Steinberg Cubase Elements 9, Cubase AI 9, Cubase LE 9 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, 2016.

7 Introduction

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

10 Getting Into the Details

11 Setting Up Your System

11 Setting Up Audio 19 Setting Up MIDI 21 Connecting a Synchronizer 22 Setting Up Video

23 VST Connections

23 VST Connections Window 24 Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs 25 Adding Input and Output Busses 26 Presets for Input and Output Busses 27 About Monitoring 27 Editing the Bus Configurations

29 Project Window

30 Showing/Hiding Zones 30 Project Zone 40 Left Zone 46 Lower Zone 51 Right Zone 56 Keyboard Focus in the Project Window 57 Zooming in the Project Window 60 Snap Function 63 Cross-Hair Cursor 63 Edit History Dialog

65 Project Handling

65 Creating New Projects 66 Hub 67 Project Assistant 68 About Project Files 68 About Template Files 69 Project Setup Dialog 73 Opening Project Files 74 Saving Project Files 75 Reverting to the Last Saved Version 75 Choosing a Project Location 75 Removing Unused Audio Files 76 Creating Self-Contained Projects

78 Tracks

78 Track Inspector Settings

80 Track Control Settings 82 Audio Tracks 87 Instrument Tracks 92 MIDI Tracks 96 Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only) 101 Arranger Track 102 Chord Track 105 FX Channel Tracks 109 Folder Tracks 110 Group Channel Tracks 115 Marker Track 116 Ruler Track 117 Video Track

119 Track Handling

119 Adding Tracks 121 Removing Tracks 122 Moving Tracks in the Track List 122 Renaming Tracks 122 Coloring Tracks 123 Showing Track Pictures 125 Setting the Track Height 126 Selecting Tracks 127 Duplicating Tracks 127 Disabling Tracks(Cubase Elements only) 127 Organizing Tracks in Folder Tracks 128 Handling Overlapping Audio 128 How Events are Displayed on Folder Tracks 128 Modifying Event Display on Folder Tracks 129 Track Presets

134 Parts and Events

134 Events 138 Parts 139 Editing Techniques for Parts and Events

151 Range Editing

151 Creating a Selection Range 153 Editing Selection Ranges

156 Playback and Transport

156 Transport Panel 158 Transport Menu 163 Transport 164 Left and Right Locators 165 Setting the Project Cursor Position 166 Auto-Scroll 167 Time Formats

Table of Contents 

167 Punch In and Punch Out 168 Metronome 170 Chase

171 Virtual Keyboard

171 Recording MIDI With the Virtual Keyboard 172 Virtual Keyboard Options

173 Recording

173 Basic Recording Methods 176 Monitoring 179 Audio Recording Specifics 183 MIDI Recording Specifics 189 Remaining Record Time 189 Lock Record

190 Quantizing MIDI and Audio

190 Quantize Functions 191 Quantizing MIDI Event Starts 192 Quantizing MIDI Event Lengths 192 Quantizing MIDI Event Ends 193 Quantizing Audio Event Starts 193 Quantize Panel

200 Fades and Crossfades

200 Event-Based Fades 204 Creating Clip-Based Fades 206 Crossfades 209 Auto Fades and Crossfades

213 Arranger Track(Cubase Elements only)

214 Adding Arranger Events on the Arranger

Track

214 Arranger Editor 218 Setting up an Arranger Chain and Adding

Events

220 Jump Mode 222 Arranging Music to Video

223 Markers

223 Position Markers 223 Cycle Markers 224 Markers Window 228 Marker Track 229 Importing and Exporting Markers

231 MixConsole

231 MixConsole in Lower Zone 232 MixConsole Window

266 Audio Effects

266 Insert Effects and Send Effects 268 Insert Effects 274 Send Effects 277 Dither Effects(Cubase Elements only) 278 Effect Control Panel 279 Effect Presets 284 Plug-In Information Window

