Steinberg Cubase 5 Operation Manual

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Key commands
5.Alternatively, you can use the search function in the 
dialog to find the desired item.
For a description of how to use the search function, see below.
6.When you have found and selected the desired item, 
click in the “Type in Key” field and enter a new key com-
mand.
You can choose any single key or a combination of one or several modi-
fier keys ([Alt]/[Option], [Ctrl]/[Command], [Shift]) plus any key. Just 
press the keys you want to use.
7.If the key command you entered is already assigned to 
another item or function, this is displayed below the “Type 
in Key” field. 
You can either ignore this and proceed to assign the key command to 
the new function instead, or you can select another key command.
8.Click the Assign button above the field.
The new key command appears in the Keys List.
9.Click OK to exit the dialog.
ÖYou can set up several different key commands for the 
same function. Adding a key command to a function that 
already has another key command will not replace the key 
command previously defined for the function. If you wish 
to remove a key command, see below.
Searching for key commands
If you want to know which key command is assigned to a 
certain function in the program, you can use the Search 
function in the Key Commands dialog:
1.Click in the search text field at the top left of the dialog 
and type in the function for which you want to know the key 
command.
This is a standard word search function, so you should type the command 
as it is spelled in the program. Partial words can be used; to search for all 
quantize related commands, type “Quantize”, “Quant”, etc.
2.Click the Search button (the magnifying glass icon).
The search is conducted and the first matching command is selected 
and displayed in the Commands list below. The Keys column and the 
Keys list show the assigned key commands, if any.
3.To search for more commands containing the word(s) 
you entered, click the Search button again.
4.When you are done, click OK to close the dialog.
Removing a key command
To remove a key command, proceed as follows:
1.Use the list of categories and commands to select the 
item or function for which you wish to remove a key com-
mand.
The key command is shown in the Keys column and the Keys list.
2.Select the key command in the Keys list and click the 
Delete button (the trash icon).
You are asked whether you really want to remove the key command.
3.Click Remove to remove the selected key command.
4.Click OK to close the dialog.
Setting up macros
A macro is a combination of several functions or commands 
to be performed in one go. For example, you could select all 
events on the selected audio track, remove DC offset, nor-
malize the events and duplicate them, all with a single com-
mand.
Macros are set up in the Key Commands dialog as follows:
1.Click the Show Macros button.
The macro settings are shown in the lower part of the dialog. To hide 
these from view, click the button (now renamed Hide Macros) again.
2.Click New Macro.
A new, unnamed macro appears in the Macros list. Name it by typing the 
desired name. You can rename a macro at any time by selecting it in the 
list and typing in a new name.
3.Make sure the macro is selected, and use the catego-
ries and commands in the upper half of the dialog to se-
lect the first command you want to include in the macro.
4.Click Add Command.
The selected command appears in the list of commands in the Macros 
section.
!If the key command you enter is already assigned to 
another function, you will get a warning message 
asking if you really want to reassign the command to 
the new function. 
						

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Key commands
5.Repeat the procedure to add more commands to the 
macro.
Note that commands are added after the currently selected command in 
the list. This allows you to insert commands “in the middle” of an existing 
macro.
A macro with three commands
To remove a command from the macro, select it in the 
Macros list and click Delete.
Similarly, to remove an entire macro, select it in the 
Macros list and click Delete.
After you have closed the Key Commands dialog, all mac-
ros you have created appear at the bottom of the Edit menu 
in the Macros submenu, available for instant selection.
You can also assign key commands to macros. All macros 
you have created appear in the upper section of the Key 
Commands dialog under the Macros category – just se-
lect a macro and assign a key command as with any other 
function.
About key commands presets
As mentioned above, any changes made to the key com-
mands (and macros) are automatically stored as a Cubase 
preference. However, it is also possible to store key com-
mands settings separately. This way, you can store any 
number of different key command settings as presets for 
instant recall.
Saving key commands presets
Proceed as follows:
1.Set up the key commands and macros to your liking.
When setting up key commands, remember to click “Assign” to make the 
changes.
2.Click the Save button next to the Presets pop-up 
menu.
A dialog appears, allowing you to type in a name for the preset. 
3.Click OK to save the preset.
Your saved key commands settings are now available on the Presets 
pop-up menu.
Loading key command presets
To load a key command preset, simply select it from the 
Presets pop-up menu.
ÖNote that this operation may replace existing key com-
mands!
The key command settings you load will replace the current key command 
settings for the same functions (if any). If you have macros of the same 
name as those stored in the preset you load, these will be replaced too.
If you want to be able to revert to your current settings again, make sure to 
save them first, as described above!
Loading earlier key commands settings 
If you have saved key commands settings with an earlier 
program version, it is possible to use them in Cubase 5, by 
using the “Import Key Command File” function, which lets 
you load and apply saved key commands or macros:
1.Open the Key Commands dialog.
2.Click the “Import Key Command File” button to the 
right of the Presets pop-up menu.
A standard file dialog opens.
3.In the file dialog, use the “Files of type” pop-up menu 
to specify if you want to import a key commands file 
(“.key”) or a macro commands file (extension “.mac”).
When you have imported an older file, you might want to save it as a pre-
set (see above) to be able to access it from the Presets pop-up menu in 
the future. 
						

