Steinberg Cubase Artist - 10.5 Operation Manual

Name: Steinberg Cubase Artist - 10.5
Brand: Steinberg
SKU: 2838988
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5 (3)

Operation Manual

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

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

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

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

Cubase_10.5.0_en-US_2019-11-13

8 New Features

10 Introduction

10 Platform-Independent Documentation 10 PDF Documents and Online Documentation 11 Conventions 12 Key Commands

13 Setting up Your System

13 Studio Setup Dialog 14 Setting up Audio 21 Setting up MIDI 23 Synchronizers

25 Audio Connections

25 Audio Connections Window 30 Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs 32 Adding Input and Output Busses 32 Adding Child Busses (Cubase Pro only) 33 Presets for Input and Output Busses 33 Adding Group and FX Channels (Cubase Pro

only)

34 Monitoring Bus 34 External Instruments and Effects (Cubase Pro

only)

40 Bus Congurations

42 Project Window

43 Showing/Hiding Zones 43 Project Zone 58 Left Zone 67 Lower Zone 73 Right Zone 79 Keyboard Focus in the Project Window 80 Zooming in the Project Window 84 Snap Function 86 Cross-Hair Cursor 87 Edit History Dialog 88 Color Handling

96 Project Handling

96 Creating New Projects 96 Hub 98 Project Assistant Dialog 98 Project Files 99 Template Files 101 Project Setup Dialog 104 Opening Project Files 105 Saving Project Files 106 Reverting to the Last Saved Version 106 Choosing a Project Location 107 Self-Contained Projects

110 Tracks

110 Track Inspector Settings Dialog 111 Track Control Settings Dialog 113 Audio Tracks 122 Instrument Tracks 130 Sampler Tracks 137 MIDI Tracks 145 FX Channel Tracks 152 Group Channel Tracks 159 VCA Fader Track (Cubase Pro only) 163 Marker Track 166 Ruler Track 168 Folder Tracks 171 More Tracks

183 Track Handling

183 Adding Tracks via the Add Track Dialog 184 Adding Tracks Using Track Presets 184 Adding Tracks by Dragging Files from the

MediaBay

185 Track Import (Cubase Pro only) 189 Track Export (Cubase Pro only) 190 Exporting MIDI Tracks as Standard MIDI Files 192 Splitting Multi-Channel Audio Tracks (Cubase

Pro only)

193 Merging Mono Audio Tracks to Multi-Channel

Tracks (Cubase Pro only)

195 Removing Selected Tracks 195 Removing Empty Tracks 195 Moving Tracks in the Track List 195 Renaming Tracks 196 Automatically Assigning Colors to New Tracks/

Channels

196 Showing Track Pictures 198 Setting the Track Height 199 Selecting Tracks 200 Deselecting Tracks 200 Duplicating Tracks 200 Disabling Tracks 200 Organizing Tracks in Folder Tracks 201 Handling Overlapping Audio 202 Track Folding Menu 202 Events Display on Folder Tracks 203 Modifying Event Display on Folder Tracks 203 Lanes, Takes and Overlapping Events 206 Dening the Track Time Base 207 Track Versions 214 Track Presets

221 Parts and Events

221 Events 225 Parts

Table of Contents

226 Editing Techniques for Parts and Events

244 Range Editing

244 Creating a Selection Range 245 Editing Selection Ranges

249 Playback and Transport

249 Transport Panel 254 Transport Menu 259 Transport Bar 265 Transport Pop-Up Window 265 Time Display Window 266 Left and Right Locators 269 Setting the Project Cursor 269 Auto-Scroll Settings Menu 270 Time Formats 271 Pre-Roll and Post-Roll 272 Punch In and Punch Out 272 Metronome Click 281 Chase

283 On-Screen Keyboard

283 Recording MIDI With the On-Screen Keyboard 284 On-Screen Keyboard Options

285 Recording

285 Basic Recording Methods 290 Monitoring 292 Audio Recording Specics 297 MIDI Recording Specics 305 Remaining Record Time 305 Lock Record

306 Importing Audio and MIDI Files

306 Audio File Import 313 MIDI File Import

316 Quantizing MIDI and Audio

316 Quantize Functions 317 Quantizing MIDI Event Starts 318 Quantizing MIDI Event Lengths 318 Quantizing MIDI Event Ends 318 Quantizing Audio Event Starts 319 Quantizing Audio Event Lengths (AudioWarp

