Steinberg Cubase SX - 1.0 Operation Manual

Operation Manual

Operation Manual by Ludvig Carlson, Anders Nordmark, Roger Wiklander VST System Link chapter by Rodney Orpheus Quality Control: C.Bachmann, H. Bischoff, S. Pfeifer, C. Schomburg

The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies AG. 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 AG.

All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners. Windows 2000 and Windows XP are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. The Mac logo is a trademark used under license. Macintosh and Power Macintosh are registered trademarks.

Table of Contents

9 Playback and the

Transport panel

10 Background 13 Operations 15 Options and Settings

19 Recording

20 Background 21 Basic recording methods 25 Audio recording specifics 37 MIDI Recording Specifics 47 Options and Settings

51 The Project Window

52 Background 54 Window Overview 62 Operations 97 Options

101 Folder tracks

102 About folder tracks 103 Using folders

109 Using Markers

110 About markers 111 The Marker Window 114 Using the Marker track

121 Fades and Crossfades

122 Creating Fades 125 The Fade Dialogs 128 Creating Crossfades 130 The Crossfade Dialog 133 Auto Fades and Crossfades

135 The Mixer

136 About this chapter 137 Overview 146 The audio channel strips 148 The MIDI channel strips 149 The Common panel 150 The Master section 151 The VST Outputs window 152 Basic mixing procedures 156 Audio specific procedures 169 MIDI specific procedures 171 Utilities

177 Audio effects

178 Background 180 Using effects 196 The included effects 197 Installing and managing

effect plug-ins

205 VST Instruments

206 Introduction 207 Activating and using VST

instruments

211 A1 Synthesizer 225 VB-1 Bass Synth 227 LM-7 Drum Machine

231 Surround sound

(Cubase SX only)

232 Background 234 Window overview 237 Operations

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4 Table of Contents

249 Automation

351 The Audio Part Editor

250 Background 253 Automation subtrack

operations

258 Using Write/Read

automation

261 Working with automation

curves

268 Tips and common methods 269 Options and Settings

271 Remote Controlling

the Mixer

272 Background 272 Operations 276 Remote control device

specifics

293 Audio processing and

functions

294 Background 295 Audio processing 314 Applying plug-ins

(Cubase SX only)

317 The Offline Process History

dialog

320 Detect Silence 323 The Spectrum Analyzer

(Cubase SX only)

326 Statistics (Cubase SX only)

329 The Sample Editor

330 Background 330 Opening the Sample Editor 331 Window overview 336 Operations 348 Options and settings

352 Background 352 Opening the Audio Part

Editor

353 Window overview 356 Operations 358 Common methods 360 Options and Settings

361 Working with hitpoints

and slices

362 Background 363 Using Hitpoints 366 Editing hitpoints 375 Creating slices 376 Creating Groove Quantize

maps

377 Divide audio events 377 Using the Close Gaps func-

tion

379 The Pool

380 Background 382 Window Overview 386 Operations 405 Options and Settings

407 MIDI devices and

patches

408 About program change and

bank select

409 Opening the MIDI Device

Manager

410 Installing a MIDI Device 413 Selecting a patch for an

installed device

414 Renaming patches in a

device

Table of Contents 5

CUBASE SX/SL

415 Defining a new device 419 Exporting and importing

device setups

421 MIDI realtime param-

eters and effects

422 Introduction 423 The Inspector – General

handling

424 Basic track settings 426 Track parameters 430 MIDI effects 433 The available effects 460 Managing plug-ins 461 The Channel section 462 Merge MIDI in Loop

465 MIDI processing and

quantizing

466 Introduction 467 Quantizing 477 Other MIDI menu functions 483 Dissolve Part

485 The MIDI Editors

486 About editing MIDI 487 Opening a MIDI editor 488 The Key Editor – Overview 493 Key Editor operations 515 The Drum Editor – Overview 518 Drum Editor operations 521 Working with drum maps 530 Using drum name lists 532 The List Editor – Overview 534 List Editor operations 540 The Score Editor –

Overview (Cubase SL only)

543 Score Editor operations

(Cubase SL only)

559 Common MIDI editor op-

tions and settings

561 The Logical Editor,

Transformer and Input Transformer

562 Introduction 564 Opening the Logical Editor 564 Window overview 565 Selecting a preset 566 Setting up filter conditions 577 Selecting a function 579 Specifying actions 583 Performing the Logical

editing

584 Working with presets 585 The Input Transformer

589 The Tempo Track

Editor

590 Background 590 Opening the Tempo Track

Editor

591 Window overview 594 Operations 599 Options and settings 600 The Beat Calculator

603 The Project Browser

604 Background 604 Opening the Project

Browser

604 Window Overview 605 Navigating in the Browser 607 Customizing the View 607 About the Sync Selection

option

608 Editing audio tracks 610 Editing MIDI tracks

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6 Table of Contents

613 Editing Automation tracks 614 Editing the Video track 615 Editing the Marker track 616 Editing the Tempo track 616 Editing Time Signatures

617 Working with System

Exclusive messages

618 Introduction 618 Bulk dumps 621 Recording System Exclusive

parameter changes

622 Editing System Exclusive

messages

625 Export Audio Mixdown

626 Background 627 Mixing down to an audio file 629 File Format Specifics

641 Synchronization

642 Background 649 Window Overview 650 Operations 658 Options

661 VST System Link

662 Introduction 663 Preparations 671 Activating VST System Link 678 Application examples

681 Video

682 Background 683 Operations 686 Options

687 ReWire

688 Introduction 689 Launching and quitting

690 Activating ReWire channels 691 Using the transport and

tempo controls

692 How ReWire channels are

handled in Cubase SX/SL

693 Routing MIDI via ReWire2 694 Considerations and limita-

tions

695 File Handling

696 File Operations 711 Options and Settings

715 Key Commands

716 Background 717 The Key Commands dialog 724 Setting up tool modifier keys

725 Troubleshooting/FAQ

726 Frequently Asked Questions

729 Menu reference

730 About this chapter 730 Cubase SX/SL menu

(Mac OS X only)

731 File menu 736 Edit menu 743 Project menu 745 Audio menu 750 MIDI menu 756 Scores menu

(Cubase SX only)

756 Pool menu 760 Transport menu 763 Devices menu 765 Window menu 766 Help menu

767 Index

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Table of Contents 7

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8 Table of Contents

Playback and the Transport

panel

Background

This chapter describes the various methods available for controlling Playback and Transport functions in Cubase SX/SL.

The Transport panel

Below you can find a brief description of each item on the Transport panel.

Right locator: punch out point and end of Cycle

Activates Auto Quantize

Position display

Nudge position right

Nudge position left

Position slider

Go to project start

Metronome click on/off

Tempo follows Tempo track on/off

Left locator: record start point, punch in point and beginning of Cycle

Cycle on/off

Fast forwardRewind Stop

Go to project end

Preroll setting

Postroll setting

Activates punch outActivates punch in

Display format pop-up

Record

Play

Synchronization on/off

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1 – 10 Playback and the Transport panel

The tempo and time signature display

• The main Transport functions (Play/Stop/Cycle/Record) are also

available on the toolbar.

In addition, various play options are available on the Transport menu.

Hiding and showing

The Transport panel is shown by default when you launch a new project. To hide or show it, select the “Transport Panel” item from the Transport menu (or use the corresponding key command, by default [F2]).

About Preroll and Postroll

These items are described in the Recording chapter – see page 48.

Resizing

You can change the size of the Transport panel by deciding which parts of it you wish to be visible. If you right-click (Win) or [Ctrl]-click (Mac) anywhere within the Transport panel area, a pop-up menu will appear. On this menu, you can check or uncheck elements of the Transport panel as desired.

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Playback and the Transport panel 1 – 11

The numeric keypad

In the default Key Command settings, the numeric keypad on the computer keyboard is assigned various Transport panel operations The keypads are slightly different on PC and Macintosh computers:

PC:

Cycle On/Off

Go to Marker number 3-9

Go to right locator

Go to left locator

Stop

Mac:

Cycle On/Off

Go to Marker number 3-9

Num Lock

x —

7 8 9

4 5 6+

1 2 3

num lock

= / *

Enter

7 8 9 –

Record

Rewind On/Off

Fast Forward On/Off

Play

Return to Zero

Record

Rewind On/Off

Fast Forward On/Off

4 5 6 +

Go to right locator

Go to left locator

Stop

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1 – 12 Playback and the Transport panel

1 2 3

Play

enter

Return to Zero

Operations

Setting the Project cursor position

There are several methods you can use to move the project cursor position:

• By using Fast Forward and Rewind.

• By dragging the project cursor.

• By clicking in the ruler.

Double clicking in the ruler will start or stop playback, moving the cursor at the same time.

• If the option “Locate When Clicked in Empty Space” is activated in the Preferences (Transport page) you can click anywhere in an empty section of the Project window to move the cursor position.

• By changing the value in the position display.

• By using the position slider.

The range of the slider relates to the Length setting in the Project Setup dialog. Hence, moving the slider all the way to the right will take you to the end of the project.

• By using the nudge position buttons (see page 14).

• By using markers (see page 110).

• By using playback options (see page 16).

• By using functions on the Transport menu.

The following functions are available:

Function Description

Locate Selection Moves the project cursor to the beginning of the current se-

lection. For this to be available, you must have selected one or more events or parts, or made a selection range.

Locate Next/Previous Marker

Locate Next/Previous Event

This moves the project cursor to the closest marker to the right or left (see page 110).

This moves the project cursor forwards or backwards respectively, to the closest beginning or end of any event on the selected track(s).

❐

If Snap is activated when dragging the project cursor, the Snap value is taken into account. This can be helpful for finding exact positions quickly.

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Playback and the Transport panel 1 – 13

About the Transport panel display format

The time unit shown in the ruler can be independent from the time unit shown in the Transport panel. This means that you can display timecode in the transport position display and bars and beats in the ruler, for example. The following rules apply:

• If you change the display format from the Transport panel, this will ap-

ply “globally” in the project.

This is the same as changing the display format in the Project Setup. Thus, to have different display formats in the ruler and the Transport panel, you should change the format in the ruler.

• The Transport panel display format is set on the pop-up menu to the

right in the position display.

• The setting here also determines the time format displayed for the left

and right locators.

Using the nudge position buttons

The + and – buttons to the left of the Position slider allows you to nudge the project cursor position to the right or left, respectively. The increments depend on the display format selected on the Transport panel:

• If the Seconds format is selected, the position will be nudged by whole seconds.

• If any frame-based format is selected, the position will be nudged by frames.

• If Bars+Beats is selected, the position will be nudged by ticks. There are 480 ticks per beat.

• If the Samples format is selected, the position will be nudged by samples.

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1 – 14 Playback and the Transport panel

Options and Settings

The “Return to Start Position on Stop” preference

You have the option to set the behavior of the project cursor when you press Stop. This is done in the Preferences dialog on the Transport page:

1. Open the Preferences dialog from the File menu (on the Mac, the

Preferences are located on the Cubase SX/SL menu) and select the Transport page.

2. Activate or deactivate the “Return to Start Position on Stop” item.

• If activated (ticked), the project cursor will automatically return to the

position where recording or playback last was activated from, when you press Stop.

• If deactivated, the project cursor will remain at the position where you

hit Stop.

Pressing Stop again will return the project cursor to the position where recording or playback last was activated from.

