Menu Reference
Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Marion Bröer, Sabine Pfeifer, Heike Schilling, Benjamin Schütte
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Release Date: March 31, 2011
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All rights reserved.
2
Menu Reference
Introduction
This manual lists all main menu items in Cubase Elements,
Cubase AI, and Cubase LE for quick reference. For further
information, please refer to the Operation Manual.
Cubase menu (Mac OS X only)
About Cubase
Opens a window with information about the Cubase version number, etc.
Preferences…
The Preferences dialog contains several pages with settings and options affecting the general program behavior,
for example. You access the pages by selecting items in
the list on the left. To make settings without closing the di
alog use the Apply button.
Use the Help button in the dialog for information about the
items on the selected page.
Quit
Quits the program. If there are any unsaved changes in an
open project, you will have the option of keeping these or
discarding them before the program quits.
File menu
New Project…
This item opens the Project Assistant dialog, where you
can create a new project, which can either be empty or
based on a template. Templates are preconfigured setups
to suit various types of projects. You can also access any
other project on your system or open a project from a list
of recently opened projects.
Open…
This opens a file dialog allowing you to locate and open
saved project files. Cubase project files have the extension “.cpr”. Several projects can be open at the same
time, but only one can be active. The active project is indi
cated by a highlighted button at the top left corner of the
Project window.
Close
Closes the active window. If the Project window is active,
the corresponding project will be closed.
Save
Saves any changes made to the project since you last
saved. The Save command stores the project under its
current name and location.
Save As…
Save As allows you to specify a new name and a new
project folder for the project.
Back up Project…
This item allows you to save the project into a new empty
folder. It has some additional features that can be used for
backup purposes.
When you back up a project, all files relating to the project
based on the options set will be saved in the new project
folder. The contents of the original project folder will be
left untouched. If you are absolutely certain that you do not
have any further need for the unused files and/or the video
files from the original project, you can exclude them from
the backup version.
Save as Template…
You can save any project as a template. When you create
a new project, the available templates are listed, allowing
you to base the new project on the selected template.
Saved templates will contain everything that was in the
original project, including clips and events.
Revert
This menu item allows you to revert to the last saved version of a project. If any new audio files have been recorded
since you last saved, you have the option of keeping or deleting these.
Page Setup…
This item opens the standard Page Setup dialog, used for
-
deciding about paper formats, etc., before printing a score.
The item is only available when the Score Editor is open.
4
Menu Reference
Print…
Opens the standard Print dialog, allowing you to select
which pages to print, how many copies of each, etc. This
item is only available when the Score Editor is open.
Import
Option Description
Audio File… Lets you import audio files directly into a project. The im-
Audio CD… Opens the Import from Audio CD dialog where you can
Video File… Opens a file dialog allowing you to import a video file onto
Audio from
Video File…
MIDI File… Allows you to import standard MIDI files of Type “0” (all
ported file will be placed at the current cursor position
of the selected audio track.
import audio from CDs. For details use the Help function in the dialog.
the video track. You do not have to create a video track
before importing, it is automatically created. The imported
video will be placed at the current cursor position.
Allows you to extract the audio from a video file on disk.
The audio in the selected video file is extracted and converted to a Wave file in the project’s Audio folder.
data on single track) or Type “1” (data on several tracks).
When you import, you can choose to import the file into
the current project, or to create a new project.
Export
Option Description
MIDI File… Allows you to export MIDI tracks as standard MIDI files.
MIDI Loop… Allows you to export MIDI loops (file extension “midi-
Audio
Mixdown…
Notepad
Data…
loop”) in Cubase. MIDI loops contain MIDI part information plus all settings that are saved in instrument track
presets.
Allows you to mix down and export an output bus. The resulting mixes are saved as files on your hard disk in one
of several file formats, complete with effects, automation
EQ, etc.
Allows you to export notepad data as text file. On export,
an external text editor will be opened automatically.
Preferences…
Ö Under Mac OS X, the Preferences dialog is accessed
from the Cubase menu.
The Preferences dialog contains several pages with settings and options affecting, the general program behavior,
for example. You access the pages by selecting items in the
list on the left. To make settings without closing the dialog
use the Apply button.
Use the Help button in the dialog for information about the
items on the selected page.
Key Commands…
The Key Commands dialog allows you to specify key commands for virtually any Cubase function, as well as customize existing key commands to your liking. Use the Help
button in the dialog for information about the items in the
dialog.
Recent Projects
This submenu provides shortcuts to the projects you have
been working with recently. The list is chronological with
the most recent project at the top.
Quit
Ö Under Mac OS X, this item is accessed from the Cubase menu.
