Steinberg Cubase AI 11.0 User manual

Operation Manual

The Steinberg Documentation Team: Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Lillie Harris, Christina Kaboth, Insa

Mingers, Matthias Obrecht, Sabine Pfeifer, Benjamin Schütte, Marita Sladek

Translation: Ability InterBusiness Solutions (AIBS), Moon Chen, Jérémie Dal Santo, Rosa Freitag, Josep Llodra

Grimalt, Vadim Kupriianov, Filippo Manfredi, Roland Münchow, Boris Rogowski, Sergey Tamarovsky

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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 specically 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.

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visit www.steinberg.net/trademarks.

Cubase AI_11.0.0_en-US_2021-01-28

Table of Contents

7New Features

8Introduction

8Platform-Independent Documentation

8PDF Documents and Online Documentation

8Conventions

9Key Commands

10 Setting up Your System

10 Studio Setup Dialog

11 Setting up Audio

18 Setting up MIDI

21 Synchronizers

22 Audio Connections

22 Audio Connections Window

23 Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs

24 Adding Input and Output Busses

25 Presets for Input and Output Busses

26 Monitoring Bus

26 Bus Congurations

28 Project Window

29 Showing/Hiding Zones

29 Project Zone

40 Left Zone

45 Lower Zone

50 Right Zone

55 Keyboard Focus in the Project Window

56 Zooming in the Project Window

59 Snap Function

62 Cross-Hair Cursor

62 Edit History Dialog

63 Color Handling

72 Project Handling

72 Creating New Projects

72 Hub

74 Project Assistant Dialog

75 Project Files

75 Template Files

78 Project Setup Dialog

81 Opening Project Files

82 Saving Project Files

83 Reverting to the Last Saved Version

83 Choosing a Project Location

84 Self-Contained Projects

86 Tracks

86 Track Inspector Settings Dialog

88 Track Controls Settings Dialog

93 Add Track Dialog

94 Audio Tracks

97 Instrument Tracks

100 MIDI Tracks

103 Group Channel Tracks

106 FX Channel Tracks

109 Ruler Track

111 Folder Tracks

113 More Tracks

118 Track Handling

118 Adding Tracks via the Add Track Dialog

118 Adding Tracks Using Track Presets

119 Adding Tracks by Dragging Files from the

MediaBay

119 Exporting MIDI Tracks as Standard MIDI Files

121 Removing Selected Tracks

121 Removing Empty Tracks

121 Moving Tracks in the Track List

121 Renaming Tracks

122 Automatically Assigning Colors to New Tracks/

Channels

122 Showing Track Pictures

124 Setting the Track Height

125 Selecting Tracks

126 Deselecting Tracks

126 Duplicating Tracks

126 Organizing Tracks in Folder Tracks

126 Handling Overlapping Audio

127 Events Display on Folder Tracks

127 Modifying Event Display on Folder Tracks

127 Track Presets

132 Parts and Events

132 Events

136 Parts

137 Editing Techniques for Parts and Events

150 Range Editing

150 Creating a Selection Range

151 Editing Selection Ranges

155 Playback and Transport

155 Transport Panel

159 Transport Menu

164 Transport Bar

169 Transport Pop-Up Window

170 Time Display Window

171 Left and Right Locators

173 Setting the Project Cursor

173 Auto-Scroll Settings Menu

174 Time Formats

175 Pre-Roll and Post-Roll

176 Punch In and Punch Out

176 Metronome Click

181 Chase

182 On-Screen Keyboard

182 Recording MIDI With the On-Screen Keyboard

182 On-Screen Keyboard Options

184 Recording

184 Basic Recording Methods

188 Monitoring

190 Audio Recording Specics

194 MIDI Recording Specics

202 Remaining Record Time

202 Lock Record

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Cubase AI 11.0.0

204 Importing Audio and MIDI Files

204 Audio File Import

211 MIDI File Import

213 Quantizing MIDI and Audio

213 Quantize Functions

214 Quantizing MIDI Event Starts

214 Quantizing MIDI Event Lengths

215 Quantizing MIDI Event Ends

