Steinberg Cubase AI - 9.5 Operation Manual

Operation Manual

Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, 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 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. 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.

Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, 2018.

Cubase_9.5.20_en-US_2018-01-19

7 Introduction

7 Platform-Independent Documentation 7 About the Documentation 8 Conventions 9 Key Commands

10 Setting Up Your System

10 Setting Up Audio 17 Setting Up MIDI 20 Connecting a Synchronizer

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 About Monitoring 25 Editing the Bus Configurations

26 Project Window

27 Showing/Hiding Zones 27 Project Zone 37 Left Zone 42 Lower Zone 47 Right Zone 51 Keyboard Focus in the Project Window 52 Zooming in the Project Window 56 Snap Function 59 Cross-Hair Cursor 59 Edit History Dialog

61 Project Handling

61 Creating New Projects 62 Hub 63 Project Assistant 63 About Project Files 64 About Template Files 65 Project Setup Dialog 68 Opening Project Files 69 Saving Project Files 70 Reverting to the Last Saved Version 70 Choosing a Project Location 70 Creating Self-Contained Projects

73 Tracks

73 Track Inspector Settings 74 Track Control Settings 76 Audio Tracks 80 Instrument Tracks 85 MIDI Tracks 89 Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only) 93 Arranger Track 95 Chord Track

96 FX Channel Tracks 100 Folder Tracks 102 Group Channel Tracks 106 Marker Track 107 Ruler Track 108 Video Track

109 Track Handling

109 Adding Tracks 111 Exporting MIDI Tracks as Standard MIDI File 113 Removing Tracks 113 Moving Tracks in the Track List 113 Renaming Tracks 114 Coloring Tracks 114 Showing Track Pictures 116 Setting the Track Height 117 Selecting Tracks 118 Duplicating Tracks 118 Disabling Tracks(Cubase Elements only) 118 Organizing Tracks in Folder Tracks 119 Handling Overlapping Audio 119 How Events are Displayed on Folder Tracks 119 Modifying Event Display on Folder Tracks 120 Track Presets

125 Parts and Events

125 Events 128 Parts 130 Editing Techniques for Parts and Events

141 Range Editing

141 Creating a Selection Range 142 Editing Selection Ranges

145 Playback and Transport

145 Transport Panel 147 Transport Menu 151 Transport 153 Transport Pop-Up Window 154 Time Display Window 155 Left and Right Locators 156 Setting the Project Cursor Position 157 Auto-Scroll 158 Time Formats 159 Pre-Roll and Post-Roll 159 Punch In and Punch Out 160 Metronome Click 165 Chase

166 On-Screen Keyboard

166 Recording MIDI With the On-Screen Keyboard 167 On-Screen Keyboard Options

Table of Contents 

168 Recording

168 Basic Recording Methods 171 Monitoring 173 Audio Recording Specifics 177 MIDI Recording Specifics 183 Remaining Record Time 183 Lock Record

184 Importing Audio and MIDI Files

184 Importing Audio Files 190 Importing MIDI Files

193 Quantizing MIDI and Audio

193 Quantize Functions 194 Quantizing MIDI Event Starts 194 Quantizing MIDI Event Lengths 195 Quantizing MIDI Event Ends 195 Quantizing Audio Event Starts 196 Quantize Panel

202 Fades and Crossfades

202 Event-Based Fades 206 Creating Clip-Based Fades 207 Crossfades 209 Auto Fades and Crossfades

213 Arranger Track(Cubase Elements only)

213 Adding Arranger Events on the Arranger Track 214 Arranger Editor 217 Setting up an Arranger Chain and Adding

Events

219 Jump Mode 221 Arranging Music to Video

222 Markers

222 Position Markers 222 Cycle Markers 223 Markers Window 226 Marker Track 228 Importing and Exporting Markers

229 MixConsole

229 MixConsole in Lower Zone 230 MixConsole Window

261 Audio Effects

261 Insert Effects and Send Effects 263 Insert Effects 267 Send Effects 271 Dither Effects(Cubase Elements only) 272 Effect Control Panel 273 Effect Presets 278 System Component Information Window

280 Direct Offline Processing

281 Direct Offline Processing Workflow 281 Direct Offline Processing Window 284 Built-In Audio Processes 290 Applying Direct Offline Processing Using Key

Commands

291 Time Stretch Algorithms

291 Standard 292 Limitations

293 Audio Functions

293 Detect Silence 295 Spectrum Analyzer 298 Statistics

299 Sample Editor

301 Toolbar 304 Info Line 305 Overview Line 305 Sample Editor Inspector 306 Ruler 307 Waveform Display 308 Range Editing 310 Regions List 312 Snap Point

315 Hitpoints

315 Calculating Hitpoints 318 Locating to Hitpoints in the Project Window 318 Slices 320 Creating a Groove Quantize Map 320 Creating Markers 320 Creating Regions 321 Creating Events 321 Creating MIDI Notes

323 Tempo Matching Audio

323 Algorithm Presets 324 Stretching Audio Events to the Project Tempo 324 Musical Mode

325 Audio Part Editor

327 Toolbar 331 Info Line 331 The Ruler 331 About Lanes 332 Operations

335 Controlling Sample Playback with Sampler

Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

335 Loading Audio Samples into Sampler Control 335 Loading MIDI Parts into Sampler Control 336 Creating Sampler Tracks 336 Sampler Control 345 Sample Editing and Playback Functions 347 Transferring Samples from Sampler Control to

VST Instruments

348 Pool

348 Pool Window 352 Working with the Pool

365 MediaBay

365 Media Rack in Right Zone(not in Cubase LE) 369 MediaBay Window 386 Working with MediaBay-Related Windows 388 Working with Volume Databases 390 MediaBay Settings 391 MediaBay Key Commands

392 Automation

392 Recording your Actions 392 Automation Curves 393 Static Value Line 393 Write/Read Automation 393 MIDI Part Data vs. Track Automation 394 Writing Automation Data 396 Editing Automation Events 400 Automation Tracks

402 VST Instruments

402 Adding VST Instruments(not in Cubase LE) 403 Creating Instrument Tracks

Table of Contents 

403 VST Instruments in the Right Zone(not in

Cubase LE)

404 VST Instruments Window(not in Cubase LE) 404 VST Instruments Toolbar(not in Cubase LE) 405 VST Instrument Controls(not in Cubase LE) 406 Presets for Instruments 408 Playing Back VST Instruments 409 Latency 410 Import and Export Options 411 VST Quick Controls(not in Cubase LE)

414 Installing and Managing Plug-Ins

414 Installing VST Plug-Ins 414 VST Plug-In Manager 417 Compiling a New Effects Collection

418 Remote Controlling Cubase

418 Setting Up 420 Operations 421 The Generic Remote Device 425 The Remote Control Editor(Cubase Elements

only)

431 Apple Remote (macOS only)

433 MIDI Realtime Parameters

433 MIDI Track Parameters 433 MIDI Modifiers 438 Transpose and Velocity on the Info Line

439 Using MIDI devices

439 MIDI devices – general settings and patch

handling

446 MIDI Functions

446 Transpose Setup 447 Merging MIDI Events into a New Part 448 Dissolve Part 450 Repeating MIDI Events of Independent Track

Loops

450 Extending MIDI Notes 451 Fixing MIDI Note Lengths 451 Fixing MIDI Note Velocities 451 Rendering Sustain Pedal Data to Note Lengths 452 Deleting Overlaps 452 Editing Velocity 453 Deleting Double Notes 453 Deleting Controller Data 453 Deleting Continuous Controller Data 454 Restricting Polyphonic Voices 454 Thinning Out Controller Data 454 Extracting MIDI Automation 455 Reversing the Playback Order of MIDI Events 455 Inverting the Order of Selected MIDI Events

456 MIDI Editors

456 Common MIDI Editor Functions 462 Key Editor 473 Key Editor Operations 489 Score Editor 495 Score Editor Operations 502 Drum Editor 515 Drum Editor Operations 519 Drum Maps

524 Chord Functions

524 Chord Track 525 Chord Events 529 Scale Events

530 Voicings 532 Converting Chord Events to MIDI 533 Controlling MIDI Playback Using the Chord

Track

536 Assigning Voices to Notes 536 Extracting Chord Events from MIDI 537 Recording Chord Events with a MIDI Keyboard

538 Chord Pads

538 Chord Pads 541 Functions Menu 541 Preparations 542 Chord Assistant 543 Assigning Chords to Chord Pads 545 Moving and Copying Chord Pads 546 Playing Back and Recording Chords 547 Chord Pad Settings – Remote Control 550 Chord Pad Settings – Players 553 Chord Pad Settings – Pad Layout 553 Chord Pads Presets 554 Creating Events from Chord Pads

555 Editing Tempo and Time Signature

555 Project Tempo Modes 555 Tempo Track Editor 557 Setting up Tempo Changes for Projects 558 Setting up a Fixed Project Tempo 560 Beat Calculator 561 Set Definition From Tempo 562 Time Signature Events

563 Export Audio Mixdown

564 Mixing Down to Audio Files 565 Available Channels for Export 565 File Location 567 File Format 574 Audio Engine Output 575 Import Into Project 576 Post Process

577 Synchronization

577 Background 577 Timecode (positional references) 579 Clock sources (speed references) 580 The Project Synchronization Setup dialog 582 Synchronized operation 583 Working with VST System Link 586 Activating VST System Link

594 Video

594 Video File Compatibility 595 Frame Rates 595 Video Output Devices 596 Preparations for Creating Video Projects 598 Preparations for Video Playback 600 Editing Video

602 ReWire(not in Cubase LE)

602 Introduction 602 Launching and quitting 603 Activating ReWire channels 603 Using the transport and tempo controls 604 How the ReWire channels are handled 604 Routing MIDI via ReWire 605 Considerations and limitations

606 Key Commands

606 Adding Key Commands

Table of Contents 

607 Searching for Key Commands 607 Removing Key Commands 607 Saving Key Commands Presets 608 Loading Key Command Presets 608 Importing Key Command Settings 608 Resetting Key Commands 609 The Default Key Commands 619 Setting Up Tool Modifier Keys

621 Customizing

621 Using the Setup Options 623 Customizing the Meter Colors 624 Customizing the User Interface Colors 624 Color Selector Pane 624 Coloring Tracks, Parts, or Events Manually 625 Auto Track Color Mode 626 Colorizing Track Controls 627 Project Colors Dialog 629 Where are the Settings Stored?

631 Optimizing

631 Optimizing Audio Performance

635 Preferences

635 Preferences Dialog 637 Editing 643 Editors 643 Event Display 647 General 648 MIDI 652 MediaBay 652 Metering 653 Record 655 Transport 656 User Interface 657 VST 659 Video

660 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 Cubase Elements.

Platform-Independent Documentation

The documentation applies to the operating systems Windows and macOS.

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

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.

About the 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.

Quick Start Guide

Covers the following areas without going into details:

●

System requirements, installation procedure, and license activation.

●

Setting up your system.

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.

HALion Sonic SE

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

Introduction Conventions

Groove Agent SE

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

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 fulfill a condition before starting a procedure.