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Key commands
4.Navigate to the file you want to import and click “Open”.
The file is imported.
5.Click OK to exit the Key Commands dialog and apply 
the imported settings.
The settings in the loaded key commands or macros file now replace the 
current settings.
About the “Reset” and “Reset All” functions
These two buttons in the Key Commands dialog will both 
restore the default settings. The following rules apply:
“Reset” will restore the default key command setting for 
the function selected in the Commands list.
“Reset All” will restore the default key commands for all 
commands.
Setting up tool modifier keys
A tool modifier key is a key you can press to get an alter-
nate function when using a tool. For example, clicking and 
dragging an event with the Arrow tool normally moves it – 
holding down a modifier key (by default [Alt]/[Option]) will 
copy it instead.
The default assignments for tool modifier keys can be 
found in the Preferences (Editing–Tool Modifiers page). 
Here, you can also edit them:
1.Open the Preferences dialog and select the Editing–
Tool Modifiers page.2.Select an option in the Categories list, and locate the 
action for which you want to edit the modifier key.
For example, the “Copy” action mentioned above resides in the category 
“Drag & Drop”.
3.Select the action in the Action list.
4.Hold down the desired modifier key(s) and click the 
Assign button.
The current modifier keys for the action are replaced. If the modifier keys 
you pressed are already assigned to another tool, you will be asked 
whether you want to overwrite them. If you do, this will leave the other 
tool without any modifier keys assigned.
5.When you’re done, click OK to apply the changes and 
close the dialog.
!Note that the “Reset All” operation will cause any 
changes made to the default key commands to be 
lost! If you want to be able to revert to these settings 
again, make sure to save them first! 
						

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Key commands
The default key commands
Below, the default key commands are listed according to 
category.
As described in the section “Key command conventi-
ons” on page 12, modifier keys are written as: 
[Win modifier key]/[Mac modifier key].
For example, “[Ctrl]/[Command]-[N]” in the list below means “press [Ctrl] 
under Windows or [Command] under Mac OS X, then press [N]”.
Audio category
Automation category
Devices categoryEdit category
!When the Virtual Keyboard is displayed, the usual key 
commands are blocked because they are reserved for 
the Virtual Keyboard. The only exceptions are: [Ctrl]/
[Command]-[S] (Save), Num [*] (Start/Stop Record), 
[Space] (Start/Stop Playback), Num [1] (Jump to left 
locator), [Delete] or [Backspace] (Delete), Num [/] 
(Cycle on/off), [F2] (Show/Hide Transport panel), and 
[Alt]/[Option]-[K] (Show/Hide Virtual Keyboard).
Option Key command
Adjust Fades to Range [A]
Auto Grid [Shift]-[Q]
Crossfade [X]
Find Selected in Pool [Ctrl]/[Command]-[F]
Option Key command
Toggle Read Enable All Tracks [Alt]/[Option]-[R]
Toggle Write Enable All Tracks [Alt]/[Option]-[W]
Option Key command
Mixer [F3]
Virtual Keyboard [Alt]/[Option]-[K]
Video [F8]
VST Connections [F4]
VST Instruments [F11]
VST Performance [F12]
Option Key command
Autoscroll [F]
Copy [Ctrl]/[Command]-[C]
Cut [Ctrl]/[Command]-[X]
Cut Time [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[X]
Delete [Delete] or [Backspace]
Delete Time [Shift]-[Backspace]
Duplicate [Ctrl]/[Command]-[D]
Edit In-place [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[I]
Group [Ctrl]/[Command]-[G]
Insert Silence [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[E]
Left Selection Side to Cursor [E]
Lock [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[L]
Move to Cursor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[L]
Mute [M]
Mute Events [Shift]-[M]
Mute/Unmute Objects [Alt]/[Option]-[M]
Open Default Editor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[E]
Open Score Editor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[R]
Open/Close Editor [Return]
Paste [Ctrl]/[Command]-[V]
Paste at Origin [Alt]/[Option]-[V]
Paste Time [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[V]
Record Enable [R]
Redo [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Z]
Repeat [Ctrl]/[Command]-[K]
Right Selection Side to Cursor [D]
Select All [Ctrl]/[Command]-[A]
Select None [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[A]
Snap On/Off [J]
Solo [S]
Split At Cursor [Alt]/[Option]-[X]
Split Range [Shift]-[X]
Undo [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Z]
Ungroup [Ctrl]/[Command]-[U]
Unlock [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[U]
Unmute Events [Shift]-[U] 
						

