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Operation Manual
Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Christina Kaboth, Insa Mingers, Matthias Obrecht, Sabine Pfeifer,
Benjamin Schütte, Marita Sladek
This PDF provides improved access for vision-impaired users. Please note that due to the complexity and
number of images in this document, it is not possible to include text descriptions of images.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment
on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to
a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media except as specifically allowed in the License
Agreement. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for
any purpose, without prior written permission by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. Registered licensees
of the product described herein may print one copy of this document for their personal use.
All product and company names are
™
or
®
trademarks of their respective owners. For more information,
please visit www.steinberg.net/trademarks.
©
Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, 2017.
All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
3
10 Introduction
10 Platform-Independent Documentation
10 About the Documentation
11 Conventions
12 Key Commands
13 Getting Into the Details
14 Setting Up Your System
14 Setting Up Audio
22 Setting Up MIDI
24 Connecting a Synchronizer
25 Setting Up Video
26 VST Connections
26 VST Connections Window
32 Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs
34 Adding Input and Output Busses
34 Adding Child Busses(Cubase Pro only)
35 Presets for Input and Output Busses
36 Adding Group and FX Channels
36 About Monitoring
36 External Instruments and Effects(Cubase
Pro only)
43 Editing the Bus Configurations
45 Project Window
46 Showing/Hiding Zones
46 Project Zone
59 Left Zone
68 Lower Zone
75 Right Zone
80 Keyboard Focus in the Project Window
81 Zooming in the Project Window
84 Snap Function
87 Cross-Hair Cursor
87 Edit History Dialog
89 Project Handling
89 Creating New Projects
90 Hub
91 Project Assistant
92 About Project Files
92 About Template Files
93 Project Setup Dialog
97 Opening Project Files
98 Saving Project Files
99 Reverting to the Last Saved Version
99 Choosing a Project Location
99 Removing Unused Audio Files
100 Creating Self-Contained Projects
102 Tracks
102 Track Inspector Settings
104 Track Control Settings
106 Audio Tracks
113 Instrument Tracks
121 MIDI Tracks
129 Sampler Tracks
135 Arranger Track
137 Chord Track
140 FX Channel Tracks
146 Folder Tracks
148 Group Channel Tracks
154 Marker Track
155 Ruler Track
156 Signature Track
157 Tempo Track
158 Transpose Track
159 VCA Fader Track(Cubase Pro only)
162 Video Track
164 Track Handling
164 Adding Tracks
167 Removing Tracks
167 Moving Tracks in the Track List
167 Renaming Tracks
167 Coloring Tracks
168 Showing Track Pictures
170 Setting the Track Height
171 Selecting Tracks
172 Duplicating Tracks
172 Disabling Tracks
172 Organizing Tracks in Folder Tracks
173 Handling Overlapping Audio
174 Track Folding
175 How Events are Displayed on Folder Tracks
175 Modifying Event Display on Folder Tracks
175 Working with Lanes
179 Defining the Track Time Base
180 TrackVersions
187 Track Presets
194 Parts and Events
194 Events
198 Parts
199 Editing Techniques for Parts and Events
Table of Contents