This quits the program. If there are any unsaved changes
in an open project, you will have the option of keeping
these or discarding them before the program quits.
Replace Audio in Video File…
This lets you insert audio into a video file. If the video file
already contains an audio track, this will be replaced by
the audio you insert into it.
Cleanup… (Cubase Elements only)
The Cleanup function helps you to save hard disk space
by locating unused files which you can delete in the project folders on your disk.
Menu Reference
5
Edit menu
!
Undo/Redo
Cubase offers wide-ranging, multiple Undo, allowing you
to undo virtually any action you perform.
• To undo the last performed action, select Undo from the
Edit menu, or use the corresponding key command (by
default [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Z]).
If you select Undo again, the previously performed action will be undone,
and so on.
• To redo the last undone action, select Redo from the
Edit menu, or use the corresponding key command (by
default [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Z]).
Undone actions will be available for Redo until you perform another action
(at which point the “Redo Stack” is cleared – see “History…” below).
With the Maximum Undo setting in the Preferences
dialog (General page), you can specify how many
levels of Undo are available.
History…
The Edit History window contains a representation of the
“Undo Stack” (the performed actions, with the most re
cent action at the top of the stack) and the “Redo Stack”
(the undone actions, with the most recently undone action
at the bottom of the stack). The two stacks are separated
by a divider line.
The Edit History dialog allows you to undo or redo several
actions in one go, by moving the divider between the
Undo Stack and the Redo Stack (moving actions from the
Undo Stack to the Redo Stack, or vice versa).
Cut/Copy/Paste
You can cut or copy selected events (or selection ranges)
and paste them in again at the cursor position.
Delete
This will delete all selected events.
-
Functions
The items on the Functions submenu have the following
functions:
Option Description
Paste at
Origin
Split at
Cursor
Split Loop This splits all events at the left and right locator positions.
Duplicate This creates a copy of the selected event and places it di-
Repeat… The Repeat option opens a dialog, allowing you to create a
Fill Loop This creates a number of copies starting at the left locator
Convert to
Real Copy
This will paste an event at its original position, i. e. where it
was originally cut or copied from.
This splits selected events at the cursor position. If no
events are selected, all events on all tracks intersected by
the cursor will be split.
rectly after the original. If several events are selected, all of
these are copied “as one unit”, maintaining the relative dis
tance between the events.
number of copies (regular or shared) of the selected
event(s). This works just like the Duplicate function, except
that you can specify the number of copies.
and ending at the right locator. The last copy is automati
cally shortened to end at the right locator position.
This creates a new version of a clip (that can be edited independently) and adds this to the Pool.
Range
The items on the Range submenu have the following
functions:
Option Description
Global Copy This copies everything in the selection range.
Cut Time Cuts out the selection range and moves it to the clipboard.
Delete Time The selection range is removed and events to the right are
Paste Time Pastes the clipboard data at the start position and track of
Paste Time
at Origin
Split Splits any events or parts that are intersected by the selec-
Crop All events or parts that are partially within the selection
Events to the right of the removed range are moved to the
left to fill out the gap.
moved to the left to fill out the gap.
the current selection. Existing events are moved to make
room for the pasted data.
Pastes the clipboard data back at its original position. Existing events are moved to make room for the pasted data.
tion range, at the positions of the selection range edges.
range are cropped, that is, sections outside the selection
range are removed, leaving only events that are fully inside
or outside the selection range.
-
-
6
Menu Reference
Option Description
Insert Silence Inserts empty track space at the start of the selection
range. The length of the inserted silence equals the length
of the selection range. Events to the right of the selection
range start are moved to the right to “make room”. Events
that are intersected by the selection range start are split,
and the right section is moved to the right.
Select
The items on this submenu have different functions, depending on whether the regular event selection tool
(Arrow tool) or the Range Selection tool is selected:
Event selection
Option Description
All Selects all events in the window.
None Deselects all events.
Invert Inverts the selection status, so that all selected events
In Loop Selects all events that are partly or wholly between the
From Start
to Cursor
From Cursor
to End
Equal Pitch –
all Octaves
Equal Pitch –
same Octave
Select Controllers in Note
Range
All on Selected
Tracks
Events under
Cursor
are deselected and all events that were not selected are
selected instead.
left and right locator.
Selects all events that begin to the left of the project
cursor.
Selects all events that end to the right of the project
cursor.
Selects all MIDI notes (in MIDI editors only) that have the
same pitch as the selected note (regardless of octave).
Selects all MIDI notes (in MIDI editors only) that have the
same pitch as the selected note (within the same octave).
Selects the MIDI controller data within range of the selected notes.
Selects all events on the selected track.
Selects all events on the selected track(s) that are
“touched” by the project cursor.
