands 676 Setting up Tool Modier Keys

678 Customizing

678 Setup Options 680 Where are the Settings Stored?

682 Optimizing

682 Optimizing Audio Performance

686 Preferences

686 Preferences Dialog 687 Editing 692 Editors 692 Event Display 695 General 696 MIDI 700 MediaBay 700 Metering 701 Record 703 Transport 704 User Interface 704 VST 706 Video

707 Index

Introduction

The documentation covers the following Steinberg products: Cubase Elements, Cubase AI, and Cubase LE.

Functions that are only available in Cubase Elements and not in Cubase AI or Cubase LE are clearly indicated. The screenshots are taken from

Platform-Independent Documentation

The documentation applies to the operating systems Windows and macOS.

Features and settings that are specic to one of these platforms are clearly indicated. In all other cases, the descriptions and procedures in the documentation are valid for

Some points to consider:

●

The screenshots are taken from Windows.

●

Some functions that are available on the File menu on Windows can be found in the program name menu on macOS.

Cubase Elements.

Windows and macOS.

PDF Documents and Online Documentation

The documentation consists of several documents. You can read them online or download them from steinberg.help. To visit steinberg.help, do one of the following:

●

Enter www.steinberg.help in the address bar of your web browser.

● In the program, select Help > Cubase Help.

Operation Manual

The main Cubase reference documentation, with detailed descriptions of operations, parameters, functions, and techniques.

Remote Control Devices

Lists the supported MIDI remote control devices.

Plug-in Reference

Describes the features and parameters of the included VST plug-ins and VST instruments.

Steinberg Library Manager

Describes how you can register and manage your VST Sound libraries.

HALion Sonic SE

Describes the features and parameters of the included VST instrument HALion Sonic SE.

Groove Agent SE

Describes the features and parameters of the included VST instrument Groove Agent SE.

Introduction Conventions

Conventions

In our documentation, we use typographical and markup elements to structure information.

Typographical Elements

The following typographical elements mark the following purposes.

Prerequisite

Requires you to complete an action or to fulll a condition before starting a procedure.

Procedure

Lists the steps that you must take to achieve a specic result.

Important

Informs you about issues that might affect the system, the connected hardware, or that might bring a risk of data loss.

Note

Informs you about issues that you should consider.

Markup

Example

Provides you with an example.

Result

Shows the result of the procedure.

After Completing This Task

Informs you about actions or tasks that you can perform after completing the procedure.

Key Commands

Many of the default key commands, also known as keyboard shortcuts, use modier keys, some of which are different depending on the operating system.

When key commands with modier keys are described in this manual, they are indicated with the Windows modier key rst, followed by the macOS modier key and the key.

Introduction Key Commands

EXAMPLE

Ctrl/Cmd-Z means: press Ctrl on Windows or Cmd on macOS, then press Z.

Setting up Your System

To use Cubase, you must set up your audio, and if required, your MIDI system.

Setting up Audio

IMPORTANT

Make sure that all equipment is turned off before making any connections.

Simple Stereo Input and Output Setup

If you only use a stereo input and output from Cubase, you can connect your audio hardware, for example, the inputs of your audio card or your audio interface, directly to the input source and the outputs to a power

amplier and speaker.

Audio Connections

Your system setup depends on many different factors, for example, on the kind of project that you want to create, on the external equipment that you want to use, or on the computer hardware that is available to you. Therefore, the following sections can only serve as examples.

How to connect your equipment, that is, whether to use digital or analog connections also depends on your setup.

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

Recording Levels and Inputs

When you connect your equipment, make sure that the impedance and levels of the audio sources and inputs are matched. Using the correct type of input is important to avoid distortion or noisy recordings. For example, different inputs can be used, such as consumer line level (-10 dBV) or professional line level (+4 dBu).

Sometimes, you can adjust input characteristics on the audio interface or on its control panel. For details, refer to the documentation that came with the audio hardware.

IMPORTANT

Cubase does not provide any input level adjustments for the signals that are coming into your audio hardware, since these are handled differently for each card. Adjusting input levels is either done in a special application that is included with the hardware or its control panel.

Word Clock Connections

If you are using a digital audio connection, you may also need a word clock connection between the audio hardware and external devices. For details, refer to the documentation that came with the audio hardware.