4
214 Range Editing
214 Creating a Selection Range
216 Editing Selection Ranges
219 Playback and Transport
219 Transport Panel
221 Transport Menu
227 Transport
228 Left and Right Locators
229 Setting the Project Cursor Position
230 Auto-Scroll
231 Time Formats
231 Pre-Roll and Post-Roll
232 Punch In and Punch Out
233 Metronome
235 Chase
237 Virtual Keyboard
237 Recording MIDI With the Virtual Keyboard
238 Virtual Keyboard Options
239 Recording
239 Basic Recording Methods
243 Monitoring
245 Audio Recording Specifics
250 MIDI Recording Specifics
256 Remaining Record Time
257 Lock Record
258 Quantizing MIDI and Audio
258 Quantize Functions
259 Quantizing MIDI Event Starts
260 Quantizing MIDI Event Lengths
260 Quantizing MIDI Event Ends
261 Quantizing Audio Event Starts
261 Quantizing Audio Event Lengths (AudioWarp
Quantizing)(Cubase Pro only)
262 Quantizing Multiple Audio Tracks(Cubase
Pro only)
263 Quantize Panel
273 Fades, Crossfades, and Envelopes
273 Event-Based Fades
277 Creating Clip-Based Fades
279 Crossfades
282 Auto Fades and Crossfades
285 Event Envelopes
287 Arranger Track
288 Adding Arranger Events on the Arranger
Track
288 Arranger Editor
292 Setting up an Arranger Chain and Adding
Events
294 Jump Mode
296 Arranging Music to Video
297 Transpose Functions
297 Project Root Key
301 Transpose Track
302 Keep Transpose in Octave Range
304 Transpose on the Info Line
304 Excluding Individual Parts or Events from
Global Transpose
306 Markers
306 Position Markers
306 Cycle Markers
307 Markers Window
311 Marker Track
315 Importing and Exporting Markers
317 MixConsole
317 MixConsole in Lower Zone
320 MixConsole Window
370 VCA Faders(Cubase Pro only)
370 VCA Fader Settings
372 Creating VCA Faders
373 Assigning VCA Faders to Link Groups
373 Removing VCA Faders from Link Groups
374 Nested VCA Faders
374 VCA Fader Automation
377 Control Room(Cubase Pro only)
377 Adding Channels to the Control Room
378 Output Routing
378 Exclusive Assignment of Monitor Channels
378 Control Room Channels
380 Control Room Mixer
386 Control Room Setup
388 Setting Up a Cue Mix
389 Adjusting the Overall Cue Send Level
390 Metering and Loudness (Cubase Pro only)
390 Metering
391 Loudness Measurement
396 Audio Effects
396 Insert Effects and Send Effects
399 Insert Effects
406 Send Effects
412 Side-Chain Input
414 Dither Effects
415 External Effects(Cubase Pro only)
415 Effect Control Panel
416 Effect Presets
421 Plug-In Information Window
424 Audio Processing and Functions
424 Common settings and features
425 Envelope
426 Fade In and Fade Out
427 Gain
428 Merge Clipboard
428 Noise Gate
429 Normalize
429 Phase Reverse
430 Pitch Shift
433 Remove DC Offset
434 Resample
434 Reverse
Table of Contents
5
434 Silence
434 Stereo Flip
435 Time Stretch
436 Applying Plug-Ins(Cubase Pro only)
438 Offline Process History
439 Freeze Edits
440 Detect Silence
443 Spectrum Analyzer
445 Statistics
447 Time Stretch and Pitch Shift Algorithms
450 Rendering to Audio
450 Render Tracks
453 Render Selection
456 Sample Editor
458 Toolbar
463 Info Line
463 Overview Line
464 Sample Editor Inspector
467 Ruler
467 Waveform Display
469 Range Editing
473 Regions List
476 Snap Point
478 Hitpoints
478 Calculating Hitpoints
481 Locating to Hitpoints in the Project Window
481 Slices
484 Creating a Groove Quantize Map
484 Creating Markers
484 Creating Regions
485 Creating Events
