Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							Preferences
MIDI
1071
Export as Type 0
If this is activated, the MIDI file will be of Type 0 (all data on a single track, but 
on different MIDI channels). If you do not check this option, the MIDI file will 
be of Type 1 (data on separate tracks). Which type to choose depends on 
what you want to do with the MIDI file (in which application or sequencer it is 
to be used).
Export Resolution
You can specify a MIDI resolution between 24 and 960 for the MIDI file. The 
resolution is the number of pulses, or ticks, per quarter note (PPQ) and 
determines the precision with which you will be able to view and edit the MIDI 
data. The higher the resolution, the higher the precision. The resolution should 
be chosen depending on the application or sequencer with which the MIDI file 
will be used though, because certain applications and sequencers may not be 
able to handle certain resolutions.
Export Locator Range
If this is activated, only the range between the left and right locator will be 
exported.
Export includes Delay
If this is activated, any delay settings you have made in the Inspector will be 
included in the MIDI file.
NOTE
To include other Inspector settings, you must convert the settings to real MIDI 
events and properties by using the Merge MIDI in Loop function for each track.
NOTE
Exported MIDI files include the tempo and time signature events of the Tempo 
Track Editor or, if the tempo track is deactivated, the current tempo and time 
signature.
Import Options
These options allow you to specify what data is included in imported MIDI files.
Extract First Patch
If this is activated, the first Program Change and Bank Select events for each 
track are converted to Inspector settings for the track.
Extract First Volume/Pan
If this is activated, the first MIDI Volume and Pan events for each track are 
converted to Inspector settings for the track. 
						

							Preferences
MIDI
1072
Import Controller as Automation Tracks
If this is activated, MIDI controller events in the MIDI file will be converted to 
automation data for the MIDI tracks. If this is deactivated, controller data for 
the MIDI parts will be imported.
Import to Left Locator
If this is activated, the imported MIDI file will be placed so that it starts at the 
position of the left locator - otherwise it will start at the beginning of the 
project. Note that if you choose to have a new project created automatically, 
the MIDI file will always start at the beginning of the project.
Import Markers
If this is activated, Standard MIDI File Markers in the file will be imported and 
converted to Cubase markers.
Import dropped File as single Part
If this is activated and you drag and drop a MIDI file into the project, the whole 
file will be placed on a single track.
Ignore Master Track Events on Merge
If this is activated and you import a MIDI file into the current project, tempo 
t r a c k  d a t a  i n  t h e  M I D I  f i l e  i s  i g n o r e d .  T h e  i m p o r t e d  M I D I  f i l e  w i l l  p l a y  a c c o r d i n g  
to the current Tempo track in the project.
If this option is deactivated, the Tempo Track Editor will be adjusted 
according to the tempo information in the MIDI file.
Auto Dissolve Format 0
If this is activated and you import a MIDI file of type 0 into the project, the file 
will automatically be “dissolved”: For each embedded MIDI channel in the file, 
a separate track will be inserted in the Project window.
If this is deactivated, only one MIDI track will be created. This track will be set 
to MIDI Channel “Any”, allowing all MIDI events to play back on their original 
channels. You can also use the “Dissolve Part” function on the MIDI menu to 
distribute the events onto different tracks (or lanes) with different MIDI 
Channels at a later stage.
Destination
This allows you to specify what happens when you drag a MIDI file into the 
project:
•Select MIDI Tracks to create MIDI tracks for the imported file.
•Select Instrument Tracks to create instrument tracks for each MIDI 
channel in the MIDI file and let the program automatically load 
appropriate presets.
•Select HALion Sonic SE multi-timbral to create several MIDI tracks, 
each routed to a separate instance of HALion Sonic SE in the VST 
Instruments window and load the appropriate presets. 
						