Quantizing) (Cubase Pro only)

320 Quantizing Multiple Audio Tracks (Cubase Pro

only)

321 Quantize Panel

330 Fades, Crossfades, and Envelopes

330 Event-Based Fades 334 Creating Clip-Based Fades 335 Crossfades 338 Auto Fades and Crossfades 340 Event Envelopes

342 Arranger Track

342 Adding Arranger Events on the Arranger Track 343 Arranger Editor 346 Setting up an Arranger Chain and Adding

Events

348 Jump Mode 350 Arranging Music to Video

351 Transpose Functions

351 Project Root Key 354 Transpose Track 356 Keep Transpose in Octave Range 357 Transpose on the Info Line

358 Excluding Individual Parts or Events from

Global Transpose

359 Markers

359 Position Markers 359 Cycle Markers 360 Markers Window 364 Marker Track 366 Importing and Exporting Markers

369 MixConsole

369 MixConsole in Lower Zone 372 MixConsole Window

440 VCA Faders (Cubase Pro only)

440 VCA Fader Settings 442 Creating VCA Faders in the MixConsole 443 Assigning VCA Faders to Link Groups 443 Removing VCA Faders from Link Groups 444 Nested VCA Faders 444 VCA Fader Automation

446 Control Room (Cubase Pro only)

446 Adding Channels to the Control Room 447 Output Routing 447 Exclusive Assignment of Monitor Channels 447 Control Room Channels 449 Control Room - Main Tab 454 Control Room - Inserts Tab 456 Setting up a Cue Mix 457 Adjusting the Overall Cue Send Level

459 Metering and Loudness (Cubase Pro only)

459 Metering

465 Audio Effects

465 Insert Effects and Send Effects 467 Insert Effects 475 VST Effect Selector 476 Send Effects 481 Side-Chain Input 484 Dither Effects 484 External Effects (Cubase Pro only) 484 Effect Control Panel 487 Effect Presets 491 System Component Information Window

494 Direct Oine Processing

495 Direct Oine Processing Workow 496 Direct Oine Processing Window 507 Built-In Audio Processes 516 Direct Oine Processing Key Commands

518 Time Stretch and Pitch Shift Algorithms

518 élastique 519 MPEX 519 Standard 520 Limitations

521 Audio Functions

521 Detect Silence Dialog 524 Spectrum Analyzer Window 526 Statistics Window

529 Sample Editor

531 Sample Editor Toolbar 535 Info Line 536 Overview Line 536 Sample Editor Inspector

Table of Contents

539 Ruler 540 Waveform Display 542 Range Editing 546 Regions List 548 Snap Point

551 Hitpoints

551 Calculating Hitpoints 554 Locating to Hitpoints in the Project Window 555 Slices 557 Creating a Groove Quantize Map 557 Creating Markers 558 Creating Regions 558 Creating Events 558 Creating Warp Markers 559 Creating MIDI Notes

561 Tempo Matching Audio

561 Algorithm Presets 562 Stretching Audio Events to the Project Tempo 562 Musical Mode 564 Auto Adjust 565 Manual Adjust 566 Free Warp 568 Flattening Realtime Processing 569 Flatten Realtime Processing Dialog 569 Unstretching Audio Files

570 Pitch Editing and Time Correction with

VariAudio (Cubase Pro only)

570 VariAudio and Oine Processes 571 VariAudio Inspector Section 572 Smart Controls 574 Segmenting Monophonic Audio 575 Segments and Gaps 576 Auditioning 576 Navigation and Zoom 577 Segment Editing 579 Pitch Changes 586 Timing Modications 587 Showing MIDI Reference Tracks 588 Formant Shifting 589 Editing Volume 589 Functions Menu 593 Harmony Voices for Audio

595 Audio Part Editor

597 Audio Part Editor Toolbar 601 Info Line 601 Ruler 602 Lanes 602 Operations

606 Extensions in Cubase (Cubase Pro only)

606 Activating an Extension in Cubase 607 Editor for Extensions 608 Extension Editing in the Project Window 608 Permanently Applying Extension Edits