215 Quantizing Audio Event Starts

216 Quantize Panel

223 Fades and Crossfades

223 Event-Based Fades

227 Creating Clip-Based Fades

228 Crossfades

231 Auto Fades and Crossfades

234 Markers

234 Position Markers

234 Cycle Markers

235 Markers Window

239 Marker Track

240 Importing and Exporting Markers

242 MixConsole

242 MixConsole in Lower Zone

243 MixConsole Window

281 Audio Effects

281 Insert Effects and Send Effects

283 Insert Effects

288 VST Effect Selector

289 Send Effects

293 Effect Control Panel

296 Effect Presets

300 System Component Information Window

303 Direct Oine Processing

304 Direct Oine Processing Workow

304 Direct Oine Processing Window

308 Built-In Audio Processes

313 Key Commands for Direct Oine Processing

315 Time Stretch Algorithms

315 Standard

316 Limitations

317 Audio Functions

317 Detect Silence Dialog

320 Spectrum Analyzer Window

322 Statistics Window

324 Sample Editor

326 Sample Editor Toolbar

330 Info Line

330 Overview Line

331 Sample Editor Inspector

332 Ruler

332 Waveform Display

334 Range Editing

336 Regions List

338 Snap Point

341 Hitpoints

341 Calculating Hitpoints

344 Locating to Hitpoints in the Project Window

344 Slices

346 Creating a Groove Quantize Map

347 Creating Markers

347 Creating Regions

347 Creating Events

348 Creating MIDI Notes

350 Tempo Matching Audio

350 Algorithm Presets

350 Stretching Audio Events to the Project Tempo

351 Musical Mode

352 Audio Part Editor

353 Audio Part Editor Toolbar

357 Info Line

357 Ruler

358 Lanes

358 Operations

361 Pool

361 Pool Window

365 Working with the Pool

378 MediaBay and Media Rack

378 Media Rack in Right Zone

389 MediaBay Window

407 Working with Volume Databases

409 MediaBay Settings

411 Automation

411 Recording your Actions

411 Automation Curves

412 Static Value Line

412 Write/Read Automation

412 Writing Automation Data

414 Editing Automation Events

419 Automation Tracks

421 VST Instruments

421 Adding VST Instruments

421 VST Instrument Control Panel

423 VST Instrument Selector

424 Creating Instrument Tracks

424 VST Instruments in the Right Zone

425 VST Instruments Window

425 VST Instruments Window Toolbar

426 VST Instrument Controls

428 Presets for Instruments

430 Playing Back VST Instruments

432 Latency

432 Import and Export Options

434 VST Quick Controls

436 Installing and Managing VST Plug-ins

436 Plug-ins and Collections

439 Adding New Plug-in Collections

440 Hiding Plug-ins

440 Reactivating Plug-ins from the Blocklist

442 Track Quick Controls

443 Parameter Assignment

446 Controlling Automatable Parameters

447 Connecting Track Quick Controls with Remote

Controllers

449 Remote Controlling Cubase

449 Connecting Remote Devices

449 Removing the Remote Input from All MIDI

Inputs

450 Setting up Remote Devices

452 Remote Devices and Automation

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Cubase AI 11.0.0

452 Assigning Commands to Remote Devices

453 Generic Remote Page

458 VST Quick Controls

459 MIDI Realtime Parameters

459 MIDI Track Parameters

459 MIDI Modiers

463 Transpose and Velocity on the Info Line

464 Using MIDI Devices

464 Program Change Messages and Bank Select

Messages

465 Patch Banks

465 MIDI Device Manager

471 MIDI Functions

471 Transpose Setup Dialog

472 Merging MIDI Events into a New Part

473 Dissolve Part Dialog

475 Repeating MIDI Events of Independent Track

Loops

475 Extending MIDI Notes

476 Fixing MIDI Note Lengths

476 Fixing MIDI Note Velocities

476 Rendering Sustain Pedal Data to Note Lengths

477 Deleting Overlaps

477 Editing Velocity

478 Deleting Double Notes

478 Deleting Controller Data

478 Deleting Continuous Controller Data

479 Restricting Polyphonic Voices

479 Thinning Out Controller Data

479 Extracting MIDI Automation