Range selection
Option Description
All In the Project window, this makes a selection that cov-
None Removes the current selection range.
In Loop Makes a selection between the left and right locator. In
From Start
to Cursor
From Cursor
to End
All on Selected
Tracks
Select Event This item (only available in the Sample Editor) selects
Left Selection
Side to Cursor
Right Selection
Side to Cursor
ers all tracks, from the start of the project to the end. In
the Sample Editor, this selects the whole clip.
the Project window, the selection will span all tracks.
Makes a selection from the start of the project to the
project cursor. In the Project window, the selection will
span all tracks.
Makes a selection from the project cursor to the end of
the project. In the Project window, the selection will
span all tracks.
Selects all events on the selected track.
the audio that is included in the edited event only.
Moves the left side of the current selection range to the
project cursor position.
Moves the right side of the current selection range to
the project cursor position.
Quantize
Quantizing is a function that moves recorded events, positioning them on exact note values. This quantizes the selected audio or MIDI events, according to the current
Quantize Presets pop-up menu setting.
Reset Quantize
This reverts your audio or MIDI to its original, unquantized
state. This function is independent from the regular Undo
History.
Ö The Reset function will also reset any length changes
that you performed using the “Scale Length/Legato” slider,
see the chapter “The MIDI editors” in the Operation Manual.
Quantize Panel
Opens the Quantize Panel where you can make various
quantize settings.
7
Menu Reference
Advanced Quantize
The following functions are available from this submenu:
Option Description
Quantize MIDI
Event Lengths
Quantize MIDI
Event Ends
Freeze MIDI
Quantize
Create Groove
Quantize
Preset
Quantizes the length of MIDI notes without changing their
start positions.
Moves the ends of your MIDI notes to the nearest grid
positions, taking the Quantize Presets pop-up menu set
ting into account.
Makes the start and end positions of MIDI events permanent. This is useful in situations where you want to quantize a second time, having the results based on the current
quantized positions rather than the original positions.
Lets you create a groove quantize preset from a MIDI
part, a sliced audio part, or an audio event containing hit
points.
Automation follows Events
When activated, automation events will automatically follow when you move an event or part on a track that contains automation for them. This means that the automation
events that affect an event will be moved along with it
rather than remain in a specific position in the project. This
option can also be activated in the Preferences dialog
-
(Editing page).
Auto Select Events under Cursor
When activated, all events on the selected track(s) that are
“touched” by the project cursor are automatically selected.
-
This option can also be activated in the Preferences dialog
(Editing page).
Move to
The following functions are available from this submenu:
Option Description
Cursor Moves the selected event to the project cursor position. If
Origin Moves the selected events to their original positions, i. e.
Front/Back This function does not actually change the position of the
there are several selected events on the same track, the
first event will start at the cursor, and the following will be
lined up end-to-start after the first one.
the positions at which they were originally recorded.
events, but moves the selected events to the front or
back, respectively. This is useful if you have overlapping
events and want to see one that is partially obscured.
For audio events, this is an extra important feature, because only the visible sections of events will be played
back. Moving an obscured audio event to front (or moving
the obscuring event to back) will allow you to hear the
whole event on playback.
Note that it is also possible to use the “To Front” function
on the event context menu for this (although this works in
a different way).
Mute/Unmute
You can mute (silence) events by selecting them and selecting “Mute”.
Similarly, you can unmute the selected events by selecting
“Unmute”.
Enlarge Selected Track
When activated, the selected tracks in the Project window
are automatically enlarged in height. This option can also
be activated in the Preferences dialog (Editing–Project &
Mixer page).
Zoom
The following options are available on the Zoom submenu:
Option Description
Zoom In Zooms in one step, centering on the position cursor.
Zoom Out Zooms out one step, centering on the position cursor.
Zoom Full Zooms out so that the whole project is visible. “The whole
Zoom to
Selection
Zoom to
Selection
(Horiz.)
Zoom to Event This option is only available in the Sample Editor.
Zoom In
Vertically
Zoom Out
Vertically
Zoom In
Tracks
Zoom Out
Tracks
project” means the timeline from the project start for the
length set in the Project Setup dialog.
Zooms in both horizontally and vertically so that the current selection fills the screen.
Zooms in horizontally so that the current selection fills the
screen.
Zooms in one step vertically.
Zooms out one step vertically.
Zooms in selected track(s) one step vertically.
Zooms out selected track(s) one step vertically.
8
Menu Reference
Option Description
Zoom Selected
Tracks
Undo/Redo
Zoom
This zooms in vertically on the selected track(s) and minimizes the height of all other tracks.