PROCEDURE

Lists the steps that you must take to achieve a specific result.

IMPORTANT

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

Markup

NOTE

Informs you about issues that you should consider.

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.

RELATED LINKS

Lists related topics that you can find in this documentation.

Bold text indicates the name of a menu, option, function, dialog, window, etc.

EXAMPLE

To open the Functions menu, click Functions Menu in the top right corner of the MixConsole.

If bold text is separated by a greater-than symbol, this indicates a sequence of different menus to open.

EXAMPLE

Select Project> Add Track.

Introduction Key Commands

Key Commands

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

When key commands with modifier keys are described in this manual, they are shown with the Windows modifier key first followed by the macOS and the key:

●

Windows modifier key/macOS modifier key-Z

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 amplifier 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

About 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 microphones, 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 specifically for the hardware. If no ASIO driver is installed, contact the manufacturer of your audio hardware for information on available ASIO drivers. If no specific 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:

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

VST Audio System

In the VST Audio System section you can select an ASIO driver for your audio hardware.

● To open the VST Audio System section, select Studio> Studio Setup and select VST Audio

●

On Windows, click Control Panel.

●

On macOS, click Open Config 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 (Windows only) are provided by Steinberg.

System in the Devices list.

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 64 bit. This way, all channels are processed and mixed in 64-bit floating point.

NOTE

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

VST2 plug-ins and instruments are always processed with 32-bit precision.

To show all plug-ins that support 64-bit processing, open the VST Plug-in Manager and activate Show Plug-ins That Support 64-Bit Processing in the Display Options pop-up menu.

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 too.

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 realtime 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 to account during recording.

Record Shift

Allows you to shift the recordings by the specified value.

RELATED LINKS

VST Plug-In Manager Window on page 414

Setting Up Your System Setting Up Audio

ASIO Driver Setup

This section allows you to set up your ASIO driver.

● To open the section 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.

Ports Reset

Allows you to reset all port names and visibilities.

I/O

The port input/output status.

Setting Up Your System Setting Up Audio

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 notified 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 field on the 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.

RESULT

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

Setting Up Your System Setting Up Audio

Audio Hardware Configuration

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.

Plug and Play Support for ASIO Devices

The Steinberg UR hardware series supports plug and play in Cubase. These devices can be plugged in and switched on while the application is running. Cubase automatically uses the driver of the UR series and re-maps the Audio Connections accordingly.

Steinberg cannot guarantee that this works with other hardware. If you are unsure of whether your device supports plug and play, refer to the documentation of your device.

IMPORTANT

If a device that does not support plug and play is connected or disconnected while the computer is running, it can get damaged.

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 on page 14

Setting Up Your System Setting Up MIDI

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.

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 171 Monitoring via Cubase on page 171 ASIO Direct Monitoring on page 172

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

Setting Up Your System Setting Up MIDI

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.

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 All MIDI Inputs for a MIDI track.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio> Studio Setup.

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

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

4. Click OK.

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 specified in the MIDI Port Setup.

MIDI Port Setup

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

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

Setup in the Devices list.

Setting Up Your System Setting Up MIDI

The following colums are displayed:

Device

The connected MIDI devices.

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 MIDI ports.

State

The state of the MIDI port.

In 'All MIDI Inputs'

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.

Setting Up Your System Connecting a Synchronizer

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.

Connecting a Synchronizer

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.

RELATED LINKS

Synchronization on page 577

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 Input and Output tabs allow you to set up and configure 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 configuration.

Presets

Opens the Presets menu, where you can select bus configuration presets. Store

allows you to save a bus configuration 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 configuration (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 the first port that is used by this bus is visible.

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 configuration 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 69

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, configure 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 configuration.

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

Presets for Input and Output Busses

For input and output bus configurations, you can use different kinds of presets.

●

A number of standard bus configurations.

●

Automatically created presets tailored to your specific hardware configuration.

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 configurations. If you create a new empty project, these default presets are applied. To create default presets, save your preferred input and output bus configurations under the name Default. If you have not defined default presets, the last used input and output bus configuration is applied when creating a new empty project.

Saving a Bus Configuration Preset

You can save your own input and output bus configuration as presets.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio> Audio Connections.

2. Set up your bus configuration.

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 Configuration 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.

About Monitoring

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

RELATED LINKS

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

Audio Connections Editing the Bus Configurations

Editing the Bus Configurations

After you have set up all the required busses for a project you can edit the names and change port assignments. The bus configuration 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 in the Audio Connections window.

●

To change a port assignment, click in the Device Port column of a bus and select a new port.

●

To assign different ports to the selected busses, open the Device Port pop-up menu for the first selected entry, press Shift, and select a device port.

All subsequent busses are automatically connected to the next available port.

●

To assign the same port to all selected busses, open the Device Port pop-up menu for the first 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.

●

To use incrementing numbers, select the busses that you want to rename and enter a new name for one of the busses, followed by a number.

For example, if you have 8 inputs that you want to be named “In 1, In 2, …, In 8”, you select all the busses and enter the name In 1 for the first bus. All other busses are then renamed automatically.

●

To use letters from the alphabet, select the busses that you want to rename and enter a new name for one of the busses, followed by a space and a capital letter.

For example, if you have 3 FX channels that you want to be named “FX A, FX B, and FX C”, you select all the channels and enter the name FX A for the first. All other channels are renamed automatically. The last letter that can be used is Z. If you have more selected entries than there are letters available, the remaining entries are skipped.

NOTE

You can begin renaming from any position in the list. The renaming starts from the bus where you edit the name, goes down the list to the bottom, and then continues from the top until all selected busses have been renamed.

Identifying 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 first 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.

3 Lower Zone

Project Window Showing/Hiding Zones

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 27 Left Zone on page 37 Lower Zone on page 42 Right Zone on page 47 Toolbar on page 28

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.

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 for the project zone.

●

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.

NOTE

The project zone is always shown.

Project Window Project Zone

RELATED LINKS

Track List on page 31 Event Display on page 32 Ruler on page 32 Status Line on page 33 Info Line on page 34 Overview Line on page 35 Transport on page 35

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

This button is only available if more than one project is open.

Allows you to activate a project.

Project History

Allows you to undo/redo actions in the Project window.

Project Window Project Zone

Constrain Delay Compensation

Allows you to minimize the latency effects of the delay compensation.

Left Divider

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

Media & MixConsole Windows

These buttons allow you to open or close the MediaBay, the Pool, and the MixConsole.

State Buttons

These buttons show the mute, solo, listen, and automation states.

Auto-Scroll

Allows you to keep the project cursor visible during playback.

Transport Buttons

Shows the main transport controls.

External Sync State

Allows you to activate/deactivate external synchronization and to open the Project Synchronization Setup dialog.

Arranger Controls

Shows the controls for the arranger track.

Tool Buttons

Shows the buttons for editing in the project zone.

Color Menu

Allows you to define the project colors.

Nudge Palette

Allows you to nudge or trim events or parts.

Snap to Zero Crossing

If this option is activated, it finds zero crossings when you split and size audio events.

Project Window Project Zone

Snap On/Off

Allows you to activate/deactivate snap to restrict horizontal movement and positioning to certain positions.

Snap Type

Allows you to specify to what positions you want events to snap.

Grid Type

Allows you to specify a grid type for the snap function. This setting only has effect if

Snap Type is set to one of the grid options.

Quantize

Allows you to move recorded audio or MIDI to musical relevant positions.

System Performance Meter

Shows the meters for ASIO time usage and hard disk transfer load.

Right Divider

Allows you to use the right divider. Tools that are placed to the right of the divider are always shown.

Window Zone Controls

Allows you to show or hide the left zone, the lower zone, and the right zone of the Project window. The Setup Window Layout pop-up menu allows you to show or hide the status line, the info line, the overview line, and the Transport.

Set Up Toolbar

Opens a pop-up menu where you can set up which toolbar elements are visible.

RELATED LINKS

Left/Right Toolbar Divider on page 30 Snap Types on page 57 Arranger Track(Cubase Elements only) on page 213 Markers on page 222 Automation on page 392 Synchronization on page 577

Left/Right Toolbar Divider

The left and right toolbar dividers allow you to lock the position of specific tools at the left or at the right side of the toolbar, so that they are always shown.

All other items are shown in the center of the toolbar. When you reduce the width of the Project window, these toolbar items are hidden successively. When you increase the width, they are shown again.

Project Window Project Zone

Toolbox

The toolbox makes the editing tools from the toolbar available at the mouse pointer position. It can be opened instead of the standard context menus in the event display and editors.

● To activate the toolbox function, activate Pop-up Toolbox on Right-Click in the Preferences dialog (Editing—Tools page).

● To open the toolbox, right-click in the event display or editor.

If Pop-up Toolbox on Right-Click is deactivated, the context menu opens.

● To open the context menu instead of the toolbox, press any modifier key and right-click in the event display or editor.

If Pop-up Toolbox on Right-Click is deactivated, press any modifier key to open the toolbox instead of the context menu.

● To change the number of rows in which the tools are arranged on the toolbox, keep the right mouse button pressed on the toolbox until the mouse pointer changes to a double arrow, and drag to the bottom or right.

Track List

The track list shows the tracks that are used in the project. When a track is added and selected, it contains name fields and settings for this track.

●

To decide which controls are visible for each track type, right-click the track list and open the Track Controls Settings dialog.

RELATED LINKS

Track Control Settings on page 74

Dividing the Track List

You can divide the track list into an upper track list and a lower track list. These track lists can have independent zoom and scroll controls.

Dividing the track list is useful if you are working with a video track and multi-track audio, for example. It allows you to place the video track in the upper track list and to scroll the audio tracks separately in the lower track list, so that they can be arranged with the video.

●

To divide the track list, select Project> Divide Track List.

Project Window Project Zone

Video, marker, or arranger tracks are automatically moved to the upper track list. All other track types are moved to the lower track list.

●

Event Display

The event display shows the parts and events that are used in the project. They are positioned along the timeline.

You can also click Divide Track List in the top right corner of the Project window below the ruler.

To move any type of track from the lower track list to the upper and vice versa, right-click it in the track list and select Toggle Track List from the context menu.

To resize the upper part of the track list, click and drag the divider between the track list sections.

To revert to a single track list, click Divide Track List again.

Ruler

The ruler shows the timeline and the display format of the project.

Initially, the Project window ruler uses the display format that is specified in the Project Setup dialog.

●

To select an independent display format for the ruler, click the arrow button to the right of the ruler and select an option from the pop-up menu.

●

To set the display format globally for all windows, use the primary display format pop-up on the Transport panel, or hold down Ctrl/Cmd and select a display format in any ruler.

Project Window Project Zone

RELATED LINKS

Project Setup Dialog on page 65

Ruler Display Formats

You can select a display format for the ruler.

● To select a new display format for the ruler, click the arrow button to the right of the ruler and select an option from the pop-up menu.

The selection that you make affects the time display formats in the following areas:

● Ruler

● Info line

● Tooltip position values

Status Line

The following options are available:

Bars+Beats

Bars, beats, sixteenth notes, and ticks. By default, there are 120 ticks per sixteenth note. To change this, adjust the MIDI Display Resolution setting in the Preferences dialog (MIDI page).