287 Audio Processing and Functions

287 Common settings and features 288 Envelope 289 Fade In and Fade Out

290 Gain 291 Merge Clipboard 291 Noise Gate 292 Normalize 292 Phase Reverse 293 Remove DC Offset 293 Resample 294 Reverse 294 Silence 294 Stereo Flip 294 Time Stretch 296 Freeze Edits 297 Detect Silence 299 Spectrum Analyzer 302 Statistics 303 Time Stretch Algorithms

305 Sample Editor

307 Toolbar 311 Info Line 311 Overview Line 312 Sample Editor Inspector 313 Ruler 313 Waveform Display 315 Range Editing 319 Regions List 322 Snap Point

324 Hitpoints

324 Calculating Hitpoints 327 Locating to Hitpoints in the Project Window 327 Slices 329 Creating a Groove Quantize Map 329 Creating Markers 330 Creating Regions 330 Creating Events 330 Creating MIDI Notes

333 Audio Part Editor

334 Toolbar 339 Info Line 339 The Ruler 340 About Lanes 340 Operations

344 Controlling Sample Playback with Sampler

Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

344 Creating Sampler Tracks 345 Sampler Control 355 Sample Editing and Playback Functions 357 Transferring Samples from Sampler Control

to VST Instruments

358 Pool

358 Pool Window 362 Working with the Pool

377 MediaBay

377 MediaBay in Right Zone 378 MediaBay Window 392 Working With the MediaBay

Table of Contents 

396 Working with MediaBay-Related Windows 398 Working With Volume Databases 400 MediaBay Settings 401 MediaBay Key Commands

402 Automation

402 Recording your Actions 402 Automation Curves 403 Static Value Line 403 Write/Read Automation 404 MIDI Part Data vs. Track Automation 404 Writing Automation Data 406 Editing Automation Events 409 Automation Tracks

411 VST Instruments

411 Adding VST Instruments(not in Cubase LE) 412 Creating Instrument Tracks 412 VST Instruments in the Right Zone(not in

Cubase LE)

413 VST Instruments Window(not in Cubase LE) 413 VST Instruments Toolbar(not in Cubase LE) 414 VST Instrument Controls(not in Cubase LE) 415 Presets for Instruments 417 Playing Back VST Instruments 419 About Latency 419 Import and Export Options 421 VST Quick Controls(not in Cubase LE)

424 Installing and Managing Plug-ins

424 Installing VST plug-ins 424 Plug-in Manager 427 Compiling a New Effects Collection

428 Remote controlling Cubase

428 Setting Up 430 Operations 431 The Generic Remote device 436 The Remote Control Editor(Cubase

Elements only)

442 Apple Remote (Macintosh only)

444 MIDI Realtime Parameters

444 MIDI Track Parameters 444 MIDI Modifiers 449 Transpose and Velocity on the Info Line

450 Using MIDI devices

450 MIDI devices – general settings and patch

handling

458 MIDI Processing

458 MIDI functions vs. MIDI modifiers 458 What is affected by the MIDI functions? 459 Transpose 460 Making your settings permanent 462 Dissolve Part 463 Repeat Loop 464 Other MIDI functions

469 MIDI Editors

469 Common MIDI Editor Functions

476 Key Editor 488 Key Editor Operations 505 Score Editor 512 Score Editor Operations 520 Drum Editor 534 Drum Editor Operations 537 Drum Maps

543 Chord Functions

543 Chord Track 544 Chord Events 548 Scale Events 549 Voicings 551 Converting Chord Events to MIDI 552 Controlling MIDI Playback using the Chord

Track

555 Assigning Voices to Notes 556 Extracting Chord Events from MIDI 557 Recording Chord Events with a MIDI

Keyboard

559 Chord Pads

559 Chord Pads 562 Functions Menu 563 Preparations 563 Chord Assistant 564 Assigning Chords to Chord Pads 567 Moving and Copying Chord Pads 567 Playing Back and Recording Chords 569 Chord Pad Settings – Remote Control 572 Chord Pad Settings – Players 575 Chord Pad Settings – Pad Layout 575 Chord Pads Presets 576 Creating Events from Chord Pads