Undo lets you undo the last performed zoom action, and
redo lets you redo the last undone zoom action. How
many levels of undo are available for zoom actions is the
same as for “regular” undo, as set on the General page in
the Preferences dialog.
Project menu
Add Track
Select a track type from the Add Track submenu to add a
new track. The “Using Track Preset…” option opens a di
alog in which you can search for track presets or VST
presets.
Duplicate Tracks
This will create a duplicate (copy) of the selected track.
Remove Selected Tracks
This will remove all selected tracks and any parts or events
on them from the Project window.
Remove Empty Tracks
This removes all tracks not containing any events.
Show All Used Automation
This opens the used automation for all tracks.
Hide All Automation
This closes all open automation tracks.
Tempo Track
This menu item opens the Tempo Track Editor. For tempo
based tracks, the tempo can follow the tempo track (activated with the Tempo button on the Transport panel), which
may contain tempo changes.
Beat Calculator…
This opens the Beat Calculator window. The Beat Calculator is a tool for calculating the tempo of recorded audio
or MIDI material.
Set Timecode at Cursor…
-
This allows you to set the project start position at the cursor position. When synchronizing Cubase with external
devices, the start position denotes which timecode frame
on the external device corresponds to the beginning of the
project.
This can also be set in the Project Setup dialog. However,
if you know that a certain position in your project coincides with a certain timecode position in the external device, using this menu item might be preferable. Move the
project cursor to the desired position, select “Set Timecode at Cursor” and specify the corresponding timecode
position in the dialog that opens – the Start value is adjusted accordingly.
Notepad
This opens a standard text notepad.
Project Setup…
This dialog contains general settings for a project. See the
dialog help for specifics.
Pool
This opens the Pool, which contains all clips (audio and
video) that belong to a project.
Markers
This opens the Marker window. Markers store positions to
facilitate quick navigation to important locations in a project.
Menu Reference
Auto Fades Settings…
This opens the Auto Fades dialog, where you can specify
various fade options. Use the Help button in the dialog for
details.
9
Audio menu
Process
Basically, you apply audio processing by making a selection and selecting a function from the Process submenu.
For details about the functions and parameters in the various processing dialogs, use the Help button in the corresponding dialog.
Option Description
Envelope Allows you to apply a volume envelope to the selected
Fade In/Out Allows you to set fade-ins and fade-outs.
Gain Allows you to change the gain (level) of the selected
Merge
Clipboard
Noise Gate Scans the audio for sections weaker than a specified
Normalize Allows you to specify the desired maximum level of the au-
Phase Reverse Reverses the phase of the selected audio, turning the
Remove
DC
Offset
Resample This function changes the length, tempo, and pitch of the
Reverse Reverses the audio selection, as when playing a tape
Silence Replaces the selection with silence.
audio.
audio.
This function mixes the audio from the clipboard into the
audio selected for processing, starting at the beginning
of the selection.
For this function to be available, you need to have cut or
copied a range of audio in the Sample Editor first.
threshold level, and silences them.
dio. This analyzes the selected audio and finds the current
maximum level. Finally, the function subtracts the current
maximum level from the specified level, and raises the gain
of the audio by the resulting amount (if the specified maxi
mum level is lower than the current maximum, the gain will
be lowered instead). A common use for normalizing is to
raise the level of audio that was recorded at too low an in
put level.
waveform “upside down”.
This function will remove any DC offset in the audio selection. A DC offset is when there is too large a DC (direct current) component in the signal, sometimes visible
as the signal not being visually centered around the “zero
level axis”. DC offsets do not affect what you actually
hear, but they affect zero crossing detection and certain
processing, and it is recommended that you remove
them.
It is recommended that this function is applied to complete audio clips, since the DC offset (if any) is normally
present throughout the entire recording.
audio by resampling it to a higher or lower sample rate.
backwards.
Option Description
Stereo Flip This function works with stereo audio selections only. It
Time Stretch This function allows you to change the length and
allows you to manipulate the left and right channel in
various ways.
“tempo” of the selected audio, without affecting the pitch.
Spectrum Analyzer
This function analyzes the selected audio, computes the
average “spectrum” (level distribution over the frequency
range) and displays this as a two-dimensional graph, with
frequency on the x-axis and level on the y-axis.
Statistics
The Statistics function analyzes the selected audio (events,
clips, or range selections) and displays a window with
various information. Use the Help button in the dialog for
details.
Hitpoints
This submenu relates to the special hitpoint detection functions in Cubase. These functions detect transient attacks in
audio material and add a type of marker, a “hitpoint”, at
each attack. Once the hitpoints have been correctly set,
-
you can slice up the file which amongst other things enables you to change the tempo without affecting pitch.