485 Creating Warp Markers
486 Creating MIDI Notes
488 Tempo Matching Audio
488 Algorithm Presets
489 Stretching Audio Events to the Project Tempo
489 Musical Mode
491 Auto Adjust
492 Manual Adjust
493 Free Warp
496 Flattening Realtime Processing
496 Unstretching Audio Files
497 VariAudio(Cubase Pro only)
497 VariAudio and Offline Processes
498 Segmenting Monophonic Audio
499 Segments and Gaps
499 Manual Editing of Segments
505 Pitch Changes
508 Micro-Pitch Changes
511 Timing Modifications
513 Reset Functions
514 Extracting MIDI from Audio
517 Flattening Realtime Processing
517 Harmony Voices for Audio
519 Audio Part Editor
520 Toolbar
525 Info Line
526 The Ruler
526 About Lanes
526 Operations
530 Controlling Sample Playback with Sampler
Tracks
530 Creating Sampler Tracks
531 Sampler Control
541 Sample Editing and Playback Functions
543 Transferring Samples from Sampler Control
to VST Instruments
544 Pool
544 Pool Window
548 Working with the Pool
564 MediaBay
564 MediaBay in Right Zone
565 MediaBay Window
590 Working With the MediaBay
593 Working with MediaBay-Related Windows
595 Working With Volume Databases
597 MediaBay Settings
598 MediaBay Key Commands
599 Surround Sound(Cubase Pro only)
599 Deliverables
600 Available surround configurations
601 Preparations
602 Using VST MultiPanner
613 Using the MixConvert V6 plug-in
614 Exporting a surround mix
615 Automation
615 Automation Curves
615 Static Value Line
615 Write/Read Automation
616 Writing Automation Data
619 Editing Automation Events
621 Automation Tracks
623 Virgin Territory vs. Initial Value(Cubase Pro
only)
624 Automation Panel(Cubase Pro only)
633 MIDI Controller Automation
637 VST Instruments
637 Adding VST Instruments
638 Creating Instrument Tracks
638 VST Instruments in the Right Zone
639 VST Instruments Window
639 VST Instruments Toolbar
640 VST Instrument Controls
642 Presets for Instruments
643 Playing Back VST Instruments
645 About Latency
646 Import and Export Options
648 VST Quick Controls
650 Side-Chain Input for VST Instruments
Table of Contents
6
651 External Instruments(Cubase Pro only)
652 Installing and Managing Plug-ins
652 Installing VST plug-ins
652 Plug-in Manager
655 Compiling a New Effects Collection
656 Track Quick Controls
656 Assigning Parameters to Quick Controls
660 Connecting Quick Controls with Remote
Controllers
661 Activating Pick-up Mode for Hardware
Controls
661 Quick Controls and Automatable Parameters
663 Remote controlling Cubase
663 Setting Up
665 Operations
667 The Generic Remote device
671 Track Quick Controls
672 The Remote Control Editor
678 Apple Remote (Macintosh only)
680 MIDI Realtime Parameters and MIDI Effects
680 MIDI Track Parameters
683 MIDI Modifiers
687 MIDI Effects
691 Transpose and Velocity on the Info Line
692 Using MIDI devices
692 MIDI devices – general settings and patch
handling
700 About Device panels(Cubase Pro only)
704 MIDI Processing
704 MIDI functions vs. MIDI modifiers
704 What is affected by the MIDI functions?
705 Transpose
706 Making your settings permanent
708 Dissolve Part
710 Bounce MIDI
710 Repeat Loop
710 Other MIDI functions
716 MIDI Editors
716 Common MIDI Editor Functions
723 Key Editor
735 Key Editor Operations
755 Basic Score Editor(Cubase Artist only)
762 Score Editor Operations(Cubase Artist only)
770 Drum Editor
784 Drum Editor Operations
788 Drum Maps
793 List Editor
