Steinberg Cubase AI - 4.0 Getting Started

Getting Started

Tutorials by Steve Kostrey Revision for Cubase AI and Quality Control: Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Birgit Grossmann, Sabine Pfeifer, Claudia Schomburg

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 specifically 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.

All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners. Windows XP is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. The Mac logo is a trademark used under license. Macintosh and Power Macintosh are registered trademarks.

Table of Contents

5 Introduction

6 Welcome 6 About the manuals and the help 7 About the program versions 7 Key command conventions

8 System requirements and installation

9 About this chapter 9 Minimum requirements 10 Hardware Installation 11 Installing Cubase AI 11 Registering your software 11 Defragment the hard disk (Windows only) 11 Installing the Additional Content

12 Setting up your system

13 Setting up audio 17 Setting up MIDI 18 Connecting a synchronizer 19 Setting up video 19 Optimizing audio performance

22 Tutorial 1: Recording Audio

23 Creating a new project 24 Setting up the VST Connections 25 Level settings and recording 28 Playback 29 Recording modes with cycle off 29 Cycle recording

48 Tutorial 4: Mixing and Effects

49 Introduction 49 Setting levels 50 Setting Pan 50 Mute and solo 51 Adding EQ 53 Audio effects 53 About Automation 54 Exporting

56 Index

31 Tutorial 2: Editing Audio

32 Event operations 37 The Sample Editor 38 Processing audio

40 Tutorial 3: Recording and Editing MIDI

41 Introduction 41 Creating an Instrument Track 42 Browsing sounds 42 MIDI recording 43 MIDI playback 44 Recording modes with cycle off 44 Cycle recording 45 The Key Editor 46 The Controller lane

Table of Contents

Introduction

Welcome

About the manuals and the help

Congratulations and welcome to the world of Cubase. You have now become a member of the world's largest community of music production software users. Looking back at more than 20 years of innovation in computer-based music production, Steinberg has always been the driving force behind software technology and Cubase is the benchmark for this development. With Version 4, Cubase is taking the next evolutionary step towards a totally integrated software and hardware system.

Whether you're already a user of some computer-based music production software or this is your first hands-on experience with a software-based sequencer/digital audio workstation: this version of Cubase gives you full access to the Cubase workflow and provides you with a powerful yet easy-to-use music production system. Cubase AI features the same professional audio engine used in Steinberg's flagship version of Cubase - Cubase 4. It supports both Windows XP and OSX operating systems, including the latest Intel Mac systems from Apple Computers. With a brand-new set of great-sounding plug-ins, new instrument tracks, and the ability to play ACIDized audio files matching a song's tempo. In addition, Cubase AI offers advanced integration features to simplify set-up and operation of your Yamaha/Steinberg hardware/software system. Please read the operation manual of your Yamaha hardware for specific details.

Take some time to find your way around in this new version of Cubase. If you are a first-time user, you will find a lot of help in the tutorial section, which is included in this manual. It comes with matching Cubase AI project files and even short training videos, which you will find on your program DVD. Even if you are already familiar with Cubase, it makes sense to study these tutorials in order to learn about some of the new features, and how they are integrated.

Last but not least, by registering your software you will have access to Steinberg's personal user area on the Steinberg website! It gives you access to special offers from Steinberg and ensures that you are always up-to-date on the latest news about tips and tricks, updates or special events. Finally, you are also invited to join our Cubase user forum at www.steinberg.net, which is the best way to communicate directly with us and other Cubase users around the world.

See you around! The Steinberg Cubase Team

The Cubase AI documentation is divided into several sections, as listed below. The documents are in Adobe Acrobat format (extension “.pdf”) – these can be accessed in the following ways:

• You can open the pdf documents from the Documentation submenu on the Help menu in the program.

• Under Mac OS X the pdf documents are located in the folder “/Library/Documentation/Steinberg/Cubase AI 4”.

Ö To read the pdf documents, you need to have a suitable pdf reader application installed on your computer.

An installer for Acrobat Reader is provided on the program DVD.

The Getting Started

This is the manual you are reading now. The Getting Started covers the following areas:

• Computer requirements.