-
The submenu contains the following items:
Option Description
Calculate
Hitpoints
Create Audio
Slices from
Hitpoints
Create
Markers from
Hitpoints
Divide Audio
Events at
Hitpoints
Remove
Hitpoints
Invokes the hitpoint calculation in the Sample Editor.
Slices the event according to the hitpoints and adjusts
the tempo of the loop to the current project tempo.
Creates markers (on the marker track) according to the
hitpoints.
Splits the event into several events, according to the
hitpoints.
Removes all hitpoints.
10
Menu Reference
Advanced
The Advanced submenu contains the following items:
Option Description
Detect Silence The Detect Silence function searches for silent sections
Event or
Range as
Region
Events from
Regions
Set Tempo
from Event
Set Definition
from Tempo…
Close Gaps
(Time Stretch)
Close Gaps
(Crossfade)
Stretch to
Project Tempo
Delete
Overlaps
in an event, and either splits the event, removing the silent
parts from the project, or creates regions corresponding
to the non-silent sections.
This function is available when one or several audio
events are selected or a selection range has been made
encompassing one or several audio events. It creates a
region in the corresponding clip, according to the follow
ing rules:
• If no selection range or hitpoints exist, the start and end
position of the region will be determined by the start and
end position of the event within the clip.
• If a selection range exists in the event, this will be used.
• If hitpoints exist in the event, regions will be created between each hitpoint.
This function is available if you have selected an audio
event whose clip contains regions within the boundaries
of the event. The function will remove the original event
and replace it with event(s) positioned and sized accord
ing to the region(s).
Adjusts the project tempo to the tempo detected in the
edited loop.
Opens the Set Definition From Tempo dialog, which you
can use to save the tempo information from the tempo
track in the selected audio clips.
Applies time stretch to close the gaps between slices of
a sliced audio event (typically when the project tempo is
lower than the loop tempo).
Closes the gaps between slices of a sliced audio event
and applies crossfades.
Stretches the selected event(s) to fit the project tempo.
Requires that hitpoints have been calculated for the
event(s).
Used when recording audio in Cycle Recording mode.
After editing the takes (composing a “perfect take” for ex
ample), you can select Delete Overlaps to remove all
overlapped material.
Events to Part
This allows you to create a part from selected audio
events.
Dissolve Part
This menu item dissolves a selected audio part and makes
any audio events it contains appear as independent ob
jects on the track.
-
Snap Point to Cursor (Cubase Elements only)
This allows you to set the snap point to the current cursor
position.
Bounce Selection
This allows you to create either a new clip or a new audio
file from a selection.
Find Selected in Pool
-
This can be used to quickly find the clips in the Pool for
events selected in the Project window. When this menu
item is selected, the Pool opens with the corresponding
clip(s) highlighted.
Update Origin (Cubase Elements only)
The original start position where a clip was recorded in the
project is shown in the Pool’s “Origin Time” column. As this
-
value can be used as a basis for the “Insert into Project”
Media menu item (and other functions), you can change it if
desired. This can be done by selecting the corresponding
clip in the Pool, moving the project cursor to the new position and selecting this menu item.
Crossfade
This allows you to create a crossfade between two selected consecutive audio events.
• If the two events overlap, the crossfade will be applied
to the overlapping area.
• If they do not overlap (but their respective audio clips
do), the events are resized and a crossfade is applied in
-
the overlapping range.
Remove Fades
This will remove any fades or crossfades from a selected
event.
Open Fade Editor(s)
This opens the Fade dialog for a selected event. Note that
this will open two dialogs if the event has both fade-in and
fade-out curves.
11
Menu Reference
Adjust Fades to Range
This allows you to adjust a fade area according to a range
selection.
Freeze Edits…
This allows you to make any processing or applied effects
permanent for a clip.
MIDI menu
Open Key Editor
This opens the Key Editor for the selected MIDI part(s) or
track(s). This editor consists of a piano-roll type graphic
interface, with the notes shown as boxes in a grid.
Scores
This opens a submenu, allowing you to open the Score
editor and containing several Score Editor functions. The
Score Editor shows MIDI notes as a musical score.
Open Drum Editor
This opens the Drum Editor which is designed especially
for editing drum and percussion tracks.
Transpose Setup…
This opens the Transpose Setup dialog, where you can
make transpose settings for selected notes.
Dissolve Part
This opens a dialog where you can separate MIDI events
according to channels or pitches:
• When you work with MIDI parts (on MIDI channel “Any”)
containing events on different MIDI channels, activate the
option “Separate Channels”.
• To separate MIDI events according to pitch, activate the
option “Separate Pitches”.
A typical example are drum and percussion tracks, where different
pitches usually correspond to separate drum sounds.