577 Editing Tempo and Time Signature

577 Project Tempo Modes 577 Tempo Track Editor 579 Setting up Tempo Changes for Projects 581 Setting up a Fixed Project Tempo 583 Beat Calculator 584 Set Definition From Tempo

585 Export Audio Mixdown

586 Mixing Down to Audio Files 587 Available Channels for Export 587 File Location 589 File Format 597 Audio Engine Output 598 Import Into Project 598 Post Process

600 Synchronization

600 Background 601 Timecode (positional references) 602 Clock sources (speed references) 603 The Project Synchronization Setup dialog 606 Synchronized operation 607 Working with VST System Link 611 Activating VST System Link

Table of Contents 

619 Video

619 Before You Start 622 Preparing a Video Project 625 Playing Back Video 628 Editing Video 628 Extracting Audio From a Video File 629 Replacing the Audio in a Video File

630 ReWire(not in Cubase LE)

630 Introduction 630 Launching and quitting 631 Activating ReWire channels 632 Using the transport and tempo controls 632 How the ReWire channels are handled 633 Routing MIDI via ReWire 633 Considerations and limitations

634 Key Commands

634 Introduction 635 Setting up key commands 638 Setting up tool modifier keys 639 The default key commands

650 File handling

650 Importing audio 655 Exporting and importing standard MIDI files 659 Exporting and importing MIDI loops

660 Customizing

660 Using the Setup options 661 Appearance 664 Applying colors in the Project window 669 Where are the settings stored?

671 Optimizing

671 Optimizing Audio Performance

675 Preferences

675 Preferences Dialog 677 Appearance 677 Editing 685 Editors 685 Event Display 689 General 690 MIDI 695 MediaBay 695 Metering 696 Record 698 Transport 700 VST 703 Video

704 Index

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 Mac OS.

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 Mac OS.

Some points to consider:

Introduction

•

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 Mac OS.

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.

Introduction Conventions

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.

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.

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 undertake after completing the procedure.

RELATED LINKS

Lists related topics that you can find in this documentation.

Introduction Key Commands

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.

EXAMPLE

Select Project> Add Track.

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.

For example, the default key command for Undo is Ctrl-Z on Windows and Cmd-Z on Mac OS. When key commands with modifier keys are described in this manual, they are shown with the Windows modifier key first, in the following way:

•

Windows modifier key/Mac OS modifier key-key

EXAMPLE

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

Getting Into the Details

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

Setting Up Your System Setting Up Audio

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.

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 dBV).

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 Devices> Devices 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 Your System Setting Up Audio

Setting Up Audio Hardware

PREREQUISITE

You have selected a driver for your audio hardware.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Devices> Devices Setup.

2. In the Devices list to the left, select the driver to open the driver settings for your audio

hardware.

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

•

On Windows, click Control Panel.

•

On Mac OS, 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.

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 Devices> Device Setup and select VST Audio System in the Devices list to the left.

Setting Up Your System Setting Up Audio

The following options are available:

ASIO Driver

Release Driver when Application is in Background

Input Latency

Output Latency

ASIO-Guard Latency

HW Sample Rate

Allows you to select a driver.

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

Shows the input latency of the audio hardware.

Shows the output latency of the audio hardware.

Shows the ASIO-Guard latency.

Shows the sample rate of your audio hardware.

HW Pull Up/Down

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

Set to Defaults

Allows you to restore the default settings.

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.

Setting Up Your System Setting Up Audio

Disk Preload

Adjust for Record Latency

Record Shift

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 Devices> Device

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

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

Allows you to shift the recordings by the specified value.

Setup and select the audio driver in the Devices list to the left.

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.

Setting Up Your System Setting Up Audio

Externally Clocked

Direct Monitoring

Ports Reset

I/O

Port System Name

Show As

Activate this option, if you use an external clock source.