Seconds

Hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds.

Timecode

Hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. The number of frames per second (fps) is set in the Project Setup dialog with the Frame Rate pop-up menu. To display subframes, activate Show Timecode Subframes in the Preferences dialog (Transport page).

Samples

Samples.

Time Linear

Sets the ruler linear to time.

Bars+Beats Linear

Sets the ruler linear to bars and beats.

The status line shows the most important project settings.

To activate the status line, click Set up Window Layout on the toolbar and activate Status Line.

The following information is shown on the status line:

Project Window Project Zone

Audio Inputs/Audio Outputs

These fields are shown if the audio device ports are not connected. Click to open the

Audio Connections dialog and connect the ports.

Max. Record Time

Displays the remaining time for recording, depending on your project settings and the available hard disk space. Click in this field to display the remaining record time in a separate window.

Record Format

Displays the sample rate and the bit resolution used for recording. Click in this field to open the Project Setup dialog.

Project Frame Rate

Displays the frame rate used in the project. Click in this field to open the Project Setup dialog.

Project Pan Law

Displays the current pan law setting. Click in this field to open the Project Setup dialog.

Info Line

The info line shows information about the event or part that you selected in the project zone.

To activate the info line, click Set up Window Layout on the toolbar and activate Info Line.

Editing on the Info Line

You can edit almost all event or part data on the info line using regular value editing.

If you select several events or parts, the info line is shown in another color and only the information about the first item in the selection is displayed. The following rules apply:

●

Value changes are applied to all selected elements, relatively to the current values.

For example, you have selected two audio events. The first event has a length of 1 bar, the second of 2 bars. If you change the info line value to 3, the first event is resized to 3 bars and the second event to 4 bars.

●

Value changes are applied absolutely to the current values if you press Ctrl/Cmd while modifying the value on the info line.

In the example above, both events are resized to 3 bars.

NOTE

To change the modifier, select a new modifier in the Info Line category of the Preferences dialog (Editing—Tool Modifiers page).

Project Window Project Zone

Overview Line

The overview line allows you to zoom and navigate to other sections in the project.

To activate the overview line, click Set up Window Layout on the toolbar and activate Overview Line.

In the overview line, events and parts are displayed as boxes. A rectangle indicates the section of the project that is displayed in the event display.

●

Transport

To zoom the event display in or out horizontally, resize the rectangle by dragging the edges.

To navigate to another section of the event display, drag the rectangle to the left or right, or click in the upper part of the overview.

The Transport allows display the transport functions in an integrated and fixed zone of the Project window.

● To activate the Transport, click Set up Window Layout on the Project window toolbar and activate Transport.

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

The following options are available:

Constrain Delay Compensation

Allows you to minimize the latency effects of the delay compensation.

Common Record Modes

Allow you to determine what happens if you click Record during an audio or MIDI recording.

Audio Record Modes

Allow you to select what happens when you record over existing audio events.

MIDI Record Modes

Allow you to select what happens when you record over existing MIDI parts.

Project Window Project Zone

Left Divider

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

System Performance Meter

Shows the meters for ASIO time usage and hard disk transfer load.

Locators

Allows you to go to the left or right locator position, and to set the left and right locator position numerically.

Punch Points

Allows you to activate/deactivate Punch In and Punch Out. These points determine the record start and stop positions.

Main Transport

Shows the main transport controls.

Time Displays

Shows the time display options.

Pre-roll & Post-roll

Allows you to activate/deactivate pre-roll and post-roll, and to set the values numerically.

Tempo & Time Signature

Allows you to activate/deactivate the tempo track, and to set the tempo value and the first time signature value numerically.

External Sync State

Allows you to activate/deactivate external synchronization and to open the Project Synchronization Setup dialog.

Click & Count-In

Allows you to activate/deactivate the metronome click and the metronome click in count-in.

Right Divider

Project Window Left Zone

Left Zone

Allows you to use the right divider. Tools that are placed to the right of the divider are always shown.

Input/Output Activity

Allows you to monitor the MIDI input/output signals, the audio input/output signals, and allows you to control the output level.

RELATED LINKS

Common Record Modes on page 170 Audio Record Modes on page 175 MIDI Record Modes on page 181 Left/Right Toolbar Divider on page 30

The left zone of the Project window allows you to display the Inspector.

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

The left zone shows the Inspector.

Project Window Left Zone

Inspector

RELATED LINKS

Inspector on page 38

The Inspector allows you to show controls and parameters for either the selected track in the track list or the event or part that is shown in the editor in the lower zone.

The bottom of the left zone features two tabs: Track and Editor.

●

Click the Track tab to open the Track Inspector for the selected track.

●

Click the Editor tab to open the Editor Inspector for the event or part that is shown in the editor in the lower zone.

RELATED LINKS

Opening the Track Inspector on page 38 Opening the Editor Inspector on page 39 Opening the Editor in the Lower Zone on page 46

Opening the Track Inspector

The Track Inspector shows controls and parameters for the selected track in the track list.

PROCEDURE

1. Click Show/Hide Left Zone on the Project window toolbar to activate the Left Zone.

Project Window Left Zone

2. At the bottom of the left zone, click the Track tab.

RESULT

The Track Inspector for the selected track in the track list is opened. If more than one track is selected, the controls and parameters for the topmost selected track are shown.

Opening the Editor Inspector

The Editor Inspector shows controls and parameters for the event or part that is shown in the editor in the lower zone.

PREREQUISITE

The Sample Editor, the Key Editor, the Drum Editor or the Score Editor is shown in the lower zone.

PROCEDURE

1. Click Show/Hide Left Zone on the Project window toolbar to activate the Left Zone.

2. At the bottom of the left zone, click the Editor tab.

Project Window Left Zone

RESULT

The Editor Inspector for the event or part that is shown in the editor in the lower zone is opened.

NOTE

The Editor Inspector only contains information if the lower zone shows an editor. Otherwise, it is empty.

RELATED LINKS

Opening the Editor in the Lower Zone on page 46

Inspector Sections

The Track Inspector and the Editor Inspector are divided into a number of sections that each contain different controls for the track, event or part.

Not all Inspector sections are shown by default. The available sections depend on the type of the selected track, event, or part, and on the settings in the setup dialog for the Track Inspector/Editor Inspector.

●

To open/close sections, click their names.

Opening one section closes the other sections.

●

To open a section without closing the other sections, Ctrl/Cmd-click the section name.

Project Window Left Zone

RELATED LINKS

Inspector Settings Dialog on page 41 Audio Track Inspector on page 76 Instrument Track Inspector on page 81 MIDI Track Inspector on page 85 Sampler Track Inspector on page 90 Arranger Track Inspector on page 93 Marker Track Inspector on page 106 Video Track Inspector on page 108 Key Editor Inspector on page 471 Drum Editor Inspector on page 511 Sample Editor Inspector on page 305

Inspector Settings Dialog

The Inspector settings dialogs allow you to set up the sections that are available in the Track Inspector and the Editor Inspector.

●

To open the Setup dialog for the Track Inspector settings, click Setup Inspector in the Track Inspector, and from the pop-up menu select Setup.

●

To open the Setup dialog for the Editor Inspector settings, click Setup Inspector in the Editor Inspector, and from the pop-up menu select Setup.

NOTE

This is only available for the Key Editor, the Drum Editor and the Score Editor.

Project Window Lower Zone

Hidden Items

Displays sections that are hidden in the Inspector.

Visible Items

Add

Remove

Move Up/Move Down

Presets

Reset All

Lower Zone

Displays sections that are visible in the Inspector.

If you activate Pin by clicking the column for a section the open/close status of the selected Inspector section is pinned.

Allows you to move an item selected in the hidden sections list to the list of visible sections.

Allows you to move an item selected in the visible sections list to the list of hidden sections.

Allows you to change the order of an item in the list of visible sections.

Allows you to save Inspector section settings as presets.

Allows you to restore the default Inspector section settings.

The lower zone of the Project window allows you to display specific windows and editors in an integrated and fixed zone of the Project window. This is useful if you work on single screen systems and notebooks, for example.

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

The lower zone features the following tabs: Chord Pads, MixConsole, Sampler Control(Cubase Elements only), and Editor.

Project Window Lower Zone

To close the lower zone, click Close Lower Zone to the left of the tabs.

RELATED LINKS

Opening Chord Pads on page 44 Opening MixConsole in the Lower Zone on page 44 Opening Sampler Control(Cubase Elements only) on page 45 Opening the Editor in the Lower Zone on page 46

Setting up the Lower Zone

In the lower zone, the tabs MixConsole, Editor, Sampler Control(Cubase Elements only), and Chord Pads are shown. You can change the order of these tabs, and you can hide tabs that you

do not need.

PROCEDURE

1. Click Set up Lower Zone in the bottom right of the lower zone.

2. Do one of the following:

●

Activate/Deactivate the options in the pop-up menu to show/hide tabs from the lower zone.

●

Select Setup to open a dialog where you can activate/deactivate the tabs and change their position.

Project Window Lower Zone

NOTE

In the Presets section of this dialog you can also save a preset of your tab configuration.

RESULT

The tabs in the lower zone are shown according to your configuration.

Opening Chord Pads

Chord Pads allow you to play with chords, and to change their voicings and tensions.

PREREQUISITE

The Chord Pads tab is activated in the Lower Zone Setup.

PROCEDURE

1. Click Show/Hide Lower Zone on the Project window toolbar to activate the lower zone.

2. At the bottom of the lower zone, click the Chord Pads tab.

RESULT

The Chord Pads are opened.

RELATED LINKS

Chord Pads on page 538 Setting up the Lower Zone on page 43

Opening MixConsole in the Lower Zone

The MixConsole in the lower zone allows you to perform all basic mixing procedures from within the lower zone of the Project window, and at the same time to see the context of your tracks and events.

PROCEDURE

1. Click Show/Hide Lower Zone on the Project window toolbar to activate the lower zone.

2. At the bottom of the lower zone, click the MixConsole tab.

Project Window Lower Zone

RESULT

The MixConsole is opened in the lower zone.

RELATED LINKS

MixConsole in Lower Zone on page 229

Opening Sampler Control(Cubase Elements only)

Sampler Control allows you display and edit the waveform of an audio sample on a sampler

track.

PROCEDURE

1. Click Show/Hide Lower Zone on the Project window toolbar to activate the lower zone.

2. At the bottom of the lower zone, click the Sampler Control tab.

RESULT

Sampler Control is opened.

RELATED LINKS

Controlling Sample Playback with Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only) on page 335

Project Window Lower Zone

Opening the Editor in the Lower Zone

The Editor in the lower zone allows you to perform event editing procedures from within the lower zone of the Project window, and at the same time to see the context of your tracks and events.

NOTE

By default, double-clicking an audio event/part or a MIDI part in the event display or selecting it and pressing Return opens the corresponding editor in the lower zone of the Project window. Using a menu command opens a separate editor window. You can change this in the Preferences dialog (Editors page).