480 Reversing the Playback Order of MIDI Events

480 Inverting the Order of Selected MIDI Events

481 MIDI Editors

481 Common MIDI Editor Functions

488 Controller Display

507 Key Editor

519 Key Editor Operations

525 Score Editor

531 Score Editor Operations

538 Drum Editor

550 Drum Editor Operations

552 Drum Maps

558 Chord Functions

558 Chord Track

559 Chord Events

563 Scale Events

564 Voicings

567 Converting Chord Events to MIDI

567 Controlling MIDI Playback Using the Chord

Track

571 Assigning Voices to Notes

571 Extracting Chord Events from MIDI

572 Recording Chord Events with a MIDI Keyboard

574 Chord Pads

574 Chord Pads Zone

577 Functions Menu

577 Chord Assistant

579 Chord Assignment

581 Swapping Chord Assignments

581 Copying Chord Assignments

582 Playing Back and Recording Chords

585 Player Setup

589 Chord Pads Setup Dialog

593 Chord Pads Presets

594 Creating Chord Events from Chord Pads

594 Creating MIDI Parts from Chord Pads

595 Editing Tempo and Time Signature

595 Project Tempo Modes

595 Tempo Track Editor

598 Tempo Changes for Projects

599 Setting up a Fixed Project Tempo

601 Beat Calculator

602 Set Denition from Tempo Dialog

603 Time Signature Events

604 Export Audio Mixdown

604 Export Audio Mixdown Dialog

611 Mixing Down to Audio Files

611 File Formats

616 Synchronization

616 Master and Slave

617 Timecode Formats

618 Clock Sources

619 Project Synchronization Setup Dialog

624 External Synchronization

625 VST System Link

625 Setting up VST System Link

630 Activating VST System Link

632 Application Examples

636 Video

636 Video File Compatibility

637 Frame Rates

637 Video Output Devices

638 Preparations for Creating Video Projects

640 Preparations for Video Playback

642 Editing Video

642 Extracting Audio from Video

644 ReWire

644 Enabling ReWire Applications

645 Launching and quitting

646 Activating ReWire channels

646 Using the transport and tempo controls

647 How the ReWire channels are handled

647 Routing MIDI via ReWire

648 Considerations and limitations

649 Key Commands

649 Key Commands Dialog

651 Assigning Key Commands

651 Searching for Key Commands

652 Removing Key Commands

652 Saving Key Commands Presets

652 Loading Key Command Presets

652 Resetting Key Commands

653 Default Key Commands

664 Setting up Tool Modier Keys

665 Customizing

665 Setup Options

667 Windows Dialog

668 Where are the Settings Stored?

668 Safe Mode Dialog

671 Optimizing Audio Performance

671 Performance Aspects

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Cubase AI 11.0.0

672 Settings That Affect Performance

672 Audio Performance Window

673 ASIO-Guard

675 Preferences

675 Preferences Dialog

676 Editing

681 Editors

681 Event Display

684 General

686 MIDI

689 MediaBay

689 Metering

690 Record

691 Transport

693 User Interface

694 VST

696 Video

697 Index

Table of Contents

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Cubase AI 11.0.0

New Features

The following list informs you about the most important improvements in Cubase and provides

links to the corresponding descriptions.

New Features in Version 11.0.0

Highlights

Pitchbend and Controller Editing Improvements

● You can select whether you want ramps or steps as the default type for new controller

events. See Controller Lane Setup Menu.

● You can copy all of your CC edits to another track. See Controller Lane Context Menu.

● You can set your pitchbend steps to semitones to always be perfectly in tune. See

Pitchbend Controller Lanes.

● You can create ramps and curves in the CC and pitchbend lanes, just like you are used to

with automation. See Creating Smooth Transitions between Continuous Controller Events.

● You can delete MIDI notes with a simple, fast double-click. See Deleting Note Events.

