Steinberg Nuendo - 2.1 User Manual
New features in Nuendo 2.1
Manual by Ludvig Carlson, Anders Nordmark, Roger Wiklander
Quality Control: C. Bachmann, H. Bischoff, S. Pfeifer, C. Schomburg
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Table of Contents
5 Features
6 Introduction
10 The Stacked cycle record mode
13 Editing in Lane Display mode
16 The Instrument Freeze function
19 Constrain Delay Compensation
20 Repeating parts and events
20 Using a dedicated toolbox
21 Editing several audio parts
23 Handling several parts in a MIDI editor
25 List Editor features
26 Editing Transpose and Velocity for MIDI parts
26 Transpose – Scale Correction
27 New Select options
27 Insert Velocity
28 The chord recognition function
28 Part to Groove
29 Score features
34 The Time Warp tool
45 Merge Tempo From Tapping
46 Recording tempo changes
46 Exporting and importing Tempo tracks
47 Exporting and importing MIDI files
48 Appearance
49 Index
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4 New features in Nuendo 2.1
Features
Introduction
Welcome to Nuendo 2.1! This document lists and describes all features that have been added to the program since the original 2.0 version. To read more about a feature listed below, please click the green
cross-reference.
Recording
•
The “Stacked” cycle recording mode provides an easy way to compile
different takes (cycle laps) into one “perfect take”, allowing you to
view and edit the takes directly in the Project window. See page 10.
This makes use of the Lane Display Mode, where overlapping events or parts are
placed on separate lanes on the track. See page 13.
•
The Constrain Delay Compensation function provides a quick way to
temporarily disable delay compensation, useful for minimizing the latency when recording audio or playing VST Instruments in real time.
See page 19.
•
You can now choose whether a precount should follow the tempo
track (including tempo changes) or simply use the tempo at the
record start position.
To make the precount follow the tempo track, select the “From Tempo Track” option in
the Metronome Setup dialog (Precount Options section).
Networking
•
The Network feature is described in a separate pdf document.
VST Plug-ins and VST Instruments
•
The Instrument Freeze function renders the output of a VST Instrument
to a file, disables the instrument and plays back the rendered audio
from an “invisible” audio track instead, thereby saving CPU power.
Frozen VST Instruments can be unfrozen at any time if you need to edit the source
MIDI or adjust instrument settings. See page 16.
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Editing – general
•
Events and parts can be repeated using tools. See page 20.
•
There is now a separate Pencil tool (for entering single events or notes)
and a Line tool (with a variety of modes, for drawing several events or
notes).
Previously, all these modes where available for a single Pencil tool.
•
You can choose to have a dedicated toolbox open when you right-click
(Windows) or [Ctrl]-click (Mac). See page 20.
Audio editing
•
It is now possible to open several audio parts (on the same or different
tracks) in a single Audio Part Editor window. See page 21.
MIDI editing
•
When you open a part for editing, the MIDI editor window will now
show the whole MIDI track. If you like, the boundaries of the edited
part can be indicated in the editor. See page 24.
•
Editing several parts in a MIDI editor has been simplified: You can
now specify which part should be active, have this indicated in the
editor and, if needed, restrict editing to that part only.
You can make a part active by selecting it from a list, by using key commands or by selecting an event belonging to the part. See page 23.
•
You can now open several parts from different tracks in the List Editor,
just as in the other MIDI editors.
Other List Editor changes include improved filtering and masking and the possibility to
hide the Value display from view. See page 25.
•
The Project window info line contains Transpose and Velocity settings, allowing you to make independent transpose and velocity shift
settings for different MIDI parts. See page 26.
•
The main Transpose function now includes a Scale Correction setting, allowing you to keep transposed notes within a specified scale.
See page 26.
•
New functions have been added to the Select menu. See page 27.
•
When you draw notes in a MIDI editor, their velocity values are determined by the Insert Velocity setting.
You can specify key commands for different Insert Velocity settings, making note entry
much quicker. See page 27.
New features in Nuendo 2.1 7
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•
The Key and List Editors can now show the chord made up by the
notes currently under the project cursor. See page 28.
•
The Part to Groove function lets you extract the timing of a MIDI part
and turn it into a groove template.
The groove is available for selection from the Quantize menu and can be edited if
needed. See page 28.
•
The editors have been changed graphically in two ways:
In the Key and Drum Editor, controllers are now displayed with their names and their
MIDI Controller numbers.
The Key Editor grid has been improved, making it easier to find the correct pitch.
Score editing
•
The MIDI Meaning function interprets note symbols and dynamics, affecting the length and velocity of notes during playback.
This means you can play back your score and hear all accents and dynamics you have
added. See page 29.