The dialog also contains the Optimized Display option. If
this is activated, the silent (empty) areas of the resulting
parts are automatically removed.
O-Note Conversion
This function (only available if a drum map has been assigned for the MIDI track) goes through the selected MIDI
part(s) and sets the actual pitch of each note according to
its O-note setting. This is useful if you want to convert the
track to a “regular” MIDI track (with no drum map) and still
have the notes play back the correct drum sound.
Repeat Loop
This menu item is only available if an Independent Track
Loop has been set in one of the MIDI editors. When se
lected, the events inside the loop range will be repeated
until the end of the part. Events in the same part that follow the loop will be replaced by the events in the loop.
-
Merge MIDI in Loop…
This function combines all unmuted MIDI events on all unmuted tracks, applies MIDI modifiers and effects, and generates a new MIDI part, containing all the events as you
would hear them during playback. The new part is created
on the selected track, between the locators.
Freeze MIDI Modifiers
This function applies all filter settings permanently to the
selected track (in contrast to “Merge MIDI in Loop”).
Menu Reference
12
Functions
Option Description
Legato Extends each selected note so that it reaches the next
Fixed Lengths Resizes all selected notes to the length set with the
Pedals to
Note Length
Delete Overlaps
(mono)
Delete Overlaps
(poly)
Velocity… Opens a dialog that allows you to manipulate the veloc-
Fixed Velocity This function sets the velocity of all selected notes to
Delete Doubles Removes double notes, i. e. notes of the same pitch on
Delete Notes… Allows you to delete very short or weak notes. This is
Delete
Controllers
Delete
Continuous
Controllers
Restrict
Polyphony…
Thin Out Data This thins out your MIDI data. Use this to ease the load
note. You can specify the desired gap or overlap with
the “Legato Overlap” setting in the Preferences dialog
(Editing–MIDI page).
Length Quantize pop-up menu on the MIDI editor toolbar.
This function scans for sustain pedal on/off events,
lengthens the affected notes to match the sustain pedal
off position, and then removes the Sustain Controller
on/off events.
This function allows you to make sure that two notes of
the same pitch do not overlap (i. e. that one starts before the other ends). Overlapping notes of the same
pitch can confuse some MIDI instruments (a new Note
On is transmitted before the Note Off is transmitted).
This command can then be used to automatically rectify
the problem.
This function shortens notes when required, so that no
note begins before another ends. This happens regardless of which pitch the notes have.
ity of notes in various ways.
the Insert Velocity value on the toolbar in the MIDI
Editors.
the exact same position. Double notes can occur when
recording in Cycle mode, after Quantizing, etc. This
function always affects whole MIDI parts.
useful for automatically removing unwanted “ghost
notes” after recording. Selecting “Delete Notes…”
opens a dialog in which you set up the criteria for the
function.
Removes all MIDI controller events from the selected
MIDI parts. This function always affects whole MIDI
parts.
Removes all continuous MIDI controller events from the
selected MIDI parts. On/Off events, such as sustain
pedal events, are not removed. This function always affects whole MIDI parts.
Selecting this item opens a dialog in which you can
specify how many “voices” are to be used (for the selected notes or parts). Restricting the polyphony this
way is useful when you have an instrument with limited
polyphony and want to make sure all notes will be
played. The effect is achieved by shortening notes as
required, so that they end before the next note starts.
on MIDI devices if you have recorded very dense controller curves, etc.
Option Description
Extract MIDI
Automation
Reverse This inverts the order of the selected events (or of all
This option allows you to automatically convert continuous controller data of a MIDI part into MIDI track automation data.
events in the selected parts), causing the MIDI music to
play backwards. Note though, that the effect is different
from reversing an audio recording. With MIDI, the individual notes will still play as usual in the MIDI instrument
– only the order of playback is changed.
Logical Presets
This submenu contains various presets for performing advanced “search and replace” operations on MIDI data.
Drum Map Setup…
This is where you load, create, modify, and save drum
maps. The list to the left shows the currently loaded drum
maps; selecting a drum map in the list displays its sounds
and settings to the right.
Insert Velocities…
All MIDI editors feature an Insert Velocity pop-up menu
where one of five different velocity values can be selected
when inserting notes. This menu item allows you to spec
ify which five velocity values are available on the Insert Velocity pop-up menu.
Reset
This function sends out note-off messages and resets
controllers on all MIDI channels. You can use this if you
experience hanging notes or stuck controllers, etc.
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13
Menu Reference
Media menu
Open Pool Window
Opens the Pool.
MediaBay
Opens the MediaBay.
Loop Browser
Opens the Loop Browser.
Sound Browser
Opens the Sound Browser.