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

Allows you to reset all port names and visibilities.

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.

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 Devices> Devices Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select the page of 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.

Setting Up Your System Setting Up Audio

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 Devices> Devices Setup.

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

3. Activate Release Driver when Application is in Background.

RESULT

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

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 VST 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 Your System Setting Up Audio

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 Devices> Devices Setup.

2. In the Devices list to the left, select the driver to open the driver settings for your audio

hardware.

3. Make your settings.

4. Click OK.

RELATED LINKS

ASIO Driver Setup on page 15

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

VST Connections on page 23

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 177 Monitoring via Cubase on page 176 ASIO Direct Monitoring on page 177

Setting Up Your System Setting Up MIDI

Setting Up MIDI

IMPORTANT

Turn off all equipment before making any connections.

PROCEDURE

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

2. Install the drivers for your MIDI equipment.

RESULT

You can use your MIDI equipment in Cubase.

MIDI Connections

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

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

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

Showing or Hiding MIDI Ports

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

PROCEDURE

1. Select Devices> Device Setup.

2. In the Device Setup dialog, select MIDI Port Setup from the Devices list on the left.

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 Devices> Device Setup.

2. In the Device Setup dialog, select MIDI Port Setup from the Devices list on the left.

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

Setting Up Your System Setting Up MIDI

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 section in the Device Setup dialog displays the connected MIDI devices and allows you to set up their ports.

• To open the MIDI Port Setup section, select Devices> Device Setup and activate MIDI

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.

Port Setup in the Devices list to the left.

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.

Setting Up Your System Connecting a Synchronizer

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.

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 600

Setting Up Your System Setting Up Video

Setting Up Video

Cubase plays back video files in a number of formats, such as AVI, QuickTime, or MPEG. QuickTime is used as the playback engine. Which formats can be played back depends on the video codecs that are installed on your system.

There are several ways to play back video, for example, without any special hardware, using a FireWire port, or using dedicated video cards.

If you plan to use special video hardware, install it and set it up as recommended by the manufacturer.

NOTE

Before you use the video hardware with Cubase, we recommend that you test the hardware installation with the utility applications that were provided with the hardware and/or the QuickTime Player application.

RELATED LINKS

Video on page 619 Video Output Devices on page 621

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

VST Connections Window

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

• To open the VST Connections window, select Devices> VST Connections.

Inputs/Outputs Tab

VST Connections

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.

VST Connections Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs

Speakers

Indicates the speaker configuration (mono, stereo) 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 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 Adat1 port is already assigned to 3 stereo busses plus 2 additional busses.

Click (Outputs tab only)

You can route the metronome click to a specific output bus.

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 Devices> Device Setup.

2. On the VST Audio System page, make sure that the correct driver for your audio

hardware is selected. If this is the case, your audio card is listed in the Devices list on the left of the Device

Setup window.

3. In the devices list, select your audio card.

The available input and output ports on your audio hardware are listed on the right.

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

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

6. Click OK.

VST Connections Adding Input and Output Busses

RELATED LINKS

Re-Routing Missing Ports on page 74

Hiding Ports

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

PROCEDURE

1. Select Devices> Device Setup.

2. In the devices list, select your audio card.

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

4. Click OK.

Activating and Deactivating Ports (Mac only)

On Mac operating systems, 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 Devices> Device Setup.

2. In the devices list, select your audio card.

3. Click Control Panel.

4. Activate/Deactivate ports.

5. Click OK.

Adding Input and Output Busses

PROCEDURE

1. In the VST 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.

VST Connections Presets for Input and Output Busses

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 VST 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.

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 Devices> VST Connections.

2. Set up your bus configuration.

3. Click Store .

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

5. Click OK.

VST Connections About Monitoring

RESULT

The preset is available in the Presets menu.

Deleting a Bus Configuration Preset

PROCEDURE

1. Select Devices> VST 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 26

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 VST 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 VST Connection 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.