3. Click OK to close the Preferences dialog and apply the changes.

About track disable/enable

For audio tracks, the track context menu contains an item named “Disable Track”. This shuts down all disk activity for the track, as opposed to using Mute, which merely turns down the output volume for a track. If you often record “alternative takes”, you can easily build up a large number of takes that are actually still “playing back” from the hard disk during playback, although the tracks may be muted. This puts an unnecessary load on your disk system, so using “Disable Track” is recommended for such situations.

• Select “Disable Track” when you have recorded many alternative

takes of a performance on separate tracks, that you want to keep for later evaluation and/or editing.

Select “Enable Track” from the track context menu to re-enable disabled tracks.

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Playback and the Transport panel 1 – 15

Playback functions

Apart from the standard transport controls on the Transport panel, you can also find a number of functions that can be used to control playback on the Transport menu. The items have the following functionality:

Option Description

Play from Selection Start This activates playback from the beginning of the currently

selected range.

Play from Selection End This activates playback from the end of the currently se-

lected range.

Play until Selection Start This activates playback two seconds before the start of the

currently selected range and stops at the selection start.

Play until Selection End This activates playback two seconds before the end of the

selected range and stops at the selection end.

Play until Next Marker This activates playback from the project cursor and stops at

the next marker.

Play Selection Range This activates playback from the start of the selected range

and stops at the selection end.

Loop Selection This activates playback from the start of the selected range

and continuously starts over again upon reaching the selection end.

❐

The functions listed above (except “Play to Next Marker”) are only available if you have selected one or more events or made a selection range.

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1 – 16 Playback and the Transport panel

About Chase

Chase is basically a function that makes sure your MIDI instruments sound as they should when you locate to a new position and start playback. This is accomplished by having the program transmitting a number of MIDI messages to your instruments each time you move to a new position in the project, making sure all MIDI devices are set up correctly with regard to Program Change, controller messages (such as MIDI Volume) etc.

For example, let’s say you have a MIDI track with a Program Change event inserted at the beginning. This event makes a synth switch to a piano sound.

In the beginning of the first chorus you have another Program Change event which makes the same synth switch to a string sound.

You now play back the song. It begins with the piano sound and then switches to the string sound. In the middle of the chorus you stop and rewind to some point between the beginning and the second Program Change. The synth will now still play the string sound although in this section it really should be a piano!

The Chase function takes care of that. If Program Change events are set to be chased, Cubase SX/SL will track the music back to the beginning, find the first Program Change and send this out, so that the synth is set to the right sound.

The same thing can apply to other event types as well. The Chase Events Filter settings in the Preferences dialog (MIDI-Chase Events Filter page) determine which event types will be chased when you locate to a new position and start playback.

• Event types for which the checkbox is activated in this dialog will not be chased.

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Playback and the Transport panel 1 – 17

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1 – 18 Playback and the Transport panel

Recording

Background

This chapter describes the various recording methods that you can use in Cubase SX/SL. As it is possible to record both audio and MIDI tracks in Cubase SX/SL, both of these recording methods are covered in this chapter.

Before you start

This chapter assumes that you are reasonably familiar with certain basic recording concepts, and that the following initial preparations have

been made:

• You have properly set up, connected and calibrated your audio hard-

ware.

This is described in the Getting Started book.

• You have opened a project and set the project setup parameters to

your specifications.

Project Setup parameters determine the record format, sample rate, project length etc. that affect the resulting audio recordings you make during the course of the project. See page 62.

• If you plan to record MIDI, your MIDI equipment should be set up and

connected correctly.

See the Getting Started book.

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2 – 20 Recording

Basic recording methods

This section describes the general methods used for recording. However, there are additional preparations and procedures that are specific to audio and MIDI recording respectively. Make sure to read these sections before you start recording (see page 25 and page 37).

Record enabling a track

Cubase SX/SL can record on a single track or on several tracks (audio and/or MIDI) simultaneously. To make a track ready for recording, click the Record Enable button for the track in the Track list, in the Inspector or in the Mixer. When activated, the button(s) turn red, indicating record ready mode.

Record Enable in the Inspector, Track list and Mixer.

• If the option “Enable Record on Selected Track” is activated in the Preferences dialog (Editing page), tracks are automatically record enabled when you select them in the Track list.

• The exact number of audio tracks you can record simultaneously depends on your computer CPU and hard disk performance.

Furthermore, it would be pointless to record more audio tracks than you have audio inputs, since this would only result in duplicate tracks and audio files (see page 25).

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Recording 2 – 21

Manually activating recording

You activate recording by clicking the Record button on the Transport panel or toolbar, or by using the corresponding key command (by default [*] on the numeric keypad).

Recording can be activated from Stop mode (from the current cursor position or from the left locator) or during playback:

• If you activate recording from Stop mode, and the option “Start Record at Left Locator” is activated on the Transport menu, recording will start from the left locator.

The preroll setting or the metronome count-in will be applied (see page 48).

• If you activate recording from Stop mode, and the “Start Record at Left Locator” is deactivated, recording will start from the current project cursor position.

• If you activate recording during playback, Cubase SX/SL will immediately enter Record mode and start recording at the current project cursor position.

This is known as “manual punch in”.

Automatically activating recording

Cubase SX/SL can automatically switch from playback to recording at a given position. This is known as “automatic punch in”. A typical use for this would be if you need to replace a section of a recording, and want to listen to the previously recorded audio up to the recording start position.

1. Set the left locator to the position at which you want recording to start.

2. Activate the Punch In button on the Transport panel.

Punch In activated.

3. Activate playback from some position before the left locator.

When the project cursor reaches the left locator, recording is automatically activated.

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2 – 22 Recording

Stopping recording

Again, this can be done automatically or manually:

• If you click the Stop button on the Transport panel (or use the corre-

sponding key command, by default [0] on the numeric keypad), recording is deactivated and Cubase SX/SL goes to Stop mode.

• If you click the Record button or use the key command for recording,

by default [*], recording is deactivated but playback continues.

This is known as “manual punch out”.

• If the Punch Out button is activated on the Transport panel, recording

will be deactivated when the project cursor reaches the right locator.

This is known as “automatic punch out”. By combining this with automatic punch in, you can set up a specific section to record – again very useful if you want to replace a certain part of a recording. See also page 47.

Punch In and Out activated.

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Recording 2 – 23

Cycle recording

Cubase SX/SL can record and play back in a cycle – a loop. You specify where the cycle starts and ends by setting the left and right locators. When cycle is active, the selected section is seamlessly repeated until you hit Stop or deactivate cycle mode.

• To activate cycle mode, click the cycle button on the Transport panel.

If you now activate Play, the section between the left and right locator is repeated indefinitely until you stop.

Cycle activated.

• To record in Cycle mode, you can start recording from the left locator, from before the locators or from within the cycle, from Stop mode or during playback.

As soon as the project cursor reaches the right locator, it will jump back to the left locator and continue recording a new lap.

• The results of cycle recording are different for audio (see page 34) and MIDI (see page 42).

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2 – 24 Recording

Audio recording specifics

Activating and selecting VST inputs

Cubase SX/SL allows you to use audio hardware with multiple inputs and route different inputs to different audio channels. To activate inputs, first open the VST Inputs window on the Devices menu.

❐

Note that active inputs use processing power! Make it a habit to only activate audio inputs that you actually intend to use.

The VST Inputs window is divided into three columns:

• The left column contains the available physical input ports on the audio hardware.

• The middle column indicates which input pairs are activated. You turn input pairs on or off by clicking the buttons in this column.

• The right column shows the names that will be used for each input throughout the program. You can rename an input by clicking in this column and typing a new name.

❐

If you deactivate an input pair that is currently used (selected as input source for one or several audio channels), you will be asked whether you want Cubase SX/SL to remap these inputs (change the input source selection for the channels in question).

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Recording 2 – 25

Routing activated VST inputs to a channel

Selecting an input source for a track’s corresponding channel is done in the Mixer. Proceed as follows:

1. Open the Mixer from the Devices menu.

2. Locate the mixer channel strip for the audio track on which you plan to

record.

3. Pull down the input pop-up for the channel strip and select the input

to which the signal source you want to record is connected.

Selecting a recording file format

The format of recorded files is set in the Project Setup dialog on the Project menu. There are three settings: sample rate, record format (bit depth) and record file type. While the sample rate is set once and for all when you start working on a new project, the bit depth and file type can be changed at any time.

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2 – 26 Recording

Record format (bit depth)

❐

The record format setting is disregarded if you activate the TrueTape recording mode (see page 28).

The available options are 16 bit, 24 bit and 32 bit float. Use the following guidelines:

• Normally, select record format according to the bit depth delivered by your audio hardware.

For example, if your audio hardware has 20 bit A/D converters (inputs), you may want to record at 24 bit resolution, to capture the full bit depth. On the other hand, if your hardware has 16 bit inputs, it’s pointless to record with a higher bit depth – this will only make the audio files larger, with no difference in audio quality. The exception to this is the TrueTape recording mode, which produces 32 bit float files but is fully usable with 16 or 24 bit audio hardware – see below.

• The higher the bit depth, the larger the files and the more strain is put on the disk system.

If this is an issue, you may want to lower the record format setting.

Record file type

The Record File Type setting determines which type of files will be created when you record:

File Type Description

Wave File Wave files have the extension “.wav” and are the most common file

format on the PC platform.

Broadcast Wave File

AIFF File Audio Interchange File Format, a standard defined by Apple Com-

In terms of audio content, the same as regular Wave files, but with embedded text strings for supplying additional information about the file (see below).

puter Inc. AIFF files have the extension “.aif” and are used on most computer platforms.

• If you select Broadcast Wave File, you can specify Author, Description and Reference text strings that will be embedded in the recorded file.

This is done on the Audio–Broadcast Wave page in the Preferences dialog.

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Recording 2 – 27

Activating TrueTape™ (Cubase SX only)

TrueTape is a unique Steinberg technology that emulates the behavior of a professional analog tape recorder. While digital audio recording has a number of benefits, some may perceive digital sound to be somewhat “sterile” and “cold” compared to high quality analog recordings. The TrueTape feature remedies this problem by recreating the sound of analog tape saturation at the recording stage.

Note:

• TrueTape produces 32 bit float files.

The hard disk and processor speed considerations of the regular 32 bit format apply here as well.

• Unlike the regular 32 bit float record format, you can use the TrueTape mode even if your audio hardware only supports 16 bit resolution.

This is because the TrueTape feature converts the signal to 32 bit float format, and adds audio information in the floating point domain.

You activate and set up TrueTape in the following way:

1. Pull down the Devices menu and select TrueTape.

The TrueTape panel appears.

2. Click the power button to activate TrueTape.

In Cubase SX/SL for Windows, the power button is located in the top left corner, in Cubase SX/SL for Mac OS X the power button is located in the lower left corner.

3. Use the Drive control to adjust the amount of tape saturation effect to your liking.

If you are monitoring through Cubase SX/SL, you will hear how the changes color the sound of the monitored signal. This allows you to try out the settings before actually recording.

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2 – 28 Recording

• The pop-up menu in the TrueTape panel allows you to select one of

four Drive presets, for quick changes.

These contain no “hidden parameters” – selecting the “24dB Super Saturation” preset is the same as moving the Drive control all the way to the right. Note that any adjustments you make to the Drive control are automatically applied to the selected preset. You can also rename a preset by clicking and typing in a new name.