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Key commands
Editors category
File category
Media category
MIDI category
Navigate categoryNudge category
Project category
Option Key command
Show/Hide Info view [Ctrl]/[Command]-[I]
Show/Hide Inspector [Alt]/[Option]-[I]
Show/Hide Overview [Alt]/[Option]-[O]
Option Key command
Close [Ctrl]/[Command]-[W]
New [Ctrl]/[Command]-[N]
Open [Ctrl]/[Command]-[O]
Quit [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Q]
Save [Ctrl]/[Command]-[S]
Save As [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[S]
Save New Version [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[S]
Option Key command
Open Loop Browser [F6]
Open MediaBay  [F5]
Open Sound Browser [F7]
Option Key command
Quantize [Q]
Option Key command
Add Down:
Expand/Undo selection in the Project 
window to the bottom/ Move se-
lected event in the Key Editor down 
1 octave[Shift]-[Down Arrow]
Add Left:
Expand/Undo selection in the Project 
window/Key Editor to the left[Shift]-[Left Arrow]
Add Right:
Expand/Undo selection in the Project 
window/Key Editor to the right[Shift]-[Right Arrow]
Add Up:
Expand/Undo selection in the Project 
window to the top/Move selected 
event in the Key Editor up one octave[Shift]-[Up Arrow]Down:
Select next in the Project window/
Move selected event in the Key 
Editor one semitone down[Down Arrow]
Left:
Select next in the Project window/
Key Editor[Left Arrow]
Right: 
Select next in the Project window/
Key Editor[Right Arrow]
Up:
Select next in the Project window/ 
Move selected event in the Key 
Editor one semitone up[Up Arrow]
Bottom
Select bottom track in the Track list[End]
Top: 
Select top track in the Track list[Home]
Toggle Selection [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Space]
Option Key command
End Left [Alt]/[Option]-[Shift]-[Left Arrow]
End Right [Alt]/[Option]-[Shift]-[Right Arrow]
Left [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Left Arrow]
Right [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Right Arrow]
Start Left [Alt]/[Option]-[Left Arrow]
Start Right [Alt]/[Option]-[Right Arrow]
Option Key command
Open Browser [Ctrl]/[Command]-[B]
Open Markers [Ctrl]/[Command]-[M]
Open/Close Pool [Ctrl]/[Command]-[P]
Open Tempo Track Editor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[T]
Setup [Shift]-[S]
Show/Hide Track Colors [Shift]-[C] Option Key command 
						