VST Connections Editing the Bus Configurations

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 VST Connections window on the Device Port pop- up 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.

Project Window Showing/Hiding Zones

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

3. Lower Zone

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

4. Right Zone

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

RELATED LINKS

Project Zone on page 30 Left Zone on page 40 Lower Zone on page 46 Right Zone on page 51 Toolbar on page 31

Showing/Hiding Zones

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

PROCEDURE

• Do one of the following:

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

•

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

•

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

NOTE The project zone is always shown.

Project Window Project Zone

RELATED LINKS

Track List on page 34 Event Display on page 35 Ruler on page 36 Status Line on page 37 Info Line on page 37 Overview Line on page 38 Transport on page 38

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.

Constrain Delay Compensation

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

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.

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

Project Window Project Zone

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

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.

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 34 Snap Types on page 61 Arranger Track(Cubase Elements only) on page 213 Markers on page 223 Automation on page 402 Synchronization on page 600

Project Window Project Zone

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.

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, open the Preferences dialog, select Editing> Tools and activate Pop-up Toolbox on Right-Click.

• 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 80

Project Window Project Zone

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

the ruler.

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.

To move any type of track from the lower track list to the upper and vice versa, rightclick 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.

Project Window Project Zone

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 popup on the Transport panel, or hold down Ctrl/Cmd and select a display format in any ruler.

RELATED LINKS

Project Setup Dialog on page 69

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

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, open the Preferences dialog, select MIDI, and adjust the MIDI Display Resolution setting.

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, open the Preferences dialog, select Transport, and activate Show Timecode Subframes.

Project Window Project Zone

Status Line

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:

Audio Inputs/Audio Outputs

These fields are shown, if the audio device ports are not connected. Click to open the VST Connections dialog and connect the ports.

Record Time Max

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

Info Line

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

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.

Project Window Project Zone

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, open the Preferences dialog, select Editing> Tool Modifiers

and select a new modifier in the Info Line category.

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

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

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.

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

Project Window Project Zone

• 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.

Left Divider

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

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 set the punch in and the punch out points that determine the record start and stop stop positions.

Main Transport

Shows the main transport controls.

Time Displays

Shows the time display options.

Project Window Left Zone

Tempo & Time Signature

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

Click & Pre-Count & External Sync

Allows you to activate/deactivate the metronome click, the metronome click in precount, and the external synchronization.

Right Divider

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.

Left Zone

RELATED LINKS

Common Record Modes on page 175 Audio Record Modes on page 181 MIDI Record Modes on page 187 Left/Right Toolbar Divider on page 34

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 41

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.

Project Window Left Zone

RELATED LINKS

Opening the Track Inspector on page 42 Opening the Editor Inspector on page 43 Opening the Editor in the Lower Zone on page 50

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.

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

Project Window Left Zone

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 50

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.

Project Window Left Zone

•

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

RELATED LINKS

Inspector Settings Dialog on page 45 Audio Track Inspector on page 82 Instrument Track Inspector on page 87 MIDI Track Inspector on page 92 Sampler Track Inspector on page 97 Arranger Track Inspector on page 101 Marker Track Inspector on page 115 Video Track Inspector on page 117 Key Editor Inspector on page 485 Drum Editor Inspector on page 529 Sample Editor Inspector on page 312

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

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

Project Window Lower Zone

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

Lower Zone

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.

Allows you to restore the default Inspector section settings.

Project Window Lower Zone

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

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

RELATED LINKS

Opening Chord Pads on page 48 Opening the Lower Zone MixConsole on page 48 Opening Sampler Control(Cubase Elements only) on page 49 Opening the Editor in the Lower Zone on page 50

Setting up the Lower Zone

In the lower zone, the tabs MixConsole, Editor, Sampler Control(Cubase Elements only), and Chord Tabs 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:

Project Window Lower Zone

•

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.

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.