803 List Editor Operations
808 In-Place Editor
811 Expression maps(Cubase Pro only)
811 Introduction
813 Using expression maps
817 Creating and editing expression maps
823 Note Expression
823 Introduction
825 Setting up the Note Expression Inspector
Section
828 Mapping controllers
829 Recording
831 Editing Note Expression data
837 Note Expression and MIDI
841 HALion Sonic SE
842 Chord Functions
842 Chord Track
843 Chord Events
850 Scale Events
851 Voicings
854 Converting Chord Events to MIDI
855 Controlling MIDI or Audio Playback using the
Chord Track
858 Assigning Voices to Notes
859 Extracting Chord Events from MIDI
860 Recording Chord Events with a MIDI
Keyboard
862 Chord Pads
862 Chord Pads
865 Functions Menu
865 Preparations
866 Chord Assistant
868 Assigning Chords to Chord Pads
871 Moving and Copying Chord Pads
872 Playing Back and Recording Chords
873 Chord Pad Settings – Remote Control
878 Chord Pad Settings – Players
883 Chord Pad Settings – Pad Layout
884 Chord Pads Presets
885 Creating Events from Chord Pads
886 The Logical Editor
886 Introduction
887 Opening the Logical Editor
887 Window overview
887 Setting up filter conditions
897 Selecting a function
898 Specifying actions
902 Applying the defined actions
902 Working with presets
904 Project Logical Editor(Cubase Pro only)
905 Opening the Project Logical Editor
905 Window overview
906 Setting up filter conditions
915 Specifying actions
919 Selecting a function
919 Applying Macros
919 Applying the defined actions
920 Working with presets
922 Editing Tempo and Time Signature
922 Project Tempo Modes
922 Track Time Base
Table of Contents
7
923 Tempo Track Editor
925 Tempo Track
926 Setting up Tempo Changes for Projects
931 Setting up a Fixed Project Tempo
933 Beat Calculator
934 Tempo Detection(Cubase Pro only)
935 Exporting a Tempo Track(Cubase Pro only)
935 Importing a Tempo Track(Cubase Pro only)
936 Process Tempo(Cubase Pro only)
937 Process Bars(Cubase Pro only)
937 Time Warp(Cubase Pro only)
939 Set Definition From Tempo
941 Project Browser(Cubase Pro only)
941 Window Overview
943 Editing tracks
952 Export Audio Mixdown
953 Mixing Down to Audio Files
954 Available Channels for Export
955 File Location
958 File Format
965 Audio Engine Output
966 Import Into Project
967 Post Process
969 Synchronization
969 Background
970 Timecode (positional references)
972 Clock sources (speed references)
973 The Project Synchronization Setup dialog
978 Synchronized operation
979 Example Scenarios(Cubase Pro only)
980 Working with VST System Link
984 Activating VST System Link
992 Video
992 Before You Start
995 Preparing a Video Project
998 Playing Back Video
1001 Editing Video
1001 Extracting Audio From a Video File
1002 Replacing the Audio in a Video File
1003 ReWire
1003 Introduction
1003 Launching and quitting
1004 Activating ReWire channels
1005 Using the transport and tempo controls
1005 How the ReWire channels are handled
1006 Routing MIDI via ReWire
1006 Considerations and limitations
1008 Key Commands
1008 Introduction
1009 Setting up key commands
1013 Setting up tool modifier keys
1014 The default key commands
1027 File handling
1027 Importing audio
1033 Exporting and importing OMF files(Cubase
Pro only)
1036 Exporting and importing standard MIDI files
1039 Exporting and importing MIDI loops
1040 Exporting and importing track
archives(Cubase Pro only)