• Raising the Drive level will also raise the level in the audio file, and you can easily reach 0.0 (clipping) on the input level meters.

Unlike when recording in 16 bit format, this is nothing to worry about – it is virtually impossible to get digital distortion in a 32 Bit float file. However, you may want to check your input levels with TrueTape turned off to make sure the clipping doesn’t occur in the audio hardware.

Setting up tracks for mono or stereo recording

One of the initial decisions you have to make before you start recording audio is whether the recording should be stereo or mono. This is determined by the stereo/mono status of the audio track selected for recording:

• To set a track to mono or stereo, click the Stereo/Mono button in the Track list or in the Inspector.

A lit stereo button indicates a stereo track, while a dark mono button indicates a mono track.

The Stereo/Mono button.

❐

For more details about mono/stereo track compatibility, see page 76.

Recording 2 – 29

CUBASE SX/SL

Monitoring

In this context, “monitoring” means listening to the input signal during recording. There are three fundamentally different ways to do this: via Cubase SX/SL, externally (by listening to the signal before it reaches Cubase SX/SL) or by using ASIO Direct Monitoring (which is a combination of both of the other methods – see page 31).

Monitoring via Cubase SX/SL

If you monitor via Cubase SX/SL, the input signal is mixed in with the audio playback. The advantage of this is that you can adjust the monitoring level and panning in the Mixer, and add effects and EQ to the monitor signal just as during playback. The disadvantage of monitoring via Cubase SX/SL is that the monitored signal will be delayed according to the latency value (which depends on your audio hardware and drivers). Therefore, monitoring via Cubase SX/SL requires an audio hardware configuration with a low latency value (see the Getting Started book).

When monitoring via Cubase SX/SL, you can select one of four modes in the Preferences dialog (VST page):

• Manual.

This option allows you to turn input monitoring on or off by clicking the Monitor button in the Inspector, the Track list or in the Mixer.

• While Record Enabled.

With this option you will hear the audio source connected to the channel input whenever the track is record enabled.

• While Record Running.

This option switches to input monitoring only during recording.

• Tapemachine Style.

This option emulates standard tapemachine behavior: input monitoring in stop mode and during recording, but not during playback.

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External monitoring

External monitoring (listening to the input signal before it goes into Cubase SX/SL) requires some sort of external mixer for mixing the audio playback with the input signal. This can be a stand-alone physical mixer or a mixer application for your audio hardware, if this has a mode in which the input audio is sent back out again (usually called “Thru”, “Direct Thru” or similar).

When using external monitoring, you cannot control the level of the monitor signal from within Cubase SX/SL, or add VST effects or EQ to the monitor signal. The latency value of the audio hardware configuration does not affect the monitor signal in this mode.

• If you want to use external monitoring, you need to make sure that monitoring via Cubase SX/SL isn’t activated as well.

Select the “Manual” monitoring mode in the Preferences dialog (VST page) and simply don’t activate the Monitor buttons.

ASIO Direct Monitoring

If your audio hardware is ASIO 2.0 compatible, it may support ASIO Direct Monitoring. In this mode, the actual monitoring is done in the audio hardware, by sending the input signal back out again. However, monitoring is controlled from Cubase SX/SL. This means that the audio hardware’s direct monitoring feature can be turned on or off automatically by Cubase SX/SL, just as when using internal monitoring.

• To activate ASIO Direct Monitoring, open the Device Setup dialog on the Devices menu and use the Direct Monitoring checkbox on the Setup tab for the VST Multitrack device.

If the checkbox is greyed out, this means that your audio hardware (or its current driver) doesn’t support ASIO Direct Monitoring. Consult the audio hardware manufacturer for details.

• When ASIO Direct Monitoring is activated, you can select a monitoring mode in the Preferences dialog (VST page), as when monitoring via Cubase SX/SL (see page 30).

• Depending on the audio hardware, it may also be possible to adjust monitoring level and panning from the Mixer.

Consult the documentation of the audio hardware if in doubt.

• VST effects and EQ cannot be applied to the monitor signal in this mode, since the monitor signal doesn’t pass through Cubase SX/SL.

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Recording 2 – 31

• Depending on the audio hardware, there may be special restrictions as to which audio outputs can be used for direct monitoring.

For details on the routing of the audio hardware, see its documentation.

• The latency value of the audio hardware configuration does not affect the monitor signal when using ASIO Direct Monitoring.

Setting input levels

When monitoring a channel signal source in stop mode, the meters show the level at the input selected for the audio channel. So if the connected signal source is sounding you should see activity in both the Track list meter and in the mixer strip for that channel.

❐

Note that it is not possible to set input gain with the mixer fader!

Check the levels coming in to Cubase SX/SL, and if necessary, adjust the input level in one of the following ways:

• Adjust the output level of the sound source or external mixer.

• Use the audio hardware’s own application program to set the input

levels, if this possibility is provided.

See the documentation of the audio hardware.

• If your audio hardware supports the ASIO Control Panel function, it may be possible to make input level settings.

To open the ASIO Control Panel, open the Device Setup dialog on the Devices menu and click the Control Panel button on the Setup tab for the VST Multitrack device.

❐

Input levels should be as high as possible, without exceeding 0dB.

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Recording

Recording is done using any of the general recording methods (see

page 21). After you finish recording, an audio file has been created in

the Audio folder within the projects folder. In the Pool, an audio clip is then created for the audio file, and an audio event that plays the whole clip appears on the recording track. Finally, a waveform image is calculated for the audio event. If the recording was very long, this may take a while.

• If the option “Create Images During Record” is activated in the Preferences dialog (Audio page), the waveform image will be calculated and displayed during the actual recording process.

This should only be activated if you have a fairly powerful computer system, since the real-time calculation uses some extra processing power.

Undoing recording

If you decide that you don’t like what you just recorded, you can delete it by selecting Undo from the Edit menu. The following will happen:

• The event(s) you just created will be removed from the Project window.

• The audio clip(s) in the Pool will be moved to the Trash folder.

• The recorded audio file(s) will not be removed from the hard disk.

However, since their corresponding clips are moved to the Trash folder, you can delete the files by opening the Pool and selecting “Empty Trash” from the Pool menu.

About overlap and audio tracks

If you record again where something has already been recorded, you get a new event that overlaps the previous one(s). When you play back, only the events that are actually visible are played back.

❐

One audio track can only play back one audio event at a time.

The functions “Move to Front” and “Move to Back” on the Edit menu (see page 82) are useful for managing overlapping events, as is the “To Front” function (see below).

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Recording audio in cycle mode

If you are recording audio in Cycle mode, the result depends on the “Cycle Record Mode” setting in the Preferences dialog (Audio page):

Create Events

When Cycle Record Mode is set to “Create Events”, the following will happen when you record audio in Cycle mode:

• One continuous audio file is created during the entire recording process.

• For each recorded lap of the Cycle, one audio event is created.

The events will have the name of the audio file plus the text “Take *”, where “*” indicates the number of the take.

• The last take (the last recorded lap) will be on top (and will thus be the one you hear when you activate playback).

To select another take for playback, proceed a follows:

1. Right-click (Win) or [Ctrl]-click (Mac) the event and select “To Front” from the pop-up menu that appears.

A submenu appears, listing all the other (obscured) events.

2. Select the desired take.

The corresponding event is brought to front.

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This method allows you to quickly combine the best parts of each take, in the following way:

1. Use the Scissors tool to split the events in several sections, one for

each part of the take.

For example, if you recorded four lines of vocals (in each take), you can split the events so that each line gets a separate event.

The events after splitting. Note that since the original take events overlap each other, clicking with the Scissors tool will split all takes at the same position.

2. For each section of the take, use the “To Front” function to bring the

best take to the front.

This way, you can quickly combine the best sections of each take, using the first vocal line from one take, the second line from another take and so on.

You can also compile a “perfect” take in the Audio Part Editor, as described on page 358.

Create Regions

When Cycle Record Mode is set to “Create Regions”, the following will happen when you record audio in Cycle mode:

• One continuous audio file is created during the entire recording process.

• The audio event in the Project window displays the name of the audio file plus the text “Take *” (with “*” indicating the number of the last completed Cycle lap).

• If you play back the recorded event, you will only hear what was recorded during the last lap of the Cycle recording.

The previous “takes” recorded in the Cycle are still available, however.

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• The audio clip is divided into regions (called takes), one for each lap of the Cycle that was recorded.

If you locate the audio file you just recorded in the Pool, and click on the plus sign beside it, you can see the regions that have been created, one for each lap of the Cycle that was completed during recording.

“Take” regions in the Pool window.

To play back the different “takes”, proceed as follows:

1. In the Project window, right-click (Win) or [Ctrl]-click (Mac) the event that was created during Cycle recording.

The Quick menu appears.

2. Select the “Set To Region” menu item.

A submenu appears with the takes you recorded during Cycle record.

3. Now you can freely select any of the takes from the submenu and it will replace the previous take event in the Project window.

Use this method to listen through the various takes. Select the best single take, or compile a “perfect” take by cutting out the best bits from each take and putting them together (see page 358).

Create Events + Regions

In this mode, both events and regions are created. If you work with the takes as events in this mode, you can edit the events freely (e.g. splitting them as described on page 34). However, in case you want to go back to the original takes, they are still available as regions (on the “Set To Region” submenu, in the Pool or in the Sample Editor).

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MIDI Recording Specifics

Activating MIDI Thru

As described in the Getting Started book, the normal way to work with MIDI is to have MIDI Thru activated in Cubase SX/SL, and Local Off selected in your MIDI Instrument(s). In this mode, everything you play during recording will be “echoed” back out again on the MIDI output and channel selected for the recording track.

1. Make sure the option “MIDI Thru Active” is activated in the Prefer-

ences dialog (MIDI page).

2. Record Enable the track(s) on which you want to record.

Now, incoming MIDI is “echoed” back out again, for all Record Enabled MIDI tracks.

Record Enable button. Monitor button.

• If you just want to use the thru function for a MIDI track without recording, activate the monitor button for the track instead.

This is useful e.g. if you want to try out different sounds or play a VST instrument in real time without recording your playing.

Setting MIDI channel, input and output

Setting the MIDI channel in the instrument

Most MIDI synthesizers can play several sounds at the same time, each on a different MIDI channel. This is the key to playing back several sounds (bass, piano etc.) from the same instrument. Some devices (such as General MIDI compatible sound modules) always receive on all 16 MIDI channels. If you have such an instrument, there’s no specific setting you need to make in the instrument. On other instruments you will have to use the front panel controls to set up a number of “Parts”, “Timbres” or similar so that they receive on one MIDI channel each. See the manual that came with your instrument for more information.

Recording 2 – 37

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Naming MIDI ports in Cubase SX/SL

MIDI inputs and outputs can often be shown with unnecessarily long and complicated names. If you wish, you can rename your MIDI ports to more descriptive names:

1. Open the Device Setup dialog from the Devices menu.

2. Select the Windows MIDI or DirectMusic (Windows) or MIDI System

(Mac OS X) device in the Device list.

The available MIDI inputs and outputs are listed under the Setup tab. Under Windows, which device to choose depends on your system.

3. To change the name of a MIDI port, click in the Device column and

type in a new name.

After closing the dialog, the new names will appear on the MIDI “in:” and “out:” pop-ups.

Setting the MIDI input in the Inspector

You select MIDI inputs for tracks in the Inspector – the area to the left of the track list in the Project window:

1. If the Inspector is hidden, click the Show Inspector button on the tool-

bar.