PROCEDURE

1. Click Show/Hide Lower Zone on the Project window toolbar to activate the lower zone.

2. At the bottom of the lower zone, click the Editor tab.

3. In the event display, do one of the following:

●

Select a MIDI part.

●

Select an audio event.

●

Select an audio part.

RESULT

Depending on your event or part selection the lower zone shows either the Audio Part Editor, the Sample Editor or one of the MIDI Editors.

NOTE

To change the default MIDI editor, select MIDI> Set up Editor Preferences, and select an option from the Default MIDI Editor pop-up menu.

NOTE

If you open the editor and no event or part is selected, the editor in the lower zone is empty.

RELATED LINKS

Selecting a different MIDI Editor on page 47

Project Window Right Zone

Selecting a different MIDI Editor

You can display the MIDI part that is opened in the editor in the lower zone in a different MIDI editor. To do this, you do not necessarily need to change the default MIDI editor.

PROCEDURE

1. On the Editor tab in the editor in the lower zone, click Select MIDI Editor.

2. Select an editor from the pop-up menu.

RESULT

The MIDI part is displayed in the selected editor.

NOTE

This selection is temporary. Next time you open the MIDI part, the default MIDI editor is used.

Right Zone

The right zone of the Project window allows you to display the VSTi rack and the Media rack(not in Cubase LE).

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

The top of the right zone features the following tabs: VSTi and Media.

Project Window Right Zone

NOTE

You can show/hide specific tabs from the right zone by right-clicking a tab header and activating/ deactivating the options in the context menu.

RELATED LINKS

VSTi Rack in the Right Zone on page 48 Media Rack in the Right Zone on page 50

Opening the VSTi Rack in the Right Zone(not in Cubase LE)

You can show the VSTi rack in the right zone of the Project window. This allows you to add and edit VST instruments, and at the same time to see the context of your tracks and events.

PROCEDURE

1. Click Show/Hide Right Zone on the Project window toolbar to activate the Right Zone.

2. At the top of the right zone, click the VSTi tab.

RESULT

The VSTi rack is opened in the right zone of the Project window.

RELATED LINKS

VSTi Rack in the Right Zone on page 48 VST Instruments on page 402

VSTi Rack in the Right Zone

The VSTi rack in the right zone of the Project window allow you to add and edit VST instruments in the context of the Project window.

The following sections are available:

Project Window Right Zone

● Track

Shows the associated VST instrument for an instrument track.

● Rack

Shows a VST instrument.

The following controls are available:

1 Add Track Instrument

Opens the Add Instrument Track dialog that allows you to select an instrument and add an instrument track that is associated to this instrument.

2 Find Instruments

Opens a selector that allows you to find a loaded instrument.

3 Set Remote-Control Focus for VST Quick Controls to Previous/Next Instrument

Allows you to set the remote-control focus to the next/previous instrument.

4 Show/Hide all VST Quick Controls

Shows/Hides the default quick controls for all loaded instruments.

5 Settings

Opens the Settings menu where you can activate/deactivate the following modes:

● Show VST Quick Controls for One Slot Only shows the VST Quick Controls

exclusively for the selected instrument.

● MIDI Channel follows track selection ensures that the Channel selector follows

the MIDI track selection in the Project window. Use this mode if you work with multitimbral instruments.

● Remote-Control Focus for VST Quick Controls follows track selection ensures

that the VST Quick Control remote-control focus follows the track selection.

RELATED LINKS

VST Instruments Window(not in Cubase LE) on page 404

Opening the Media Rack in the Right Zone

You can show the Media rack in the right zone of the Project window. This allows you to see the context of your tracks and events when you drag audio events, MIDI parts, presets, or instruments into the Project window.

PROCEDURE

1. Click Show/Hide Right Zone on the Project window toolbar to activate the Right Zone.

2. At the top of the right zone, click the Media tab.

Project Window Right Zone

RESULT

The Media rack is opened in the right zone of the Project window.

RELATED LINKS

Media Rack in the Right Zone on page 50 MediaBay on page 365

Media Rack in the Right Zone

The Media rack in the right zone of the Project window allows you to drag audio events, MIDI parts, or instrument presets into the event display. It lists Steinberg factory content and any installed Steinberg content sets.

Project Window Keyboard Focus in the Project Window

The Media rack Home page is divided into several sections:

Allows you to search media files by name or by attribute.

Navigation Controls

Allow you to go back to the previous page, to the Home page , or to any subpage.

Show All Items

Shows the Results page for a selected tile. If no tile is selected, all media files are shown.

Instruments Tile

Shows all included VST instruments.

Loops & Samples Tile

Shows audio loops, MIDI loops, or instrument sounds ordered by content set.

Presets Tile

Shows the track presets, strip presets, FX chain presets, and VST FX presets.

User Presets Tile

Shows track presets, strip presets, pattern banks, FX chain presets, VST FX presets, and instrument presets that are listed in the User Content folder.

Shows the track presets, strip presets, FX chain presets, and VST FX presets.

Favorites Tile

Shows your favorite folders and allows you to add new favorites. The folder content is automatically added to the MediaBay database.

File Browser Tile

Shows your file system and the pre-defined folders Favorites, This Computer, VST Sound, Factory Content, and User Content where you can search for media files

and access them immediately.

RELATED LINKS

Favorites Section on page 373 Media Rack in Right Zone(not in Cubase LE) on page 365 MediaBay on page 365

Keyboard Focus in the Project Window

The different zones in the Project window can be controlled by using key commands. To make sure that a key command has effect on a specific zone, you must make sure that this zone has the keyboard focus.

The following Project window zones can have the keyboard focus:

●

Project zone

●

Left zone

●

Lower zone

●

Right zone

If a zone has the keyboard focus, the border that surrounds it is highlighted in a specific color.

Project Window Zooming in the Project Window

NOTE

You can change the focus color in the Preferences dialog (User Interface—Custom Colors page).

RELATED LINKS

Project Zone on page 27 Left Zone on page 37 Lower Zone on page 42 Right Zone on page 47 Project Window on page 26

Activating Keyboard Focus for a Zone

You can activate the keyboard focus for a zone by clicking with the mouse and by using key commands.

PROCEDURE

● Do one of the following:

●

To activate any zone, click in it.

●

To activate the next zone, press Tab. This allows you to cycle forward through the zones.

●

To activate the previous zone, press Shift-Tab.

NOTE

The editor in the lower zone automatically gets the keyboard focus if you double-click an event or part in the event display, if you select an event or part and press Return, or if you use key commands to open the zone.

RESULT

The keyboard focus is activated for this zone and the border of the zone is highlighted.

NOTE

The project zone and the lower zone have separate toolbars and info lines. If you use the toolbar or the info line for one of these zones, the corresponding zone automatically gets the focus.

RELATED LINKS

Customizing the User Interface Colors on page 624

Zooming in the Project Window

You can zoom in the Project window according to the standard zoom techniques.

NOTE

If screen redraws are slow on your system, consider activating Quick Zoom in the Preferences dialog (Editing page).

Project Window Zooming in the Project Window

Zooming Horizontally

● Select the Zoom tool and click in the event display to zoom in. To zoom out, hold down Alt and click.

● Use the horizontal zoom sliders to zoom in and out.

● Click the lower half of the ruler and drag down to zoom in horizontally. Click the lower half of the ruler and drag up to zoom out horizontally.

● Click H to zoom in horizontally. Click G to zoom out horizontally.

NOTE

If the Grid Type in the Project window toolbar is set to Adapt to Zoom, the horizontal zoom level affects the grid and snap resolution in the event display.

Zooming Vertically

● Select the Zoom tool, click in the event display, and drag a selection rectangle to zoom in vertically and horizontally.

NOTE

For this to work, you must deactivate the Zoom Tool Standard Mode: Horizontal Zooming Only option in the Preferences dialog (Editing—Tools page).

● Use the vertical zoom sliders to zoom in and out. If you have made any individual track height adjustments, the relative height differences are maintained.

● Click Shift-H to zoom in vertically. Click Shift-G to zoom out vertically.

RELATED LINKS

Zoom Submenu on page 54 Zoom Presets on page 54 Zooming In On Cycle Markers on page 55 Zoom History on page 56 Grid Types on page 58

Zooming in on Audio Contents

You can zoom in vertically on the contents of audio parts and events. This is useful when viewing quiet audio passages.

PROCEDURE

● Click the waveform zoom slider in the top right corner of the event display and drag up.

RESULT

The contents of audio parts and events in your project are zoomed in vertically.

AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK

To get an approximate reading on the level of the audio events by viewing the waveforms, zoom out by dragging the slider is all the way down again. Otherwise, zoomed waveforms may be mistaken for clipped audio.

Project Window Zooming in the Project Window

Zoom Submenu

The Zoom submenu contains options for zooming in the Project window.

● To open the Zoom submenu, select Edit> Zoom.

The following options are available:

Zoom In/Out

Zooms in/out one step, centering on the project cursor.

Zoom Full

Zooms out so that the whole project is visible. The whole project means the timeline from the project start to the length set in the Project Setup dialog.

Zoom to Selection

Zooms in horizontally and vertically so that the current selection fills the screen.

Zoom to Selection (Horiz.)

Zooms in horizontally so that the current selection fills the screen.

Zoom to Event

This option is available in the Sample Editor and in some MIDI editors.

Zoom In/Out Vertically

Zoom In/Out Tracks

Zoom Selected Tracks

Undo/Redo Zoom

RELATED LINKS

Zoom Submenu on page 308

Zoom Presets

You can create zoom presets that allow you to set up different zoom settings. For example, one where the whole project is displayed in the Project window and another with a high zoom factor for detailed editing. The Zoom Presets pop-up menu allows you to select, create, and organize zoom presets.

●

Zooms in/out one step vertically.

Zooms the selected tracks in/out one step vertically.

This zooms in vertically on the selected tracks and minimizes the height of all other tracks.

These options allow you to undo/redo the last zoom operation.

To open the Zoom Presets pop-up menu, click the button to the left of the horizontal zoom control.

The upper part of the menu lists the zoom presets.

Project Window Zooming in the Project Window

●

To save the current zoom setting as a preset, open the Zoom Presets pop-up menu and select Add. In the Type In Preset Name dialog that opens, type in a name for the preset and click OK.

●

To select and apply a preset, select it from the Zoom Presets pop-up menu.

●

To zoom out so that the whole project is visible, open the Zoom Presets pop-up menu and select Zoom Full.

This displays the project from the project start to the length that is set in the Project Setup dialog.

●

To delete a preset, open the Zoom Presets pop-up menu and select Organize. In the dialog that opens, select the preset in the list and click Delete.

●

To rename a preset, open the Zoom Presets pop-up menu and select Organize. In the dialog that opens, select a preset in the list and click Rename. In the dialog that opens, type in a new name for the preset. Click OK to close the dialogs.

IMPORTANT

Zoom presets are global for all projects. They are available in all projects that you open or create.

Zooming In On Cycle Markers

You can zoom in on the area between cycle markers in the project.

●

To zoom in on a cycle marker, click the button to the left of the horizontal zoom control to open the Zoom Presets pop-up menu and select a cycle marker.