•
A “dynamic” crescendo symbol has been added, making use of the
MIDI Meaning function. See page 30.
•
When you create guitar symbols, you can choose from several symbol
sizes.
•
You can now create tablature for up to 12 strings.
•
Notes can be colorized. See page 31.
•
The handling of text and lyrics has been improved: You can assign lyrics to different verses and paste text or lyrics from the clipboard. See
page 32.
•
The Auto Layout functions have been improved. See page 33.
Tempo editing
•
The Time Warp tool provides a unique and efficient way to adjust the
Tempo track so that “musical time based” material (positions related
to the tempo) matches “linear time based” material (positions in time).
See page 34.
•
You can now tap the tempo to an audio recording, record your tapping
as a MIDI part and use the function Merge Tempo from Tapping to create a complete tempo track based on your tapping.
This function replaces the “Insert Multiple Tempi” feature in the Beat Calculator. See
page 45.
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•
In the Tempo Track Editor you will find a slider which allows you to
record tempo changes in real time. See page 46.
•
Tempo tracks can be imported and exported, allowing you to use the
same tempo track for different projects. See page 46.
File handling
•
When you import or export MIDI files, several options and settings
have been added for greater versatility. See page 47.
•
You can now import a MIDI file by dragging it into a Project window.
Other improvements
•
A preference has been added, allowing you to choose whether audio
effect sends in pre-fader mode should be muted or not when you
mute a mixer channel.
You will find this setting in the Preferences dialog on the VST page.
•
The Appearance section in the Preferences dialog has been improved,
allowing for more control over the look and feel of the program. See
page 48.
•
You can use key commands to move the project cursor position forwards or backwards in steps of one bar.
This is done by assigning key commands to the functions “Step Bar” and “Step Back
Bar”, found in the Transport category in the Key Commands dialog.
•
The Cycle function has been improved for smoother playback.
•
The Chase MIDI Events function has been improved for better chase
performance.
New features in Nuendo 2.1 9
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The Stacked cycle record mode
When you record in cycle mode and Stacked is selected on the cycle
record mode pop-up menu on the Transport panel, each take will appear as an event or part on a separate “lane” on the track.
The details are slightly different for audio recording (described below)
and MIDI recording (described on page 12).
Recording audio in Stacked mode
When you record audio in cycle mode and the “Stacked” Cycle
Record Mode is selected, the following happens:
• Each complete recorded cycle lap is turned into a separate audio event.
• The track is divided into “lanes”, one for each cycle lap.
• The events are stacked on top of each other, each on a different lane.
This makes it easy to create a “perfect take” by combining the best
parts from the different cycle laps:
1.
Zoom in so you can work comfortably with the stacked events.
If you play back the recorded section, only the lowest (last) take will be heard.
2.
To audition another take, either mute the lower take(s) with the Mute
tool or move the takes between the lanes.
This can be done by dragging or by using the functions Move to Next Lane/Previous
Lane on the Quick menu or Edit menu.
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10 New features in Nuendo 2.1
3.
Edit the takes so that only the parts you want to keep can be heard.
You can cut events with the Scissors tool, resize them, mute them or delete them.
The sections that will be heard are indicated in green.
4.
When you are satisfied with the result, select all events on all lanes and
select “Delete Overlaps” from the Advanced submenu on the Audio
menu.
This puts all events back on a single lane and resizes events so that overlapped sections are removed.
5.
To turn off the lane display mode for the track, click the Lane Display
Type button in the track list and select “Lanes Off”.
If the button is hidden, you can bring it to view in the Track Controls Settings dialog –
see the Operation Manual.
The Lane Display Type button.
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Recording MIDI in Stacked mode
When you record MIDI in cycle mode and the “Stacked” cycle record
mode is selected, the following happens:
• Each recorded cycle lap is turned into a separate MIDI part.
• The track is divided into “lanes”, one for each cycle lap.
• The parts are stacked on top of each other, each on a different lane.
• All takes but the last one are muted.
This makes it easy to create a “perfect take” by combining the best
parts from the different cycle laps. You can edit the parts in the
Project window (by cutting, resizing and deleting) or you can use a
MIDI editor as in the following example:
1.
Unmute the muted takes by clicking the parts with the Mute tool.
2.
Select all takes (parts) and open them in the Key Editor for example.
3.
Use the part list pop-up menu on the toolbar to select which part to
edit.
See page 23.
4.
Remove or edit notes as desired.
5.
When you are happy with the result, close the editor.
6.
To turn it all into a single MIDI part (containing your “perfect take”), select all parts and select Merge MIDI in Loop from the MIDI menu.
7.
In the dialog that appears, activate the Erase Destination option and
click OK.
The remaining events in the parts are merged together into a single part.