2. Select the track by clicking in the Track list.

The Inspector shows the settings for the selected track (for details, see page 56).

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3. Click the tab in the upper right corner of the Inspector to make sure the topmost section is shown.

4. Pull down the “in” pop-up and select an input.

The available MIDI inputs are shown. The items on the menu depend on the type of MIDI interface you are using etc.

• If you select the “All MIDI Inputs” option, the track will receive MIDI data from all available MIDI inputs.

• If you hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] and select a MIDI input, this is selected for all MIDI tracks.

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Setting the MIDI channel and output

The MIDI channel and output settings determine where the recorded MIDI is routed during playback, but are also relevant for MIDI Thru in Cubase SX/SL. Channel and output can be selected in the Track list or in the Inspector.

1. To show the settings in the Inspector, proceed as when selecting a

MIDI input (see above).

2. Pull down the “out:” pop-up and select an output.

The available MIDI outputs are shown. The items on the menu depend on what type of MIDI interface you are using etc.

• If you hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] and select a MIDI output, this is

selected for all MIDI tracks.

3. Use the “chn” pop-up menu to select a MIDI channel for the track.

• If you set the track to MIDI channel “Any”, each MIDI event on the

track will be sent out on the channel stored in the event itself.

In other words, the MIDI will be played back on the channel(s) used by the MIDI input device (the MIDI instrument you play during recording).

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Selecting a sound

You can select sounds from within Cubase SX/SL, by instructing the program to send Program Change and Bank Select messages to your MIDI device. This is done using the “prg” and “bnk” value fields in the Inspector or Track list.

However, it is also possible to select sounds by name. For descriptions of how to set this up, see page 408.

Recording

Recording MIDI is done according to the basic recording methods (see page 21). When you finish recording, a part containing MIDI events is created in the Project window.

About overlap and the Rec Mode setting

MIDI tracks are different from audio tracks when it comes to overlapping parts:

• All events in overlapping parts are always played back.

If you record several parts at the same locations (or move parts so that they overlap), you will hear the events in all parts on playback, even though some of the parts are obscured in the Project window.

When recording overlapping parts, the result depends on the Rec Mode setting on the Transport bar:

• If Rec Mode is set to “Normal”, overdub recording works as with audio tracks, i.e. if you record again where something has already been recorded, you get a new part that overlaps the previous one(s).

• If Rec Mode is set to “Merge”, the overdubbed events are added to the existing part.

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About punch in and out on MIDI tracks

Performing and setting up manual and automatic punch in/out recording for MIDI tracks is done in exactly the same way as for audio tracks. There is one thing to note, however:

• Punching in and out on recordings with Pitch Bend or controller data

(modulation wheel, sustain pedal, volume etc.), may lead to strange effects (apparently hanging notes, constant vibrato etc.).

If this happens, you may need to use the Reset command on the MIDI menu (see page

44).

About the Auto Quantize function

If Auto Quantize is activated on the Transport panel (the “AQ” button), the notes you record are automatically quantized according to the current Quantize settings. For more information about quantizing, see

page 467.

Recording MIDI in Cycle mode

When you record MIDI in Cycle mode, the result depends on which Cycle Rec mode is selected on the Transport panel:

Cycle Rec mode: Mix

For each completed lap, everything you record is added to what was previously recorded, in the same part. This is useful for building up rhythm patterns, for example. Record a hi-hat part on the first lap, the bass drum part on the second lap etc.

Cycle Rec mode: Overwrite

For each completed lap, everything you record replaces what was previously recorded in the same part.

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Recording different types of MIDI messages

❐

You can decide exactly which event types should be recorded by using the MIDI filters – see page 46.

Notes

With MIDI, when you press and release a key on your synth or other MIDI keyboard, a Note On (key down) and a Note Off (key up) message are sent out. The MIDI note message also contains the information which MIDI channel was used. Normally, this information is overridden by the MIDI channel setting for the track, but if you set the track to MIDI channel “Any”, the notes will be played back on their original channels.

Continuous Messages

Pitch bend, aftertouch and controllers (like modulation wheel, sustain pedal, volume etc.) are considered as MIDI Continuous events (as opposed to the momentary key down and key up messages). If you move the Pitch bend wheel on your synthesizer while recording, this movement is recorded together with the key (Note On and Note Off messages), just as you’d expect. But the continuous messages can also be recorded after the notes have been recorded (or even before). They can also be recorded on their own tracks, separately from the notes to which they belong.

Say for instance that you record one or several bass parts on track 2. If you now set another track, like track 55, to the same output and MIDI channel as track 2 you can make a separate recording of just pitch bends for the bass parts. This means that you activate recording as usual and only move the pitch bend wheel during the take. As long as the two tracks are set to the same output and MIDI channel it will appear to the MIDI instrument as if the two recordings were made at the same time.

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Program Change Messages

Normally, when you switch from one program to another on your keyboard (or whatever you use to record), a number corresponding to that program is sent out via MIDI as a Program Change message. These can be recorded on the fly with the music, recorded afterwards on a separate track, or manually entered in the MIDI or List Editors.

System Exclusive Messages

System Exclusive (SysEx) is a special type of MIDI message used to send things that only make sense to a unit of a certain make and type. Every major MIDI manufacturer has its own SysEx identity code and these are part of practically all SysEx messages. SysEx can be used to transmit a list of the numbers that make up the settings of one or more sounds in a synth. For more about viewing and editing SysEx messages, see page 617.

The Reset function

The Reset function on the MIDI menu sends out note-off messages and resets controllers on all MIDI channels. This is sometimes necessary if you experience hanging notes, constant vibrato, etc.

• Cubase SX/SL can also automatically perform a MIDI Reset after re-

cording, during playback (after each part) and/or on stop.

You turn these functions on or off in the Preferences dialog (MIDI page).

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MIDI Preferences

The following options and settings in the Preferences dialog (MIDI page) affect MIDI recording and playback:

“Note On” Priority

When this is activated, MIDI Note On messages are given priority over other types of MIDI messages, ensuring tight timing even if you use a lot of continuous MIDI data.

Length Correction

Adjusts the length of notes so that there always is a short time between the end of one note and the start of another (of the same pitch and on the same MIDI channel).

Snap Record Parts to Bars

When this is activated, recorded MIDI parts will automatically be lengthened to start and end at whole bar positions. If you are working in a Bars+Beats-based context, this can make editing (Moving, Duplicating, Repeating, etc.) easier.

Solo Record in Editors

If this is activated and you open a part for editing in a MIDI editor, its track is automatically Record Enabled. Furthermore, Record Enable is deactivated for all other MIDI tracks until you close the editor again.

This makes it easier to record MIDI data when you’re editing a part – you will always be sure the recorded data ends up in the edited part and not on any other track.

Record Catch Range

When you record starting at the left locator, this setting helps you make sure the very start of the recording is included. A very annoying scenario is when you have recorded a perfect MIDI take, only to find out that the very first note wasn’t included – because you started playing a little bit too early! If you raise the Record Catch Range, Cubase SX/SL will catch the events played just before the recording start point, eliminating this problem.

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Filtering MIDI

The MIDI–Filter page in the Preferences dialog allows you to prevent certain MIDI messages from being recorded and/or “thruput” (echoed by the MIDI Thru function).

The dialog is divided into four sections:

Section Description

Record Activating any of these options prevents that type of MIDI message from

being recorded. It will, however, be thruput, and if already recorded, it will play back normally.

Thru Activating any of these options prevents that type of MIDI message from

being thruput. It will, however, be recorded and played back normally.

Channels If you activate a channel button, no MIDI messages on that MIDI channel

will be recorded or thruput. Already recorded messages will, however, be played back normally.

Controller Allows you to prevent certain MIDI controller types from being recorded

or thruput. To filter out a controller type, select it from the list at the top of the section and click “Add”. It will appear on the list below. To remove a controller type from the list (allow it to be recorded and thruput), select it in the lower list and click “Remove”.

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Options and Settings

Recording-related Preferences

A couple of settings in the Preferences dialog (Transport page) are relevant for recording. Set these according to your preferred method of work:

Deactivate Punch In on Stop

If this is activated, punch in on the Transport panel is automatically deactivated whenever you enter Stop mode.

Stop after Automatic Punchout

If this is activated, playback will automatically stop after automatic punch out (when the project cursor reaches the right locator and punch out is activated on the Transport panel). If the postroll value on the Transport panel is set to a value other than zero, playback will continue for the set time before stopping (see below).

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About Preroll and Postroll

The preroll and postroll value fields on the Transport panel have the following functionality:

• By setting a preroll value, you instruct Cubase SX/SL to “roll back” a short section whenever playback is activated.

This applies whenever you start playback, but is perhaps most relevant when recording from the left locator (punch in activated on the Transport panel) as described below.

• By setting a postroll value, you instruct Cubase SX/SL to play back a short section after automatic punch out, before stopping.

This is only relevant when punch out is activated on the Transport panel and “Stop after Automatic Punchout” is activated in the Preferences dialog (Transport page).

• To enable or disable the pre/postroll function, select the option “Use Pre/ Post-Roll” on the Transport menu.

An example:

1. Set the locators to where you want to start and end recording.

2. Activate punch in and punch out on the Transport panel.

3. Activate the option “Stop after Automatic Punchout” in the Prefer-

ences dialog (Transport page).

4. Set suitable preroll and postroll times by clicking in the corresponding fields on the Transport panel and typing in time values.

5. Make sure Click is deactivated on the Transport panel.

If the Click is activated when you record from the left locator in stop mode, the preroll setting is disregarded and the metronome precount is used instead (see page 49).

6. Pull down the Transport menu and tick the option “Use Pre/Post-Roll”.

7. Activate recording.

The project cursor “rolls back” by the time specified in the preroll field and playback starts. When the cursor reaches the left locator, recording is automatically activated. When the cursor reaches the right locator, recording is deactivated, but playback continues for the time set in the postroll field before stopping.

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Using the metronome

The metronome will output a click that can be used as a timing reference. The two parameters that govern the timing of the metronome are tempo and time signature, and these are edited in the Tempo Track window (see page 594).

• To activate the metronome, click the Click button on the Transport

panel, or use the corresponding key command (by default [C]).

Metronome settings

You make settings for the metronome in the Metronome Setup dialog, opened from the Transport menu.

The metronome can use either an audio click played back via the audio hardware, send MIDI data to a connected device which will play back the click or do both.

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The following metronome parameter settings can be made in the dialog:

Parameter Description

MIDI Click on/off Selects whether or not the metronome will sound via MIDI.

MIDI Output Use the pop-up to select a MIDI output for the metronome click.

Channel Selects the MIDI channel for the metronome click.

High Note Sets the MIDI note number for the “high note” (the first beat in a

bar).

High Velocity Sets the velocity value for the “high note” (the first beat in a bar).

Low Note Sets the MIDI note number for the “low note” (the other beats).

Low Velocity Sets the velocity value for the “low note” (the other beats).

Audio Click On/Off Selects whether or not the metronome will sound via the audio

hardware.

Audio Click Volume slider

Precount on/off Turns on or off the metronome count-in before recording starts

Precount Bars Sets the number of bars the metronome will count in before it

From Master Track When this is activated, the precount will be in the time signature

Use Signature If “From Master Track” is deactivated, you can use these fields to

Click during Allows you to specify whether the metronome should be heard

Use Count Base If this option is activated, you use the field to the right to specify

Adjusts the volume for the audio click.