The middle part of the Zoom Presets pop-up menu lists any cycle markers that you have added to the project.

NOTE

Only the cycle markers that you create in the current project are available on the menu.

If you select a cycle marker, the event display is zoomed in to encompass the marker area.

You cannot edit the cycle markers in the Zoom Presets pop-up menu.

RELATED LINKS

Markers Window on page 223

Project Window Snap Function

Zoom History

You can undo and redo zoom operations. This way you can zoom in several steps and then easily go back to the zoom stage at which you started.

You can undo and redo zoom operations in the following ways:

●

To undo zoom, select Edit> Zoom> Undo Zoom or double-click with the zoom tool.

●

To redo zoom, select Edit> Zoom> Redo Zoom or press Alt and double-click with the zoom tool.

Snap Function

The Snap function helps you to find exact positions when editing in the Project window. It does this by restricting horizontal movement and positioning to certain positions. Operations affected by Snap include moving, copying, drawing, sizing, splitting, range selection, etc.

●

To activate/deactivate Snap, activate/deactivate the Snap icon on the toolbar.

Setting the Snap Point(Cubase Elements only)

You can set the snap point at any position of the audio event.

PROCEDURE

1. Select an event.

2. Place the project cursor at a position within the selected audio event.

3. Select Audio> Snap Point To Cursor.

RESULT

The snap point is set at the cursor position. The snap point for an event is displayed as a vertical line in the Project window.

NOTE

You can also set the snap point in the Sample Editor.

RELATED LINKS

Adjusting the Snap Point on page 313

Snap to Zero Crossing

When splitting and sizing audio events, sudden amplitude changes can cause pops and clicks. To avoid this, you can activate Snap to Zero Crossing to snap to points where the amplitude is zero.

● To activate Snap to Zero Crossing, activate Snap to Zero Crossing on the toolbar.

Project Window Snap Function

Snap Types

You can select between different snap types to determine the snap point.

● To select a snap type, open the Snap Type pop-up menu.

The following snap types are available:

Grid

If this option is activated, the snap points are set with the Grid Type pop-up menu. The options depend on the display format that is selected for the ruler.

If you select Seconds as ruler format, time-based grid options are available.

If you select Bars+Beats as a ruler format, musical grid options are available.

Grid Relative

If this option is activated, events and parts are not magnetic to the grid. Rather, the grid determines the step size for moving the events. This means that a moved event keeps its original position relative to the grid.

For example, if an event starts at the position 3.04.01, snap is set to Grid Relative and the Grid Type pop-up menu is set to Bar, you can move the event in steps of one bar to the positions 4.04.01, 5.04.01, and so on.

NOTE

This only applies when dragging existing events or parts. When you create new events or parts this snap type works like Grid.

Events

If this option is activated, the start and end positions of other events and parts become magnetic. This means that if you drag an event to a position near the start or end of another event, it is automatically aligned with the start or end of the other event.

For audio events, the position of the snap point is also magnetic. This includes marker events on the marker track.

Shuffle

Shuffle is useful when you want to change the order of adjacent events. If you have two adjacent events and drag the first one to the right, past the second event, the two events will change places.

Project Window Snap Function

The same principle works when changing the order of more than two events.

Magnetic Cursor

This grid type lets the project cursor become magnetic. Dragging an event near the cursor causes the event to be aligned with the cursor position.

Grid + Cursor

This is a combination of Grid and Magnetic Cursor.

Events + Cursor

This is a combination of Events and Magnetic Cursor.

Events + Grid + Cursor

This is a combination of Events, Grid, and Magnetic Cursor.

Grid Types

Allows you to specify a grid type that determines the grid and snap resolution in the event display.

NOTE

This setting only has an effect if Snap Type is set to one of the grid options.

● To select a grid type, open the Grid Type pop-up menu.

The following grid types are available:

Bar

Sets the grid and snap resolution to bars.

Beat

Sets the grid and snap resolution to beats.

Use Quantize

Sets the grid and snap resolution to the value that is activated in the Quantize Preset pop-up menu.

Adapt to Zoom

Sets the grid and snap resolution to the horizontal zoom level. The more you zoom in on the event display, the finer the resolution. High zoom levels allow you to snap to 64th notes, low zoom levels allow you to snap to bars.

NOTE

Adapt to Zoom is only available if Bars+Beats is set as a ruler display format.

Project Window Cross-Hair Cursor

If you activate Time Linear in the ruler context menu, the distances between the grid lines are still constant but based on musical values such as bars and beats.

RELATED LINKS

Snap Types on page 57 Zooming in the Project Window on page 52 Ruler Display Formats on page 33

Cross-Hair Cursor

The cross-hair cursor is displayed when working in the Project window and in the editors, facilitating navigation and editing, especially when arranging large projects.

●

You can set up the cross-hair cursor in the Preferences dialog (Editing—Tools page).

You can set up the colors for the line and the mask of the cross-hair cursor, and define its width.

The cross-hair cursor works as follows:

●

When the Object Selection tool or one of its subtools is selected, the cross-hair cursor appears when you start moving/copying a part/event, or when using the event trim handles.

Cross-hair cursor when moving an event.

●

When the Object Selection tool, the Cut tool, or any other tool that makes use of this function is selected, the cross-hair cursor appears as soon as you move the mouse over the event display.

●

The cross-hair cursor is only available for tools where such a function is of any use. The Mute tool, for example, does not use a cross-hair cursor, as you have to click directly on an event to mute it.

Edit History Dialog

The Edit History dialog contains a list of all your edits. This allows you to undo all actions in the Project window as well as in the editors.

● To open the Edit History dialog, select Edit> History.

The Action column displays the name of the action while the Time column tells you when this action was performed. In the Details column further details are shown. Here you can enter new text by double-clicking in the column.

Project Window Edit History Dialog

● To undo your actions, move the horizontal, colored line upwards to the desired position.

You can only undo your actions in reverse order, for example, the last performed action is the first action to be undone.

● To redo an action that was undone previously, move the line down the list again.

NOTE

● You can also undo applied audio processes. However, we recommend to modify or delete these using the Direct Offline Processing window.

RELATED LINKS

Direct Offline Processing on page 280

Setting the Number of Maximum Undo Steps

You can limit the number of maximum undo steps. This is useful if you run out of memory, for example.

PROCEDURE

1. In the Preferences dialog, select General.

2. Set the number in the Maximum Undo Steps field.

In Cubase, projects are the central documents. You must create and set up a project to work with the program.

Creating New Projects

You can create empty projects or projects that are based on a template.

PROCEDURE

1. Select File> New Project.

Depending on your settings, either the Hub or the Project Assistant dialog opens.

2. In the location options section, select where to store the new project.

●

To use the default location, select Use default location.

●

To choose another location, select Prompt for project location.

3. Do one of the following:

●

To create an empty new project, click Create Empty.

●

To create a new project from a template, select a template and click Create.

Project Handling

RESULT

A new, untitled project is created. If you selected a template, the new project is based on this template and includes the corresponding tracks, events, and settings.

NOTE

If you create an empty project, your default presets for the input and output bus configurations are applied. If you have not defined default presets, the last used configurations are applied.

RELATED LINKS

Presets for Input and Output Busses on page 24

Project Handling Hub

Hub

When you start Cubase or create new projects using the File menu, the Hub opens. The Hub keeps you up to date with the latest information and assists you with organizing your projects. It consists of the News and Tutorials section and the Projects section.

News and Tutorials section

The News and Tutorials section displays Steinberg news, tutorial videos as well as links to the user forum, downloads, and the Help Center.

NOTE

Ensure that you have an active Internet connection to access this material.

Projects section

The Projects section lets you create new projects, which can either be empty or based on a template. It lets you specify where to save the projects. It also allows you to access recently opened projects or projects that are stored in other locations. This section offers the same functionality as the Project Assistant dialog.

Category bar

In this section, the available factory templates are sorted into the predefined categories Recording, Scoring, Production, and Mastering.

The Recent category contains a list of the recently opened projects.

The More category contains the default project template and all templates that are not assigned to any of the other categories.

Template list

When you click on one of the category items, the list below the category bar shows the available templates for this category. Any new templates that you create are added at the top of the corresponding list.

Location options

This section allows you to specify where the project is stored.

Open other

This button allows you to open any project file on your system. This is identical to using the Open command on the File menu.

Project Handling Project Assistant

RELATED LINKS

Project Assistant on page 63

Deactivating the Hub

To start Cubase or to create new projects without the Hub, you can deactivate it.

PROCEDURE

1. In the Preferences dialog, select General.

2. Deactivate Use Hub.

RESULT

Cubase starts without opening a project and opens the Project Assistant dialog when you create a new project using the File menu. However, you can still open the Hub through the Hub menu.

Project Assistant

When you deactivate the Hub and create new projects, the Project Assistant dialog opens. This dialog offers the same functions as the Projects section in the Hub.

Category bar

In this section, the available factory templates are sorted into the predefined categories Recording, Production, Scoring, and Mastering.

The Recent category contains a list of the recently opened projects.

The More category contains the default project template and all templates that are not assigned to any of the other categories.

Template list

When you click on one of the category items, the list below the category bar shows the available factory templates for this category. Any new templates that you create are added at the top of the corresponding list.

Location options

This section allows you to specify where the project is stored.

Open other

This button allows you to open any project file on your system. This is identical to using the Open command from the File menu.

About Project Files

A project file (extension *.cpr) is the central document in Cubase. A project file contains references to media data that can be saved in the project folder.

NOTE

We recommend to save files only in the project folder, even though you can save them in any other location to which you have access.

The project folder contains the project file and the following folders that Cubase automatically creates when necessary:

●

Audio

●

Edits

●

Images

Project Handling About Template Files

●

Track Pictures

About Template Files

Templates can be a good starting point for new projects. Templates are projects where you can save all settings that you regularly use, such as bus configurations, sample rates, record formats, basic track layouts, VSTi setups, drum map setups, etc.

The following template types are available from within the Hub:

●

Factory templates for specific scenarios. These are listed in the Recording, Scoring, Production, or Mastering categories.

●

The default template. This is listed in the More category.

●

Any new user templates that you create and save. These are listed in the More category.

Template projects are not saved in project folders and therefore contain no subfolders and no media files.

●

To open the location of a specific template, right-click a template in the template list and select Show in Explorer (Windows only) or Reveal in Finder (macOS only).

Saving a Project Template File

You can save the current project as a template. When you create a new project, you can select this template as a starting point for your new project.

PREREQUISITE

Remove all clips from the Pool before you save the project as a template. This ensures that references to media data from the original project folder are deleted.

PROCEDURE

1. Set up a project.

2. Select File> Save as Template.

3. In the New Preset section of the Save as Template dialog, enter a name for the new

project template.

4. In the Attribute Inspector section, double-click the Value field of the Content Summary attribute to enter a description for the template.

Project Handling Project Setup Dialog

5. Click the Value field of the Template Category attribute and select a template category from the pop-up menu.

If you do not select a category, the new template will be listed in the Hub in the More category.