610 Sampler Tracks

610 Loading Audio Samples into Sampler Control 611 Loading MIDI Parts into Sampler Control 611 Creating Sampler Tracks 612 Sampler Control 621 Sample Editing and Playback Functions 623 Transferring Samples from Sampler Control to

VST Instruments

624 Pool

624 Pool Window 629 Working with the Pool

643 MediaBay and Media Rack

643 Media Rack in Right Zone 654 MediaBay Window 681 Working with Volume Databases 683 MediaBay Settings

685 Surround Sound (Cubase Pro only)

686 Deliverables 686 Available Surround Channel Congurations 687 Preparations for Creating Surround Mixes 690 VST MultiPanner 702 MixConvert V6 706 Surround Mix Export 706 3D Mixes for Ambisonics

719 Automation

719 Automation Curves 719 Static Value Line 719 Write/Read Automation 720 Writing Automation Data 722 Editing Automation Events 727 Automation Tracks 728 Virgin Territory vs. Initial Value (Cubase Pro

only)

728 Automation Panel (Cubase Pro only) 739 MIDI Controller Automation

742 VST Instruments

742 Adding VST Instruments 743 VST Instrument Control Panel 745 VST Instrument Selector 745 Creating Instrument Tracks 745 VST Instruments in the Right Zone 746 VST Instruments Window 746 VST Instruments Window Toolbar 747 VST Instrument Controls 749 Presets for Instruments 751 Playing Back VST Instruments 752 Latency 753 Import and Export Options 755 VST Quick Controls 756 Side-Chain Input for VST Instruments 758 External Instruments (Cubase Pro only)

759 Installing and Managing VST Plug-ins

759 Plug-ins and Collections 762 Adding New Plug-in Collections 763 Hiding Plug-ins 763 Reactivating Plug-ins from the Blacklist

765 Track Quick Controls

766 Parameter Assignment 769 Controlling Automatable Parameters 770 Connecting Track Quick Controls with Remote

Controllers

772 Remote Controlling Cubase

772 Connecting Remote Devices 772 Removing the Remote Input from All MIDI

Inputs

773 Setting up Remote Devices 775 Remote Devices and Automation 775 Assigning Commands to Remote Devices 776 Generic Remote Page

Table of Contents

781 Remote Control Editor 786 Joysticks 786 Track Quick Controls 786 VST Quick Controls

787 MIDI Realtime Parameters and MIDI Effects

787 MIDI Track Parameters 789 MIDI Modiers 794 MIDI Effects 797 Transpose and Velocity on the Info Line

798 Using MIDI Devices

798 Program Change Messages and Bank Select

Messages

799 Patch Banks 799 MIDI Device Manager 805 Device Panels (Cubase Pro only)

808 MIDI Functions

808 Transpose Setup Dialog 809 Merging MIDI Events into a New Part 811 Dissolve Part Dialog 812 Bouncing MIDI Parts 813 Repeating MIDI Events of Independent Track

Loops

813 Extending MIDI Notes 813 Fixing MIDI Note Lengths 814 Fixing MIDI Note Velocities 814 Rendering Sustain Pedal Data to Note Lengths 815 Deleting Overlaps 815 Editing Velocity 816 Deleting Double Notes 816 Deleting Controller Data 816 Deleting Continuous Controller Data 816 Restricting Polyphonic Voices 817 Thinning Out Controller Data 817 Extracting MIDI Automation 818 Reversing the Playback Order of MIDI Events 818 Inverting the Order of Selected MIDI Events 818 Creating a Tempo Track from Tapping (Cubase

Pro only)

819 MIDI Editors

819 Common MIDI Editor Functions 837 Key Editor 848 Key Editor Operations 856 Basic Score Editor (Cubase Artist only) 863 Score Editor Operations (Cubase Artist only) 870 Drum Editor 883 Drum Editor Operations 886 Drum Maps 890 List Editor 899 List Editor Operations 904 In-Place Editor

907 Expression Maps (Cubase Pro only)

908 Articulations 908 Expression Map Setup Window 909 Creating and Editing Expression Maps 916 Inserting Articulations

919 Note Expression

920 VST Note Expressions 920 MIDI Controllers 925 Note Expression Inspector Section 928 Note Expression Tools 929 Controller Mapping