							Preferences
MediaBay
1073
Import Karaoke Lyrics as Text
Activate this to convert karaoke lyrics in the MIDI file to text that can be 
displayed in the Score Editor. If this is deactivated, lyrics are only shown in 
the List Editor.
MIDI - MIDI Filter
This page allows you to prevent certain MIDI messages from being recorded and/or 
echoed by the MIDI Thru function (thruput). The page is divided into four sections:
Record
Activating any of these options prevents the corresponding type of MIDI 
message from being recorded. It will, however, be thruput, and if already 
recorded, it will play back normally.
Thru
Activate any of these options to prevent the corresponding type of MIDI 
message from being thruput. It will, however, be recorded and played back 
normally.
Channels
If you activate a Channel button, no MIDI messages on that MIDI Channel will 
be recorded or thruput. Already recorded messages will however be played 
back normally.
Controller
Allows you to prevent certain MIDI controller types from being recorded or 
thruput.
To filter out a controller type, select it from the list at the top of the section and 
click “Add”. It will appear in the list below.
To remove a controller type from the list (allow it to be recorded and thruput), 
select it in the lower list and click “Remove”.
MediaBay
Scan unknown File Types
Activate this to open and scan any file in the search location and ignore files 
that cannot be recognized.
Maximum Items in Results List
This allows you to specify the maximum number of files that are displayed in 
the Results list. This helps you to avoid unmanageably long lists of files in the 
Results list. 
						

							Preferences
Metering
1074
Allow Editing in Results List
Activate this to edit attributes also in the Results list. Otherwise, editing can 
only be done in the Attribute Inspector.
Show File Extensions in Results List
Activate this to display file name extensions in the Results list.
Scan Folders only when MediaBay is open
Activate this to scan Cubase for media files when the MediaBay window is 
open. Otherwise, the folders are scanned in the background even when the 
MediaBay window is closed.
NOTE
During playing back or recording no folder scans are performed.
Metering
Map Input Bus Metering to Audio Track (in Direct Monitoring)
This allows you to map the input bus metering to monitor-enabled audio 
tracks, giving you the opportunity to watch the input levels of your audio tracks 
when working in the Project window. For this to work, activate Direct 
Monitoring in the Device Setup dialog.
• If this option is activated, audio tracks show the metering signal from the 
input bus to which they are routed as soon as the track is 
monitor-enabled. Note that the tracks are mirroring the input bus signal, 
that is, you will see the same signal in both places. When using mapped 
metering, any functions, such as trimming, that you apply to the audio 
track are not reflected in its meters.
• If this option is not activated, metering works as usual.
Meters’ Peak Hold Time
This allows you to specify for how long the peak levels are held in the meters. 
For this to work, deactivate Meters - Hold Forever in the MixConsole.
Meters’ Fallback
This allows you to specify how quickly the meters in the MixConsole return to 
lower values after signal peaks.
Metering - Appearance
On this page you can assign colors to level meter values to quickly identify what 
levels are reached. You can adjust the colors for the channel meter or the master 
meter. For the master meter you can only make changes for the Digital Scale 
scaling mode. Changes take effect when you click Apply or OK. 
						

							Preferences
Record
1075
To adjust the levels and colors, activate the channel meter or master meter option 
and proceed as follows:
• To specify the level for a color change, double-click a handle to the right of 
the meter scale and enter the level (dB) value. Note that for dB values less 
than 0, you must add a minus sign before the entered number. You can also 
click a handle and drag it to a specific level. Press [Shift] for more accurate 
positioning. Alternatively, you can nudge with the Arrow Up/Down keys. Press 
[Shift] for faster positioning.
• To assign a color, click the upper or lower part of a handle so that a black 
frame is shown, and use the color selector pane to select a color. Selecting 
the same color for the upper and lower part of the handle results in a meter 
that changes its colors gradually, while different colors indicate level changes 
even more precisely.
• To add more color handles, click the Add button, or [Alt]/[Option]-click at a 
level position to the right of the meter scale. Each new handle is automatically 
associated with a default color.
• To remove a handle, select the handle and click the Remove button, or 
[Ctrl]/[Command]-click the handle.
Record
This page contains settings related to audio and MIDI recording. Select one of the 
available entries.
Record - Audio
Audio Pre-Record Seconds
This allows you to specify for how many seconds any incoming audio you play 
is captured in buffer memory during playback or in stop mode.
When Recording Wave Files larger than 4GB
This allows you to specify what happens if you record Wave files that are 
larger than 4
 GB.
• To split the Wave file, activate Split Files.
Use this, if you work on a FAT32 file system that supports only file sizes 
up to 4 GB.
• To save the Wave file as RF64 file, activate Use RF64 Format.
RF64 files use the .wav extension. However, they can only be opened 
with an application that supports the RF64 standard. 
						