1043 Track Import from Projects
1047 Customizing
1047 Workspaces
1051 Using the Setup options
1052 Appearance
1056 Applying colors in the Project window
1060 Where are the settings stored?
1062 Profiles(Cubase Pro only)
1067 Optimizing
1067 Optimizing Audio Performance
1071 Preferences
1071 Preferences Dialog
1073 Appearance
1074 Editing
1083 Editors
1083 Event Display
1087 General
1089 MIDI
1094 MediaBay
1094 Metering
1095 Record
1097 Scores(Cubase Pro only)
1100 Transport
1102 VST
1106 VariAudio(Cubase Pro only)
1106 Video
1107 Score Layout and Printing
1108 How the Score Editor works
1108 About this chapter
1108 Welcome!
1108 How the Score Editor operates
1108 MIDI notes vs. score notes
1109 Display Quantize
1112 Entering notes by hand vs. recording notes
1113 The basics
1113 About this chapter
1113 Preparations
1113 Opening the Score Editor
1114 The project cursor
1115 Playing back and recording
1115 Page Mode
1116 Changing the zoom factor
1117 The active staff
1118 Making page setup settings
1118 Designing your work space
1122 About the Score Editor context menus
1122 About dialogs in the Score Editor
1122 Setting clef, key, and time signature
1129 Transposing instruments
Table of Contents
8
1130 Printing from the Score Editor
1130 Exporting pages as image files
1132 Working order
1132 Force update
1133 Transcribing MIDI recordings
1133 About this chapter
1133 About transcription
1133 Getting the parts ready
1134 Preparing parts for score printout
1134 Staff settings
1135 Situations which require additional
techniques
1136 Inserting Display Quantize changes
1137 The Explode function
1138 Using "Scores Notes To MIDI"
1140 Entering and editing notes
1140 About this chapter
1140 Score settings
1142 Note values and positions
1144 Adding and editing notes
1148 Selecting notes
1149 Moving notes
1152 Duplicating notes
1152 Cut, copy, and paste
1153 Editing pitches of individual notes
1154 Changing the length of notes
1156 Splitting a note in two
1156 Working with the Display Quantize tool
1157 Split (piano) staves
1158 Strategies: Multiple staves
1159 Inserting and editing clefs, keys, or time
signatures
1161 Deleting notes
1162 Staff settings
1162 About this chapter
1162 Staff settings
1162 Making settings
1163 Working with staff presets
1164 Staff names
1164 Key and clef
1165 Display Quantize and Interpretation Options
1168 Display Transpose
1169 The Options tab
1171 The Polyphonic tab
1171 The Tablature tab
1172 Polyphonic voicing
1172 About this chapter
1172 Background: Polyphonic voicing
1174 Setting up the voices
1176 Strategies: How many voices do I need?
1177 Entering notes into voices
1177 Checking which voice a note belongs to
1178 Moving notes between voices
1179 Handling rests
1180 Voices and Display Quantize
1181 Creating crossed voicings
1182 Automatic polyphonic voicing – Merge All
Staves
1183 Converting voices to tracks – Extract Voices
1185 Additional note and rest formatting
1185 About this chapter
1185 Background: Note stems
1186 Setting stem direction
1187 Stem length
1188 Accidentals and enharmonic shift
1190 Changing the note head shape
1190 Other note details
1193 Coloring notes
1194 Copying settings between notes
1195 Handling beaming
1201 About tied notes
1203 Graphic moving of notes
1204 Cue notes
1205 Grace notes
1207 Tuplets
1210 Working with symbols
1210 About this chapter
1210 Background: The different layers
1212 The Symbols Inspector
1215 Important! – Symbols, staves, and voices
1215 Adding symbols to the score
1227 Selecting symbols
1228 Moving and duplicating symbols
1232 Changing length, size, and shape
1234 Deleting symbols
1234 Copy and paste
1234 Alignment
1235 Symbol details
1246 Working with chords
1246 About this chapter
1246 Inserting chord symbols
1249 Global chord settings
1251 Working with text
1251 About this chapter
1251 Adding and editing text symbols
1255 Different types of text
1262 Text functions
1267 Working with layouts
1267 About this chapter
1267 Background: Layouts
1268 Creating a layout
1268 Opening a layout
1268 Layout operations
1270 Using layouts – an example
1270 Marker Track to Form
1271 Working with MusicXML(Cubase Pro only)
1271 Introduction
1272 Importing and exporting MusicXML files
Table of Contents
9
1276 Designing your score: additional techniques
1276 About this chapter
1276 Layout settings
1278 Staff size
1279 Hiding/showing objects
1281 Coloring notes
1281 Multiple rests
1283 Editing existing bar lines
1283 Creating upbeats
1285 Setting the number of bars across the page
1286 Moving bar lines
1287 Dragging staves
1290 Adding brackets and braces
1291 Displaying the Chord Symbols from the
Chord Track
1291 Auto Layout
1293 Reset Layout
1294 Breaking bar lines
1297 Scoring for drums
1297 About this chapter
1297 Background: Drum maps in the Score Editor
1298 Setting up the drum map
1300 Setting up a staff for drum scoring
1300 Entering and editing notes
1301 Using “Single Line Drum Staff”
1302 Creating tablature
1302 About this chapter
1302 Creating tablature automatically
1304 Creating tablature manually
1305 Tablature number appearance
1305 Editing
1305 Note head shape
1306 Rhythmic Notation
1306 About this Chapter
1307 Showing Rhythmic Notation
1307 Rhythm Bar Indicators
1308 Showing Regular Notation
1308 Clearing Bars
1309 Showing Repeat Bar Signs
1309 Notation Style
1311 The score and MIDI playback
1311 About this chapter
1311 Scores and the Arranger mode
1311 Working with mapped dynamics
1315 Tips and Tricks
1315 Overview
1315 Useful editing techniques
1319 Frequently asked questions
1322 If you wish you had a faster computer
1323 Index
Introduction
10
The documentation covers the following Steinberg products: Cubase Pro and Cubase Artist.