930 Recording 933 Note Expression Event Editor 939 Trimming Note Expression Data 939 Removing All Note Expression Data 939 Note Expression MIDI Setup Dialog

944 Chord Functions

944 Chord Track 945 Chord Events 952 Scale Events 953 Voicings 956 Converting Chord Events to MIDI 957 Controlling MIDI or Audio Playback Using the

Chord Track

960 Assigning Voices to Notes 960 Extracting Chord Events from MIDI 961 Recording Chord Events with a MIDI Keyboard

962 Chord Pads

962 Chord Pads Zone 965 Functions Menu 966 Chord Assistant 968 Chord Assignment 971 Swapping Chord Assignments 972 Copying Chord Assignments 972 Playing Back and Recording Chords 975 Player Setup 982 Chord Pads Setup Dialog 987 Chord Pads Presets 988 Creating Chord Events from Chord Pads 988 Creating MIDI Parts from Chord Pads

989 Logical Editor

989 Window Overview 990 Filter Conditions 999 Selecting a Function 1000 Specifying Actions 1003 Applying the Dened Actions 1003 Presets

1005 Project Logical Editor (Cubase Pro only)

1005 Project Logical Editor Window Overview 1006 Filter Conditions 1015 Specifying Actions 1018 Selecting a Function 1019 Applying Macros 1019 Applying the Dened Actions 1019 Presets

1021 Editing Tempo and Time Signature

1021 Project Tempo Modes 1021 Track Time Base 1022 Tempo Track Editor 1025 Tempo Track 1026 Tempo Changes for Projects 1031 Setting up a Fixed Project Tempo 1033 Beat Calculator 1033 Tempo Detection (Cubase Pro only) 1035 Exporting a Tempo Track (Cubase Pro only) 1035 Importing a Tempo Track (Cubase Pro only) 1035 Process Tempo Dialog (Cubase Pro only) 1037 Process Bars Dialog (Cubase Pro only) 1037 Time Warp (Cubase Pro only) 1039 Set Denition from Tempo Dialog 1039 Time Signature Events

Table of Contents

1042 Project Browser (Cubase Pro only)

1042 Project Browser Toolbar 1043 Project Structure 1043 Event Display

1046 Rendering Audio and MIDI

1046 Render Tracks Dialog 1049 Render Selection Dialog

1052 Export Audio Mixdown

1053 Export Audio Mixdown Dialog 1059 Mixing Down to Audio Files 1059 Available Channels for Export (Cubase Pro only) 1060 File Formats

1068 Synchronization

1068 Master and Slave 1069 Timecode Formats 1071 Clock Sources 1072 Project Synchronization Setup Dialog 1077 MMC Master Panel 1077 External Synchronization 1078 Setting up Synchronization for a Personal

Music Studio (Cubase Pro only)

1080 VST System Link

1080 Setting up VST System Link 1084 Activating VST System Link 1087 Application Examples

1090 Video

1090 Video File Compatibility 1091 Frame Rates 1092 Video Output Devices 1092 Preparations for Creating Video Projects 1094 Preparations for Video Playback 1097 Editing Video 1098 Export Video 1101 Extracting Audio from Video

1102 Exchanging Files with Other Applications

1102 OMF Files (Cubase Pro only) 1106 AAF Files

1111 ReWire

1111 Introduction 1111 Enabling ReWire Applications 1112 Launching and quitting 1113 Activating ReWire channels 1113 Using the transport and tempo controls 1114 How the ReWire channels are handled 1114 Routing MIDI via ReWire 1115 Considerations and limitations

1116 Key Commands

1116 Key Commands Dialog 1119 Assigning Key Commands 1119 Searching for Key Commands 1120 Removing Key Commands 1120 Setting up Macros 1121 Saving Key Commands Presets 1121 Loading Key Command Presets 1121 Importing Key Command Settings 1121 Resetting Key Commands 1122 Default Key Commands 1134 Setting up Tool Modier Keys

1136 Customizing

1136 Workspaces

1139 Setup Options 1141 Proles (Cubase Pro only) 1145 Windows Dialog 1146 Where are the Settings Stored? 1146 Safe Mode Dialog