• Installation issues.

• Setting up your system for audio, MIDI and/or video work.

• Tutorials describing the most common procedures for recording, playing back, mixing and editing in Cubase AI.

In other words, this book does not go into detail on any Cubase AI windows, functions or procedures.

The Operation Manual

The Operation Manual is the main Cubase AI reference documentation, with detailed descriptions of Cubase AI operations, parameters, functions and techniques. You should be familiar with the concepts and methods described in the Getting Started manual before moving on to the Operation Manual.

Plug-in Reference

This manual describes the features and parameters of the included VST plug-ins, real-time audio effects and VST instrument.

Remote Control Devices

This pdf document lists the supported MIDI remote control devices and describes how to set them up and use them with Cubase AI.

Introduction

Menu Reference

This pdf document provides a list of all menus and their options with a brief description, for quick reference.

The dialog help

To get information about the active dialog, click its Help button.

About the program versions

The documentation covers two different operating systems or “platforms”; Windows and Mac OS X.

Some features and settings are specific to one of the platforms, Windows or Mac OS X. This is clearly stated in the applicable cases. In other words:

Ö If nothing else is said, all descriptions and procedures in the documentation are valid for both Windows and Mac OS X.

The screenshots are taken from the Windows version.

Key command conventions

Many of the default key commands in Cubase AI use modifier keys, some of which are different depending on the operating system. For example, the default key command for Undo is [Ctrl]+[Z] under Windows and [Command]+[Z] under Mac OS X.

When key commands with modifier keys are described in this manual, they are shown with the Windows modifier key first, in the following way:

[Win modifier key]/[Mac modifier key]+[key]

For example, [Ctrl]/[Command]+[Z] means “press [Ctrl] under Windows or [Command] under Mac OS X, then press [Z]”. Similarly, [Alt]/[Option]+[X] means “press [Alt] under Windows or [Option] under Mac OS X, then press [X]”.

Ö Please note that this manual often refers to “rightclicking”, e.g. to open context menus, etc. If you are using a Macintosh computer with a single-button mouse, hold down [Ctrl] and click.

Introduction

System requirements and installation

About this chapter

This chapter describes the requirements and installation procedures for the Windows version and the Mac version of Cubase AI.

Minimum requirements

To use Cubase AI, your computer must meet the following minimum requirements:

Windows

• Windows XP (Home or Professional)

• Intel Pentium or AMD Athlon 1.4 GHz processor

•512 MB RAM

• Windows DirectX compatible audio hardware; ASIO compatible audio hardware recommended for low latency performance.

• Display resolution of 1024x768 pixels

• DVD ROM drive required for installation

• Internet connection required for license activation

Macintosh

• Mac OS X 10.4

• Power Mac G4 1 GHz or Core Solo 1.5 GHz

•512 MB RAM

• Display resolution of 1024x768 pixels

• CoreAudio compatible audio hardware

• DVD ROM drive required for installation

• Internet connection required for license activation

General notes on how to set up your system

On the Steinberg web site, under “Support–DAW Components”, you can find detailed information on what to consider when setting up a computer system dedicated to audio work.

• RAM – There is a direct relation between the amount of

available RAM and the number of audio channels that you can have running.

The amount of RAM specified above is the minimum requirement, but as a general rule “the more the better” applies.

• Hard disk size – The size of the hard disk determines

how many minutes of audio you will be able to record.

Recording one minute of stereo CD quality audio requires 10 MB of hard disk space. That is, eight stereo tracks in Cubase AI use up at least 80 MB of disk space per recording minute.

• Hard disk speed – The speed of the hard drive also determines the number of audio tracks you can run.

That is the quantity of information that the disk can read, usually expressed as “sustained transfer rate”. Again, “the more the better” applies.

• Wheel mouse – Although a regular mouse will work fine with Cubase AI, we recommend that you use a wheel mouse.

This will speed up value editing and scrolling considerably.

MIDI requirements

If you intend to use the MIDI features of Cubase AI, you need the following:

• A MIDI interface to connect external MIDI equipment to your computer.

•A MIDI instrument.