Import Medium…
The Import Medium dialog is used for importing files directly into the Pool.
Import Audio CD…
This opens a dialog that allows you to import audio from
audio CDs.
Find Missing Files…
This opens the Resolve Missing Files dialog that can be
used to find referenced files that may have been moved or
renamed, etc.
In the dialog that appears, decide if you want the program
to try to find the file for you (Search), if you want to do it
yourself (Locate) or if you want to specify in which direc
tory the program searches for the file (Folder).
Remove Missing Files
If the Pool contains audio files that cannot be found or reconstructed, you may want to remove these:
Select this item to remove all missing files from the Pool
(and remove their corresponding events from the Project
window).
Reconstruct
If a missing file cannot be found (e. g. if you have accidentally deleted it from the hard disk), this will normally be indicated with a question mark in the Status column in the
Pool. However, if the missing file is an edit file (a file cre
ated when you process audio, stored in the Edits folder
within the project folder), it may be possible for the program to reconstruct it by recreating the editing to the original audio file.
Convert Files…
This opens the Convert Options dialog which operates on
selected files. Use the pop-up menus to specify which au
dio file attributes you want to keep and which you want to
convert.
Conform Files…
This will change all selected files that have different file attributes to what is specified for the project, to conform to
this standard.
Extract Audio from Video File
This allows you to extract the audio from a video file on
disk, whereupon a new clip with the audio will appear in
the Pool Record folder. The clip will get the same name as
the video file from which it was extracted, and the sample
rate and file format used in the project.
Generate Thumbnail Cache
This generates a thumbnail cache of the video, used for
display in case of strained computing resources.
Create Folder
This allows you to create a new audio or video subfolder.
Empty Trash
To delete a file permanently from the hard disk, it must first
be moved to the Trash folder. When clips are in the Trash
folder they can be removed permanently by using this
command.
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14
Menu Reference
Remove Unused Media
This function finds all clips in the Pool that are not used in
the project, and either moves them to the Pool Trash folder
where they can be permanently deleted, or removes them
from the Pool.
Search Media…
You can perform a search of the Pool to locate particular
clips or regions. You can specify various criteria to match
in the dialog that appears.
Prepare Archive…
Use this command when you want to archive a project. It
checks that every clip referenced in the project is located
in the same folder.
Set Pool Record Folder
This is used to designate a new Pool Record folder. Select the folder, and choose this command to change the
Pool Record folder to the selected folder.
Minimize File
This allows you to change the size of audio files according
to the audio clips referenced in a project. The files produced using this option will only contain the audio file portions actually used in the project, which can significantly
reduce the size of the project (given that large portions of
the audio files are unused).
New Version
This allows you to create a new version of a selected clip.
The new version appears in the same Pool folder, with the
same name but with a “version number” after it, to indicate
that the new clip is a duplicate. The first copy made of a
clip will logically get the version number “2” and so on.
Ö Copying a clip does not create a new file on disk, but
just a new edit version of the clip (referring to the same
original file).
Insert into Project
This allows you to insert clips selected in the Pool into the
project, at the current cursor position, at the left locator or
at the clip’s original position.
Select in Project
With this function you can find out which events in the
project refer to a particular clip in the Pool. Select the clip
in the Pool, and use this menu item. The corresponding
event(s) will then be selected in the Project window.
Transport menu
Transport Panel
This opens the Transport panel.
Locators to Selection
This will set the locators to encompass the current selection or selection range.
Locate Selection
This moves the project cursor to the start of the current
selection or selection range.
Locate Selection End
This moves the project cursor to the end of the current selection or selection range.
Locate Next/Previous Marker
This moves the project cursor to the next/previous marker
position.
Locate Next/Previous Hitpoint
This moves the project cursor to the next/previous hitpoint
position.
Locate Next/Previous Event
This moves the project cursor to the next/previous event
start or end on the selected track.
Post-roll from Selection Start/End
This starts playback from the beginning or end of the currently selected range and stops after the time set in the
Post-roll field on the Transport panel.
15
Menu Reference
Pre-roll to Selection Start/End
This starts playback from a position before the start or end
of the currently selected range and stops at the selection
start or end, respectively. The playback start position is set
in the Pre-roll field on the Transport panel.
Play from Selection Start/End
This activates playback from the beginning or end of the
current selection.
Metronome On/Off
Activates/Deactivates the metronome.
Precount On/Off
Activates/Deactivates the precount – a count-in that will
be heard when you start recording from stop mode and
the metronome is activated. This can also be activated on
the Transport panel. You can specify the number of pre
count bars in the Metronome Setup dialog.
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Play until Selection Start/End
This activates playback two seconds before the start or
end of the current selection and stops at the selection
start or end, respectively.
