Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							Preferences
Editing
1061
NOTE
If you just split a part and play back the result, it will sound the same 
regardless of this setting. However, if you split a part and delete the first half 
or move the second half to a different position in the project, you may want to 
activate Split MIDI Controllers to make sure all controllers have the correct 
value at the beginning of the second part.
Editing - Project & MixConsole
Select Channel/Track on Solo
When you activate this option, a track in the track list or a channel in the 
MixConsole automatically gets selected when the Solo button is activated. 
Deactivating this option always keeps the current selection status, regardless 
of the solo setting for the tracks.
Select Channel/Track on Edit Settings
When you activate this option, a track in the track list or a channel in the 
MixConsole automatically gets selected when you click the respective edit 
button (e). Deactivating this option always keeps the current track/channel 
selection.
Scroll To selected Track
If you activate this option, selecting a MixConsole channel automatically 
scrolls the track list to display the respective track.
Sync Selection in Project Window and MixConsole
If this is activated, and you select a track in the Project window, the 
corresponding channel is automatically selected in the MixConsole and vice 
versa.
This can be a very handy feature when making detailed settings for audio and 
MIDI channels: open the Channel Settings window for a track by clicking its 
edit “e” button, and position it so that it can remain open without obstructing 
the view. Then you can simply select the track for which you want to make 
settings in the Project window. The Channel Settings window will 
automatically change to show the settings for the selected track.
Enable Record on Selected Audio Track
When this is activated, selected audio tracks are automatically record 
enabled.
Enable Record on Selected MIDI Track
When this is activated, the selected MIDI tracks are automatically record 
enabled.
Enable Solo on Selected Track
When this is activated, the selected tracks are automatically soloed. 
						

							Preferences
Editing
1062
Deep Track Folding
If this option is activated, any folding settings that you make on the Track 
Folding submenu of the Project menu also affect the subelements of the 
tracks. For example, if you fold in a folder track that contains 10 audio tracks, 
of which 5 have several open automation tracks, all these audio tracks within 
the folder track will also be folded in.
Enlarge Selected Track
Activate this option to enter a mode where the selected track in the Project 
window will be enlarged. You can adjust the size directly in the track list if the 
default enlargement factor does not suit you. When you select another track 
in the track list, this track is automatically enlarged, and the previously 
selected track is displayed in its previous size.
Editing - Tool Modifiers
On this page you can specify which modifier keys are used for additional 
functionality when using tools.
PROCEDURE
1. Select an option in the Categories list.
2. Select the action for which you want to edit the modifier key in the Action list.
3. On your computer keyboard, hold down the modifier keys and click Assign.
RESULT 
The current modifier key(s) for the action is replaced. If this tool already has 
assigned modifier key(s), you will be asked whether you want to replace them.
Editing - Chords
‘X’ Chords Mute Notes on Tracks That are in Follow Chord Track Mode
This determines what happens when you play back a track that follows the 
chord track and the cursor reaches an undefined chord event (X chord). 
Activate this option to mute playback. Deactivate this option to continue 
playback of the last defined chord event.
Disable ‘Acoustic Feedback’ during Playback
If you activate this option, Acoustic Feedback is automatically disabled on 
playback. This ensures that chord events are not triggered twice.
Hide muted Notes in Editors
If you set up a MIDI track to follow the chord track by activating one of the 
Follow Chord Track options, some of the original MIDI notes may be muted. 
Activate this option to hide these notes in the editors. 
						