• Any audio equipment required to listen to the sound from your MIDI devices.

Audio hardware

Cubase AI will run with audio hardware that meets the following specifications:

•Stereo.

•16 bit.

• Support of at least the 44.1kHz sampling rate.

• Windows – The audio hardware must be supplied with a special ASIO driver, or a DirectX compatible driver, see below.

• Mac – The audio hardware must be supplied with Mac OSXcompatible drivers (CoreAudio or ASIO).

Using the built-in audio hardware of the Macintosh (Mac only)

Although Cubase AI is designed with multi-channel input and output in mind, it’s of course possible to use the program with “basic” stereo inputs and outputs. As of this writing, all current Macintosh models provide at least builtin 16 bit stereo audio hardware. For detailed information, refer to the documentation describing your computer.

System requirements and installation

Depending on your preferences and requirements, using the built-in audio hardware may be sufficient for use with Cubase AI. It is always available for selection in Cubase AI – you don’t need to install any additional drivers.

• The ASIO DirectX Full Duplex driver, allowing Cubase AI to communicate with DirectX. This driver is included with Cubase AI, and does not require any special installation.

Some Macintosh models have audio outputs but no inputs. This means that you can only play back audio – recording is not possible without additional audio hardware.

About drivers

A driver is a piece of software that allows a program to communicate with a certain piece of hardware. In this case, the driver allows Cubase AI to use the audio hardware. For audio hardware, there are two different cases, requiring different driver configurations:

If the audio hardware has a specific ASIO driver

Professional audio cards often come with an ASIO driver written especially for the card. This allows for communication directly between Cubase AI and the audio card. As a result, audio cards with specific ASIO drivers can provide lower latency (input-output delay), which is crucial when monitoring audio via Cubase AI or using VST Instruments. The ASIO driver may also provide special support for multiple inputs and outputs, routing, synchronization, etc.

Audio card-specific ASIO drivers are provided by the card manufacturers. Make sure to check the manufacturer’s web site for the latest driver versions.

If your audio hardware comes with a specific ASIO driver we strongly recommend that you use this.

If the audio card communicates via DirectX (Windows only)

DirectX is a Microsoft “package” for handling various types of multimedia data under Windows. Cubase AI supports DirectX, or to be more precise, DirectSound, which is a part of DirectX used for playing back and recording audio. This requires two types of drivers:

• A DirectX driver for the audio card, allowing it to communicate with DirectX. If the audio card supports DirectX, this driver should be supplied by the audio card manufacturer. If it isn’t installed with the audio card, please check the manufacturer’s web site for more information.

Hardware Installation

Installing the audio hardware and its driver

1. Install the audio card and related equipment in the computer, as described in the card’s documentation.

2. Install the driver for the card.

Depending on the operating system of your computer, there are different types of drivers that could apply: card-specific ASIO drivers, DirectX drivers (Windows) or Mac OSX (Mac) drivers:

Specific ASIO driver

If your audio card has a specific ASIO driver, it may be included with the audio card, but you should always make sure to check the audio card manufacturer’s web site for the most recent drivers. For details on how to install the driver, refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.

DirectX driver (Windows only)

If your audio card is DirectX compatible, its DirectX drivers will most likely be installed when you install the card. If you have downloaded special DirectX drivers for the audio card, you should follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Mac OSX drivers (Mac)

If you are using a Macintosh computer, make sure you are using the latest Mac OSX drivers for your audio hardware. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to install the driver.

Testing the card

To make sure the audio card will work as expected, perform the following two tests:

• Use any software included with the audio card to make sure you can record and play back audio without problems.

• If the card is accessed via a standard operating system driver, try playing back audio using the computer’s standard audio application (e.g. Windows Media Player or Apple iTunes).

System requirements and installation

Installing a MIDI interface/synthesizer card

Installation instructions for a MIDI interface should be included with the product. However, here’s an outline of the necessary steps:

1. Install the interface (or MIDI synthesizer card) inside

your computer or connect it to a “port” (connector) on the computer.

Which is right for you depends on which type of interface you have.