IMPORTANT

Set up word clock synchronization correctly, or you may experience clicks and crackles in your recordings.

Selecting an Audio Driver

By selecting an audio driver, you allow Cubase to communicate with the audio hardware. Normally, when you start Cubase, a dialog opens that prompts you to select a driver, but you can also select your audio hardware driver as described below.

NOTE

On Windows operating systems, we recommend that you access your hardware via an ASIO driver developed specically for the hardware. If no ASIO driver is installed, contact the manufacturer of your audio hardware for information on available ASIO drivers. If no specic ASIO driver is available, you can use the Generic Low Latency ASIO driver.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select VST Audio System.

3. Open the ASIO Driver pop-up menu and select your audio hardware driver.

4. Click OK.

Setting up Audio Hardware

PREREQUISITE

You have selected a driver for your audio hardware.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select your audio hardware driver.

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

3. Do one of the following to open the control panel for your audio hardware:

● On Windows, click Control Panel.

● On macOS, click Open Cong App.

This button is available only for some hardware products. If it is not available in your setup, refer to the documentation of your audio hardware.

NOTE

The control panel is provided by the manufacturer of your audio hardware and is different for each audio interface brand and model. However, control panels for the Generic Low Latency ASIO Driver

4. Set up your audio hardware as recommended by the manufacturer.

VST Audio System Page

On the VST Audio System page you can select an ASIO driver for your audio hardware.

● To open the VST Audio System page, select Studio > Studio Setup and select VST Audio System in the Devices list.

(Windows only) are provided by Steinberg.

The following options are available:

ASIO Driver

Allows you to select a driver.

Release Driver when Application is in Background

Releases the driver and allows other applications to play back via your audio hardware even though Cubase is running.

Input Latency

Shows the input latency of the audio hardware.

Output Latency

Shows the output latency of the audio hardware.

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

ASIO-Guard Latency

HW Sample Rate

HW Pull Up/Down

Set to Defaults

Processing Precision

Shows the ASIO-Guard latency.

Shows the sample rate of your audio hardware.

Shows the pull up/down status of the audio hardware.

Allows you to restore the default settings.

Allows you to set the audio processing precision to 32 bit oat or 64 bit oat. Depending on this setting, all channels are processed and mixed in 32-bit oating- point or 64-bit oating-point format.

NOTE

A processing precision of 64 bit oat can increase CPU load and memory consumption.

To show all plug-ins that support 64-bit oat processing, open the VST Plug-in

Manager and activate Show Plug-ins That Support 64-Bit Float Processing in the Display Options pop-up menu.

NOTE

VST 2 plug-ins and instruments are always processed with 32-bit precision.

Activate Multi Processing

Allows you to distribute the processing load evenly to all available CPUs. This way, Cubase can make full use of the combined power of multiple processors.

Activate ASIO-Guard

Activates the ASIO-Guard. This is only available if Activate Multi Processing is activated.

ASIO-Guard Level

Allows you to set the ASIO-Guard level. The higher the level, the higher the processing stability and audio processing performance. However, higher levels also lead to an increased ASIO-Guard latency and memory usage.

Audio Priority (Windows only)

This setting should be set to Normal if you work with audio and MIDI. If you do not use MIDI at all, you can set this to Boost.

Activate Steinberg Audio Power Scheme

If this option is activated, all power safe modes that have an impact on real time processing are deactivated. Note that this is only effective for very low latencies, and that it increases the power consumption.

Disk Preload

Allows you to specify how many seconds of audio are preloaded into RAM prior to starting playback. This allows for smooth playback.

Adjust for Record Latency

If this is activated, the plug-in latencies are taken into account during recording.

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

Record Shift

Allows you to shift the recordings by the specied value.

RELATED LINKS

VST Plug-in Manager Window on page 465

ASIO Driver Setup Page

This page allows you to set up your ASIO driver.

● To open the page where you can set up the ASIO driver, select Studio > Studio Setup and select the audio driver in the Devices list.

The following options are available:

Control Panel

Opens the control panel for the audio hardware.

Input Latency

Shows the input latency of the audio driver.

Output Latency

Shows the output latency of the audio driver.

Clock Source

Allows you to select a clock source.

Externally Clocked

Activate this option if you use an external clock source.

Direct Monitoring

Activate this option to monitor via your audio hardware and to control it from Cubase.