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 559

Opening the Lower Zone MixConsole

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 231

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 344

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 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 51

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 VST Instruments rack and the MediaBay 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 two tabs: VST Instruments and MediaBay.

Project Window Right Zone

RELATED LINKS

VST Instruments in the Right Zone on page 52 MediaBay in the Right Zone on page 55

Opening the VST Instruments in the Right Zone(not in Cubase LE)

You can show VST Instruments 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 VST Instruments tab.

RESULT

The VST Instruments are opened in the right zone of the Project window.

RELATED LINKS

VST Instruments in the Right Zone on page 52 VST Instruments on page 411

VST Instruments in the Right Zone

The VST Instruments 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 413

Project Window Right Zone

Opening the MediaBay in the Right Zone

You can show the MediaBay 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, or instrument presets into the event display.

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 MediaBay tab.

RESULT

The MediaBay is opened in the right zone of the Project window.

RELATED LINKS

MediaBay in the Right Zone on page 55 MediaBay on page 377

Project Window Right Zone

MediaBay in the Right Zone

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

The MediaBay is divided into several sections:

1. Search

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

2. Home

Allows you to go back to the initial tiles view.

3. Show All Items

Allows you to show the results list for the selected tile. If no tile is selected, all media files that are contained in the selected Browse Location are shown.

4. Instruments Tile

Click this tile to show the presets for the included VST instruments.

5. Loops & Samples Tile

Click this tile to show audio loops, MIDI loops or instrument sounds ordered by content set.

6. Presets Tile

Click this tile to show the track presets, strip presets, FX chain presets, and VST FX presets.

7. User Presets Tile

Click this tile to show the track presets, strip presets, pattern banks, FX chain presets, VST FX presets, and instrument presets that are listed in the folder VST Sound> User Content.

RELATED LINKS

Locations Section on page 380 MediaBay in Right Zone on page 377 MediaBay on page 377

Project Window Keyboard Focus in the Project Window

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.

NOTE

You can change the focus zone border color in the Preferences dialog (Appearance-Colors-General page).

RELATED LINKS

Project Zone on page 30 Left Zone on page 40 Lower Zone on page 46 Right Zone on page 51 Project Window on page 29

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.

Project Window Zooming in the Project Window

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

Appearance–Colors on page 662

Zooming in the Project Window

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

Note the following:

•

When you are using the Zoom tool (magnifying glass), the zooming result depends on the Zoom Tool Standard Mode: Horizontal Zooming Only option. To access this option, open the Preferences dialog and select Editing> Tools.

If this option is activated and you drag a selection rectangle with the Zoom tool, the window is only zoomed horizontally, the track height does not change. If the option is deactivated, the window is zoomed both horizontally and vertically.

•

When you are using the vertical zoom sliders, the tracks are scaled relatively. If you have made any individual track height adjustments, the relative height

differences are maintained.

•

If the Zoom while Locating in Time Scale option is activated, you can also zoom by clicking in the lower half of the ruler and dragging up or down with the left mouse button pressed. To access this option, open the Preferences dialog and select Transport.

Drag up to zoom out; drag down to zoom in.

•

To zoom in on the contents of parts and events vertically, use the waveform zoom slider in the top right corner of the event display.

This is useful when viewing quiet audio passages.

IMPORTANT To get an approximate reading on the level of the audio events by viewing the

waveforms, make sure this slider is all the way down. Otherwise, zoomed waveforms may be mistaken for clipped audio.

•

If the Quick Zoom option is activated, the contents of parts and events are not continuously redrawn when you zoom manually. Instead, the contents are redrawn once you have stopped changing the zoom. Activate the Quick Zoom option if screen redraws are slow on your system. To access this option, open the Preferences dialog and select Editing.

NOTE

You can link the project cursor and zoom with the editor in the lower zone.

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.)