Variable DPI on Windows 10

● Cubase now supports more scaling settings for Windows 10, such as 125 %, 150 %, and

200 %. Even plug-ins that do not support HiDPI can now be scaled based on the scaling

factor of Windows. See General.

More New Features

Marker Lines

● Vertical marker lines are shown on all tracks to indicate marker positions on all tracks

throughout the entire project. See Markers.

Last but Not Least

Keyboard Focus Indication for Divided Track Lists

● When working with the Divide Track List feature, it is now clearly indicated which of the

track lists has the keyboard focus. See Keyboard Focus in the Project Window.

Poly Pressure Lane Handling Improvements

● Selecting and editing poly pressure events on the controller lane is much more intuitive

now. See Adding Poly Pressure Events.

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Cubase AI 11.0.0

Introduction

This is the Operation Manual for Steinberg’s Cubase. Here you will nd detailed information

about all the features and functions in the program.

The screenshots are taken from Cubase Elements.

Platform-Independent Documentation

The documentation applies to the operating systems Windows and macOS.

Features and settings that are specic to one of these platforms are clearly indicated. In all other

cases, the descriptions and procedures in the documentation are valid for Windows and macOS.

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 macOS.

PDF Documents and Online Documentation

The documentation consists of several documents. You can read them online or download them

from steinberg.help.

You can reach steinberg.help from the program by selecting Help > Cubase Help.

Operation Manual

The main Cubase reference documentation, with detailed descriptions of operations,

parameters, functions, and techniques.

Plug-in Reference

Describes the features and parameters of the included VST plug-ins and VST

instruments.

Remote Control Devices

Lists the supported MIDI remote control devices.

Groove Agent SE

Describes the features and parameters of the included VST instrument Groove Agent

SE.

HALion Sonic SE

Describes the features and parameters of the included VST instrument HALion Sonic

SE.

Steinberg Library Manager

Describes how you can register and manage your VST Sound libraries.

Conventions

In our documentation, we use typographical and markup elements to structure information.

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Cubase AI 11.0.0

Typographical Elements

The following typographical elements mark the following purposes.

Prerequisite

Requires you to complete an action or to fulll a condition before starting a procedure.

Procedure

Lists the steps that you must take to achieve a specic 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.

Tip

Adds further information or useful suggestions.

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 perform after completing the

procedure.

RELATED LINKS

VST Plug-in Manager Window on page 437

ASIO Driver Setup Page

This page allows you to set up your ASIO driver.

● To open the page where you can set up the ASIO driver, select Studio > Studio Setup and

select the audio driver in the Devices list.

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.

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.

In the Ports section, the following options are available:

Reset

Allows you to reset all port names and visibilities.

Setting up Your System

Setting up Audio

15

Cubase AI 11.0.0

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.

In the general section, the following options are available:

Reset

Resets the selected remote device.

Apply

Applies the settings.

Using External Clock Sources

If you are using an external clock source, Cubase must be notied that it receives external clock

signals and derives its speed from that source.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select 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 eld on the Project window status line

is highlighted in a different color. Cubase accepts a sample rate mismatch, and playback is

therefore faster or slower.

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 Studio > Studio Setup.

Setting up Your System

Setting up Audio

16

Cubase AI 11.0.0

2. In the Devices list, select Audio System.

3. Activate Release Driver when Application is in Background.

RESULT

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

Audio Hardware Conguration

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.

Setting up Input and Output Ports

Once you have selected the driver for your audio hardware and have set it up, you must specify

which inputs and outputs to use.

PREREQUISITE

You have selected a driver for your audio hardware.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select your audio hardware driver.

3. Make your changes.

4. Click OK.

RELATED LINKS

ASIO Driver Setup Page on page 15

Audio Bus Setup

Cubase uses a system of input and output busses to transfer audio between the program and

the audio hardware.

●Input busses let you route audio from the inputs of your audio hardware into Cubase. This

means that audio is always recorded through one or several input busses.

●Output busses let you route audio from Cubase to the outputs of your audio hardware. This

means that audio is always played back through one or several output busses.