Functions that are only available in Cubase Pro and not in Cubase Artist are clearly indicated.
The screenshots are taken from Cubase Pro.
Platform-Independent Documentation
The documentation applies to the operating systems Windows and Mac OS.
Features and settings that are specific to one of these platforms are clearly indicated. In all
other cases, the descriptions and procedures in the documentation are valid for Windows
and Mac OS.
Some points to consider:
•
The screenshots are taken from Windows.
•
Some functions that are available on the File menu on Windows can be found in the
program name menu on Mac OS.
About the Documentation
The documentation consists of several documents. You can read them online or download
them from steinberg.help. To visit steinberg.help, do one of the following:
•
Enter www.steinberg.help in the address bar of your web browser.
•
In the program, select Help> Cubase Help.
Quick Start Guide
Covers the following areas without going into details:
•
System requirements, installation procedure, and license activation.
•
Setting up your system for audio and MIDI work.
Operation Manual
The main Cubase reference documentation, with detailed descriptions of
operations, parameters, functions, and techniques.
Remote Control Devices
Lists the supported MIDI remote control devices.
Plug-in Reference
Describes the features and parameters of the included VST plug-ins, VST
instruments, and MIDI effects.
Introduction
Conventions
11
HALion Sonic SE
Describes the features and parameters of the included VST instrument HALion
Sonic SE.
Groove Agent SE
Describes the features and parameters of the included VST instrument Groove
Agent SE.
MIDI Devices
Describes how to manage MIDI Devices and device panels.
VST Connect SE (Cubase Pro only)
Describes how to work with the VST Connect SE features.
Conventions
In our documentation, we use typographical and markup elements to structure information.
Typographical Elements
The following typographical elements mark the following purposes.
PREREQUISITE
Requires you to complete an action or to fulfill a condition before starting a
procedure.
PROCEDURE
Lists the steps that you must take to achieve a specific result.
IMPORTANT
Informs you about issues that might affect the system, the connected hardware,
or that might bring a risk of data loss.
NOTE
Informs you about issues that you should consider.
EXAMPLE
Provides you with an example.
RESULT
Shows the result of the procedure.
AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK
Informs you about actions or tasks that you can undertake after completing the
procedure.
RELATED LINKS
Lists related topics that you can find in this documentation.
Introduction
Key Commands
12
Markup
Bold text indicates the name of a menu, option, function, dialog, window, etc.
EXAMPLE
To open the Functions menu, click Functions Menu in the top right corner of the MixConsole.
If bold text is separated by a greater-than symbol, this indicates a sequence of different
menus to open.
EXAMPLE
Select Project> Add Track.
Key Commands
Many of the default key commands, also known as keyboard shortcuts, use modifier keys,
some of which are different depending on the operating system.
For example, the default key command for Undo is Ctrl-Z on Windows and Cmd-Z on Mac OS.
When key commands with modifier keys are described in this manual, they are shown with
the Windows modifier key first, in the following way:
•
Windows modifier key/Mac OS modifier key-key
EXAMPLE
Ctrl/Cmd-Z means: press Ctrl on Windows or Cmd on Mac OS, then press Z.