							Preferences
Event Display
1063
Editing - Tools
Select Tool: Show Extra Info
Activate this to show a tooltip for the Object Selection tool in the Project 
window event display. This tooltip indicates the current pointer position and 
the name of the track and event at which you are pointing.
Warn before switching Display Domain (Timewarp Tool) (Cubase Pro only)
If this is activated, a warning opens if you select the Timewarp tool and the 
ruler is not set to Bars and Beats.
Zoom Tool Standard Mode: Horizontal Zooming Only
This affects the result when using the Zoom tool (magnifying glass).
If this is activated and you drag a selection rectangle with the Zoom tool, the 
window is only zoomed horizontally and the track height does not change. If 
this option is deactivated, the window is zoomed both horizontally and 
vertically.
Pop-up Toolbox on Right-Click
If this is activated, the toolbox opens on right-click in the event display and 
editors. You can change the number of rows in which the tools are arranged 
on the toolbox. Keep the right mouse button pressed until the mouse pointer 
changes to a double arrow and drag to the bottom or right.
• To open the context menu instead of the toolbox, press any modifier key 
when right-clicking.
Cross-Hair Cursor
This allows you to set up a cross-hair cursor when working in the event display 
and editors, facilitating navigation and editing, especially when arranging in 
large projects. You can set up the colors for the line and the mask of the 
cross-hair cursor, and define its width. The cross-hair cursor works as 
follows:
•If the Selection tool (or one of its subtools) is selected, the cross-hair 
cursor appears when you start moving or copying a part/event or when 
you use the event trim handles.
•If the Draw tool, the Cut tool, or any other tool that makes use of this 
function is selected, the cross-hair cursor appears as soon as you move 
the mouse over the event display.
• The cross-hair cursor is only available for tools where such a function is 
of any use.
Event Display
The Event Display section contains several settings for customizing the display in 
the Project window. 
						

							Preferences
Event Display
1064
Show Event Names
Determines whether the names of parts and events are shown.
Hide Truncated Event Names
When zooming or resizing elements, the events can become very small so that 
the name is no longer completely visible. The name gets truncated. If this 
option is activated, event names are hidden if they do not fit into the event.
Show Overlaps
When events overlap, this setting allows you to specify when the overlapping 
areas are displayed.
Grid Overlay Intensity
Increases or decreases the overlay intensity of the displayed grid lines.
Event Handling Opacity
Increases or decreases the opacity of an overlying event background when 
you move it.
Smallest Track Height To Show Data
Specifies from which track height the track contents are displayed.
Smallest Track Height To Show Name
Specifies from which track height the track names are displayed.
Event Display - Audio
Interpolate Audio Waveforms
If you have zoomed in to one sample per pixel or less, the appearance of the 
samples depends on this setting. If the option is deactivated, single sample 
values are drawn as steps. If the option is activated, the sample values are 
interpolated to form curves.
Show Event Volume Curves Always
If activated, event volume curves, as created by the fade and volume handles, 
are shown for all events, regardless of whether they are selected or not. When 
the option is deactivated, volume curves are only shown for selected events. 
However, note that you can still adjust fades and volumes for events that are 
not selected, by clicking and dragging the top left, middle, or right edge 
respectively.
Show Waveforms
If activated, audio waveforms are displayed for audio events.
Show Hitpoints on Selected Events
If activated, hitpoints are displayed for audio events.
Waveform Brightness
Increases or decreases the brightness of the displayed waveforms. 
						

							Preferences
Event Display
1065
Waveform Outline Intensity
Increases or decreases the intensity of the waveform outline.
Fade Handle Brightness
Increases or decreases the brightness of the set fade lines within audio 
events.
Background Color Modulation
When this is activated, the backgrounds of audio waveforms reflect the 
waveform dynamics. This is especially useful to get an overview when working 
with small track heights.
Event Display - Folders
Show Event Details
If this option is activated, event details are displayed. If deactivated, data 
blocks are displayed.
This setting depends on the Show Data on Folder Tracks setting.
Show Data on Folder Tracks
Determines in which case data blocks or event details are displayed on folder 
tracks.
•Always Show Data
If this option is activated, data blocks or event details are always 
displayed.
•Never Show Data
If this option is activated, nothing is displayed.
•Hide Data When Expanded
If this option is activated, the display of events is hidden when you open 
folder tracks.
Event Display - MIDI
Default Edit Action
Determines which editor is opened when you double-click a MIDI part or 
when you select it and press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[E]. Note that this setting is 
overwritten for tracks with drum maps if the Edit as Drums when Drum Map 
is assigned option is activated.
Part Data Mode
Determines if and how events in MIDI parts are shown: not shown, as lines, 
as score notes, as drum notes, or as blocks. Note that this setting is 
overwritten for tracks with drum maps if the Edit as Drums when Drum Map 
is assigned option is activated. 
						