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Key commands
Tool category
Transport category
Workspace category
Zoom category
Option Key command
Delete tool [5]
Draw tool [8]
Drumstick tool [0]
Glue tool [4]
Mute tool [7]
Next Tool [F10]
Play tool [9]
Previous Tool [F9]
Range tool [2]
Select tool [1]
Split tool [3]
Zoom tool [6]
Option Key command
Auto Punch In [I]
Auto Punch Out [O]
Cycle Num [/]
Exchange time formats [.]
Fast Forward [Shift]-Num [+]
Fast Rewind [Shift]-Num [-]
Forward Num [-]
Input Left Locator [Shift]-[L]
Input Position [Shift]-[P]
Input Right Locator [Shift]-[R]
Input Tempo [Shift]-[T]
Insert Marker [Insert] (Win)
Locate Next Event [N]
Locate Next Marker [Shift]-[N]
Locate Previous Event [B]
Locate Previous Marker [Shift]-[B]
Locate Selection [L]
Locators to Selection [P]
Loop Selection [Shift]-[G]
Metronome On [C]
Nudge Cursor right [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [-]
Nudge Cursor left [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [+]
Panel (Transport panel) [F2]Play Selection Range [Alt]/[Option]-[Space]
Recall Cycle Marker 1 to 9 [Shift]-Num [1] to Num [9]
Record Num [*]
Retrospective Record [Shift]-Num [*]
Return to Zero Num [.] or Num [,]
Rewind Num [-]
Set Left Locator [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [1]
Set Marker 1 [Ctrl]/[Command]-[1]
Set Marker 2 [Ctrl]/[Command]-[2]
Set Marker 3 to 9 [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [3] to [9] or
[Ctrl]/[Command]- [3] to [9]
Set Right Locator [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [2]
Play [Enter]
Start/Stop [Space]
Stop Num [0]
To Left Locator Num [1]
To Marker 1 [Shift]-[1]
To Marker 2 [Shift]-[2]
To Marker 3 to 9 Num [3] to [9] or [Shift]-[3] to [9]
To Right Locator Num [2]
Use External Sync [T]
Option Key command
Lock/Unlock Active Workspace [Alt]/[Option]-Num [0]
New [Ctrl]/[Command]-Num [0]
Organize [W]
Workspace 1-9 [Alt]/[Option]-Num [1-9]
Option Key command
Zoom Full [Shift]-[F]
Zoom In [H]
Zoom In Tracks [Alt]/[Option]-[Down Arrow]
Zoom Out [G]
Zoom Out Tracks [Alt]/[Option]-[Up Arrow] or
[Ctrl]/[Command]-[Up Arrow]
Zoom to Event [Shift]-[E]
Zoom to Selection [Alt]/[Option]-[S]
Zoom Tracks Exclusive [Z] or [Ctrl]/[Command]-
[Down Arrow] Option Key command 
						

							Part II:
Score layout and printing 
						

							1
How the Score Editor works 
						

							489
How the Score Editor works
About this chapter
In this chapter you will learn:
 How the Score Editor and MIDI data relate.
 What Display Quantize is and how it works.
Welcome!
Welcome to scoring in Cubase! The Score Editor has 
been created to allow you to get any possible piece of 
music displayed as a score, complete with all the neces-
sary symbols and formatting. It allows you to extract parts 
out of a full orchestra score, to add lyrics and comments, 
create lead sheets, score for drums, create tablature, etc. 
In other words: just about any type of notation you could 
ever desire!
There are a few basic principles to how the Score Editor 
works, which you have to understand to make full use of it.
How the Score Editor operates
The Score Editor does the following:
 Reads the MIDI notes in the MIDI parts.
 Looks at the settings you have made.
 Decides how the MIDI notes should be displayed according to 
the settings.
The Score Editor takes MIDI data and settings as input and produces a 
score as output.
The Score Editor does all this in realtime. If you change 
some of the MIDI data (for example by moving or shorten-
ing a note) this is immediately reflected in the score. If you 
change some of the settings (for example the time signa-
ture or key signature) this is also immediately apparent.
You should not think of the Score Editor as a drawing pro-
gram, but rather as an “interpreter” of MIDI data.
MIDI notes vs. score notes
MIDI tracks in Cubase hold MIDI notes and other MIDI data. 
As you may know, a MIDI note in Cubase is only defined by 
its position, length, pitch and velocity. This is not nearly 
enough information to decide how the note should be dis-
played in a score. The program needs to know more: What 
type of instrument are we talking about, Drums? Piano? 
What key is the piece in? What is the basic rhythm? How 
should the notes be grouped under beams? You provide 
this information by making settings and working with the 
tools available in the Score Editor.
An example of the MIDI/score relationship
When Cubase stores a MIDI note’s position, it makes the 
measurement in an absolute value, called ticks. There are 
480 ticks to a quarter note. Have a look at the example 
below.
A quarter note at the end of a 4/4 measure
The note is on the fourth beat of the measure. Now, let’s 
say you change the time signature to 3/4. This shortens the 
length of a “measure” to only three quarter notes – 1440 
ticks. Suddenly our quarter note is in the next measure:
The same note in 3/4
Why? Since you are not changing the MIDI data in the 
track/part (that would ruin your recording!) by changing 
the time signature, the note is still at the same absolute 
position. It is just that now each “measure” is shorter, 
which effectively moves the note in the score.
What we are trying to get across here is that the Score Ed-
itor is an “interpreter” of the MIDI data. It follows rules that 
you set up by making settings in dialogs, on menus, etc. 
And this interpretation is “dynamic”, or in other words, it is 
constantly updated whenever the data (the MIDI notes) or 
the rules (the score settings) change.
MIDI data
Score Editor Score display
Score settings 
						