Getting Into the Details
Setting Up Your System
14
To use Cubase, you must set up your audio, and if required, your MIDI system.
Setting Up Audio
IMPORTANT
Make sure that all equipment is turned off before making any connections.
Simple Stereo Input and Output Setup
If you only use a stereo input and output from Cubase, you can connect your audio hardware,
for example, the inputs of your audio card or your audio interface, directly to the input source
and the outputs to a power amplifier and speaker.
Audio Connections
Your system setup depends on many different factors, for example, on the kind of project
that you want to create, on the external equipment that you want to use, or on the computer
Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
15
hardware that is available to you. Therefore, the following sections can only serve as
examples.
How to connect your equipment, that is, whether to use digital or analog connections also
depends on your setup.
About Recording Levels and Inputs
When you connect your equipment, make sure that the impedance and levels of the audio
sources and inputs are matched. Using the correct type of input is important to avoid
distortion or noisy recordings. For microphones, for example, different inputs can be used,
such as consumer line level (-10
dBV) or professional line level (+4
dBV).
Sometimes, you can adjust input characteristics on the audio interface or on its control
panel. For details, refer to the documentation that came with the audio hardware.
IMPORTANT
Cubase does not provide any input level adjustments for the signals that are coming into your
audio hardware, since these are handled differently for each card. Adjusting input levels is
either done in a special application that is included with the hardware or its control panel.
Word Clock Connections
If you are using a digital audio connection, you may also need a word clock connection
between the audio hardware and external devices. For details, refer to the documentation
that came with the audio hardware.
IMPORTANT
Set up word clock synchronization correctly, or you may experience clicks and crackles in
your recordings.
Selecting an Audio Driver
By selecting an audio driver, you allow Cubase to communicate with the audio hardware.
Normally, when you start Cubase, a dialog opens that prompts you to select a driver, but you
can also select your audio hardware driver as described below.
NOTE
On Windows operating systems, we recommend that you access your hardware via an ASIO
driver developed specifically for the hardware. If no ASIO driver is installed, contact the
manufacturer of your audio hardware for information on available ASIO drivers. If no specific
ASIO driver is available, you can use the Generic Low Latency ASIO driver.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices> Devices Setup.
2. In the Devices list, select VST Audio System.
3. Open the ASIO Driver pop-up menu and select your audio hardware driver.
4. Click OK.
Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
16
Setting Up Audio Hardware
PREREQUISITE
You have selected a driver for your audio hardware.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices> Devices Setup.
2. In the Devices list to the left, select the driver to open the driver settings for your audio
hardware.
3. Do one of the following to open the control panel for your audio hardware:
•
On Windows, click Control Panel.
•
On Mac OS, click Open Config App.
This button is available only for some hardware products. If it is not available in
your setup, refer to the documentation of your audio hardware.
NOTE
The control panel is provided by the manufacturer of your audio hardware and is
different for each audio interface brand and model. However, control panels for the
Generic Low Latency ASIO Driver (Windows only) are provided by Steinberg.
4. Set up your audio hardware as recommended by the manufacturer.
VST Audio System
In the VST Audio System section you can select an ASIO driver for your audio hardware.
• To open the VST Audio System section, select Devices> Device Setup and select VST
Audio System in the Devices list to the left.
Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
17
The following options are available:
ASIO Driver
Allows you to select a driver.
Release Driver when Application is in Background
Releases the driver and allows other applications to play back via your audio
hardware even though Cubase is running.
Input Latency
Shows the input latency of the audio hardware.
Output Latency
Shows the output latency of the audio hardware.
ASIO-Guard Latency
Shows the ASIO-Guard latency.
HW Sample Rate
Shows the sample rate of your audio hardware.
HW Pull Up/Down
Shows the pull up/down status of the audio hardware.
Set to Defaults
Allows you to restore the default settings.