							Preferences
Event Display
1066
Show Controllers
Governs whether non-note events such as controllers, etc. are shown in MIDI 
parts.
Note Brightness
Increases or decreases the brightness of note events.
Controller Brightness
Increases or decreases the brightness of controller events.
Edit as Drums when Drum Map is assigned
If this is activated, parts on MIDI tracks to which drum maps are assigned are 
shown with drum note symbols. The parts will automatically open in the Drum 
Editor on double-click. This overwrites the Default Edit Action setting.
Event Display - Chords
Pitch Notation
• The Note Name pop-up menu lets you select between three ways of 
displaying chords.
• The Naming Format pop-up menu lets you determine how MIDI note 
names (pitches) are displayed in editors, etc.
• The options Display ‘Bb’ as ‘B’ and Display ‘B’ as ‘H’ allow you to 
change the corresponding pitch names.
Chord Font
Allows you to specify a font for all chord symbols.
Chord Symbols
There are several ways of indicating chord types, for example, major and minor 
chords. These options allow you to select your preferred display method for 
major 7th chords, minor chords, half-diminished chords, diminished chords, 
and augmented chords.
Event Display - Tracks
Colorize Track Controls
This slider allows you apply the track color to the track controls. Drag the 
slider to the right to intensify the color.
Colorize Only Folder Track Controls
Activate this to restrict the effect of the Colorize Track Control function to 
folder tracks only. This is useful in projects with a large number of tracks and 
folder tracks. 
						

							Preferences
General
1067
Default Track Name Width
Allows you to determine the default name width for all track types.
Auto Track Color Mode
This offers you several options for automatically assigning colors to tracks that 
are added to the project:
•Use Default Track Color
New tracks get the default event color.
•Use Previous Track Color
New tracks get the same color as the track above them in the track list.
•Use Previous Track Color + 1
This is similar to the Use Previous Track Color option, except that the 
new tracks get the next color in the color palette.
•Use Last Applied Color
New tracks get the color that you last applied to an event/part.
•Use Random Track Color
Inserted tracks get random track colors.
General
The General page contains general settings that affect the program user interface. 
Set these according to your preferred work methods.
Language
Allows you to select which language is used in the program. After switching 
the language, you must restart the program for the change to take effect.
Auto Save
If this is activated, Cubase automatically saves backup copies of all open 
projects with unsaved changes. These are named Name.bak, where name is 
the name of the project, and are saved in the project folder. Backup copies of 
unsaved projects are named #UntitledX.bak where X is an incremental 
number, to allow multiple backup copies in the same project folder.
Auto Save Interval
Allows you to specify how often a backup copy is created.
Maximum Backup Files
Allows you to specify how many backup files will be created with the Auto 
Save function. When the maximum number of backup files is reached, the 
existing files will be overwritten (starting with the oldest file).
Show Tips
If this is activated and you position the pointer over an icon or button in 
Cubase, an explanatory tooltip is displayed after a second. 
						

							Preferences
MIDI
1068
Maximum Undo Steps
Allows you to specify the number of undo levels.
Run Setup on Create New Project
If this is activated, Cubase automatically displays the Project Setup dialog 
every time you create a new project. This allows you to specify the basic 
project configuration.
Open External Projects in Last Used View
If this option is activated and you open a project that has been created on a 
different computer, the window and dialog settings that you last used on your 
computer is applied to the project. This can either be the last used view that 
was saved on your computer or one of your specified global workspaces. If 
you deactivate this setting, external projects are always opened in their 
original layout.
Use Steinberg Hub
Activate this option to open Steinberg Hub when you start Cubase or create 
a new project using the File menu.
General - Personalization
Default Author Name
Allows you to specify an author name that is used by default for new projects. 
This will be included as metadata when exporting audio files with an iXML 
chunk.
Default Company Name
Allows you to specify a company name that is used by default for new 
projects. This will be included as metadata when exporting audio files with an 
iXML chunk.
MIDI
This page contains settings that affect MIDI recording and playback.
MIDI Thru Active
If this is activated, all MIDI tracks that are record enabled or have monitoring 
activated will “echo” incoming MIDI data, sending it back out on their 
respective MIDI outputs and channels. This allows you to hear the correct 
sound from your MIDI instrument during recording.
NOTE
If you use MIDI Thru, select Local Off mode on your MIDI instrument to 
prevent each note from sounding twice. 
						