Zoom to Event

Zoom In/Out Vertically

Zoom In/Out Tracks

Zoom Selected Tracks

Undo/Redo Zoom

RELATED LINKS

Zoom Submenu on page 314

Zoom Presets

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

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

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.

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.

•

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

Project Window Zooming in the Project Window

The upper part of the menu lists the zoom presets.

•

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.

Project Window Snap Function

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 224

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 (magnifying glass).

To redo zoom, select Edit> Zoom> Redo Zoom or press Alt and double-click with the zoom tool (magnifying glass).

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.

Project Window Snap Function

NOTE

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

RELATED LINKS

Adjusting the Snap Point on page 322

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.

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.

Project Window Snap Function

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.

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

1 2 3 4 5

Dragging event 2 past event 4…

1 3 4 2 5

…changes the order of events 2, 3, and 4.

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.

Project Window Cross-Hair Cursor

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.

•

To set up the cross-hair cursor, open the Preferences dialog and select Editing> Tools.

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.

• 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.

Project Window Edit History Dialog

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

NOTE

You can also undo audio processes or applied plug-in effects.

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. Open the Preferences dialog and 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.

Project Handling

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.

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 26

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 Knowledge Base.

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.

Project Handling Project Assistant

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.

RELATED LINKS

Project Assistant on page 67

Deactivating the Hub

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

PROCEDURE

1. Open the Preferences dialog.

2. Select General and 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.

Project Handling About Project Files

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

•

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 (Mac OS 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.

Project Handling Project Setup Dialog

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.

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, open the Preferences dialog, select General, and activate the Run Setup on Create New Project option.

Project Handling Project Setup Dialog

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 author in the Default Author Name field. To access this, open the Preferences dialog and select General> Personalization.

Company

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. To access this, open the

Preferences dialog and select General> Personalization.

Start

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.

Length

Allows you to specify the length of the project.

Frame Rate

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.

Project Handling Project Setup Dialog

Get From Video

Display Format

Display Offset

Bar Offset

Sample Rate

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Project Handling Project Setup Dialog

Record File Type

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

• Wave files are a common file format on the PC platform. For 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.

• Wave 64 is a proprietary format developed by Sonic Foundry Inc. Audio-

wise it is identical to the Wave format, but the internal file structure allows for much larger file sizes as required by long live recordings.

• Broadcast Wave Files are, in terms of audio content, identical with

regular Wave files, but with embedded text strings for supplying additional information about the file. To set these up, open the Preferences dialog and select Record> Audio> Broadcast Wave.

• AIFF Files, Audio Interchange File Format, is a defined standard by Apple

Inc. and can be used on most computer platforms. AIFF files can contain embedded text strings. To set these up, open the Preferences dialog and select Record> Audio> Broadcast Wave.

• FLAC Files, Free Lossless Audio Codec, is an open source format. Audio

files recorded in this format are typically 50 % to 60 % smaller than regular Wave files.

NOTE

If your recorded Wave file is larger than 4 GB you can save it as an RF64 file. Open the Preferences dialog, select Record> Audio, open the When Recording Wave Files larger than 4 GB pop-up menu, and activate Use RF64 Format. This way, you do not have to worry about the file size during recording. However, keep in mind that this format is not supported by all applications.

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.

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

Allows you to specify the overall degree of retuning.

Project Handling Opening Project Files

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 on the 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:

•

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 .

To activate the project, click Activate.

To open the project without activating it, click No. This reduces load times for projects.

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.

•

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

Project Handling Saving Project Files

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 24

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, open the Preferences dialog, select General, and activate the Auto Save option. 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.

Removing Unused Audio Files

You can use the Cleanup function to locate and delete unused audio files in the project folders on your disk.

PREREQUISITE

Make sure that you have not moved or renamed files or folders without updating the project files to use the new paths. Also make sure that the project folder does not contain audio files that belong to projects that are not saved in the project folder.

Project Handling Creating Self-Contained Projects

PROCEDURE

1. Close all projects.

2. Select File> Cleanup.

3. Click Start.

Cubase scans the hard disks for project folders and lists all audio and image files that are not used by any project.