2. If the interface has a power supply and/or a power

switch, turn it on.

3. Install the driver for the interface, as described in the

documentation that comes with the interface.

You should also make sure to check the manufacturer’s web site for the latest driver updates.

Installing Cubase AI

The installation procedure puts all files in the right places, automatically.

Windows

1. Double-click the file called “CubaseAI4.msi”.

2. Follow the instructions on screen.

Macintosh

1. Double-click the file called “Cubase AI 4.mpkg”.

2. Follow the instructions on screen.

3. Launch Cubase AI and select the Registration option

from the Help menu.

The “My Steinberg” section on the Steinberg web site is opened.

4. Follow the instructions on the web site to create a user account.

You will receive an e-mail asking you to confirm the creation of your account in order to activate it. Just click on the confirmation link in the email. After the confirmation, you will be able to log in to the Steinberg customer area.

5. Go back to “My Steinberg” on the Steinberg web site, log in to your account and enter the number of the eLicenser for Cubase AI.

You will receive an email with the activation code for Cubase AI.

6. In the Syncrosoft License Control Center open the Wizards menu and select the “License Download” option.

Follow the instructions and enter your Cubase AI activation code.

7. Congratulations! You have successfully licensed and registered your program and are now entitled to technical support and kept aware of updates and other news regarding Cubase AI.

Defragment the hard disk (Windows only)

If you plan to record audio on a hard disk where you have already stored other files, now is the time to defragment it. Defragmentation reorganizes the physical allocation of space on the hard disk in order to optimize its performance. It is done with a special defragmentation program.

Registering your software

The Syncrosoft eLicenser

After installing Cubase AI you can use the program for 30 days without any restrictions. After this period, you will have to register your program, otherwise, Cubase AI will not run anymore.

Proceed as follows to register your program:

1. Open the Syncrosoft License Control Center (which

can be found in the Start/Programs menu under Windows or in the Applications folder on a Mac).

2. Write down the number of the eLicenser for Cubase

AI displayed in the Syncrosoft License Control Center.

System requirements and installation

It is crucial to the audio recording performance that your hard disk is optimized (defragmented). You should make sure to defragment regularly.

Installing the Additional Content

On the program DVD you will find the folder “Additional Content”. To use the content, insert the DVD in the DVD drive of your computer and copy the files to a location on your hard drive.

Setting up your system

Setting up audio

Always make all connections with all equipment turned off!

Connecting audio

Exactly how to set up your system depends on many different factors, e.g. the kind of project you wish to create, the external equipment you want to use, the computer hardware available to you, etc. Therefore, the following sections can only serve as examples.

How you connect your equipment, i.e. whether you use digital or analog connections, also depends on your individual setup.

Stereo input and output – the simplest connection

If you only use a stereo input and output from Cubase AI, you can connect your audio hardware, e.g. the inputs of your audio card or your audio interface, directly to the input source and the outputs to a power amplifier and speaker.

• External mixing means having a hardware mixing device with a group or bus system that can be used for feeding inputs on your audio hardware.

In the example below, four busses are used for feeding signals to the audio hardware’s inputs. The four outputs are connected back to the mixer for monitoring and playback. Remaining mixer inputs can be used for connecting audio sources like microphones, instruments, etc.

A multi-channel audio setup using an external mixer.

Ö When connecting an input source (like a mixer) to the audio hardware, you should use output buses, sends or similar that are separate from the mixer’s master output to avoid recording what you are playing back. You may also have mixing hardware that can be connected via FireWire.

• When using the Mixer inside Cubase AI, you can use the inputs on your audio hardware to connect microphones and/or external devices. Use the outputs to connect your monitoring equipment.

A simple stereo audio setup.

This is probably the simplest of all setups – once you have set up the internal input and output busses, you can connect your audio source, e.g. a microphone, to your audio interface and start recording.

Multi-channel input and output

Most likely however, you will have other audio equipment that you want to integrate with Cubase AI, using several input and output channels. Depending on the equipment available to you, there are two ways to go: either mixing using an external mixing desk, or mixing using the mixer inside Cubase AI.