6. Click OK to save the template.

Renaming Templates

PROCEDURE

1. In the Hub or the Project Assistant, right-click a template and select Rename.

2. In the Rename dialog, enter a new name and click OK.

Project Setup Dialog

You can perform general settings for your project in the Project Setup dialog.

● To open the Project Setup dialog, select Project> Project Setup.

● To open the Project Setup dialog automatically when you create a new project, activate the Run Setup on Create New Project option in the Preferences dialog (General page).

IMPORTANT

While most Project Setup settings can be changed at any time, you must set the sample rate directly after creating a new project. If you change the sample rate at a later stage, you must convert all audio files in the project to the new sample rate to make them play back properly.

The following options are available:

Author

Allows you to specify a project author that is written into the file, when you export audio files and activate the Insert iXML chunk option. You can specify a default

Project Handling Project Setup Dialog

Company

Start

Length

Frame Rate

Get From Video

author in the Default Author Name field in the Preferences dialog (General— Personalization page).

Allows you to specify a company name that is written into the file, when you export audio files and activate the Insert iXML chunk option. You can specify a default company in the Default Company Name field in the Preferences dialog (General— Personalization page).

Allows you to specify the start time of the project in timecode format. This also determines the sync start position when synchronizing to external devices.

Allows you to specify the length of the project.

Allows you to specify the timecode standard and frame rate for the project. When synchronizing to an external device, this setting must correspond to the frame rate of any incoming timecode.

Allows you to set the project frame rate to the frame rate of an imported video file.

Display Format

Allows you to specify the global display format that is used for all rulers and position displays in the program, except the ruler tracks. However, you can make independent display format selections for the individual rulers and displays.

Display Offset

Allows you to specify an offset for the time positions that are displayed in the rulers and position displays to compensate for the Start position setting.

Bar Offset

This setting is only used, when you select the Bars+Beats display format. Allows you to specify an offset for the time positions that are displayed in the rulers and position displays to compensate for the Start position setting.

Sample Rate

Allows you to specify the sample rate at which records and plays back audio.

● If your audio hardware generates the sample rate internally and you select

a non-supported sample rate, this is indicated by a different color. In this case, you must set a different sample rate to make your audio files play back properly.

● If you select a sample rate that your audio hardware supports, but that differs

from its current sample rate setting, it is automatically changed to the project sample rate.

● If your audio hardware is externally clocked and receives external clock

signals, sample rate mismatches are accepted.

Bit Resolution

Allows you to specify the resolution of the audio files that you record in Cubase. Select the record format according to the bit resolution that is delivered by your audio hardware. The available options are 16 Bit, 24 Bit, and 32 Bit float.

NOTE

● When you record with effects, consider setting the bit resolution to 32 Bit

Float. This prevents from clipping (digital distortion) in the recorded files and

Project Handling Project Setup Dialog

Record File Type

keeps the audio quality absolutely pristine. Effect processing and level or EQ changes in the input channel are done in 32 Bit Float format. If you record at 16 or 24 Bit, the audio will be converted to this lower resolution when it is written to a file. As a result, the signal may degrade. This is independent of the actual resolution of your audio hardware. Even if the signal from the audio hardware has a resolution of 16 Bit, the signal will be 32 Bit Float after the effects are added to the input channel.

● The higher the bit resolution, the larger the files and the more strain is put on

the disk system. If this is an issue, you can lower the record format setting.

Allows you to specify the file type of the audio files that you record in Cubase. The following file types are available:

● Wave File

This is the most common file format on the PC platform. Wave files have the extension .wav.

● Wave 64 File

This is a proprietary format developed by Sonic Foundry Inc. Wave 64 files offer the same quality as Wave files, but they can be considerably larger than standard Wave files. They are especially suited for long recordings with file sizes over 2 GB. The files have the extension .w64.

● Broadcast Wave Files

This format is, in terms of audio content, identical with regular Wave files. Broadcast Wave files can contain embedded text strings. The files have the extension .wav.

● AIFF Files

This is an audio file format standard defined by Apple Inc. AIFF files are used on most computer platforms. The files can contain embedded text strings. AIFF files have the extension .aif.

● FLAC File

This is an open source format that reduces the size of audio files by 50 to 60 % compared to regular Wave files. The files have the extension .flac.

NOTE

● For wave file recordings larger than 4 GB, the EBU RIFF standard is used. If a

FAT 32 disk is used (not recommended), audio files are split automatically. In the Preferences dialog, you can specify what happens, when your recorded Wave file is larger than 4 GB.

● You can set up embedded strings in the Preferences dialog.

Stereo Pan Law

If you pan a channel left or right, the sum of the left and right side is higher (louder), than if this channel is panned center. These modes allow you to attenuate signals panned center. 0 dB turns off constant-power panning. Equal Power means that the power of the signal remains the same regardless of the pan setting.

Volume Max

Allows you to specify the maximum fader level. By default, this is set to +12 dB. If you load projects that were created with Cubase versions older than 5.5, this value is set to the old default value of +6 dB.

HMT Type (MIDI only)(Cubase Elements only)

Allows you to specify a mode for Hermode tuning of MIDI notes.

Project Handling Opening Project Files

HMT Depth (MIDI only)(Cubase Elements only)

Allows you to specify the overall degree of retuning.

RELATED LINKS

Record - Audio on page 653

Opening Project Files

You can open one or several saved project files at the same time.

IMPORTANT

If you open a project saved with a different program version that contains data for functions that are not available in your version, this data may be lost when you save the project with your version.

NOTE

● If you open an external project, the last used view that was saved on your computer is used.

● External projects are automatically connected to the input and output busses. If you open a project that was created on a computer with an ASIO port configuration different from the configuration of your computer, this can result in unwanted audio connections. You can deactivate the automatic connection of input and output busses in the Preferences dialog (VST page).

PROCEDURE

1. Select File> Open.

2. In the file dialog that opens, select the project that you want to open and click Open.

3. If there already is an open project, you are asked if you want to activate the new project.

Do one of the following:

●

To activate the project, click Activate.

●

To open the project without activating it, click No.

This reduces load times for projects.

Activating Projects

If you have several projects opened at the same time in Cubase, only one project can be active. The active project is indicated by the lit Activate Project button in the upper left corner of the Project window. If you want to work on another project, you have to activate the other project.

PROCEDURE

● To activate a project, click Activate Project .

Opening Recent Projects

To open a recently opened project, do one of the following:

●

In the category bar of the Hub or the Project Assistant dialog, click Recent, select a project from the projects list, and click Open.

Project Handling Saving Project Files

●

Select File> Recent Projects and select a recently opened project.

Re-Routing Missing Ports

If you open a Cubase project that was created on a different system with other audio hardware, Cubase tries to find matching audio inputs and outputs for the input/output busses. If Cubase cannot resolve all audio/MIDI inputs and outputs that are used in the project, the Missing Ports dialog opens.

This allows you to manually re-route any ports specified in the project to ports that are available in your system.

NOTE

To improve the search for matching audio inputs and outputs for the input/output busses, you should use descriptive, generic names for your input and output ports.

RELATED LINKS

Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs on page 22

Saving Project Files

You can save the active project as a project file. To keep your projects as manageable as possible, make sure that you save project files and all related files in the respective project folders.

●

To save the project and specify a file name and location, open the File menu and select Save As.

●

To save the project with its current name and location, open the File menu and select

Save.

About the Auto Save Option

Cubase can automatically save backup copies of all open project files with unsaved changes.

NOTE

Only the project files are backed up. If you want to include the files from the Pool and save your project in a different location, you must use the Back up Project function.

Cubase can automatically save backup copies of all open projects with unsaved changes. To set this up, activate the Auto Save option in the Preferences dialog (General page). The backup copies are named “<project name>-xx.bak” where xx is an incremental number. Unsaved projects are backed up in a similar way as “UntitledX-xx.bak”, with X being the incremental number for unsaved projects. All backup files are saved in the project folder.

●

To specify the time intervals in which a backup copy is created, use the Auto Save Interval setting.

●

To specify how many backup files are created with the Auto Save function, use the Maximum Backup Files option. When the maximum number of backup files is reached, the existing files are overwritten, starting with the oldest file.

Project Handling Reverting to the Last Saved Version

Saving Project Files As a New Version

You can create and activate a new version of an active project file. This is useful if you are experimenting with edits and arrangements and want to be able to go back to a previous version at any time.

To save a new version of the active project, do one of the following:

●

Select File> Save New Version.

●

Press Ctrl/Cmd-Alt-S.

The new file is saved with the same name as the original project and an attached incremental number. For example, if your project is called “My Project,” new versions are called “My Project-01”, “My Project-02”, and so on.

Reverting to the Last Saved Version

You can return to the last saved version and discard all changes that have been introduced.

PROCEDURE

1. Select File> Revert.

2. In the warning message, click Revert.

If you have recorded or created new audio files since the last version was saved, you are prompted to delete or keep the files.

Choosing a Project Location

In the Hub and in the Project Assistant, you can specify where to save a project.

●

To create a project in the default project location, select Use default location.

In the Project folder field, you can specify a name for the project folder. If you do not specify a project folder here, the project is saved in a folder named Untitled.

●

To change the default project location, click in the path field.

A file dialog opens that allows you to specify a new default location.

●

To create the project in a different location, select Prompt for project location.

In the dialog that opens, specify a location and a project folder.

Creating Self-Contained Projects

If you want to share your work or transfer it to another computer, your project must be selfcontained.

The following functions facilitate this task:

●

Select Media> Prepare Archive to verify that every clip that is referenced in the project is located in the project folder, and to take actions if that is not the case.

●

Select File> Back up Project to create a new project folder where you can save the project file and the necessary work data. The original project remains unchanged.

Project Handling Creating Self-Contained Projects

Preparing Archives

The Prepare Archive function allows you to gather all files that are referenced by your project to ensure that these are in the project folder. This is useful if you want to move or archive your project.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Media> Prepare Archive.

If your project references external files, you are prompted if you want to copy them to your working directory. If any processing has been applied, you must decide if you want to flatten edits.

2. Click Proceed.

RESULT

Your project is ready to be archived. You can move or copy the project folder to another location.

AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK

You must copy audio files that reside within the project folder to the Audio folder or save them separately. You must also move your video clips manually, as videos are only referenced and not saved in the project folder.

Backing Up Projects

You can create a backup copy of your project. Backups only contain the necessary work data. All media files except the files from VST Sound archives are included as a copy.

PROCEDURE

1. Select File> Back up Project.

2. Select an empty folder or create a new one.

3. Make your settings in the Back up Project Options dialog and click OK.

RESULT

A copy of the project is saved in the new folder. The original project remains unaffected.

NOTE

VST Sound content provided by Steinberg is copy-protected and will not be included in the backup project. If you want to use a backup copy that uses VST Sound content on a different computer, make sure that the corresponding content is also available on that computer.

Back up Project Options Dialog

This dialog allows you to create a backup copy of your project.

● To open the Back up Project Options dialog, select File> Back up Project.

Project Name

Allows you to change the name of the backed up project.

Keep Current Project Active

Allows you to keep the current project active after clicking OK.