(when starting recording from stop mode).

starts recording if precount is activated.

set in the Master Tempo track.

set a time signature for the precount.

during playback, recording or both (when Click is activated on the Transport bar).

the “rhythm” of the metronome. Normally, the metronome plays one click per beat, but setting this to e.g. “1/8” gives you eighth notes – two clicks per quarter note beat. It’s also possible to create unusual metronome rhythms such as triplets etc.

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The Project Window

Background

The Project window is the main window in Cubase SX/SL. This provides you with an overview of the project, allowing you to navigate and perform large scale editing. Each project has one Project window.

About tracks

The Project window is divided vertically into tracks, with a time line running horizontally from left to right. The following track types are available:

Track type Description

Audio For recording and playing back audio events and audio parts. Each au-

dio track has a corresponding audio channel in the Mixer. An audio track can have any number of automation “subtracks” for automating mixer channel parameters, insert effect settings etc.

Folder Folder tracks function as containers for other tracks, allowing you to edit

several tracks at the same time amongst other things. See page 101.

Group Channel

MIDI For recording and playing back MIDI parts. Each MIDI track has a corre-

Marker The Marker track displays markers, and allows you to move and rename

Master Automation

Plug-in Automation

Video For playing back video events. A project can only have one Video track.

Group channels function as subgroups: by routing several audio channels to a Group channel, you can mix them with a single set of controls, apply the same effects to them, etc. (see page 165). A Group channel track contains no events as such, but displays settings and automation curves for the corresponding Group channel. Each Group channel track has a corresponding channel strip in the Mixer.

sponding MIDI channel strip in the Mixer. A MIDI track can have a number of automation “subtracks” for automating mixer channel parameters, insert and send effect settings etc.

them directly in the Project window (see page 114). There can only be one Marker track in the project.

Contains automation curves for master volume and global effect input levels. There can only be one Master Automation track in the project, but you can expand it to display any number of automation curves.

Each send effect, master effect or VST Instrument can have its own individual Plug-in Automation track, allowing for automation of all plug-in parameters. An automation track for a plug-in is automatically created the first time you automate any of its parameters. See page 258.

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About parts and events

Events are the basic building blocks in Cubase SX/SL. Different event types are handled differently in the Project window:

• Video events and automation events (curve points) are always viewed and rearranged directly in the Project window.

• MIDI events are always gathered in MIDI parts, containers for one or more MIDI events. MIDI parts are rearranged and manipulated in the Project window. To edit the individual MIDI events in a part, you have to open the part in a MIDI Editor (see page 486).

• Audio events can be displayed and edited directly in the Project window, but you can also work with audio parts containing several events. This is useful if you have a number of events which you want to treat as one unit in the project.

An audio event and an audio part.

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Window Overview

The Inspector.

Overview line

Track list with various track types.

The toolbar.The info line.

The ruler.

The event display, showing audio parts and events, MIDI parts, automation, markers, etc.

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The Track list

The Track list is the area to the left in the Project window. It contains name fields and various settings for the tracks. Different track types have different controls in the Track list. To see all the controls you may have to resize the track in the Track list (see page 65):

• The Track list area for an audio track:

Mute & Solo

Track name

Show/hide automation

Edit channel settings

Indicates whether effect sends, EQ or insert effects are activated for the track. Click to bypass.

Record Enable

Monitoring on/off

Stereo on/off

Automation Read/ Write buttons

Output activity indicator

Lock track button

Musical/Linear time base (see page 72)

• The Track list area for an automation subtrack (revealed by clicking the + button on a track):

Expand automation track (show more parameters)

Automation Read/Write buttons

Mute Lock track button

Automation parameter (click to select parameter)

• The Track list area for a MIDI track:

MIDI channel

Mute

Solo

Record Enable

Track name

Monitoring on/off

Drum map assign button

Lock track button

MIDI Output Bank Program

Automation Read/ Write buttons

The Project Window 3 – 55

Output activity indicator

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The Inspector

The area to the left of the Track list is called the Inspector. This can show additional controls and parameters for the track you have selected in the Track list. If several tracks are selected (see page 71), the Inspector shows the setting for the first (topmost) selected track.

To hide or show the Inspector, click the Inspector icon in the toolbar.

The Inspector icon.

The contents and usage of the Inspector depends on the selected track’s class, as described below.

• For some track classes, the Inspector is divided in sections. You can

hide or show sections by clicking the tabs in their top right corner.

Clicking the tab for a hidden section brings it to view and hides the other sections. [Ctrl]/[Command]-clicking the tab allows you to hide or show a section without affecting other sections. Finally, [Alt]/[Option]-clicking a tab shows or hides all sections in the Inspector.

• Folding a section does not affect the functionality but merely hides the section from view.

In other words, if you have set up a track parameter or activated an effect, your settings will still be active even if you fold the Inspector section.

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Audio tracks

For audio tracks, the Inspector contains the same controls as the Track list, as well as some additional buttons and parameters:

Parameter Description

Auto Fades Settings button

Edit button Opens the Channel Settings window for the track, allowing you to

Volume Use this to adjust the level for the track. Changing this setting will

Delay This adjusts the playback timing of the audio track. Positive values

Pan Use this to adjust the panning of the track. As with the Volume set-

Inserts section Allows you to add insert effects (up to eight for SX - up to 5 for SL)

Equalizers section

Sends section Allows you to route the track to one or several send effects (up to

Channel section Shows a duplicate of the corresponding Mixer channel strip.

Opens a dialog in which you can make separate Auto Fade settings for the track. See page 134.

view and adjust effect and EQ settings, etc. See page 158.

move the track’s fader in the Mixer window, and vice versa. See

page 152 to learn more about setting levels.

delay the playback while negative values cause the track to play earlier. The values are set in milliseconds.

ting, this corresponds to the Pan setting in the Mixer.

to the track, see page 185. The Edit button at the top of the section opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Lets you adjust the EQs for the track. You can have up to four bands of EQ for each track, see page 160. The Edit button at the top of the section opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

eight), see page 180. There are two edit buttons at the top of this section – the left opens the VST Send Effects window and the right opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

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MIDI tracks

When a MIDI track is selected, the Inspector contains a number of parameters and effects, affecting the MIDI events in real time (e.g. on playback). This is described in a separate chapter, see page 423.

Marker tracks

When a marker track is selected, the Inspector shows the marker list. See page 111.

Folder tracks

When a folder track is selected, the Inspector shows the folder and its underlying tracks, much like a folder structure in the Windows Explorer or Mac OS X Finder.

• You can click one of the tracks shown under the folder in the Inspector to have the Inspector show the settings for that track.

This way, you don’t have to “open” a folder track to access the settings for the tracks within it.

Here, an audio track within the folder is selected.

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Other tracks

For the remaining track classes, the Inspector isn’t used.

The toolbar

The toolbar contains tools and shortcuts for opening other windows and various project settings and functions:

Active project indicator

Show/hide Inspector

Transport controls (Stop, Play, Record and Cycle)

Snap on/off

Show/hide info line

Show/hide Overview

Snap mode

Open Pool

Project window tools Autoscroll on/off

Grid pop-up menu

Automation mode (Cubase SX only)

Open Mixer

Color pop-up menu

Quantize value

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The info line

The info line shows information about the currently selected event or part in the Project window. You can edit almost all values in the info line using regular value editing. Length and position values are displayed in the format currently selected for the ruler (see page 61).

• To hide or show the info line, click the corresponding icon on the toolbar.

The following elements can be selected for display and editing on the info line:

• Audio events.

• Audio parts.

• MIDI parts.

• Video events.

• Markers.

• Automation Curve Points.

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Note that the info line will only display information if a single element is selected.

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The ruler

The ruler at the top of the event display shows the timeline. Initially, the Project window ruler uses the display format specified in the Project Setup dialog (see page 62), as do all other rulers and position displays in the project. However, you can select an independent display format for the ruler by clicking on the arrow button to the right of it and selecting an option from the pop-up menu that appears.

Option Positions and lengths displayed as

Bars+Beats Bars, beats, sixteenth notes and ticks, with 120 ticks per sixteenth

note.

Seconds Hours, minutes, seconds and milliseconds.

24 fps Hours, minutes, seconds and frames, with 24 frames per second.

25 fps Hours, minutes, seconds and frames, with 25 frames per second.

29.97 fps Hours, minutes, seconds and frames, with 29.97 frames per second.

30 fps Hours, minutes, seconds and frames, with 30 frames per second.

29.97 dfps Hours, minutes, seconds and frames, “Drop frame” with 29.97 frames per second.

30 dfps Hours, minutes, seconds and frames, “Drop frame” with 30 frames per

second.

Samples Samples.

• The selection you make here affects the ruler, the info line and tool tip

position values (appear when you drag an event in the Project window).

You can also select independent formats for other rulers and position displays.

• To set the display format globally (for all windows), use the display for-

mat pop-up on the Transport panel, or hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] and select a display format in any ruler.

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Operations

Creating a new project

You create a new project in the following way:

1. Select “New Project” from the File menu.

A dialog appears, listing a number of project templates, including any custom templates that you have created (see page 700).

2. Select a template and click OK.

A file dialog appears, allowing you to specify a location for the project folder. This will contain all files related to the project.

3. Select an existing folder or type the name of a new one. Click OK.

A Project window appears. The new project will be based on the selected template, and include tracks, events and settings from the template.

The Project Setup dialog

General settings for the project are made in the Project Setup dialog. This is opened by selecting “Project Setup...” from the Project menu.

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The following settings are available in the Project Setup dialog:

Setting Description

Start The start time of the project. Allows you to have the project start at

another time than zero. Also used for setting the sync start position when synchronizing Cubase SX/SL to external devices (see page

651).

Length The length of the project.

Frame Rate Used if you are synchronizing Cubase SX/SL with external equip-

ment. If Cubase SX/SL is the slave, this value is automatically set to the frame rate of the incoming sync signal. If Cubase SX/SL is master, this determines the frame rate of the sent sync signal. See page

658.

Display Format This is the global display format used for all rulers and position dis-

plays in the program. However, you can make independent display format selections for the individual rulers and displays if you like. For descriptions of the different display format options, see page 61.

Display Offset Offsets the time positions displayed in the ruler etc., allowing you to

compensate for the Start Position setting. Typically, if you synchronize Cubase SX/SL to an external source starting at a frame other than zero, you set the Start Position to this value. However, if you still want the display in Cubase SX/SL to start at zero, set the Display Offset to the same value too.

Sample Rate This is the sample rate by which Cubase SX/SL records and plays

back audio files.

Record Format When you record audio files in Cubase SX/SL, they are recorded

with this resolution. See page 26.

Record File Type Determines which file types should be created when you record au-

dio. See page 26.

Stereo Pan Law Decides whether panning should use power compensation or not.

This is explained on page 155.

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While most settings in the Project Setup can be changed at any time, you should select a sample rate once and for all when starting with a new project! All audio files must be of this sample rate to play back correctly.

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Zoom and view options

Zooming in the Project window is done according to the standard Zoom procedures (see the Getting Started book), with the following special notes:

• When using the vertical zoom sliders, the tracks are scaled relatively.

In other words, if you have made any individual track height adjustments (see below), the relative height differences are maintained.

The following options are available on the Zoom submenu on the Edit menu:

Option Description

Zoom In Zooms in one step, centering on the project cursor.

Zoom Out Zooms 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 (see above).