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

Ports Reset

Allows you to reset all port names and visibilities.

I/O

The port input/output status.

Port System Name

The system name of the port.

Show As

Allows you to rename the port. This name is used in the Input Routing and Output Routing pop-up menus.

Visible

Allows you to activate/deactivate audio ports.

State

The state of the audio port.

Using External Clock Sources

If you are using an external clock source, Cubase must be notied that it receives external clock signals and derives its speed from that source.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select your audio hardware driver.

3. Activate Externally Clocked.

RESULT

Cubase now derives its speed from the external source.

NOTE

For proper audio playback and recording, you must set the sample rate of the project to the sample rate of the incoming clock signals.

When a sample rate mismatch occurs, the Record Format eld on the Project window status line is highlighted in a different color. Cubase accepts a sample rate mismatch, and playback is therefore faster or slower.

Using Several Audio Applications Simultaneously

You can allow other applications to play back via your audio hardware even though Cubase is running.

PREREQUISITE

Other audio applications accessing the audio hardware are set to release the audio driver.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select VST Audio System.

3. Activate Release Driver when Application is in Background.

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

RESULT

The application that has the focus gets access to the audio hardware.

Audio Hardware Conguration

Most audio cards provide one or more small applications that allow you to customize your hardware.

The settings are normally gathered on a control panel that can be opened from within Cubase or separately, when Cubase is not running. For details, refer to the audio hardware documentation.

Settings include:

●

Selecting which inputs/outputs are active.

●

Setting up word clock synchronization.

●

Turning on/off monitoring via the hardware.

●

Setting levels for each input.

●

Setting levels for the outputs so that they match the equipment that you use for monitoring.

●

Selecting digital input and output formats.

● Making settings for the audio buffers.

Setting up Input and Output Ports

Once you have selected the driver for your audio hardware and have set it up, you must specify which inputs and outputs to use.

PREREQUISITE

You have selected a driver for your audio hardware.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select your audio hardware driver.

3. Make your settings.

4. Click OK.

RELATED LINKS

ASIO Driver Setup Page on page 14

Audio Bus Setup

Cubase uses a system of input and output busses to transfer audio between the program and the audio hardware.

Input busses let you route audio from the inputs of your audio hardware into Cubase. This

● means that audio is always recorded through one or several input busses.

Output busses let you route audio from Cubase to the outputs of your audio hardware.

● This means that audio is always played back through one or several output busses.

Once you have set up the internal input and output busses, you can connect your audio source, for example, a microphone, to your audio interface and start recording, playing back, and mixing.

Setting up Your System Setting up MIDI

RELATED LINKS

Audio Connections on page 21

Monitoring

In Cubase, monitoring means listening to the input signal while recording.

The following ways of monitoring are available:

Externally by listening to the signal before it reaches Cubase.

●

● Via Cubase.

●

By using ASIO Direct Monitoring.

This is a combination of the other methods.

RELATED LINKS

External Monitoring on page 193 Monitoring via Cubase on page 193 ASIO Direct Monitoring on page 193

Setting up MIDI

IMPORTANT

Turn off all equipment before making any connections.

PROCEDURE

1. Connect your MIDI equipment (keyboard, MIDI interface, etc.) to your computer.

2. Install the drivers for your MIDI equipment.

RESULT

You can use your MIDI equipment in Cubase.

MIDI Connections

To play back and record MIDI data from your MIDI device, for example, a MIDI keyboard, you need to connect the MIDI ports.

Connect the MIDI output port of your MIDI device to the MIDI input port of your audio hardware. This way, the MIDI device sends MIDI data to be played back or recorded inside your computer.

Connect the MIDI input port of your MIDI device to the MIDI output port of your audio hardware. This way, you can send MIDI data from Cubase to the MIDI device. For example, you can record your own playing, edit the MIDI data in Cubase, and then play it back on the keyboard and record the audio that is coming out of the keyboard for a better edited performance.

Showing or Hiding MIDI Ports

You can specify if a MIDI port is listed on the MIDI pop-up menus in the program.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select MIDI Port Setup.

3. To hide a MIDI port, deactivate its Visible column.

Setting up Your System Setting up MIDI

4. Click OK.

Setting up All MIDI Inputs

When you record MIDI, you can specify which MIDI input each recording MIDI track should use. However, you can also record any MIDI data from any MIDI input. You can specify which inputs are included when you select

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select MIDI Port Setup.