1149 Optimizing

1149 Optimizing Audio Performance

1153 Preferences

1153 Preferences Dialog 1155 Editing 1160 Editors 1160 Event Display 1163 General 1164 MIDI 1168 MediaBay 1168 Metering 1169 Record 1170 Scores (Cubase Pro only) 1172 Transport 1173 User Interface 1175 VST 1178 VariAudio (Cubase Pro only) 1178 Video

1179 Index

New Features

New Features in Version 10.5.0

Highlights

Padshop 2

● Steinberg’s highly acclaimed granular synthesizer Padshop now comes with even more creative tools and sonic inspiration. At its heart, the new spectral oscillator opens the door to unheard soundscapes and lets you turn your own samples into fascinating sonic sculptures. Add motion to your sounds with the new arpeggiator section and use the effects section to add the nishing touches. Get inspired by the 100 new presets or start creating your own unique sounds right away. See Padshop 2.

MultiTap Delay

● Providing the rhythm for your echo, the new MultiTap Delay gives musicians all the inspirational creative options that they need. Up to eight taps per delay loop can conveniently be created and edited. You can add effects with a simple click — to the complete output, just the delay loops, or even to individual taps, while different character presets deliver the sound of clean digital delays or classic vintage echo units. This plug-in is described in the separate document Plug-in Reference. See MultiTap Delay.

Import Tracks from Projects

● Cubase Pro only: Exchanging data between projects, creating new project templates, or using the same mix settings for multiple projects has never been easier. With the new track import functionality, you can import multiple track types from other projects, for example, group, FX, or folder tracks, select the track attributes you want to import, and automatically match the imported tracks to existing tracks with the same name. See Track

Import (Cubase Pro only).

Combine Selection Tools

● The new Combine Selection Tools mode speeds up your editing workow by combining the two most frequently used tools in one powerful feature. Activate the new tool mode to use the selection tools for both objects and ranges at the same time without the need to change tools. If time is critical, the Combine Selection Tools mode will be your new best friend. See Combine Selection Tools Mode.

MIDI Retrospective Recording

● Do you always deliver your best performances when not recording? The completely revised MIDI Retrospective Recording feature can help you to bring your A game to every project. Cubase tracks your MIDI input even when you are not recording and brings back your chords and melodies as a stacked cycle or a continuous performance with just one click. Even better, your performance is captured on multiple tracks. So no more worries — Cubase has your back. See Recovery of MIDI Recordings.

Colorized MixConsole Channels

● Maintaining a clear overview while your project is growing is essential for a fast and ecient workow. With the new option to colorize complete channels in the MixConsole with track colors, you can focus on your mix by intuitively nding the tracks you are looking

New Features

for. Even if you are sitting several meters away from the screen, you will not get lost in your mix. See Applying Channel Colors to Channel Controls.

Spectral Comparison EQ

● Cubase Pro only: Cleaning up frequencies to create room for each instrument is the key to a good mix. The new channel comparison mode in the channel EQ helps you to identify where action is needed. Just route a second signal from any track into the EQ and compare the spectral curves within the EQ display. Toggle between the EQ controls of the source and comparison channel and adjust the mix without losing focus on what you are doing. See

Comparing Channels (Cubase Pro only).

Video Export

● Export videos including audio for your clients and collaborators directly from Cubase. The new video export feature lets you render videos as MP4 with H.264 video compression and 16-bit stereo audio in 44.1 or 48 kHz. Export the whole video or just footage within the locator range, adding the timecode to the video export for the next production process. See Export Video.

More New Features

Score Editor Improvements

● Cubase Pro only: The Score Editor has been refreshed with powerful improvements. You can now show bars and beats positions when inserting or moving notes, while the new Event Movement Restriction Options help you to place rests or repeat markers in the score. The mouse wheel can now be used to quickly and easily transpose selected notes. See Score Layout and Printing.

LUFS Normalization

● Cubase Pro only: As an alternative to normalizing by maximum peak level, you can now use the integrated loudness value as reference, according to EBU recommendation R 128. See

Normalize.

Easier Macro Creation

● The Macros section now comes with new functionality. Resize the Macros section for a better overview, move key commands up and down in the macro, and duplicate macros with just one click. See Macros Section.

Safe Start Mode

● The new Safe Start Mode allows you to initiate Cubase without any third-party plug-ins loaded. See Safe Mode Dialog.