Setting up your system

Mixing inside Cubase AI

Recording from a CD player

Most computers come with a CD-ROM drive that can also be used as a regular CD player. In some cases the CD player is internally connected to the audio hardware so that you can record the output of the CD player directly into Cubase AI (consult the audio hardware documentation if you are uncertain).

• All routing and level adjustments for recording from a CD (if available) are done in the audio hardware setup application (see “Making settings for the audio hardware” on page 14).

• You can also grab audio tracks directly from a CD in Cubase AI (see the chapter “File Handling” in the Operation Manual).

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. Please refer to the documentation that came with the audio hardware for details.

It is very important that word clock synchronization is done correctly or there might be clicks and crackles in recordings that you make!

Making settings for the audio hardware

Most audio cards come with one or more small applications that allow you to configure the inputs of the hardware to your liking. This includes:

• Selecting which inputs/outputs are active.

• Setting up word clock synchronization (if available).

• Turning monitoring via the hardware on/off (see “About moni-

toring” on page 16).

• Setting levels for each input. This is very important!

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

• Selecting digital input and output formats.

• Making settings for the audio buffers.

In many cases all available settings for the audio hardware are gathered in a control panel, which can be opened from within Cubase AI as described below (or opened separately, when Cubase AI isn’t running). In some cases, there may be several different applications and panels – please refer to the audio hardware documentation for details.

About recording levels and inputs

When you connect your equipment, you should make sure that the impedance and levels of the audio sources and inputs are matched. Typically, different inputs may be designed for use with microphones, consumer line level (-10 dBV) or professional line level (+4 dBV), or you may be able to adjust input characteristics on the audio interface or in its control panel. Please check the audio hardware documentation for details.

Using the correct types of input is important to avoid distortion or noisy recordings.

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

Setting up your system

Selecting a driver and making audio settings in Cubase AI

The first thing you need to do is select the correct driver in Cubase AI to make sure that the program can communicate with the audio hardware:

1. Launch Cubase AI, select Device Setup from the Devices menu and click on VST Audio System in the Devices list to the left.

The VST Audio System page in the Device Setup dialog.

2. Select your audio hardware driver from the ASIO Driver menu.

There may be several options here that all refer to the same audio hardware. When you have selected a driver, it is added to the Devices list.

Under Windows, we strongly recommend that you access your hardware via an ASIO driver written specifically for the hardware, if available. If no ASIO driver is installed, we recommend that you check with your audio hardware manufacturer if they have an ASIO driver available, for example for download via the Internet.

3. Select the driver in the Devices list to open the Driver settings for your audio hardware.

4. Bring up the control panel for the audio hardware and adjust the settings as recommended by the audio hardware manufacturer.

• Under Windows, you open the control panel by clicking the Control Panel button.

The control panel that appears when you click this button is provided by the audio hardware manufacturer and not Cubase AI (unless you use DirectX, see below). Hence it will be different for each audio card brand and model. The Control panel for the ASIO DirectX driver is an exception, as it is provided by Steinberg, and is described in the dialog help, opened by clicking the Help button in the dialog. See also the notes below.

• Under Mac OS X, you will find the control panel for your

audio hardware in the System Preferences (“Other” section), opened from the Apple menu or from the Dock.

If you are using the built-in audio hardware of the Macintosh, you use the “Sound” control panel in the System Preferences to set levels, balance, etc. If you are using ASIO audio hardware, you can click the Control Panel button to bring up its panel.

5. If you plan to use several audio applications simulta-

neously, you may want to activate the option “Release Driver when Application is in Background” on the VST Audio System page. This will allow another application to play back via your audio hardware even though Cubase AI is running.

The application that is currently active (i.e. the “top window” on the desktop) will get access to the audio hardware. Make sure that any other audio application accessing the audio hardware is also set to release the ASIO (or Mac OS X) driver so Cubase AI can use it when it becomes the active application again.

6. If your audio hardware and its driver support ASIO Di-

rect Monitoring, you may want to activate the Direct Monitoring checkbox on the page for the driver.

Read more about monitoring later in this chapter and in the chapter “Recording” in the Operation Manual.