NOTE You can also click Search Folder to select a specific folder for the Cleanup function.

This is only recommended if you are sure that the folder contains no audio files that are used in other projects.

4. Select the files that you want to delete and click Delete.

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.

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 freeze 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.

Project Handling Creating Self-Contained Projects

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 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 Edits

Allows you to freeze 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 Inspector 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.

Tracks Track Control 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.

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.

Tracks Track Control Settings

Add

Remove

Move Up/Move Down

Group

Ungroup

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Tracks Audio Tracks

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 119

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.

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.

Tracks Audio Tracks

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.

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.

Tracks Audio Tracks

Inserts Section

Allows you to add insert effects to the track.

Strip Section

Allows you to set up the channel strip modules.

Equalizers Section

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 Section

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

Fader Section

Shows a duplicate of the corresponding MixConsole channel.

Notepad Section

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

Tracks Audio Tracks

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 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.

Tracks Instrument Tracks

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.

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.

Tracks Instrument Tracks

Record enable

Monitor

Freeze Instrument Channel

Volume

Pan

Activates the track for recording.

Routes incoming MIDI to the selected MIDI output. For this to work, open the Preferences dialog, select MIDI, and activate MIDI Thru Active.

Allows you to freeze the instrument.

Allows you to adjust the level of the track.

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.

Activate Outputs

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

Tracks Instrument Tracks

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 Section

Allows you to select a drum map for the track.

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

MIDI Modifiers Section

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.

Tracks Instrument Tracks

Notepad Section

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

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, open the Preferences dialog, select MIDI, and activate MIDI Thru Active.

Edit

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Edit Instrument

Allows you to open the instrument panel.

Read Automation

Allows you to read track automation.

Tracks Instrument Tracks

Write Automation

ASIO Latency Compensation

Programs

Bypass Inserts

Bypass EQs

Allows you to write track automation.

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

Allows you to select a program.

Bypasses the inserts for the track.

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

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.

Load available update

This button lights up when other users have made changes to a track and committed them over the network to indicate that you can load the changes and update the project.

Tracks MIDI Tracks

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

Allows you to write track automation.

Tracks MIDI Tracks

Record enable

Activates the track for recording.

Monitor

Routes incoming MIDI to the selected MIDI output. For this to work, open the

Preferences dialog, select MIDI, and activate MIDI Thru Active.

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.

Tracks MIDI Tracks

Drum Map

Allows you to select a drum map for the track.

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 Section

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

MIDI Modifiers Section

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 Section

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.

Tracks Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

Record enable

Activates the track for recording.

Monitor

Allows you to route incoming MIDI signals to the selected MIDI output. For this to work, open the Preferences dialog, select MIDI, and activate MIDI Thru Active.

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.

Tracks Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

RELATED LINKS

Creating Sampler Tracks on page 344

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

Tracks Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

Routes incoming MIDI to the selected MIDI output. For this to work, open the

Preferences dialog, select MIDI, and activate MIDI Thru Active.

Freeze Instrument Channel

Allows you to freeze the sampler track.

Volume

Allows you to adjust the level of 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.

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 Section

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

Tracks Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

MIDI Modifiers Section

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 sampler track.

Notepad Section

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

Tracks Sampler Tracks(Cubase Elements only)

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, open the Preferences dialog, select MIDI, and activate MIDI Thru Active.

Edit

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Open/Close Sampler

Opens/Closes the Sample Control in the lower zone.

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

100

Steinberg Cubase Elements 9, Cubase AI 9, Cubase LE 9 Operation Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Table of Contents

Platform-Independent Documentation

Introduction

About the Documentation

Conventions

Typographical Elements

Markup

Key Commands

Getting Into the Details

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

Setting Up Video

VST Connections Window

VST Connections

Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs

Hiding Ports

Activating and Deactivating Ports (Mac 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 the Lower Zone MixConsole