Zoom to Selection Zooms in horizontally so that the current selection fills the screen.

Zoom to Event This option is available only in the Sample Editor (see page 336).

Zoom In Vertical Zooms in one step vertically.

Zoom Out Vertical Zooms out one step vertically.

Zoom In Tracks Zooms in selected track(s) one step vertically.

Zoom Out Tracks Zooms out selected track(s) one step vertically.

Zoom Tracks Exclusive

This zooms in vertically on the selected track(s) and minimizes the height of all other tracks.

• You can zoom the contents of parts and events vertically, using the

Waveform Zoom slider in the top right corner of the event display.

This can be useful to better view quiet audio passages.

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

• If you activate the option Quick Zoom in the Preferences (Event Dis-

play page), the contents of parts and events will not be continuously redrawn when you zoom manually.

Instead, the contents are redrawn once you have stopped changing the zoom – activate this if screen redraws are slow on your system.

Resizing tracks in the Track list

• You can change the height of an individual track by clicking on its lower border in the Track list and dragging up or down.

To change the height of all tracks, hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] and resize one of the tracks in the same way. If “Snap Track Heights” is activated on the Track scale pop-up (see below), the track height will change in larger increments when you resize it.

• You can also change the width of the Track list area, by dragging the border between the Track list and the event display.

• The controls shown for tracks in the Track list are adaptable to track size. This means that when resizing a track’s height or width some of the controls will be dynamically placed where they best “fit in”.

• You can use the Track scale pop-up (opened by clicking the arrow button above the vertical zoom control) to set the number of tracks to view in the current Project window.

The track height will be adjusted to show only the number of tracks specified on the pop-up menu. By selecting “Zoom N Tracks” from the pop-up you can manually set the number of tracks to fit in the current Project window.

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Zoom presets and Cycle markers

The pop-up menu to the left of the horizontal zoom control allows you to select, create and organize zoom presets. These are useful if you want to toggle between different zoom settings (e.g. one where the whole project is displayed in the project window and another with a high zoom factor for detailed editing). With this pop-up menu, you can also zoom in on the area between cycle markers in the project.

Zoom presets

Cycle markers

The upper part of the menu lists the zoom presets:

• To store the current zoom setting as a preset, select Add from the

pop-up menu.

A dialog appears, allowing you to type in a name for the preset.

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

• The “Zoom to Locators” preset is always available. Selecting this op-

tion zooms in on the range between the left and right locators, so that only this range is shown in the event display.

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• If you want to delete a preset, select “Organize…” from the pop-up menu.

In the dialog that appears, select the preset in the list and click the corresponding button in order to delete the preset. The preset is removed from the list.

• If you want to rename a preset, select “Organize…” from the pop-up menu.

In the dialog that appears, select the desired preset in the list and click the Rename button. A second dialog opens, allowing you to type in a new name for the preset. Click OK to close the dialogs.

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Zoom presets are global for all projects, i.e. they are available in all projects you open or create.

The middle part of the pop-up lists the cycle markers you created for the project:

• If you select a cycle marker form this menu, the event display is zoomed in to encompass the marker area (see page 117).

• You cannot edit the cycle markers in this pop-up menu. For information on editing markers, see “Using Markers”.

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

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Adjusting how parts and events are shown

The Preferences dialog on the File menu (on the Mac, the Preferences dialog is located on the Cubase SX/SL menu) contains several settings for customizing the display in the Project window.

On the Event Display page you will find common settings for all track types:

Option Description

Colorize Event Background

Quick Zoom If this is activated, the contents of parts and events are redrawn

Transparent Events When this is activated, events and parts will be transparent,

Show Data on Small Track Heights

Show Event Names Determines whether the names of parts and events should be

Determines whether the backgrounds or “contents” (waveforms, etc.) of parts and events will be colorized. See page 72.

once you have stopped changing the zoom.

showing the waveforms and MIDI events only.

If this is activated, the contents of events and parts will be shown, even if the height of a track is very small.

shown in the Project window.

The Event Display–Audio page contains settings for audio events:

Option Description

Interpolate Audio Images

Wave Image Style Determines whether audio waveforms should be displayed as

Show Event Volume Curves Always

If the option is deactivated, single sample values are drawn as “steps”. If the option is activated they are interpolated to form “curves”.

solid images, frames or “inverted” images (solid+frame). This selection affects all waveform images in the Project window, Sample Editor and Audio Part Editor. Note that the “Framed” and “Solid and Framed” styles are more demanding for the computer. If the system feels slower in these modes, please switch back to “Solid” wave image style.

If this is activated the “volume curves” created with the volume and fade handles are always shown – if not, the curves are only shown for selected events.

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The Event Display–MIDI page contains settings for MIDI parts:

Option Description

Default Edit Action Determines which editor should be opened when you double

click a MIDI part or select it and press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[E]: the Key, Drum, List or Score editor. Note that this setting is overridden for tracks with drum maps if the option “Edit as Drums when Drummap is assigned” is activated.

Part Data Mode Determines how events in MIDI parts should be shown in the

Project window: as lines, as score notes or as drum notes. Note that this setting is overridden for tracks with drum maps if the option “Edit as Drums when Drum Map is assigned” is activated.

Show Controllers Governs whether non-note events (controllers, etc.) should be

shown in MIDI parts in the Project window.

Edit as Drums when Drum Map is assigned

Note Name Style Determines how MIDI note names (pitches) should be displayed

If this is activated, parts on MIDI tracks with drum maps assigned will be shown with drum note symbols in the Project window. Also, the parts will automatically open in the Drum editor when double clicked (overriding the Default Edit Action setting above).

in editors, etc.

The Event Display–Video page contains settings for video events:

Option Description

Show Video Thumbnails

Video Cache Size This determines how much memory is available for video thumb-

When this is activated, thumbnail frames of the video contents are shown on the Video Track.

nails. If you have long video clips and/or work with a large zoom factor (so that a lot of frames are shown in the thumbnails), you may have to raise this value.

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Zooming and navigating in the overview line

By clicking the Show Overview button on the toolbar, an extra pane appears under the toolbar, the project overview line.

Show Overview button

In the overview line, events and parts on all tracks are displayed as boxes. You can use the overview line to zoom in or out, and for navigating to other sections of the project. This is done by moving and resizing the track view rectangle in the overview line:

The track view rectangle

• The track view rectangle indicates the section of the project currently displayed in the event display.

• You can zoom in or out vertically by resizing the track view rectangle.

Resizing is done by dragging the edges of the rectangle.

• You can drag the track view rectangle to view other sections of the project.

The number of tracks shown will not change.

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Handling tracks

To add a track to the Project, select “Add Track” from the Project menu and select a track type from the submenu that appears. The new track is added below the currently selected track in the Track list.

• The “Add Track” menu is also available as a separate item on the

Quick Menu.

• There is an additional option at the bottom of the Add Track submenu,

called “Multiple...”. Selecting this brings up a dialog allowing you to add more than one track in one operation.

You can set whether audio, MIDI or group tracks should be created by selecting from the pop-up in the dialog. The number of tracks to add is entered in the “Count” value field.

Once you have created tracks, you can manipulate and rearrange them in various ways:

• To rename an audio or MIDI track, double click in the name field and

type in a new name.

If you hold down any modifier key when pressing [Return] to close the name field, all events on the track will get the name you entered.

• To select a track, click on it in the Track list.

A selected track is indicated by a light grey color in the Track list.

This track is selected.

It is possible to select several tracks, by pressing [Ctrl]/[Command]. To select a continuous range of tracks, use [Shift]-clicking.

• To move a track, click and drag it up or down in the list.

• To duplicate a track, complete with all contents and channel settings,

right-click in the Track list and select “Duplicate track” from the context menu.

The duplicated track will appear above the original track.

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• You can colorize the contents of selected track(s), or selected parts and events by clicking the Color button on the toolbar and selecting a color from the pop-up menu that appears.

If one or several tracks are selected, all events and parts on the track(s) will get the selected color, as will any events and parts you add to the track later. If individual events or parts are selected, only these will be affected. Individually colorized events and/or parts will keep the applied color even if the track they belong to is later set to another color. The option “Colorize Event Background” in the Preferences dialog (User Interface–Event Display page) determines whether the backgrounds or waveforms of events will be colorized.

• To remove the selected tracks, select “Remove Selected Tracks” from the Project menu.

You can also right-click directly on a track in the Track list and select “Remove Track” from the context menu that appears.

Switching between Musical or Linear time base

Tracks can be either “musical” (tempo) or “linear” (time) based.

• On a track using linear time base, the events will be positioned on specific time positions – changing the playback tempo will not affect the time position of events.

• On a track using musical time base, the positions of events are represented as meter values (bars, beats, 1/16th notes and ticks, with 120 ticks per 1/16th note). If you change the playback tempo, the events will play back at an earlier or later time.

Whether to use musical or linear time base depends on the type of project and recording situation. By default, audio and MIDI tracks use musical time base, while the Marker track and Video track use linear time base. However, you can change this setting individually for each audio, MIDI and marker track. This is done by clicking the musical/linear time base button in the Inspector or Track list. Musical time base is indicated by a note symbol, while linear time base is indicated by a clock symbol.

Linear time base selected. Musical time base selected.

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The musical/linear time base button.

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Note that internally, events on musical time based tracks use the same high precision for positioning (64 bit floating point values) as linear time based events. However, switching between linear and musical time base results in a very small loss of precision (introduced by the mathematical operations used for scaling values in the two different formats). Therefore you should avoid switching repeatedly between the two modes.

For more information about tempo changes, see page 590.

Adding events to a track

There are a number of ways to add events to a track:

• By recording (see page 21).

This is possible for audio and MIDI tracks.

• By selecting “Audio File...” or “Videofile...” from the Import submenu on the File menu.

This opens a file dialog, allowing you to locate the file you wish to import. When you import a file this way, a clip is created for the file and an event that plays the whole clip is added to the selected track, at the position of the project cursor. You can also import MIDI files by using the Import submenu, but this works in a slightly different way (see page 702).

• By grabbing audio CD tracks and converting these to audio files, see page 706.

• By using Copy and Paste on the Edit menu.

This allows you to copy all kinds of events between different projects. You can also use Copy and Paste for copying events within the project, from the Audio Part Editor or Sample Editor.

• By drawing.

Some types of events (markers and automation events) can be drawn directly into the Project window. For audio and MIDI tracks, you can draw parts (see page 77).

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• By dragging files and dropping them on the track at the desired position.

You can create events by dragging and dropping from the following locations:

The Desktop. The Pool. The Project window of another open project. The Audio Part Editor of any open project. The Sample Editor of any open project – press [Ctrl]/[Command] and drag to create an event of the current selection, or click in the left column of the Region List and drag to create an event from a Region. The “Find media” dialog.

While you drag the clip in the Project window, its position will be indicated by a marker line and a numerical position box. See also page 387.

Audio file import options

When you are importing audio files, you can choose to copy the file into the project’s audio folder and have the project make reference to the copied file instead. This helps you keep your project “self-contained”. Furthermore, you may want all files in the project to have the same sample rate and sample size (resolution).

There is a setting for this in the Preferences dialog (Audio page). Select one of the options on the “On Import Audiofile” pop-up:

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Option Description

Do Nothing The files are imported without being copied or converted.