3. Activate In ‘All MIDI Inputs’ for a port.

NOTE

If you have a MIDI remote control unit connected, make sure to deactivate the In ‘All MIDI Inputs’ option for that MIDI input. This avoids accidental recording of data from the remote control when

4. Click OK.

All MIDI Inputs for a MIDI track.

All MIDI Inputs is selected as input for a MIDI track.

RESULT

When you select All MIDI Inputs on the Input Routing menu of a MIDI track in the Inspector, the MIDI track uses all MIDI inputs that you specied in the MIDI Port Setup.

MIDI Port Setup Page

The MIDI Port Setup page in the Studio Setup dialog displays the connected MIDI devices and allows you to set up their ports.

● To open the MIDI Port Setup page, select Studio > Studio Setup and activate MIDI Port Setup in the Devices list.

Setting up Your System Synchronizers

The following columns are displayed:

Device

I/O

Port System Name

Show As

Visible

State

In 'All MIDI Inputs'

The connected MIDI devices.

The port input/output status.

The system name of the port.

Allows you to rename the port. This name is used in the Input Routing and Output Routing pop-up menus.

Allows you to activate/deactivate MIDI ports.

The state of the MIDI port.

Allows you to record MIDI data from all MIDI inputs.

NOTE

Deactivate this option if you use remote control devices.

The following options are available:

Use System Timestamp for 'Windows MIDI' Inputs

Activate this option if you have persistent timing problems such as shifted notes. If this is activated, the system timestamp is used as a time reference.

Use Device 'DirectMusic'

If you do not use a device with a DirectMusic device driver, you can leave this option deactivated. This enhances the system performance.

Use System Timestamp for 'DirectMusic' Inputs

Activate this option if you have persistent timing problems such as shifted notes. If this is activated, the system timestamp is used as a time reference.

Plug and Play Support for USB MIDI Devices

Cubase supports plug and play of USB MIDI devices. These devices can be plugged in and switched on while the application is running.

Synchronizers

When using Cubase with external tape transports, you most likely must add a synchronizer to your system.

IMPORTANT

Make sure that all equipment is turned off before making any connections.

For information on how to connect and set up your synchronizer, refer to the documentation of your synchronizer.

Setting up Your System Synchronizers

RELATED LINKS

Synchronization on page 632

Audio Connections

To play back and record in Cubase, you must set up input and output busses in the Audio Connections window.

The bus types that you need depend on your audio hardware, on your general audio setup, and on the projects that you use.

Audio Connections Window

The Audio Connections window allows you to set up input and output busses.

● To open the Audio Connections window, select Studio > Audio Connections.

Inputs/Outputs Tab

The Inputs and Outputs tabs allow you to set up and congure input and output busses.

The following options are available above the bus list:

+- All

Expands/Collapses all busses in the bus list.

Add Bus

Opens the Add Input Bus dialog, where you can create a new bus conguration.

Presets

Opens the Presets menu, where you can select bus conguration presets. Store allows you to save a bus conguration as preset. Delete deletes the selected preset.

The following columns are available for the bus list:

Bus Name

Lists the busses. Click the name of a bus to select or rename it.

Speakers

Indicates the speaker conguration (mono, stereo) of each bus.

Audio Device

Shows the selected ASIO driver.

Audio Connections Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs

Device Port

Shows which physical inputs/outputs on your audio hardware are used by the bus. Expand the bus entry to show all speaker channels. If the bus entry is collapsed, only

rst port that is used by this bus is visible.

the

The Device Port pop-up menu displays how many busses are connected to a given port. The busses are shown in square brackets next to the port name.

Up to 3 bus assignments can be displayed in this way. If more connections have been made, this is indicated by a number at the end of the port name.

For example, “Adat 1 [Stereo1] [Stereo2] [Stereo3] (+2)” means that the Adat1 port is already assigned to 3 stereo busses plus 2 additional busses.

Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs

Before you set up busses, you should rename the default inputs and outputs of your audio hardware. This allows transferring projects between different computers and setups.

For example, if you move your project to another studio, the audio hardware may be of a different model. But if you and the other studio owner have agreed on identical names for your inputs and outputs,

Cubase corrects inputs and outputs for your busses.