Minimize Audio Files

Allows you to include only the audio file portions that are actually used in the project. This can significantly reduce the size of the project folder if you are using small

Project Handling Creating Self-Contained Projects

sections of large files. It also means that you cannot use other parts of the audio files if you continue working with the project in its new folder.

Freeze Direct Offline Processing

Allows you to flatten all edits and make all processing and applied effects permanent to each clip in the Pool.

Remove Unused Files

Allows you to remove unused files and to back up only the files that are actually used.

Do Not Back up Video

Allows you to exclude video clips on the video track or in the Pool of the current project.

Tracks

Tracks are the building blocks of your project. They allow you to import, add, record, and edit data (parts and events). Tracks are listed from top to bottom in the Track list and extend horizontally across the Project window. Each track is assigned to a particular channel strip in the MixConsole.

If you select a track in the Project window, the controls, settings, and parameters displayed in the Inspector and the track list allow you to control the track.

Track Inspector Settings

For each track type you can configure which Inspector sections are shown. You can also specify the order of the sections.

● To open the Track Inspector Settings dialog, click Setup Inspector, and select Setup from the pop-up menu.

●

Tracks Track Control Settings

Hidden Items

Displays sections that are hidden in the Inspector.

Visible Items

Displays sections that are visible in the Inspector.

If you activate Pin by clicking the column for a section the open/close status of the selected Inspector section is pinned.

Add

Allows you to move an item selected in the hidden sections list to the list of visible sections.

Remove

Allows you to move an item selected in the visible sections list to the list of hidden sections.

Move Up/Move Down

Allows you to change the order of an item in the list of visible sections.

Presets

Allows you to save Inspector section settings as presets.

Reset All

Allows you to restore the default Inspector section settings.

Track Control Settings

For each track type you can configure which track controls are shown in the track list. You can also specify the order of controls and group controls so that they are always shown adjacent to each other.

● To open the Track Controls Settings dialog, right-click a track in the track list and select

Track Controls Settings from the context menu, or click Open Track Controls Settings Dialog in the bottom right corner of the track list.

Tracks Track Control Settings

Track Type

Allows you to select the track type to which your settings are applied.

Hidden Controls

Displays controls that are hidden in the track list.

Visible Controls

Displays controls that are visible in the track list.

Width

If you click in this column, you can set the maximum length for the track name.

Group

Displays the group number.

Add

Allows you to move an item selected in the hidden controls list to the list of visible controls.

Remove

Allows you to move an item selected in the visible controls list to the list of hidden controls. All controls can be removed except Mute and Solo.

Move Up/Move Down

Allows you to change the order of an item in the list of visible controls.

Group

Allows you to group two or more controls selected in the visible controls list that are adjacent to each other. This ensures that they are always positioned side by side in the track list.

Ungroup

Allows you to ungroup grouped controls in the visible controls list. To remove an entire group, select the first (topmost) element belonging to this group and click Ungroup.

Tracks Audio Tracks

Reset

Allows you to restore all default track controls settings for the selected track type.

Controls Area Preview

Shows a preview of the customized track controls.

Controls Area Width

Allows you to determine the width of the track control area for the selected track type. In the Controls Area Preview, this area is shown with a frame.

Presets

Allows you to save track controls settings as presets. To recall a preset, click Switch Presets in the bottom right corner of the track list. The name of the selected preset

is shown in the left corner.

Track Name Width (global)

Allows you to determine the global name width for all track types.

Apply

Applies your settings.

Reset All

Allows you to restore all default track controls settings for all track types.

Audio Tracks

You can use audio tracks for recording and playing back audio events and audio parts. Each audio track has a corresponding audio channel in the MixConsole. An audio track can have any number of automation tracks for automating channel parameters, effect settings, etc.

●

To add an audio track to your project, select Project> Add Track> Audio.

RELATED LINKS

Adding Tracks on page 109

Audio Track Inspector

The Inspector for audio tracks contains controls and parameters that allow you to edit your audio track.

The top section of the audio track Inspector contains the following basic track settings:

Track name

Click once to show/hide the basic track settings section. Double-click to rename the track.

Tracks Audio Tracks

Edit

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Mute

Mutes the track.

Solo

Solos the track.

Read Automation

Allows you to read track automation.

Write Automation

Allows you to write track automation.

Auto Fades Settings

Opens a dialog where you can make separate audio fade settings for the track.

Record enable

Activates the track for recording.

Monitor

Routes incoming signals to the selected output.

Freeze Audio Channel

Allows you to freeze the audio channel.

Volume

Allows you to adjust the level for the track.

Pan

Allows you to adjust the panning of the track.

Delay

Allows you to adjust the playback timing of the track.

Load/Save/Reload Track Preset

Loads or saves a track preset or reverts the default presets.

Input Routing

Allows you to specify the input bus for the track.

Tracks Audio Tracks

Output Routing

Allows you to specify the output bus for the track.

Audio Track Inspector sections

Apart from the basic track settings that are always shown, audio tracks provide other Inspector sections. These are described in the following sections.

Inserts

Allows you to add insert effects to the track.

Strip

Allows you to set up the channel strip modules.

Equalizers

Allows you to adjust the EQs for the track. You can have up to four bands of EQ for each track.

Tracks Audio Tracks

Sends

Allows you to route the track to one or several FX channels.

Fader

Shows a duplicate of the corresponding MixConsole channel.

Notepad

Allows you to enter notes about the track.

Audio Track Controls

The Track List for audio tracks contains controls and parameters that allow you to edit your audio track.

Track name

Double-click to rename the track.

Edit

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Mute

Tracks Instrument Tracks

Solo

Read Automation

Write Automation

Record enable

Monitor

Mutes the track.

Solos the track.

Allows you to read track automation.

Allows you to write track automation.

Activates the track for recording.

Routes incoming signals to the selected output.

Bypass Inserts

Bypasses the inserts for the track.

Bypass EQs

Bypasses the equalizers for the track.

Bypass Sends

Bypasses the sends for the track.

Channel Configuration

Shows the channel configuration of the track.

Freeze Channel

Opens the Freeze Channel Options dialog that allows you to set the Tail Size time in seconds.

Instrument Tracks

You can use instrument tracks for dedicated VST instruments. Each instrument track has a corresponding instrument channel in the MixConsole. An instrument track can have any number of automation tracks.

●

To add an instrument track to your project, select Project> Add Track> Instrument.

Tracks Instrument Tracks

Instrument Track Inspector

The Inspector for instrument tracks contains controls and parameters that allow you to control your instrument track. It shows some of the sections from VST instrument channels and MIDI tracks.

The top section of the instrument track Inspector contains the following basic track settings:

Track name

Click once to show/hide the basic track settings section. Double-click to rename the track.

Edit

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Mute

Mutes the track.

Solo

Solos the track.

Read Automation

Allows you to read track automation.

Write Automation

Allows you to write track automation.

Record enable

Activates the track for recording.

Monitor

Routes incoming MIDI to the selected MIDI output. For this to work, activate MIDI Thru Active in the Preferences dialog (MIDI page).

Freeze Instrument Channel

Allows you to freeze the instrument.

Tracks Instrument Tracks

Volume

Pan

Delay

Load/Save/Reload Track Preset

Input Routing

Activate Outputs

Allows you to adjust the level of the track.

Allows you to adjust the panning of the track.

Allows you to adjust the playback timing of the track.

Loads or saves a track preset or reverts the default presets.

Allows you to specify the input bus for the track.

This control is only available if the instrument provides more than one output. It allows you to activate one or more outputs for the instrument.

Edit Instrument

Allows you to open the instrument panel.

Programs

Allows you to select a program.

Drum Map

Allows you to select a drum map for the track.

Instrument Track Inspector Sections

Apart from the basic track settings that are always shown, instrument tracks provide other Inspector sections. These are described in the following sections.

Chords

Allows you to specify how the track follows the chord track.

Tracks Instrument Tracks

MIDI Modifiers

Allows you to transpose or adjust the velocity of the MIDI track events in realtime during playback.

Instrument Section

Shows the audio-related controls for the instrument.

Notepad

Allows you to enter notes about the track.

Instrument Track Controls

The Track List for instrument tracks contains controls and parameters that allow you to edit your instrument track.

Mute

Mutes the track.

Solo

Solos the track.

Track name

Tracks Instrument Tracks

Record enable

Monitor

Edit

Edit Instrument

Read Automation

Double-click to rename the track.

Activates the track for recording.

Allows you to route incoming MIDI signals to the selected MIDI output. For this to work, activate MIDI Thru Active in the Preferences dialog (MIDI page).

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Allows you to open the instrument panel.

Allows you to read track automation.

Write Automation

Allows you to write track automation.

ASIO Latency Compensation

Moves all recorded events on the track by the current latency.

Programs

Allows you to select a program.

Bypass Inserts

Bypasses the inserts for the track.

Bypass EQs

Bypasses the equalizers for the track.

Bypass Sends

Bypasses the sends for the track.

Instrument

Allows you to select an instrument.

Channel Configuration

Shows the channel configuration of the track.

Drum Map

Tracks MIDI Tracks

Allows you to select a drum map for the track.

Freeze Channel

Opens the Freeze Channel Options dialog that allows you to set the Tail Size time in seconds.

MIDI Tracks

You can use MIDI tracks for recording and playing back MIDI parts. Each MIDI track has a corresponding MIDI channel in the MixConsole. A MIDI track can have any number of automation tracks.

●

To add a MIDI track to your project, select Project> Add Track> MIDI.

MIDI Track Inspector

The Inspector for MIDI tracks contains controls and parameters that allow you to control your MIDI track. These affect MIDI events in realtime, on playback, for example.

The top section of the MIDI track Inspector contains the following basic track settings:

Track name

Click once to show/hide the basic track settings section. Double-click to rename the track.

Edit

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Mute

Mutes the track.

Solo

Solos the track.

Read Automation

Allows you to read track automation.

Write Automation

Tracks MIDI Tracks

Allows you to write track automation.

Record enable

Activates the track for recording.

Monitor

Routes incoming MIDI to the selected MIDI output. For this to work, activate MIDI Thru Active in the Preferences dialog (MIDI page).

MIDI Volume

Allows you to adjust the MIDI volume for the track.

MIDI Pan

Allows you to adjust the MIDI pan for the track.

Delay

Allows you to adjust the playback timing of the track.

Load/Save/Reload Track Preset

Loads or saves a track preset or reverts the default presets.

Input Routing

Allows you to specify the input bus for the track.

Output Routing

Allows you to specify the output bus for the track.

Channel

Allows you to specify the MIDI channel.

Edit Instrument

Allows you to open the instrument panel.

Bank Selector

Allows you to set a bank select message that is sent to your MIDI device.

Program Selector

Allows you to set a program change message that is sent to your MIDI device.

Drum Map

Allows you to select a drum map for the track.

Tracks MIDI Tracks

MIDI Track Inspector Sections

Apart from the basic track settings that are always shown, MIDI tracks provide other Inspector sections. These are described in the following sections.

Chords

Allows you to specify how the track follows the chord track.

MIDI Modifiers

Allows you to transpose or adjust the velocity of the MIDI track events in realtime during playback.