Open Options Dialog

Copy to Project Folder

Copy and Convert

Convert if needed

An Options dialog appears when you import, allowing you to select whether you want to copy the files to the Audio folder and/or convert them to the project settings. Note:

- When importing a single file of a format other than the project settings, you can specify which properties (sample rate and/or resolution) should be changed.

- When importing multiple files at the same time, you can select to have the imported files automatically converted if necessary, i.e. if the sample rate is different than the project’s or the resolution is lower than the project setting.

If files are not already in the project’s audio folder they are copied there before being imported.

If files are not already in the project’s audio folder they are copied there before being imported. Furthermore, if the files have a different sample rate or a lower resolution than the project settings, they are automatically converted.

If files have a different sample rate or a lower resolution than the project settings, they are copied to the project’s Audio folder and the copies are automatically converted before being imported. Files that conform to the project settings are imported from their original location, without being copied.

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About Stereo/Mono

Audio tracks can be either stereo or mono. You can change this setting manually as described below, but it can also be done automatically, according to the following rules:

• Whenever a file is imported, copied or moved to a track, Cubase SX/

SL sets the stereo/mono status of the track according to its contents: If the majority of events on the track are in stereo, the track is set to stereo and vice versa.

This means that if you import a file to an empty track, the track is automatically set to stereo or mono according to the imported file.

Stereo events on mono tracks (or vice versa) are indicated by the label “Mono/stereo mismatch”, and will not be played back:

A stereo file on a mono track.

To manually change the stereo/mono status, click the stereo button in the Track list or Inspector. A lit button with double circles indicates stereo, a dark button with a single circle indicates mono.

Setting the track to stereo.

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Creating parts

Parts are containers for MIDI or audio events. If you record MIDI, a MIDI part is automatically created, containing the recorded events. You can also create empty audio or MIDI parts and later add events to them. There are two ways to do this:

• Draw a part on a MIDI or audio track with the Pencil tool.

• Double click with the Arrow tool on a MIDI or audio track, between the

left and right locator.

To add events to a MIDI part, you use the tools and functions in a MIDI editor (see page 488). Adding events to audio parts is done in the Audio Part Editor (see page 353) by pasting or by using drag and drop.

• You can also gather existing audio events into a part, by using the “Events to Part” function on the Audio menu.

This creates an audio part containing all selected audio events on the same track. To remove the part and make the events appear as independent objects on the track again, select the part and use the “Dissolve Part” function on the Audio menu.

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Auditioning audio parts and events

Audio parts and events can be auditioned in the Project window with the Speaker tool:

❐

When auditioning, audio will be routed directly to Bus 1, bypassing the audio channel’s settings, effects and EQs.

1. Select the Speaker tool.

Note that the Speaker tool and the Scrub tool share the same icon. If the rightmost tool icon on the toolbar isn’t a Speaker symbol, first click on the icon to select it, then click again and select “Play” from the pop-up menu that appears.

2. Click where you want playback to start, and keep the mouse button

pressed.

Only the track on which you click is played back, starting at the click position.

3. Release the mouse button to stop playback.

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Scrubbing

The Scrub tool allows you to locate positions in the audio by playing back, forwards or backwards, at any speed:

1. Select the Scrub tool.

Note that the Speaker tool and the Scrub tool share the same icon. If the rightmost tool icon on the toolbar isn’t a “Scrub symbol”, first click on the icon to select it, then click again and select “Scrub” from the pop-up menu that appears.

2. Click at the desired position and keep the mouse button pressed.

The project cursor is moved to the position at which you click.

3. Drag to the left or right.

The project cursor follows the mouse pointer and the audio is played back. The speed and pitch of the playback depends on how fast you move the pointer.

• You can adjust the responsiveness of the Scrub function in the Preferences dialog (VST page).

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Editing parts and events

This section describes techniques for editing in the Project window. If not explicitly stated, all descriptions apply to both events and parts, even though we use the term “event” for convenience.

❐

When you are using the tools for editing parts and events, you can in many cases get additional functions by pressing modifier keys (e.g. pressing [Alt]/[Option] and dragging with the Pencil tool creates a copy of the dragged event or part). On the following pages, the default modifier keys are described, but you can customize these if needed. This is done in the Preferences dialog on the Editing – Tool Modifiers page (see

page 724).

Selecting events

Selecting events is done using any of the following methods:

• Use the Arrow tool.

The standard selection techniques apply.

• Use the Select submenu on the Edit menu.

The options are:

Option Description

All Selects all events in the Project window.

None Deselects all events.

In Loop Selects all events that are partly or wholly between the left

and right locator.

From Start to Cursor Selects all events that begin to the left of the project cursor.

From Cursor to End Selects all events that end to the right of the project cursor.

All on Selected Tracks Selects all events on the selected track.

Select Event This is available in the Sample Editor (see page 331).

Left/Right Selection Side to Cursor

These two functions are only used for range selection editing (see page 92).

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❐

Note that these functions work differently when the Range Selection tool is selected (see page 92).

• Select all events on a track by right-clicking in its Track list and select-

ing “Select All Events” from the pop-up menu that appears.

• You can also use the arrow keys on the computer keyboard, to select the closest event to the left, right, above or below.

If you press [Shift] and use the arrow keys, the current selection will be kept, allowing you to select several events.

• If the option “Auto Select Events under Cursor” is activated in the Preferences dialog (Editing page), all events currently “touched” by the project cursor are automatically selected.

This can be helpful when rearranging your project, since it allows you to select whole sections (on all tracks) simply by moving the project cursor.

• It is also possible to select ranges, regardless of the event and track boundaries.

This is done using the Range Selection tool (see page 92).

Moving events

To move events in the Project window, use any of the following methods:

• Click and drag to a new position.

All selected events will be moved, maintaining their relative positions. You can only drag events to tracks of the same type. If Snap is activated, this determines to which positions you can move the events (see page 97). Note also, that you can restrict movement to be either horizontal or vertical only, by holding down [Ctrl]/[Command] while dragging.

❐

You will note that there is a slightly delayed response when you move an event by dragging. This helps you avoid accidentally moving events when you click on them in the Project window. You can adjust this delay with the Drag Delay setting in the Preferences dialog (Editing page).

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• Use the “Move to” functions on the Edit menu.

The following functions are available:

Function Description

Move to Cursor Moves the selected event to the project cursor position. If 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.

Move to Origin Moves the selected events to their original positions, i.e. the posi-

tions at which they were originally recorded.

Move to Front, Move to Back

This function doesn’t actually change the position of the 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, since 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, see page 34).

• Select the event and edit the Start position in the info line.

With this method, you can only move one event at a time.

Duplicating events

Events can be duplicated in the following ways:

• Hold down [Alt]/[Option] and drag the event to a new position.

If Snap is activated, this determines to which positions you can copy the events (see

page 97).

❐

If you hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] as well, movement direction is restricted to either horizontal or vertical. That means if you drag an event vertically it can not be moved horizontally at the same time.

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• Audio and MIDI parts can also be duplicated by pressing [Alt]/[Option] + [Shift] and dragging.

This creates a shared copy of the part. If you edit the contents of a shared copy, all other shared copies of the same part are automatically edited in the same way.

Shared copies are indicated by the part name in italics and an icon in the lower right corner of the part.

Note:

• When you duplicate audio events, the copies are always shared. This means that shared copies of audio events always refer to the same audio clip (see

page 295).

• You can convert a shared copy to a real copy by selecting “Convert to Real Copy” from the Edit menu. This creates a new version of the clip (that can be edited independently) and adds this to the Pool. Note that no new files are created by this operation – for that you need to use the “Freeze Edits” function (see page 319).

• Selecting “Duplicate” from the Edit menu creates a copy of the selected event and places it directly after the original.

If several events are selected, all of these are copied “as one unit”, maintaining the relative distance between the events.

• Selecting “Repeat...” from the Edit menu opens a dialog, allowing you to create a 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.

• Selecting “Fill Loop” from the Edit menu creates a number of copies starting at the left locator and ending at the right locator.

The last copy is automatically shortened to end at the right locator position.

Original Copies

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Using Cut, Copy and Paste

You can cut or copy selected events, and paste them in again, using the functions on the Edit menu.

• When you paste an event it is inserted on its original track, positioned

so that its Snap point is aligned with the project cursor position.

See page 97 for information about the Snap point.

• If you use the “Paste at Origin” function, the event is pasted at its orig-

inal position (the position from which you cut or copied it).

Renaming events

By default, audio events show the name of their clip, but you can enter a separate descriptive name for separate events if you like. This is done by selecting the event and typing in a new name in the “Description” field in the info line.

• You can also give all events on a track the same name as the track by

changing the track name, holding down a modifier key and pressing [Return].

See page 71.

Splitting events

You can split events in the Project window in the following ways:

• Click with the Scissors tool on the event you want to split.

If Snap is activated, this determines the exact split position (see page 97).

• Select “Split at Cursor” from the Edit menu.

This splits the selected events at the position of the project cursor. If no events are selected, all events (on all tracks) that are intersected by the project cursor will be split.

• Select “Split Loop” from the Edit menu.

This splits events on all tracks at the left and right locator positions.

❐

If you split a MIDI part so that the split position intersects one or several MIDI notes, the result depends on the option “Split MIDI Events” in the Preferences dialog (MIDI–Function Parameters page). If the option is activated, the intersected notes will be split (creating new notes at the beginning of the second part). If it is deactivated, the notes will remain in the first part, but “stick out” after the end of the part.

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Gluing events together

Clicking on an event with the Glue Tube tool glues it together with the next event on the track. The result is a part containing the two events, with one exception:

• If you first split an event and then glue the two sections together again (without moving or editing them first), they become a single event again.

In other words, gluing can create a single event if the two events are lined up end to start and play a continuous section of the same clip.

Resizing events

Resizing events means to move their start or end positions individually. In Cubase SX/SL, there are three types of resizing:

Resizing type Description

Normal Sizing The contents of the event stay fixed, and the start or

end point of the event is moved to “reveal” more or less of the contents.

Sizing Moves Contents The contents follow the moved start or end of the

event (see the figure below).

Sizing Applies Time Stretch The contents will be time stretched to fit the new event

length (see separate description on page 86).

To select one of the resizing modes, select the Arrow tool and then click again on the Arrow tool icon on the toolbar. This opens a pop-up menu from which you can select one of the resizing mode options.

The icon on the toolbar will change shape, indicating the selected resizing mode.

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The actual resizing is done by clicking and dragging the lower left or right corner of the event. If Snap is activated, the Snap value determines the resulting length (see page 97).

Normal sizing.

Sizing moves contents.

❐

If the event is selected, there will be resize handles in the lower left and right corners. However, you can resize unselected events in the same way – just click and drag one of the lower corners.

• If several events are selected, all will be resized in the same way.

• You can also resize events with the Scrub tool.

This works just the same as when resizing with the Arrow tool, but the audio under the pointer is played back (scrubbed) while you drag.

Resizing events using time stretch

If you want to resize a part and make its contents “fit” the new size, you should use this option. Proceed as follows:

1. Click the Arrow icon on the toolbar and select the “Sizing applies

timestretch” option from the pop-up menu.

2. Point close to the end point of the part you want to stretch.

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3. Click and drag left or right.

When you move the mouse, a tooltip information shows the current mouse position and length of the part. Note that the snap value applies, as with any part operation.

4. Release the mouse button.

The part is “stretched” or “compressed” to fit the new length.

• For MIDI parts, this means that the events are moved, so that the relative distance between events is maintained.