7. Click Apply and then OK to close the dialog.

If you are using audio hardware with a DirectX driver (Windows only)

If your Windows audio hardware doesn’t have a specific ASIO driver, a DirectX driver is the next best option.

Cubase AI comes with a driver called ASIO DirectX Full Duplex, available for selection on the ASIO Driver pop-up menu (VST Audio System page).

Ö To be able to take full advantage of DirectX Full Duplex, the audio hardware must support WDM (Windows Driver Model) in combination with DirectX version 8.1 or higher.

In all other cases, the audio inputs will be emulated by DirectX (see the dialog help for the ASIO DirectX Full Duplex Setup dialog for details about how this is reported).

Ö During the installation of Cubase AI, the latest DirectX will be installed on your computer.

Setting up your system

When the ASIO DirectX Full Duplex driver is selected in the Device Setup dialog, you can open the ASIO Control Panel and adjust the following settings (for more details, click the Help button in the control panel):

• Direct Sound Output and Input Ports

In the list to the left in the window, all available Direct Sound output and input ports are listed. In many cases, there will be only one port in each list. To activate or deactivate a port in the list, click the checkbox in the left column. If the checkbox is ticked, the port is activated.

• You can edit the Buffer Size and Offset settings in this list if necessary, by double-clicking on the value and typing in a new value.

In most cases, the default settings will work fine. Audio buffers are used when audio data is transferred between Cubase AI and the audio card. While larger buffers ensure that playback will occur without glitches, the latency (the time between the moment Cubase AI sends out the data and when it actually reaches the output) will be higher.

• Offset

If a constant offset is audible during playback of Audio and MIDI recordings, you can adjust the output or input latency time using this value.

Setting up the input and output ports

Once you have selected the driver and made the settings as described above, you need to specify which inputs and outputs should be used and name these:

1. In the Device Setup dialog, select your driver in the Devices list on the left to display the Driver settings for your audio hardware.

2. To hide a port, click in the “Visible” column for the port

(deselecting the checkbox).

Ports that aren’t visible cannot be selected in the VST Connections window where you set up your input and output busses – see “Setting up

the VST Connections” on page 24 and the chapter “VST Connections:

setting up input and output busses” in the Operation Manual.

If you attempt to hide a port that is already used by a bus you will be asked whether this is really what you want – note that this will disable the port!

3. To rename a port, click on its name in the “Show as”

column and type in a new name.

Ö It is a good idea to give your ports names that are related to the channel configuration (rather than to the actual hardware model)!

4. Click OK to close the Device Setup dialog and apply

your changes.

About monitoring

In Cubase AI, monitoring means listening to the input signal while preparing to record or while recording. There are three ways to monitor:

External monitoring

External monitoring (listening to the input signal before it goes into Cubase AI) requires an external mixer for mixing the audio playback with the input signal. This can be a classic mixing desk or a mixer application for your audio hardware, if this has a mode in which the input audio is sent back out again (usually called “Thru”, “Direct Thru” or similar).

All input and output ports on the audio hardware are listed.

Via Cubase AI

In this case, the audio passes from the input into Cubase AI, possibly through Cubase AI effects and EQ and then back to the output. You control monitoring via settings in Cubase AI.

This allows you to control the monitoring level from Cubase AI and add effects to the monitored signal only.

ASIO Direct Monitoring

If your audio hardware is ASIO 2.0 compatible, it may support ASIO Direct Monitoring (this feature may also be available for audio hardware with Mac OS X drivers). In this mode, the actual monitoring is done in the audio hardware,

Setting up your system

by sending the input signal back out again. However, monitoring is controlled from Cubase AI. This means that the audio hardware’s direct monitoring feature can be turned on or off automatically by Cubase AI.

Monitoring is described in detail in the chapter “Recording” in the Operation Manual. However, when setting up, there’s one thing to note:

• If you want to use the external monitoring via your audio hardware, make sure the corresponding functions are activated in the card’s mixer application.

Setting up MIDI

Always make all connections with all equipment turned off!

This section describes how to connect and set up MIDI equipment. If you have no MIDI equipment you can skip this section. Note that this is only an example – you might need or want to hook things up differently!