Tracks MIDI Tracks

MIDI Fader Section

Shows a duplicate of the corresponding MixConsole channel.

Notepad

Allows you to enter notes about the track.

MIDI Track Controls

The Track List for MIDI tracks contains controls and parameters that allow you to edit your MIDI track.

The track list for MIDI tracks contains the following controls:

Mute

Mutes the track.

Solo

Solos the track.

Track name

Click once to show/hide the basic track settings section. Double-click to rename the track.

Record enable

Activates the track for recording.

Tracks Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

Monitor

Allows you to route incoming MIDI signals to the selected MIDI output. For this to work, activate MIDI Thru Active in the Preferences dialog (MIDI page).

Channel

Allows you to specify the MIDI channel.

Read Automation

Allows you to read track automation.

Write Automation

Allows you to write track automation.

Output

Allows you to specify the output for the track.

Programs

Allows you to select a program.

Edit

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Drum Map

Allows you to select a drum map for the track.

ASIO Latency Compensation

Moves all recorded events on the track by the current latency.

Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

You can use sampler tracks for controlling the playback of audio samples via MIDI. Each sampler track has a corresponding channel in the MixConsole. A sampler track can have any number of automation tracks.

●

To add a sampler track, select Project> Add Track> Sampler.

RELATED LINKS

Creating Sampler Tracks on page 336

Tracks Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

Sampler Track Inspector

The Inspector for sampler tracks contains controls and parameters that allow you to edit your sampler track.

The top section of the sampler track Inspector contains the following basic track settings:

Track name

Click once to show/hide the basic track settings section. Double-click to rename the track.

Edit

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Mute

Mutes the track.

Solo

Solos the track.

Read Automation

Allows you to read track automation.

Write Automation

Allows you to write track automation.

Record enable

Activates the track for recording.

Monitor

Routes incoming MIDI to the selected MIDI output. For this to work, activate MIDI Thru Active in the Preferences dialog (MIDI page).

Freeze Sampler Channel

Allows you to freeze the sampler track.

Volume

Allows you to adjust the level of the track.

Tracks Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

Pan

Allows you to adjust the panning of the track.

Delay

Allows you to adjust the playback timing of the track.

Load/Save/Reload Track Preset

Loads or saves a track preset or reverts the default presets.

Input Routing

Allows you to specify the input bus for the track.

Sampler Track Inspector Sections

Apart from the basic track settings that are always shown, sampler tracks provide other Inspector sections. These are described in the following sections.

Chords

Allows you to specify how the track follows the chord track.

MIDI Modifiers

Allows you to transpose or adjust the velocity of the MIDI track events in realtime during playback.

Tracks Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

Instrument Section

Shows the audio-related controls for the sampler track.

Notepad

Allows you to enter notes about the track.

Sampler Track Controls

The track list for sampler tracks contains controls and parameters that allow you to edit your sampler track.

Mute

Mutes the track.

Solo

Solos the track.

Track name

Double-click to rename the track.

Record enable

Activates the track for recording.

Monitor

Allows you to route incoming MIDI signals to the selected MIDI output. For this to work, activate MIDI Thru Active in the Preferences dialog (MIDI page).

Edit

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Open/Close Sampler

Opens/Closes the Sampler Control in the lower zone.

Tracks Arranger Track

Read Automation

Allows you to read track automation.

Write Automation

Allows you to write track automation.

ASIO Latency Compensation

Moves all recorded events on the track by the current latency.

Bypass Inserts

Bypasses the inserts for the track.

Bypass EQs

Bypasses the equalizers for the track.

Bypass Sends

Bypasses the sends for the track.

Freeze Channel

Opens the Freeze Channel Options dialog that allows you to set the Tail Size time in seconds.

Arranger Track

You can use the arranger track for arranging your project by marking out sections and determining in which order they are to be played back.

●

To add the arranger track to your project, select Project> Add Track> Arranger.

Arranger Track Inspector

The arranger track Inspector displays the lists of available arranger chains and arranger events.

The arranger track Inspector contains the following settings:

Tracks Arranger Track

Track Name

Double-click to rename the track.

Edit

Opens the Arranger Editor.

Select Active Arranger Chain + Function

Allows you to select the active arranger chain, to rename it, to create a new one, to duplicate or to flatten it.

Current Arranger Chain

Shows the active arranger chain.

Arranger Events

Lists all arranger events in your project. Click the arrow for an arranger event to play it back and start the live mode.

Stop

Allows you to stop the live mode.

Jump mode

Allows you to define how long the active arranger event is played before jumping to the next one.

Arranger Track Controls

The track list for the arranger track contains controls and parameters that allow you to edit the arranger track.

Select Active Arranger Chain

Allows you to select the active arranger chain.

Current Item/Current Repeat

Displays which arranger event and which repeat is active.

Activate Arranger Mode

Allows you to activate and deactivate the arranger mode.

Edit

Opens the Arranger Editor for the track.

Tracks Chord Track

Chord Track

You can use the chord track for adding chord and scale events to your project. These can transform the pitches of other events.

●

To add the chord track to your project, select Project> Add Track> Chord.

Chord Track Inspector

The chord track Inspector contains a number of settings for the chord events.

The top section of the chord track Inspector contains the following settings:

Track name

Click to show/hide the basic track settings section.

Mute

Mutes the track.

Record enable

Activates the track for recording.

Acoustic Feedback

Allows you to audition the events on the chord track. For this to work, you need to select a track for auditioning in the track list.

Voicing library

Allows you to set up a voicing library for the track.

Voicing library subset

Allows you to select a library subset.

Configure voicing parameters

Allows you to configure your own voicing parameters for a specific voicing scheme.

Adaptive Voicings

If this option is activated the voicings will be set automatically.

Automatic Scales

Tracks FX Channel Tracks

Mapping Offset

Chord Track Inspector Sections

Apart from the basic track settings that are always shown, the chord track provides other Inspector sections. These are described in the following sections.

Notepad

Allows you to enter notes about the track.

If this option is activated the program creates scale events automatically.

Allows you to specify an offset value to make sure that chord events also affect the MIDI notes that have been triggered too early (enter a negative value) or too late (enter a positive value).

Chord Track Controls

The Track List for the chord track contains controls and parameters that allow you to edit the chord track.

The track list for chord tracks contains the following controls:

Mute

Mutes the track.

Select Track for Auditioning

Allows you to select a track for auditioning the chord events.

Record Enable

Allows you to record chord events.

Resolve Display Conflicts

Allows you to show all chord events on the track properly, even at low horizontal zoom levels.

Show Scales

Allows you to show the scale lane in the lower part of the chord track.

FX Channel Tracks

You can use FX channel tracks for adding send effects. Each FX channel can contain up to eight effect processors. By routing sends from an audio channel to an FX channel, you send audio from the audio channel to the effects on the FX channel. You can place FX channel tracks in a special FX channel folder, or in the track list, outside a FX channel folder. Each FX channel

Tracks FX Channel Tracks

has a corresponding channel in the MixConsole. An FX channel track can have any number of automation tracks.

●

To add an FX channel track to your project, select Project> Add Track> FX Channel.

FX Channel Track Inspector

The Inspector for FX channel tracks shows the settings for the FX channel. When you select the folder track instead, the Inspector shows the folder and the FX channels it contains. You can click one of the FX channels shown in the folder to have the Inspector show the settings for that FX channel.

Track name

Click once to show/hide the basic track settings section. Double-click to rename the track.

Edit

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Mute

Mutes the track.

Solo

Solos the track.

Read Automation

Allows you to read track automation.

Write Automation

Allows you to write track automation.

Volume

Allows you to adjust the level of the track.

Pan

Allows you to adjust the panning of the track.

Output Routing

Allows you to specify the output bus for the track.

Tracks FX Channel Tracks

FX Channel Track Inspector Sections

Apart from the basic track settings that are always shown, FX channel tracks provide other Inspector sections. These are described in the following sections.

Inserts

Allows you to add insert effects to the track.

Strip

Allows you to set up the channel strip modules.

Equalizers

Allows you to adjust the EQs for the track. You can have up to four bands of EQ for each track.

Tracks FX Channel Tracks

Sends

Allows you to route the track to one or several FX channels.

Fader

Shows a duplicate of the corresponding MixConsole channel.

Notepad

Allows you to enter notes about the track.

FX Channel Track Controls

The Track List for FX channel tracks contains controls and parameters that allow you to edit the settings for the effect.

Track name

Click once to show/hide the basic track settings section. Double-click to rename the track.

Edit

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Tracks Folder Tracks

Mute

Mutes the track.

Solo

Solos the track.

Read Automation

Allows you to read track automation.

Write Automation

Allows you to write track automation.

Mute Automation

Deactivates the automation read function for the selected parameter.

Automation parameter

Allows you to select a parameter for automation.

Bypass Inserts

Bypasses the inserts for the track.

Bypass EQs

Bypasses the equalizers for the track.

Bypass Sends

Bypasses the sends for the track.

Channel Configuration

Shows the channel configuration of the track.

Folder Tracks

Folder tracks function as containers for other tracks, making it easier to organize and manage the track structure. They also allow you to edit several tracks at the same time.

●

To add a folder track to your project, select Project> Add Track> Folder.

100

Steinberg Cubase AI - 9.5 Operation Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Table of Contents

Introduction

Platform-Independent Documentation

About the Documentation

Conventions

Typographical Elements

Markup

Key Commands

Setting Up Your System

Setting Up Audio

Simple Stereo Input and Output Setup

Audio Connections

About Recording Levels and Inputs

Word Clock Connections

Selecting an Audio Driver

Setting Up Audio Hardware

VST Audio System

ASIO Driver Setup

Using External Clock Sources

Using Several Audio Applications Simultaneously

Audio Hardware Configuration

Plug and Play Support for ASIO Devices

Setting Up Input and Output Ports

Audio Bus Setup

Monitoring

Setting Up MIDI

MIDI Connections

Showing or Hiding MIDI Ports

Setting Up All MIDI Inputs

MIDI Port Setup

Plug and Play Support for USB MIDI Devices

Connecting a Synchronizer

Audio Connections

Audio Connections Window

Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs

Hiding Ports

Activating and Deactivating Ports (macOS only)

Adding Input and Output Busses

Setting the Default Output Bus (Main Mix)

Presets for Input and Output Busses

Saving a Bus Configuration Preset

Deleting a Bus Configuration Preset

About Monitoring

Editing the Bus Configurations

Removing Busses

Changing Port Assignments

Renaming Multiple Busses

Identifying Exclusive Port Assignments

Project Window

Showing/Hiding Zones

Project Zone

Toolbar

Left/Right Toolbar Divider

Toolbox

Track List

Dividing the Track List

Event Display

Ruler

Ruler Display Formats

Status Line

Info Line

Editing on the Info Line

Overview Line

Transport

Left Zone

Inspector

Opening the Track Inspector

Opening the Editor Inspector

Inspector Sections

Inspector Settings Dialog

Lower Zone

Setting up the Lower Zone

Opening Chord Pads

Opening MixConsole in the Lower Zone

Opening the Editor in the Lower Zone

Selecting a different MIDI Editor