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Editing in Lane Display mode
When you are recording in Stacked cycle recording mode, each take
ends up on a separate lane on the track as described on page 10.
However, you can also select this lane mode manually for individual
tracks, and use it when editing in the Project window. This makes it
easier to view and handle overlapping events and parts.
Audio tracks
1.
Make sure the Lane Display Type button is visible in the track list.
If it is hidden, you need to select Track Controls Settings from the context menu for the
track and add the Lane Display Type item in the dialog that appears.
2.
Click the Lane Display Type button and select “Lanes Fixed” from the
pop-up menu that appears.
The audio track is divided vertically into two lanes. By default, all audio events end up
in the first (top) lane.
3.
Now you can move events or parts between lanes, either by dragging
or by using the “Move to Next Lane/Previous Lane” commands on the
Edit menu or Quick menu.
Note that if there are overlapping audio events, the audio on the lowest lane has playback priority – moving events between lanes affects what will be heard!
If the vertical zoom factor is sufficiently high, the sections that will be heard on
playback are indicated in green.
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New features in Nuendo 2.1 13
•
Note that there will always be an extra, empty lane at the bottom of the
track – if you move an event there, another lane will be added and so
on.
Depending on the number of lanes used, you may want to adjust the vertical zoom for
the track – simply drag the track edges in the track list.
4.
After rearranging the overlapping events so that you hear what you
want, you can select all events and select “Delete Overlaps” from the
Advanced submenu on the Audio menu.
This puts all events in the top lane and resizes events so that overlapping sections are
removed.
5.
To turn off Lanes mode, select “Lanes Off” from the Lane Display
Type pop-up menu.
If you do this without using the “Delete Overlaps” function, all overlapping sections will
be kept. However, the sections that were green will now be the sections visible (“on
top”) and thus the sections that will be heard.
MIDI tracks
1.
Make sure the Lane Display Type button is visible in the track list.
If it is hidden, you need to select Track Controls Settings from the context menu for the
track and add the Lane Display Type item in the dialog that appears.
2.
Click the Lane Display Type button and select “Lanes Auto” or “Lanes
Fixed”.
•
In Lanes Auto mode, extra lanes will automatically be added where
necessary – if two MIDI parts overlap, they will automatically be put on
separate lanes.
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•
In Lanes Fixed mode, you have to move MIDI parts between lanes
manually (by dragging them or by using the “Move to Next Lane/Previous Lane” commands on the Edit menu or Quick menu).
In this mode, there will always be an extra, empty lane at the bottom of the track – if you
move a part there, another lane will be added and so on.
3.
You can edit the overlapping parts as usual – by cutting, deleting or
muting sections in the Project window or by opening them in a MIDI
editor.
In an editor, parts on different lanes will be treated just like parts on different tracks –
you can use the part list pop-up menu to select an active part for editing, etc.
Note that there is no playback priority between lanes on a MIDI track – all unmuted
parts will be heard during playback.
4.
To merge all overlapping parts into one, make sure the MIDI track is
selected, position the left and right locator around the parts and select
“Merge MIDI in Loop” from the MIDI menu.
In the dialog that appears, activate the Erase Destination option and click OK. This
merges all unmuted MIDI between the locators to a single part.
5. To turn off Lanes mode, select “Lanes Off” from the Lane Display
Type pop-up menu.
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The Instrument Freeze function
Like all plug-ins, VST Instruments can sometimes require a lot of processor power. If you are using a moderately powerful computer or if
you are using a large number of VST Instruments, you may come to a
point where your computer cannot handle all VST Instruments playing
back in real time (the CPU overload indicator in the VST Performance
window lights up, you get crackling sounds, etc.).
Enter the Instrument Freeze function! This is how it works:
• When you freeze a VST Instrument, the program renders an audio file of its
output (taking into account all unmuted MIDI parts routed to that VST Instrument). This file is placed in the “Freeze” folder within the Project folder.
• All MIDI tracks routed to the VST Instrument are muted and locked (the controls
for these tracks will appear “greyed-out” in the Project window and Inspector,
and the parameters for the VST instrument).
• When you play back, the rendered audio file is played back from an “invisible”
audio track, routed to the VST Instrument’s mixer channel. Thus, any effects,
EQ or mixing automation will still be applied.
The result of all this is that you get exactly the same sound as before,
but the computer processor doesn’t have to calculate the sound of
the VST Instrument in real time.
• If you need to edit the MIDI parts routed to the VST Instrument or adjust the
settings on the instrument itself, you need to unfreeze the instrument first. This
removes the rendered file and restores the MIDI tracks and VST Instrument.
Once you have made the necessary adjustments you can freeze the instrument
again.
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