• For audio parts, this means that the events are moved, and that the referenced audio files are time stretched to fit the new length.

A dialog box shows the progress of the time stretch operation.

• You can adjust the quality settings for the time stretch algorithm on the Preferences page (Audio–Time Stretch Tool page).

For more general information about time stretch, see page 311.

Sliding the contents of an event or part

You can move the contents of an event or part without changing its position in the Project window. By default, this is done by pressing [Ctrl]/ [Command]+[Alt]/[Option], clicking in the event or part and dragging to the left or right.

❐

When sliding the contents of an audio event, you cannot slide past the start or end of the actual audio clip. If the event plays the whole clip, you cannot slide the audio at all.

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Locking events

If you want to make sure you don’t edit or move an event by accident, you can lock it. Locking can affect one (or any combination) of the following properties:

Lock Options Description

Position If this is locked, the event cannot be moved.

Size If this is locked, the event cannot be resized.

Other If this is locked, all other editing of the event is disabled. This in-

cludes adjusting the fades and event volume, processing, etc.

• To specify which of these properties should be affected by the Lock

function, use the “Lock Event Attributes” pop-up menu in the Preferences dialog (Editing page).

• To lock events, select them and select “Lock...” from the Edit menu.

The events will be locked according to the options specified in the Preferences dialog.

The padlock symbol indicates that one or more of the lock options are activated for the event.

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• You can adjust the lock options for a locked event by selecting it and selecting “Lock...” from the Edit menu again.

This opens a dialog in which you can activate or deactivate the desired lock options.

• To unlock an event (turn off all lock options), select it and select “Unlock” from the Edit menu.

• It is also possible to lock a whole track, by clicking the padlock symbol in the Track list or in the Inspector.

This disables all editing of all events on the track.

Muting events

You can Mute individual events in the Project window in the following way:

• To mute or unmute a single event, click on it with the Mute tool.

The Mute tool.

• To mute several events, click on an unmuted event with the Mute tool, keep the mouse button pressed and drag the pointer over the desired events.

All events “touched” by the Mute tool will be muted.

• To unmute several events, click on a muted event with the Mute tool, keep the mouse button pressed and drag the pointer over the desired events.

All events “touched” by the Mute tool will be unmuted.

• You can click in an empty area with the Mute tool and drag a selection rectangle around the events you want to mute or unmute.

This changes the mute status of all events in the selection rectangle. If you hold down a modifier key when releasing the mouse button, you can force all events to be muted or unmuted, regardless of their previous status. The default modifier keys are [Shift] for mute and [Ctrl]/[Command] for unmute.

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• You can mute events by selecting them and selecting “Mute” from the

Edit menu.

Similarly, you can unmute the selected events by selecting “Unmute” from the Edit menu.

• If a single event is selected, you can also change its Mute status in the

info line.

• You can also Mute whole tracks by clicking the Mute (“X”) button in

the Track list, the Inspector or the Mixer.

Clicking the Solo (“S”) button for a track mutes all other tracks.

Muted events can be edited as usual (with the exception of adjusting fades), but are not played back.

Muted events are “greyed out”.

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Removing events

To remove an event from the Project window, use any of the following methods:

• Click on the event with the Eraser tool.

If you press [Alt]/[Option], all following events on the same track will be deleted.

• Select the event(s) and press [Backspace], or select “Delete” from the Edit menu.

Creating new files from events

As described in the Getting Started book, an audio event plays a section of an audio clip, which in turn refers to one or more audio files on the hard disk. However, in some situations you may want to create a new file that consists only of the section played by the event. This is done with the function Bounce Selection on the Audio menu:

1. Select one or several audio events.

2. Set up fade in, fade out and event volume (on the info line or using the

volume handle) as desired.

These settings will be applied to the new file. For details on fades and event volume, see

page 122.

3. Select “Bounce Selection” from the Audio menu.

You are asked whether you want to replace the selected event or not.

• If you click “Replace”, a new file is created, containing only the audio in the original event. A clip for the new file is added to the Pool, and the original event is replaced by a new event playing the new clip.

• If you click “No” a new file is created and a clip for the new file is added to the Pool.

The original event is not replaced.

You can also apply the Bounce Selection function to an audio part. In that case, the audio from all events in the part will be combined into a single audio file. If you choose “Replace” when asked, the part will be replaced with a single audio event playing a clip of the new file.

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Range editing

Editing in the Project window isn’t necessarily restricted to handling whole events and parts. You can also work with selection ranges, which are independent from the event/part and track boundaries.

Creating a selection range

To make a selection range, drag a rectangle with the Range selection tool.

When the Range selection tool is selected, the Select submenu on the Edit menu has the following items for making selection ranges:

Option Description

All Makes a selection that covers all tracks, from the start of the

project to the end (as defined by the Length setting in the Project Setup dialog).

None Removes the current selection range.

In Loop Makes a selection between the left and right locator, on all

tracks.

From Start to Cursor Makes a selection on all tracks, from the start of the project to

the project cursor.

From Cursor to End Makes a selection on all tracks, from the project cursor to the

end of the project.

All on selected Tracks Only used for event selection (see page 80).

Select event This is available in the Sample Editor (see page 341).

Left Selection Side to Cursor

Right Selection Side to Cursor

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.

• Double clicking on an event with the Range Selection tool creates a

selection range encompassing the event.

If you hold down [Shift] you can double click several events in a row, and the selection range will expand to encompass them all.

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Adjusting the size of the selection range

You can adjust the size of a selection range in the following ways:

• By dragging its edges.

The pointer takes the shape of a double arrow when you move it over an edge of the selection range.

• By holding down [Shift] and clicking.

The closest selection range edge will be moved to the position at which you clicked.

• By adjusting the selection range start or end position numerically on the info line.

Making selection ranges for several non-contiguous tracks

As described above, selection ranges can cover several tracks. However, it is also possible to exclude tracks from a selection range:

1. Create a selection range from the first to the last desired track.

2. Press [Ctrl]/[Command] and click in the selection range on the tracks

you want to exclude from the selection.

3. In the same manner, you can add a track to the selection range by [Ctrl]/[Command]-clicking in the selection range area on the track.

Moving and duplicating

• To move a selection range, click and drag it to a new position.

This will move the contents of the selection range to the new position. If the range intersected events or parts, these will be split before moving, so that only the sections within the selection range are affected.

• To duplicate a selection range, hold down [Alt]/[Option] and drag.

You can also use the Duplicate, Repeat and Fill Loop functions, just as when duplicating events (see page 82).

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Using Cut, Copy and Paste

When working with selection ranges, you can either use Cut, Copy and Paste on the Edit menu, or use the functions “Cut Time” and “Paste Time” on the Range submenu on the Edit menu. These work differently to their related functions on the Edit menu:

Function Description

Cut Cuts out the data in the selection range and moves it to the

Clipboard. The selection range is replaced by empty track space in the Project window, meaning that events to the right of the range keep their positions.

Copy Copies the data in the selection range to the clipboard.

Paste Pastes the clipboard data at the start position and track of the

current selection. Existing events are not moved to make room for the pasted data.

Paste at Origin Pastes the clipboard data back at its original position. Existing

events are not moved to make room for the pasted data.

Cut Time Cuts out the selection range and moves it to the Clipboard.

Events to the right of the removed range are moved to the left to fill out the gap.

Paste Time Pastes the clipboard data at the start position and track of the

current selection. Existing events are moved to make room for the pasted data.

Paste Time at Origin Pastes the clipboard data back at its original position. Existing

events are moved to make room for the pasted data.

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Deleting selection ranges

Again, you can either use “regular” Delete or “Delete Time”:

• If you use the Delete function on the Edit menu (or press [Backspace]), the data within the selection range is replaced by empty track space.

Events to the right of the range keep their position.

• If you use “Delete Time” on the Edit menu’s Range submenu, the selection range is removed and events to the right are moved to the left to close up the gap.

Other functions

On the Range submenu on the Edit menu, you will find three more range editing functions:

Function Description

Split Splits any events or parts that are intersected by the selection

range, at the positions of the selection range edges.

Crop All events or parts that are partially within the selection range are

cropped, that is, sections outside the selection range are removed. Events that are fully inside or outside the selection range are not affected.

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.

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Region operations

Regions are sections within a clip, with various uses. While regions are perhaps best created and edited in the Sample Editor (see page

344), the following region functions are available on the Audio menu

in the Project window:

Function Description

Event as Region This function is available when one or several audio events

are selected. It creates a region in the corresponding clip, with the start and end position of the region determined by the start and end position of the event within the clip.

Events from Regions 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 according to the Region(s).

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Options

Snap

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, duplicating, drawing, sizing, splitting, range selection, etc.

• You turn Snap on or off by clicking the Snap icon in the toolbar.

Snap activated.

• When you are moving audio events with Snap activated, it isn’t necessarily the beginning of the event that is used as Snap position reference. Instead, each audio event has a Snap Point, which you can set to a relevant position in the audio (such as a downbeat, etc.).

The Snap Point is preferably set in the Sample Editor since it will allow for a higher degree of precision (see page 339). You can however also set the Snap Point directly in the Project Window, in the following way:

1. Select the event.

2. Place the project cursor at the desired position within a selected au-

dio event.

3. Pull down the Audio menu and select “Snap Point To Cursor”.

The Snap Point is set at the cursor position.

The Snap Point for an event is displayed as a blue line in the Project window.

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Exactly how Snap works depends on which mode is selected on the Snap mode pop-up menu.

The following sections describe the different Snap modes:

Grid

In this mode, the Snap positions are set with the Grid pop-up menu to the right. The options depend on the format selected for the ruler. For example, if the ruler is set to show bars and beats, the grid can be set to bars, beats or the quantize value set with the next pop-up menu to the right. If a time- or frame-based ruler format is selected, the grid popup menu will contain time- or frame-based grid options, etc.

When seconds is selected as ruler format, the grid pop-up menu contains timebased grid options.

Events

In this mode, 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 (see page 339).

• Note that this includes marker events on the marker track.

This allows you to snap events to marker positions, and vice versa.

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Shuffle

Shuffle mode 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:

12345

Dragging event 2 past event 4...

52431

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

Magnetic Cursor

When this mode is selected, the project cursor becomes “magnetic”. Dragging an event near the cursor causes the event to be aligned with the cursor position.

Grid + Cursor

This is a combination of the “Grid” and “Magnetic Cursor” snap modes.

Events + Cursor

This is a combination of the “Events” and “Magnetic Cursor” snap modes.

Events + Grid + Cursor

This is a combination of the “Events”, “Grid” and “Magnetic Cursor” snap modes.

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Snap to Zero Crossing

When this option is activated in the Preferences dialog (Audio page), all audio edits are done at zero crossings (positions in the audio where the amplitude is zero). This helps you to avoid pops and clicks which might otherwise be caused by sudden amplitude changes.

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This setting is global for all windows in all open projects. It is also available as an icon on the Sample Editor.

Auto scroll

Auto scroll activated.

When this option is activated, the waveform display will scroll during playback, keeping the project cursor visible in the window.

• If the option “Stationary Cursors” is activated in the Preferences dia-

log (Transport page), the project cursor will be positioned in the middle of the screen (if possible).

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Steinberg Cubase SX - 1.0 Operation Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Background

Operations

Options and Settings

Recording

Background

Basic recording methods

Audio recording specifics

MIDI Recording Specifics

Options and Settings

The Project Window

Background

Window Overview

Operations

Options