NOTE

If you open a project that was created on another computer and the port names do not match or the port conguration is not the same, the Missing Ports dialog appears. This allows you to manually re-route ports that are used in the project to ports that are available on your computer.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select VST Audio System.

3. Open the ASIO Driver pop-up menu and select your audio hardware driver.

4. In the Devices list, select your audio hardware driver.

5. In the Show As column, click on a port name and enter a new name.

6. Repeat the previous step until you have renamed all required ports.

7. Click OK.

RELATED LINKS

Re-Routing Missing Ports on page 75

Hiding Ports

You can hide ports that you are not using. Hidden ports are not displayed in the Audio Connections window.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select your audio hardware driver.

3. In the Visible column, deactivate the ports that you want to hide.

4. Click OK.

Audio Connections Adding Input and Output Busses

Activating and Deactivating Ports (macOS only)

On macOS you can specify which input and output ports are active. This allows you to use the microphone input instead of the line input or to deactivate the audio card input or output.

NOTE

This function is only available for built-in audio, standard USB audio devices, and a certain number of other audio cards.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select your audio hardware driver.

3. Click Control Panel.

4. Activate/Deactivate ports.

5. Click OK.

Adding Input and Output Busses

PROCEDURE

1. In the Audio Connections dialog, click the Inputs or Outputs tab.

2. Click Add Bus.

3. In the Add Input Bus dialog, congure the bus.

4. Optional: Enter a name for the bus.

If you do not specify a name, the bus is named according to the channel conguration.

5. Click Add Bus.

The new bus is added to the bus list.

6. For each of the speaker channels in the bus, click in the Device Port column and select a port of your audio hardware.

Setting the Default Output Bus (Main Mix)

The Main Mix is the default output bus to which each new audio, group, or FX channel is automatically routed. If only one bus is available, this bus is automatically used as the default output bus.

PREREQUISITE

Add an output bus.

PROCEDURE

1. In the Audio Connections dialog, right-click the output bus that you want to use as default output bus.

2. Select Set <bus name> as Main Mix.

RESULT

The selected bus is used as default bus. The Main Mix is indicated by a speaker icon next to its name.

Audio Connections Presets for Input and Output Busses

RELATED LINKS

Inputs/Outputs Tab on page 21

Presets for Input and Output Busses

For input and output bus congurations, you can use different kinds of presets.

● A number of standard bus congurations.

Automatically created presets tailored to your specic hardware conguration.

●

On startup, Cubase analyzes the physical inputs and outputs that are provided by your audio hardware and creates a number of hardware-dependent presets.

●

Your own presets.

NOTE

You can create default presets for input and output bus congurations. If you create a new empty project, these default presets are applied. To create default presets, save your preferred input and output bus congurations under the name Default. If you have not dened default presets, the last used input and output bus conguration is applied when creating a new empty project.

Saving a Bus Conguration Preset

You can save your own input and output bus conguration as presets.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Audio Connections.

2. Set up your bus conguration.

3. Click Store.

4. In the Type in Preset Name dialog, enter a name.

5. Click OK.

RESULT

The preset is available in the Presets menu.

Deleting a Bus Conguration Preset

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Audio Connections.

2. From the Presets menu, select the preset that you want to delete.

3. Click Delete.

RESULT

The preset is deleted.

Monitoring Bus

The default output bus (Main Mix) is used for monitoring. You can adjust the monitoring level in the MixConsole.

Audio Connections Bus Congurations

RELATED LINKS

Setting the Default Output Bus (Main Mix) on page 23

Bus Congurations

After you have set up all the required busses for a project you can edit the names and change port assignments. The bus conguration is saved with the project.

Removing Busses

PROCEDURE

● In the Audio Connections window, right-click a bus in the list and select Remove Bus.

You can also select the bus and press Backspace.

Changing Port Assignments

You can change the port assignment of busses.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Audio Connections.

2. Do one of the following:

● To change the assignment of a single bus, open the Device Port pop-up menu, and

select a new port.

● To assign subsequent busses to several selected busses, open the Device Port pop-

up menu for the rst selected entry, press Shift, and select a device port.

● To assign the same port to several selected busses, open the Device Port pop-up

menu for the rst selected entry, press Shift-Alt, and select a device port.