							Preferences
Record
1076
Create Audio Images During Record
If this option is activated, Cubase calculates the waveform image and displays 
it during the actual recording process.
NOTE
This realtime calculation uses some extra processing power.
Record - Audio - Broadcast Wave
This page allows you to specify the Description, Author, and Reference text 
strings that are embedded in recorded Broadcast Wave files. The settings you 
make here also appear as default strings in the Broadcast Wave Chunk dialog 
when you export files to certain formats (not only Broadcast Wave files can contain 
embedded information, but also Wave, Wave 64, and AIFF files).
Record - MIDI
Record-Enable allows MIDI Thru
Activate this option if you do not want record-enabled MIDI or instrument 
tracks to echo incoming MIDI data. This prevents hearing doubled notes on 
record-enabled tracks to which a VST instrument is assigned.
Snap MIDI Parts to Bars
Activate this to lengthen recorded MIDI parts automatically to start and end at 
whole bar positions. If you are working in a Bars+Beats-based context, this 
can make editing (Moving, Duplicating, Repeating, etc.) easier.
Solo Record in MIDI Editors
Activate this to automatically Record Enable a track when you open a part for 
editing in a MIDI editor. For all other MIDI tracks Record Enable is deactivated 
until you close the editor again.
This makes it easier to record MIDI data when you edit a part – you will always 
be sure the recorded data ends up in the edited part and not on any other 
track.
MIDI Record Catch Range in ms
When you record starting at the left locator, this setting helps you make sure 
that the very start of the recording is included. If you raise the Record Catch 
Range, Cubase will catch the events played just before the recording start 
point, eliminating this problem.
Retrospective Record
When this is activated, the program captures MIDI input in buffer memory, 
even when not recording. The contents of the buffer memory can then be 
retrieved and turned into a MIDI part on a record enabled MIDI track. This 
therefore allows you to capture any MIDI notes you play in stop mode or 
during playback and later turn them into a recorded MIDI part. 
						

							Preferences
Scores (Cubase Pro only)
1077
Use the “Retrospective Record Buffer Size” setting to determine how much 
MIDI data can be captured in the buffer.
ASIO Latency Compensation Active by Default
This determines the initial state of the “ASIO Latency Compensation” button 
in the track list for MIDI or instrument tracks.
If you record live on a VST instrument, you usually compensate the latency of 
your audio card by playing too early. In consequence, the timestamps are 
recorded too early. By activating this option, all recorded events are moved by 
the current latency, and playback sounds like during the recording situation.
Replace Recording in Editors
This affects the result of recording in a MIDI editor when Replace Mode is 
selected (Linear Record Mode on the Transport panel):
•None
Nothing is replaced, even though Replace Mode is selected.
•Controller
Only controller data is replaced, not notes.
•All
Replace mode works as usual - notes and controllers are replaced 
when recording.
Scores (Cubase Pro only)
This page allows you to make settings for the Score Editor. Please select one of the 
available entries.
Scores - Colors for Additional Meanings
Here, you can specify different colors to identify non-standard elements in the 
score.
• Click in the Active column to activate this function for the respective element.
• Click in the color field to the right to specify the desired color.
Scores - Editing
Display Object Selection tool after Inserting Symbol
When this is activated, as soon as you add a symbol, the program switches 
back to the Object Selection tool. When this is deactivated, the Draw tool 
remains active after inserting a symbol. 
						