Enter Track Name when Adding Folder Tracks

● You can enter a name for a folder track when you add it via the Add Track dialog. See Add

Track Dialog – Folder.

New Preference for Cycle Activation

● The new preference Clicking Locator Range in Upper Part of the Ruler Activates Cycle allows you to disable the function to activate/deactivate cycle mode when you click the locator range in the upper part of the ruler. See Transport.

Introduction

The documentation covers the following Steinberg products: Cubase Pro and Cubase Artist.

Functions that are only available in Cubase Pro and not in Cubase Artist are clearly indicated. The screenshots are taken from Cubase Pro.

Platform-Independent Documentation

The documentation applies to the operating systems Windows and macOS.

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

Some points to consider:

●

The screenshots are taken from Windows.

●

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

Windows and macOS.

PDF Documents and Online Documentation

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

●

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

● In the program, select Help > Cubase Help.

Operation Manual

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

Score Layout and Printing (Cubase Pro only)

Describes the professional music notation, score editing, and printing features included in the Score Editor.

Remote Control Devices

Lists the supported MIDI remote control devices.

Plug-in Reference

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

Steinberg Library Manager

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

HALion Sonic SE

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

Introduction Conventions

Groove Agent SE

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

Retrologue

Describes the features and parameters of the included VST instrument Retrologue.

MIDI Devices

Describes how to manage MIDI devices and device panels.

Conventions

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

Typographical Elements

The following typographical elements mark the following purposes.

Prerequisite

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

Procedure

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

Important

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

Note

Informs you about issues that you should consider.

Tip

Adds further information or useful suggestions.

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.

Markup

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.

Introduction Key Commands

EXAMPLE

Select Project > Add Track.

Key Commands

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

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

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.

Studio Setup Dialog

The Studio Setup dialog allows you to set up your connected audio, MIDI, and remote control devices.

● To open the Studio Setup dialog, select Studio > Studio Setup.

The following options are available:

Add Device

Allows you to manually add devices such as a Note Expression Input Device, an additional Time Display device, or specic remote control devices.

Remove Selected Device

Allows you to remove manually added devices.

Send Reset Message to All Devices

Resets all remote control devices in the Devices list.

Devices list

Select a device in the Devices list to show its settings in the right section.

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

Reset

Resets the selected remote device.

Apply

Applies the settings.

Setting up Audio

You must set up your audio equipment before you can use it in Cubase.

IMPORTANT

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

Simple Stereo Input and Output Setup

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

amplier and speaker.

Audio Connections

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

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

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

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

or noisy recordings. For example, different inputs can be used, such as consumer line level (-10 dBV) or professional line level (+4 dBu).

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

IMPORTANT

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

Word Clock Connections

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

IMPORTANT

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

Selecting an Audio Driver

By selecting an audio driver, you allow Cubase to communicate with the audio hardware. Normally, when you start also select your audio hardware driver as described below.

NOTE

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

You must select and set up your audio hardware in the Studio Setup dialog before you can use it.

Cubase, a dialog opens that prompts you to select a driver, but you can

specic

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

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

● On Windows, click Control Panel.

● On macOS, click Open Cong App.

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

NOTE

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

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

VST Audio System Page

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

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

System in the Devices list.

The following options are available:

ASIO Driver

Allows you to select a driver.

Release Driver when Application is in Background

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

Input Latency

Shows the input latency of the audio hardware.

Output Latency

Shows the output latency of the audio hardware.

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

ASIO-Guard Latency

HW Sample Rate

HW Pull Up/Down

Set to Defaults

Processing Precision

Shows the ASIO-Guard latency.

Shows the sample rate of your audio hardware.

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

Allows you to restore the default settings.

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

NOTE

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

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

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

NOTE

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

Activate Multi Processing

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

Activate ASIO-Guard

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

ASIO-Guard Level

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

Audio Priority (Windows only)

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

Activate Steinberg Audio Power Scheme

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

Disk Preload

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

Adjust for Record Latency

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

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

Record Shift

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

RELATED LINKS

VST Plug-in Manager Window on page 760

ASIO Driver Setup Page

This page allows you to set up your ASIO driver.

● To open the page where you can set up the ASIO driver, select Studio > Studio Setup and

select the audio driver in the Devices list.

The following options are available:

Control Panel

Opens the control panel for the audio hardware.