Connecting the MIDI equipment

In this example we assume that you have a MIDI keyboard and an external MIDI sound module. The keyboard is used both for feeding the computer with MIDI messages for recording and for playing back MIDI tracks. The sound mod-

ule is used for playback only. Using Cubase AI’s MIDI Thru feature (described later) you will be able to hear the correct sound from the sound module while playing the keyboard or recording.

A typical MIDI Setup.

You might want to use even more instruments for playback. If you do, simply connect MIDI Thru on the sound module to MIDI In on the next instrument, and so on. In this hook-up, you will always play the first keyboard when recording. But you can still use all your devices for providing sounds on playback.

Setting MIDI Thru and Local On/Off

In the “MIDI” section in the Preferences dialog (located on the File menu under Windows and on the Cubase AI menu under Mac OS X), you will find a setting called “MIDI Thru Active”. This is related to a setting in your instrument called “Local On/Off” or “Local Control On/Off”.

• If you use a MIDI keyboard instrument, as described earlier in this chapter, MIDI Thru should be activated and that instrument should be set to Local Off (sometimes called Local Control Off – see the instrument’s operation manual for details).

Setting up your system

If you plan to use more than three sound sources we recommend that you either use an interface with more than one output, or a separate MIDI Thru box instead of the Thru jacks on each unit.

The MIDI signal from the keyboard will be recorded in Cubase AI and at the same time be re-routed back to the instrument so that you hear what you are playing, without the keyboard “triggering” its own sounds.

When “MIDI Thru” is active in Cubase AI, MIDI data received is immediately “echoed” back out.

Ö Note: When you change MIDI port settings in the Device Setup dialog, these are automatically applied in the program.

Showing or hiding MIDI Ports

The MIDI ports are listed in the Device Setup dialog on the MIDI Port Setup page. By clicking in the “Visible” column for a MIDI input or output, you can specify whether or not it should be listed on the MIDI pop-up menus in the program.

Ö Hiding a MIDI port from view does not turn it off if it is already selected for a track or a MIDI device.

MIDI data coming in to

MIDI data coming in to the instrument is played

the instrument is played by the “Synth” inside it.

by the “Synth” inside it.

“Synth”

When you press a key, it is sent out via MIDI to Cubase AI.

When Local Control is turned on in the instrument, the keys you press will be played by the “Synth” inside the Instrument. When Local Control is turned off, this connection is cut off.

• If you use a separate MIDI keyboard – one that does not produce any sounds itself – MIDI Thru in Cubase AI should also be activated, but you don’t need to look for any Local On/Off setting in your instruments.

• The only case where MIDI Thru should be deactivated is if you use Cubase AI with only one keyboard instrument and that instrument cannot be set to Local Off mode.

• Note that MIDI Thru will be active only for those MIDI tracks that are record enabled and/or have the Monitor button activated. See the chapter “Recording” in the Operation Manual for more information.

Setting up the “All MIDI Inputs” option

When you record MIDI in Cubase AI, you can specify which MIDI input each recording MIDI track should use. However, you can also select the “In All Inputs” option for an input port, which causes any MIDI data from any MIDI input to be recorded.

The “In All Inputs” option on the MIDI Port Setup page allows you to specify which inputs should be included when you select All MIDI Inputs for a MIDI track. This can be especially useful if your system provides several instances of the same physical MIDI input – by deactivating the duplicates you make sure only the desired MIDI data is recorded.

Ö If you have a MIDI remote control unit connected, you should also make sure to deactivate the “In All Inputs” option for that MIDI input.

This will avoid accidentally recording the data from the remote control when the “All MIDI Inputs” option is selected as input for a MIDI track.

Connecting a synchronizer

Always make all connections with all equipment turned off!

When using Cubase AI with external tape transports you will most likely need to add a synchronizer to your system. All connections and setup procedures for synchronization

chapter

are described in the eration Manual.

“Synchronization” in the Op-

Setting up MIDI ports in Cubase AI

The Device Setup dialog lets you set up your MIDI system in the following ways:

Setting up your system

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