							Preferences
Scores (Cubase Pro only)
1078
Double-Click Symbol to get Draw tool
When this is activated, you need to double-click with the Object Selection 
tool in a Palette to activate the Draw tool. When this is deactivated, a single 
click is enough to bring out the Pencil.
Keep Crescendo Symbols “Horizontal”
When this is activated, crescendo symbols are never “slanted”.
Keep moved Notes within Key
When this is activated, and you move notes vertically (to transpose them), you 
will be restricted to pitches within the current key.
Tied Notes selected as Single Units
When this is activated, and you click on either note in a tied note pair, both 
notes will be selected.
Global Staff Spacings with [Alt-Gr + Ctrl] (Win)/[Option]-[Command] (Mac)
When this is activated, pressing [Alt-Gr + Ctrl] (Win) or [Option]-[Command] 
(Mac) and adjusting the spacing of staves applies the spacing to all staves on 
the current page and on all the following pages. When this is deactivated, the 
spacing is only applied to the current page.
Auto Layout: Don’t hide first staff
This option affects the Auto Layout functions “Hide Empty Staves” and 
“Optimize All”. When “Don’t hide first staff” is activated, staves in the very first 
grand staff will not be hidden, even if they are empty.
Show Braces in Edit Mode
Normally, braces are only shown in Page Mode. With this option activated 
they will also be visible in Edit Mode.
“Apply” closes Property Windows
Normally, when you open a Property window or any non-modal score dialog 
(e.
 g. Set Note Info or Score Settings), you can adjust the settings and click 
Apply to apply the changes without closing the window. When this option is 
activated, clicking Apply closes the window.
Show Position Cursor
When this is activated the Project cursor position is shown as a vertical line 
in the score. You can click and drag the line to move the cursor or hold down 
[Ctrl]/[Command] and click anywhere in the score to move the cursor directly 
there.
Show pitch when inserting notes
If this is activated the pitch of inserted notes is indicated.
Show Note Info by the Mouse
When this is activated and you insert or drag a note in the score, a tooltip will 
appear below the pointer, showing the current pitch and position. If you feel 
screen redraws are too slow, you may want to turn this feature off. 
						

							Preferences
Scores (Cubase Pro only)
1079
Snap Slurs when dragging
When this is activated, the endpoints of slurs will snap to notes when you 
draw or move them.
Unlock Layout when editing single parts
If there are more than one part on a track, and you open score edit for one of 
these parts, the other parts are displayed as “empty space” to preserve the 
layout. If this option is activated, this empty space is avoided, so you can print 
this single part without endless rests.
NOTE
Note that this option will erase the layout for the whole track! The next time 
you open the entire track, the previous layout will be overwritten with the 
layout settings you made for the single edited part.
Double-click on staff flips between full score/part
When this option is activated, double-clicking on a staff will switch between 
display of either the whole track or the current part.
NOTE
Note that in this case, the Score Settings dialog will only open if you select 
the “Settings...” option on the Scores menu.
Layout Tool Compatibility Mode
The behavior of the Layout tool was different in older versions of Cubase. 
Activate this option if you have an old project in which the Layout tool was 
used to ensure that the project is displayed as expected.
Hide Notes beyond limits
When this option is activated, any notes outside the Note Limits range set in 
the Score Settings dialog (Staff page - Options tab) will be hidden.
Default Number of Bars per Staff
This is used in two cases:
• In Edit Mode to set how many bars are shown across the page.
• In Page Mode to decide how many bars there are shown across the 
page in a new layout.
NOTE
When using the Auto Layout function, you will be asked for the maximum 
number of bars across the page, overriding this setting. 
						

							Preferences
Transport
1080
Scores - Note Layer
If you are moving and editing notes, you might accidentally move other objects 
nearby. To avoid this, you can assign different types of objects to different Note 
Layers (up to three) and instruct Cubase to lock one or two of these layers, making 
them unmovable.
This page is where you specify to which layer each object type belongs. The actual 
locking of layers is done on the extended toolbar of the Score Editor.
Transport
This page contains options related to playback, recording and positioning.
Playback Toggle triggers Local Preview
When this option is activated, you can use the [Space bar] on your keyboard 
to start/stop “local” playback of the selected file in the Sample Editor or the 
Pool.
When the Sample Editor is not open or when there is no audio file selected 
in the Pool, the [Space bar] still toggles the “global” project playback.
If this option is deactivated, the [Space bar] is used to start/stop playback of 
the project.
Zoom while Locating in Time Scale
If this option is activated, you can zoom in or out by clicking in the Ruler and 
dragging down or up.
Cursor Width
Adjusts the width of the Project Cursor line.
Return to Start Position on Stop
If this option is activated and you stop playback, the project cursor 
automatically returns to the position where recording or playback last started.
If this option is deactivated and you stop playback, the project cursor remains 
at the position where you stop playback.
If you click Stop again, the project cursor returns to the position where 
recording or playback last started.
Deactivate Punch In on Stop
If this is activated, Punch In on the Transport panel is automatically 
deactivated whenever you enter Stop mode.