Play until Next Marker
This will activate playback from the current project cursor
position to the next marker and stop there.
Play Selection Range
This will play back the current selection range and stop at
the end.
Loop Selection
This will loop playback of the current selection range.
Use Pre-roll
When this is activated and you start playback or recording, Cubase will “roll back” a bit before starting.
Use Post-roll
When this is activated, Cubase will play back a short section after automatic punch-out.
Project Synchronization Setup…
Opens a dialog where settings relating to synchronization
can be made.
Use External Sync
Activates synchronization.
Retrospective Record
Performs retrospective MIDI recording. If the Retrospective Record function is enabled in the Preferences dialog
(Record–MIDI page) and a MIDI track is record enabled,
any MIDI notes you play in stop mode or during playback
are captured in buffer memory. If you then select Retro
spective Record, the MIDI notes you played – i. e. the contents of the buffer memory – are turned into a MIDI part on
the record enabled MIDI track. The MIDI part will appear
where the cursor was when you started playing.
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Start Record at Left Locator
If this is activated, the project cursor will jump to the left
locator position and begin recording when you hit the Record button. If this is off (unticked), recording will start directly from the current project cursor position.
Metronome Setup…
Opens the Metronome Setup dialog where you can make
various metronome settings.
Menu Reference
16
Devices menu
MIDI Device Manager
The MIDI Device manager allows you to install MIDI devices. You can either select pre-configured MIDI devices
from a list, or define a device from scratch.
Mixer
This opens the Mixer. All audio, MIDI, FX channel, and
group tracks in a project have a corresponding channel
strip in the Mixer, as do output busses and any activated
VST instruments and ReWire channels (not in Cubase LE).
Plug-in Information
The Plug-in Information window lists all installed VST
Plug-ins and shows various information about them.
Record Time Max
This opens a separate window showing the remaining record time. This lets you see how much time you have left
for recording, depending on your project settings and
available hard disk space.
VST Performance
This window indicates the current CPU load and disk
transfer rate.
Video Player
This opens the Video Player window for playing back
video files on your computer screen.
Virtual Keyboard
This opens the Transport panel (if not already opened)
and activates the Virtual Keyboard. Please note that when
the Virtual Keyboard is active, the usual key commands
are blocked.
Show Panel
Opens a panel where you can directly select any of the
currently available devices on the Device menu.
Device Setup…
This dialog allows you to add or remove remote control
devices and to make various basic settings for audio and
MIDI such as selecting ASIO drivers and MIDI ports, etc.
Time Display (Cubase Elements only)
Opens a separate window showing the time display. This
is a larger view of the time display in the Transport panel,
showing the position of the project cursor in the selected
primary time format.
VST Connections
Opens the VST Connections window. This is where you
set up input and output busses to route the audio between your audio hardware and Cubase in various channel configurations (mono and stereo).
VST Instruments (not in Cubase LE)
Opens the VST Instruments window, where you can select VST instruments. When a VST instrument has been
selected for a slot in the window, the corresponding in
strument is selectable as a destination on the Output Routing pop-up menu for MIDI tracks.
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Menu Reference
Window menu
Minimize
Minimizes the active window.
Maximize
Maximizes the active window.
Close All
Closes all windows.
Minimize All
Minimizes all windows.
Restore All
Restores all minimized Cubase windows.
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Windows…
Opens a dialog where you can manage and make settings
for all open windows.
The open windows list
Selecting a window from the list at the bottom of the menu
brings it to front.
Help menu
Documentation (Adobe PDF format)
Ö To read these documents, you need to have a suitable
PDF reader application.
Option Description
Quick Start Guide Opens the Quick Start Guide in Adobe PDF format.
Operation Manual Opens the Operation Manual in Adobe PDF format.
Remote Control
Devices
Plug-in Reference Opens the separate PDF document containing de-
HALion Sonic SE Opens the separate PDF document describing the
Menu Reference Opens the Menu Reference (the document you have
Opens the separate PDF document describing the
MIDI remote control devices supported by Cubase.
scriptions of the included plug-in audio effects, VST
instruments, and their parameters.
VST instrument HALion Sonic SE.
in front of you) in Adobe PDF format.
About Cubase
Ö Under Mac OS X, this menu item is accessed from the
Cubase menu.
This opens a window with information about the Cubase
version number, etc.
Steinberg on the Web
You can open various Steinberg web sites directly from
within the Help menu, provided that you have a web
browser application installed on your computer, and a
working Internet connection.
Registration
When you click this item, the Steinberg web page opens,
where you can register your product. An active internet
connection is required.
Credits and Copyrights
Lists credits and copyright information and opens the
Steinberg web site.
Menu Reference
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