Input Latency

Shows the input latency of the audio driver.

Output Latency

Shows the output latency of the audio driver.

Clock Source

Allows you to select a clock source.

Externally Clocked

Activate this option if you use an external clock source.

Direct Monitoring

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

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

Ports Reset

Allows you to reset all port names and visibilities.

I/O

The port input/output status.

Port System Name

The system name of the port.

Show As

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

Visible

Allows you to activate/deactivate audio ports.

State

The state of the audio port.

Using External Clock Sources

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

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

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

3. Activate Externally Clocked.

RESULT

Cubase now derives its speed from the external source.

NOTE

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

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

Using Several Audio Applications Simultaneously

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

PREREQUISITE

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

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

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

3. Activate Release Driver when Application is in Background.

Setting up Your System Setting up Audio

RESULT

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

Audio Hardware Conguration

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

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

Settings include:

●

Selecting which inputs/outputs are active.

●

Setting up word clock synchronization.

●

Turning on/off monitoring via the hardware.

●

Setting levels for each input.

●

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

●

Selecting digital input and output formats.

● Making settings for the audio buffers.

Setting up Input and Output Ports

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

PREREQUISITE

You have selected a driver for your audio hardware.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

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

3. Make your changes.

4. Click OK.

RELATED LINKS

ASIO Driver Setup Page on page 18

Audio Bus Setup

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

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

●

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

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

●

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

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

Setting up Your System Setting up MIDI

RELATED LINKS

Audio Connections on page 25

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 290 Monitoring via Cubase on page 290 ASIO Direct Monitoring on page 291

Setting up MIDI

You must set up your MIDI equipment before you can use it in Cubase.

IMPORTANT

Turn off all equipment before making any connections.

PROCEDURE

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

2. Install the drivers for your MIDI equipment.

RESULT

You can use your MIDI equipment in Cubase.

MIDI Connections

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

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

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

Showing or Hiding MIDI Ports

You can show the MIDI ports that you want to use and hide those that you do not use on the MIDI pop-up menus in the program.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

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

Setting up Your System Setting up MIDI

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.

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.

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 specied in the MIDI Port Setup.

MIDI Port Setup Page

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

● To open the MIDI Port Setup page, select Studio > Studio Setup and activate MIDI Port

Setup in the Devices list.

Setting up Your System Synchronizers

The following columns are displayed:

Device

I/O

Port System Name

Show As

Visible

State

In 'All MIDI Inputs'

The connected MIDI devices.

The port input/output status.

The system name of the port.

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

Allows you to activate/deactivate MIDI ports.

The state of the MIDI port.

Allows you to record MIDI data from all MIDI inputs.

NOTE

Deactivate this option if you use remote control devices.

The following options are available:

Use System Timestamp for 'Windows MIDI' Inputs

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

Use Device 'DirectMusic'

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

Use System Timestamp for 'DirectMusic' Inputs

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

Plug and Play Support for USB MIDI Devices

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

Synchronizers

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

IMPORTANT

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

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

Setting up Your System Synchronizers

RELATED LINKS

Synchronization on page 1068

Audio Connections

To play back and record in Cubase, you must set up input and output busses in the Audio Connections window. Here, you can also set up group and FX channels, external effects, external

instruments, and the Control Room (Cubase Pro only).

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

Audio Connections Window

The Audio Connections window allows you to set up input and output busses, group and FX channels, external effects, and external instruments. Furthermore, you can use this window to access and congure the Control Room (Cubase Pro only).

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

Inputs/Outputs Tab

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

The following options are available above the bus list:

+- All

Expands/Collapses all busses in the bus list.

Add Bus

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

Presets

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

The following columns are available for the bus list:

Bus Name

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

Speakers

Indicates the speaker conguration (mono, stereo, surround formats (Cubase Pro only)) of each bus.

Audio Connections Audio Connections Window

Audio Device

Shows the selected ASIO driver.

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 rst 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.

Group/FX Tab (Cubase Pro only)

This tab allows you to create group and FX channels/tracks and to make output assignments for these.

The following options are available above the bus list:

+- All

Expands/Collapses all busses in the bus list.

Add Group

Opens the Add Group Channel Track dialog, where you can create a new group channel track.