							Preferences
MIDI
1069
Reset on Stop
If this is activated, Cubase sends out MIDI Reset messages (including noteoff 
and controller resets) on stop.
Never Reset Chased Controllers
If this is activated, controllers are not reset to 0 when you stop playback or 
move to a new position in the project.
Length Adjustment
This allows you to enter a length adjustment value in ticks by which the notes 
that have the same pitch and MIDI channel are adjusted. This ensures that 
there is always a short time between the end of one note and the start of 
another. By default, there are 120 ticks per 1/16 note, but you can adjust this 
with the MIDI Display Resolution setting.
Chase Events
Event types for which an option is activated are chased when you locate to a 
new position and start playback. This makes your MIDI instruments sound as 
they should when you locate to a new position and start playback.
If Chase not limited to Part Boundaries is activated, MIDI controllers are 
also chased outside the part boundaries, and the chase is performed on the 
part touched by the cursor as well as on all the parts to the left of it. Deactivate 
this for very large projects, as it slows down processes such as positioning 
and soloing.
MIDI Display Resolution
This allows you to set the display resolution for viewing and editing MIDI data. 
This only affects how MIDI events are displayed and not how they are 
recorded.
Insert Reset Events after Record
If this is activated, a reset event is inserted at the end of each recorded part. 
This resets controller data, such as Sustain, Aftertouch, Pitchbend, 
Modulation, Breath Control. This is useful if you stop recording before the 
note off command is sent, for example.
Audition through MIDI Inserts/Sends
If this is activated, the layering of MIDI instruments (by MIDI sends) is also 
active within the MIDI editors. This way, the acoustic feedback of the editors 
sends the MIDI data not only to the output selected for the track, but 
additionally through any MIDI inserts and MIDI sends assigned to it. Note, 
however, that this also means that MIDI events will be sent through any MIDI 
plug-ins assigned to this track.
MIDI Max. Feedback in ms
This allows you to set the maximum length of the notes when using Acoustic 
Feedback in MIDI editors. 
						

							Preferences
MIDI
1070
MIDI - MIDI File
Export Options
These options allow you to specify what data is included in exported MIDI files.
Export Inspector Patch
If this is activated, the MIDI patch settings in the Inspector - Bank Select and 
Program Select (used for selecting sounds in the connected MIDI instrument) 
are included as MIDI Bank Select and Program Change events in the MIDI file.
Export Inspector Volume/Pan
If this is activated, Volume and Pan settings made in the Inspector are 
included as MIDI Volume and Pan events in the MIDI file.
Export Automation
If this is activated, the automation data (just as it is heard during playback) is 
converted to MIDI controller events and included in the MIDI file. This also 
includes automation recorded with the MIDI Control plug-in.
Note that if a continuous controller (e. g. CC7) has been recorded but the 
Read button is deactivated for the automation track (i.
 e. the automation is 
effectively switched off for this parameter), only the part data for this controller 
will be exported.
If this option is deactivated and the Read Automation button is activated, no 
continuous controllers will be exported. If the Read button is deactivated, the 
controller data of the MIDI part are exported (these will now be handled like 
“regular” part data).
It is recommended to activate the “Export Automation” option.
Export Inserts
If this is activated and you are using MIDI modifiers or any MIDI plug-ins as 
insert effects, the modifications to the original MIDI notes that occur as a 
result of the effect(s) will be included in the MIDI file. A MIDI delay, for 
example, will produce a number of repeats to a MIDI note by actually adding 
additional, “echoing” notes at rhythmic intervals - these notes will be included 
in the MIDI file if the option is activated.
Export Sends
If this is activated and you are using any MIDI plug-ins as send effects, the 
modifications to the original MIDI notes that occur as a result of the effect(s) 
will be included in the MIDI file.
Export Markers
If this is activated, any markers you have added will be included in the MIDI 
file as Standard MIDI File Marker events.