Setting up Your System

Setting up Audio

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Cubase AI 11.0.0

Once you have set up the internal input and output busses, you can connect your audio source,

for example, a microphone, to your audio interface and start recording, playing back, and

mixing.

RELATED LINKS

Audio Connections on page 22

Monitoring

In Cubase, monitoring means listening to the input signal while recording.

The following ways of monitoring are available:

●Externally by listening to the signal before it reaches Cubase.

●Via Cubase.

●By using ASIO Direct Monitoring.

This is a combination of the other methods.

RELATED LINKS

External Monitoring on page 188

Monitoring via Cubase on page 188

ASIO Direct Monitoring on page 189

Setting up MIDI

You must set up your MIDI equipment before you can use it in Cubase.

IMPORTANT

Turn off all equipment before making any connections.

PROCEDURE

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

2. Install the drivers for your MIDI equipment.

RESULT

You can use your MIDI equipment in Cubase.

MIDI Connections

To play back and record MIDI data from your MIDI device, for example, a MIDI keyboard, you

need to connect the MIDI ports.

Connect the MIDI output port of your MIDI device to the MIDI input port of your audio hardware.

This way, the MIDI device sends MIDI data to be played back or recorded inside your computer.

Connect the MIDI input port of your MIDI device to the MIDI output port of your audio hardware.

This way, you can send MIDI data from Cubase to the MIDI device. For example, you can record

your own playing, edit the MIDI data in Cubase, and then play it back on the keyboard and record

the audio that is coming out of the keyboard for a better edited performance.

Setting up Your System

Setting up MIDI

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Cubase AI 11.0.0

Showing or Hiding MIDI Ports

You can show the MIDI ports that you want to use and hide those that you do not use on the

MIDI pop-up menus in the program.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select MIDI Port Setup.

3. To hide a MIDI port, deactivate its Visible column.

4. Click OK.

Setting up All MIDI Inputs

When you record MIDI, you can specify which MIDI input each recording MIDI track should use.

However, you can also record any MIDI data from any MIDI input. You can specify which inputs

are included when you select All MIDI Inputs for a MIDI track.

PROCEDURE

1. Select Studio > Studio Setup.

2. In the Devices list, select MIDI Port Setup.

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

NOTE

If you have a MIDI remote control unit connected, make sure to deactivate the In ‘All MIDI

Inputs’ option for that MIDI input. This avoids accidental recording of data from the remote

control when All MIDI Inputs is selected as input for a MIDI track.

4. Click OK.

RESULT

When you select All MIDI Inputs on the Input Routing pop-up menu of a MIDI track in the

Inspector, the MIDI track uses all MIDI inputs that you specied in the MIDI Port Setup.

MIDI Port Setup Page

The MIDI Port Setup page in the Studio Setup dialog displays the connected MIDI devices and

allows you to set up their ports.

● To open the MIDI Port Setup page, select Studio > Studio Setup and activate MIDI Port

Setup in the Devices list.

Setting up Your System

Setting up MIDI

19

Cubase AI 11.0.0

The following columns are displayed:

Device

The connected MIDI devices.

I/O

The port input/output status.

Port System Name

The system name of the port.

Show As

Allows you to rename the port. This name is used in the Input Routing and Output

Routing pop-up menus.

Visible

Allows you to activate/deactivate MIDI ports.

State

The state of the MIDI port.

In 'All MIDI Inputs'

Allows you to record MIDI data from all MIDI inputs.

NOTE

Deactivate this option if you use remote control devices.

The following options are available:

Use System Timestamp for 'Windows MIDI' Inputs

Activate this option if you have persistent timing problems such as shifted notes. If this

is activated, the system timestamp is used as a time reference.

Use Device 'DirectMusic'

If you do not use a device with a DirectMusic device driver, you can leave this option

deactivated. This enhances the system performance.

Setting up Your System

Setting up MIDI

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Cubase AI 11.0.0

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Steinberg Cubase AI 11.0 User manual

Steinberg Cubase AI 11.0 User manual

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