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How the Score Editor works
Display Quantize
Let’s say you used the Project window to record a figure 
with some staccato eighth notes. When you open the 
Score Editor, these notes are displayed like this:
This does not look anything like what you intended. Let’s 
start with the timing – obviously, you were off at a couple of 
places (the third, fourth and last note all seem to be a 32nd 
note late). You can solve this by quantizing the figure, but 
this would make the passage sound too “stiff”, and not fit in 
the musical context. To resolve this problem the Score Ed-
itor employs something called “Display Quantize”.
Display Quantize is a setting which is used to tell the pro-
gram two things:
How precise the Score Editor should be when display-
ing the note positions.
The smallest note values (lengths) you want displayed in 
the score.
In the example above, the Display Quantize value seems 
to be set to 32nd notes (or a smaller note value).
Let’s say we change the Display Quantize value to six-
teenth notes in the example:
With Display Quantize set to sixteenth notes
OK, now the timing looks right, but the notes still do not 
look like what you intended. Maybe you can understand 
that from a computer’s point of view, you did play sixteenth 
notes, which is why there are a lot of pauses. But that’s 
not how you meant it. You still want the track to play back 
short notes, because it is a staccato part, but you want 
something else “displayed”. Try setting the Display Quan-
tize value to eighth notes instead:
With Display Quantize set to eighth notes
Now we have eighth notes, as we wanted. All we have to 
do now is to add staccato articulation which can be done 
with one simple mouse click using the Pencil tool (see the chapter “Working with symbols” on page 555) or using 
musical articulations (see the chapter “VST Expression” 
on page 372).
How did this work? By setting the Display Quantize value 
to eighth notes, you give the program two instructions that 
would sound something like this in English: “Display all 
notes as if they were on exact eighth note positions, re-
gardless of their actual positions” and “Don’t display any 
notes smaller than eighth notes, regardless of how short 
they are”. Please note that we used the word “display”, 
which leads us to one of the most important messages of 
this chapter:
Choose your Display Quantize values with care
As explained above, the Display Quantize value for notes 
puts a restriction on the “smallest” note value that can be 
displayed. Let’s see what happens if we set it to quarter 
notes:
With Display Quantize set to quarter notes
Oops, this doesn’t look too good. Well of course it doesn’t! 
We have now instructed the program that the “smallest” 
note that occurs in the piece is a quarter note. We have ex-
plicitly told it that there are no eighth notes, no sixteenths, 
etc. So when the program draws the score on screen (and 
on paper) it quantizes the display of all our eighth notes to 
quarter note positions, which makes it look like above. But 
again, please note that when you hit Play, the passage will 
still play as it originally did. The Display Quantize setting 
only affects the score image of the recording. One last im-
portant note:
!Setting a Display Quantize value does not alter the 
MIDI notes of your recording in any way, as regular 
quantizing does. It only affects how the notes are 
displayed in the Score Editor (and nowhere else)!
!Even if you manually enter notes in the score using 
perfect note values, it is very important that you have 
your Display Quantize settings right! These values 
are not just used for MIDI recordings! If you for exam-
ple set the Display Quantize value for notes to quar-
ter notes and start clicking in eighth notes, you will 
get eighth notes in the track (as MIDI data), but still 
only quarter notes in the display!