Add FX

Opens the Add FX Channel Track dialog, where you can create a new FX channel track.

The following columns are available for the bus list:

Bus Name

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

Speakers

Indicates the speaker conguration (mono, stereo, surround formats (Cubase Pro only)) of each bus.

Output Routing

Lets you select the output routing for the corresponding bus.

External FX Tab (Cubase Pro only)

This tab allows you to create send effect or return busses. You can use these to connect external effects which can then be selected via the effect pop-up menus from inside the program.

Audio Connections Audio Connections Window

The following options are available above the bus list:

+- All

Expands/Collapses all busses in the bus list.

Add External FX

Opens the Add External FX dialog, where you can congure a new external FX.

Favorites

Lets you store external effect congurations as favorites that you can recall.

The following columns are available for the bus list:

Bus Name

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

Speakers

Indicates the speaker conguration (mono, stereo, surround formats (Cubase Pro only)) of each bus.

Audio Device

Shows the selected ASIO driver.

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

rst 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.

Delay

Allows you to enter a value to compensate for an inherent delay (latency) of your hardware effect device during playback. You can right-click the Delay column for the effect and select Check User Delay to automatically determine the delay value.

NOTE

The latency of the audio hardware is handled automatically by Cubase.

Send Gain

Allows you to adjust the level of the signal that is sent to the external effect.

Return Gain

Allows you to adjust the level of the signal that the external effect sends.

Audio Connections Audio Connections Window

NOTE

Excessive output levels from an external effect device can cause clipping in the audio hardware. You cannot use the Return Gain setting to compensate for this. You must lower the output level on the effect device instead.

MIDI Device

When you click in this column, a pop-up menu opens where you can disconnect the effect from the associated MIDI device, select a MIDI device, create a new device, or open the

Used

Whenever you insert an external effect into an audio track, this column shows a checkmark (x) to indicate that the effect is being used.

External Instruments Tab (Cubase Pro only)

This tab allows you to create input/output busses that can be used to connect external instruments.

MIDI Device Manager to edit the MIDI device.

The following options are available above the bus list:

+- All

Expands/Collapses all busses in the bus list.

Add External Instrument

Opens the Add External Instrument dialog, where you can congure a new external instrument.

Favorites

Lets you store external instrument congurations as favorites that you can recall.

The following columns are available for the bus list:

Bus Name

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

Speakers

Indicates the speaker conguration (mono, stereo, surround formats (Cubase Pro only)) of each bus.

Audio Device

Shows the selected ASIO driver.

Device Port

Audio Connections Audio Connections Window

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.

Delay

Allows you to enter a value to compensate for an inherent delay (latency) of your hardware effect device during playback. You can right-click the instrument and select Check User Delay to automatically determine the delay value that is used for delay compensation.

NOTE

The latency of the audio hardware is handled automatically by Cubase.

Return Gain

Allows you to adjust the level of the signal coming in from the external instrument.

NOTE

Delay column for the

Excessive output levels from an external effect device can cause clipping in the audio hardware. The lower the output level on the effect device instead.

MIDI Device

When you click in this column, a pop-up menu opens where you can disconnect the instrument from the associated MIDI device, select a MIDI device, create a new device, or open the

Used

Whenever you insert the external instrument into a VST instrument slot, this column shows a checkmark (

Return Gain setting cannot be used to compensate for this. You must

MIDI Device Manager to edit the MIDI device.

x) to indicate that the instrument is being used.

Control Room Tab (Cubase Pro only)

This tab allows you to enable and congure the Control Room.

The following options are available above the bus list:

+- All

Expands/Collapses all busses in the bus list.

Audio Connections Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs

Add Channel

Opens a menu where you can select the type of channel that you want to add. You can add the following channels:

● External Input

● Talkback

● Cue

● Headphone

● Monitor

Presets

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

Enable/Disable Control Room

Enables/Disables the Control Room.

Open Control Room

Opens the Control Room window.

Conguration

Displays the selected channel conguration.

The following columns are available for the bus list:

Bus Name

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

Speakers

Indicates the speaker conguration (mono, stereo, surround formats (Cubase Pro only)) of each bus.

Audio Device

Shows the selected ASIO driver.

Device Port

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.

RELATED LINKS

Control Room (Cubase Pro only) on page 446

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.

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