Activate Multi Processing
Allows you to distribute the processing load evenly to all available CPUs. This
way, Cubase can make full use of the combined power of multiple processors.
Activate ASIO-Guard
Activates the ASIO-Guard. This is only available, if Activate Multi Processing is
activated too.
ASIO-Guard Level
Allows you to set the ASIO-Guard level. The higher the level, the higher the
processing stability and audio processing performance. However, higher levels
also lead to an increased ASIO-Guard latency and memory usage.
Audio Priority (Windows only)
This setting should be set to Normal, if you work with audio and MIDI. If you do
not use MIDI at all, you can set this to Boost.
Activate Steinberg Audio Power Scheme
If this option is activated, all power safe modes that have an impact on realtime
processing are deactivated. Note that this is only effective for very low latencies,
and that it increases the power consumption.
Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
18
Disk Preload
Allows you to specify how many seconds of audio are preloaded into RAM prior to
starting playback. This allows for smooth playback.
Adjust for Record Latency
If this is activated, the plug-in latencies are taken to account during recording.
Record Shift
Allows you to shift the recordings by the specified value.
ASIO Driver Setup
This section allows you to set up your ASIO driver.
• To open the section where you can set up the ASIO driver, select Devices> Device
Setup and select the audio driver in the Devices list to the left.
The following options are available:
Control Panel
Opens the control panel for the audio hardware.
Input Latency
Shows the input latency of the audio driver.
Output Latency
Shows the output latency of the audio driver.
Clock Source
Allows you to select a clock source.
Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
19
Externally Clocked
Activate this option, if you use an external clock source.
Direct Monitoring
Activate this option to monitor via your audio hardware and to control it from
Cubase.
Ports Reset
Allows you to reset all port names and visibilities.
I/O
The port input/output status.
Port System Name
The system name of the port.
Show As
Allows you to rename the port. This name is used in the Input Routing and Output
Routing pop-up menus.
Visible
Allows you to activate/deactivate audio ports.
State
The state of the audio port.
Using External Clock Sources
If you are using an external clock source, Cubase must be notified that it receives external
clock signals and derives its speed from that source.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices> Devices Setup.
2. In the Devices list, select the page of your audio hardware driver.
3. Activate Externally clocked.
RESULT
Cubase now derives its speed from the external source.
NOTE
For proper audio playback and recording, you must set the sample rate of the project to the
sample rate of the incoming clock signals.
When a sample rate mismatch occurs, the Record Format field on the status line is
highlighted in a different color. Cubase accepts a sample rate mismatch, and playback is
therefore faster or slower.
Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
20
Using Several Audio Applications Simultaneously
You can allow other applications to play back via your audio hardware even though Cubase is
running.
PREREQUISITE
Other audio applications accessing the audio hardware are set to release the audio driver.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices> Devices Setup.
2. In the Devices list, select the VST Audio System page.
3. Activate Release Driver when Application is in Background.
RESULT
The application that has the focus gets access to the audio hardware.
Audio Hardware Configuration
Most audio cards provide one or more small applications that allow you to customize your
hardware.
The settings are normally gathered on a control panel that can be opened from within
Cubase or separately, when Cubase is not running. For details, refer to the audio hardware
documentation.
Settings include:
•
Selecting which inputs/outputs are active.
•
Setting up word clock synchronization.
•
Turning on/off monitoring via the hardware.
•
Setting levels for each input.
•
Setting levels for the outputs so that they match the equipment that you use for
monitoring.
•
Selecting digital input and output formats.
•
Making settings for the audio buffers.
Plug and Play Support for ASIO Devices
The Steinberg UR hardware series supports plug and play in Cubase. These devices can be
plugged in and switched on while the application is running. Cubase automatically uses the
driver of the UR series and re-maps the VST connections accordingly.
Steinberg cannot guarantee that this works with other hardware. If you are unsure of
whether your device supports plug and play, refer to the documentation of your device.
IMPORTANT
If a device that does not support plug and play is connected or disconnected while the
computer is running, it can get damaged.
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