Renaming Multiple Busses

You can rename all the selected busses at once using incrementing numbers or letters.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Audio Connections.

2. Select the busses that you want to rename.

3. Do one of the following:

● Enter a new name for one of the busses, followed by a number.

Enter a new name for one of the busses, followed by a space and a capital letter.

●

4. Press Return.

RESULT

The busses are renamed automatically using either incrementing numbers or letters.

NOTE

The renaming starts from the bus where you edit the name until the bottom, and then continues from the top until all selected busses have been renamed.

Audio Connections Bus Congurations

Exclusive Port Assignments

For certain channel types, the port assignment is exclusive.

Once a port has been assigned to such a bus or channel, it must not be assigned to another bus, otherwise the connection to the rst bus will be broken.

The corresponding ports are marked in the Audio Connections window on the Device Port popup menu.

Project Window

The Project window provides an overview of the project, and allows you to navigate and perform large scale editing.

Each project has one Project window. The Project window is displayed whenever you open or create a new project.

● To open a project, select File > Open.

● To create a new project, select File > New Project.

The

Project window is divided into several zones:

1 Left Zone

The left zone shows the Track Inspector for the selected track or the Editor Inspector for the editor in the lower zone.

2 Project Zone

The project zone shows the toolbar, the track list with the tracks, the event display with the parts and events of the project, and the Project window ruler.

On the toolbar, you can activate/deactivate the status line, the info line, the overview line, and the Transport Bar.

Project Window Showing/Hiding Zones

3 Lower Zone

The lower zone shows the Chord Pads, the Editor, the Sampler Control (Cubase Elements only), and the MixConsole.

4 Right Zone

The right zone shows the VST Instruments rack, and the Media rack (not in Cubase LE).

RELATED LINKS

Project Zone on page 28 Left Zone on page 39 Lower Zone on page 44 Right Zone (not in Cubase LE) on page 49 Project Window Toolbar on page 29

Showing/Hiding Zones

You can show/hide the zones in the Project window according to your needs.

PROCEDURE

● Do one of the following:

● To show/hide the left zone, click Show/Hide Left Zone on the Project window

toolbar.

● To show/hide the lower zone, click Show/Hide Lower Zone on the Project window

toolbar.

● To show/hide the right zone, click Show/Hide Right Zone on the Project window

toolbar.

RELATED LINKS

Project Window Toolbar on page 29

Project Zone

The project zone is the heart of the Project window and cannot be hidden.

The project zone features the track list and the event display with the ruler. Furthermore, you can activate/deactivate the status line, the info line, the overview line, and the Transport Bar for the project zone.

NOTE

The project zone is always shown.

Project Window Project Zone

RELATED LINKS

Track List on page 35 Event Display on page 36 Ruler on page 36 Status Line on page 37 Info Line on page 38 Overview Line on page 38 Transport Bar on page 39

Project Window Toolbar

The toolbar contains tools and shortcuts for opening other windows and various project settings and functions.

● To show/hide tools, open the toolbar context menu by right-clicking in an empty area of the toolbar and activate the tools that you want to display. To show all tools, select Show All.

NOTE

The number of elements that are shown also depends on the size of the Project window and the screen resolution.

The following options are available:

Activate Project

NOTE

Only available if more than one project is open.

Activates a project.

Project History

Undo/Redo

Undoes/Redoes actions in the Project window.

Project Window Project Zone

Constrain Delay Compensation

Minimizes the latency effects of the delay compensation.

Left Divider

Tools that are placed to the left of the divider are always shown.

Media & MixConsole Windows

Open MediaBay

Opens/Closes the MediaBay.

Open Pool Window

Opens/Closes the Pool window.

Open MixConsole

Opens/Closes the MixConsole.

State Buttons

Deactivate All Mute States

Deactivates all mute states.

Deactivate All Solo States

Deactivates all solo states.

Activate/Deactivate Read for All Tracks

Activates/Deactivates read automation for all tracks.

Activate/Deactivate Write for All Tracks

Activates/Deactivates write automation for all tracks.

Auto-Scroll

Keeps the project cursor visible during playback.

Select Auto-Scroll Settings

Allows you to activate Page Scroll or Stationary Cursor and to activate Suspend Auto-Scroll When Editing.

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