Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							Working with layouts
Layout operations
1271
Layout operations
The Score Settings dialog contains a Layout page, where you can make settings for 
the different layouts. To the left of the dialog, all existing layouts in the project are 
listed (this is the same list as in the Open Layout dialog, see above). The layout 
currently used is highlighted in the list.
Opening the tracks in a layout
To select another combination of tracks for editing, select the corresponding layout 
in the list.
• You can keep the dialog open while you are editing, and use this function for 
selecting which tracks to edit.
Importing layout symbols
By selecting another layout and selecting “Get Form” from the Functions pop-up 
menu below the list, you import all Layout symbols (inserted from the Layout section 
in the Symbols Inspector) from the selected layout into the current layout.
Managing layouts
• To rename a layout, select it in the list and enter the desired name in the Name 
field to the right in the dialog.
Initially, a layout gets the name of one of the edited tracks – it may be a good 
idea to give each layout a more informative name.
• To remove a layout you no longer need, select it in the list and select 
“Remove” on the Functions pop-up menu. 
						

							Working with layouts
Using layouts – an example
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• To remove all layouts for which there no longer are track combinations, select 
“Clean Up” on the Functions pop-up menu.
Importing and exporting layouts
By selecting a layout and selecting “Export” or “Import” from the Functions pop-up 
menu below the list, you can export or import a Layout. Note that all Staff settings 
are taken into account, when exporting or importing a layout.
Working with Display Transpose
You can specify for each staff in a layout whether it should use Display Transpose. 
In the Score Settings dialog on the Layout page, click in the D column to activate 
or deactivate the option. Note that this setting affects this layout only.
Using layouts – an example
The following text outlines the basic steps for extracting a musical part from a full 
score.
PROCEDURE
1. Prepare the entire score, including all formatting.
This might include inserting project layer block text for the score title, setting the bar 
line type, etc.
2. Open the Score Settings dialog on the Layout page and enter the desired 
name in the Name field (for example “Full Score”).
3. Close the Score Editor.
4. Open a single track, for example a woodwind part.
The Project layer settings automatically appear in the new single track layout.
5. Prepare a layout for the woodwind part.
You might for example move bar lines, add endings, activate multiple rests, etc.
You can also import all layout symbols from the “Full Score” layout, by opening the 
Score Settings dialog on the Layout page, selecting the “Full Score” layout in the list 
to the left, and selecting “Get Form” from the Functions pop-up menu.
IMPORTANT
Be careful not to change any of the properties which are not part of the layout. This 
modifies the “Full Score”, too.
6. Enter the desired name for the new layout in the Name field on the Layout 
page of the Score Settings dialog and click “Apply”.
RELATED LINKS
Importing layout symbols on page 1271 
						

							Working with layouts
Marker Track to Form
1273
Marker Track to Form
If you have created markers in the Project window which denote the start of each 
new “section” in your music (verse, bridge, chorus, etc.), you can automatically 
transfer these markers into the current layout.
PROCEDURE
1. Open the Scores menu, open the Advanced Layout submenu and select 
“Marker Track to Form”.
Now, rehearsal marks and double bar lines are inserted in the score, at the position 
of each marker.
2. If you want the names of the markers shown as well, open the Advanced 
Layout submenu again and select “Display Markers”. 
						

							1274
Working with MusicXML
Introduction
MusicXML is a music notation format developed by Recordare LLC in 2000 based 
primarily on two academic music formats. It allows the representation of scores in 
the current symbolic representation of western music notation, used since the 17th 
century. With Cubase you can now import and export MusicXML files created with 
version 1.1. This makes it possible to share and exchange sheet music with people 
who are using score writing programs such as Finale and Sibelius.
NOTE
As MusicXML is supported to various degrees by different programs, you always 
have to do manual adjustments.
What is MusicXML used for?
The MusicXML file format can be used for the following purposes:
• Representation and printing of sheet music
• Exchange of sheet music between various score writing programs
• Electronic distribution of musical scores
• Storage and archiving of scores in an electronic format
Notational representation vs. musical performance
MusicXML is a music notation file format, that means it deals especially with the 
layout of music notation and the correct graphical representation, i.
 e. how a piece 
of music should look.
However, MusicXML music data also contains elements that define how a piece of 
music should sound. For example, these are used when creating a MIDI file from 
MusicXML. This means that MusicXML has things in common with MIDI.
MIDI is a music interchange format for performance applications like Cubase or 
other sequencers. The MIDI file format is designed for playback, i.
 e. the main focus 
of the MIDI file format lies in the performance, not in the notation. 
						

							Working with MusicXML
Introduction
1275
Is MusicXML better than MIDI?
The following sections inform you about the advantages of MusicXML and MIDI 
regarding note representation and sound.
Advantages of MusicXML
MIDI tracks hold MIDI notes and other MIDI data. A MIDI note in Cubase is only 
defined by its position, length, pitch and velocity. This is not enough to decide how 
the note will be displayed in a score. For a correct representation, Cubase also 
needs the following information:
• Stem direction, beaming.
• Expression marks (staccato, accent, ties and slurs).
• Information about the instrument in the score.
• Key and basic rhythm of the piece.
• Grouping of notes, etc.
MusicXML can save a great part of this information. However, you have to adjust the 
scores with the tools available in the Score Editor.
Advantages of MIDI
Although MusicXML has obvious advantages in the representation of musical 
scores, there are also restrictions in sound. This is due to the fact that MusicXML 
as a music notation format has a graphical background and is designed for 
exchanging representation, not sound.
When playing back MusicXML files in Cubase, the following parameters, among 
others, are not considered:
• On and Off velocities
•Dynamics
• Controller data
•SysEx
• Standard MIDI file meta events
•Audio
• All Cubase-specific data like automation, MIDI effects, Input Transformer, etc. 
						

							Working with MusicXML
Importing and exporting MusicXML files
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Importing and exporting MusicXML files
Cubase can import and export MusicXML files, which makes it possible to transfer 
musical scores to and from applications that support this file format. However, there 
are some restrictions concerning the parameters supported by Cubase.
Importing and exporting Notes
Importing and exporting Layouts
Parameter Export Import
Pitch Yes Yes
Length Yes Yes
Staves Yes Up to two per staff
Voices Yes Up to four per staff
Accidentals Yes Yes
Ties Yes No
Dots Yes No
Stem Yes Yes
Beams Yes No
Grace Notes Yes Yes
Rests Yes Yes
Parameter Export Import
Page Size Yes No
Page margins Yes Yes
Page scaling Yes Yes
Page breaks Yes No
System breaks Yes Yes
Distance between staves 
and systemsYe s Ye s
Left/right Inset Yes No
Distance between measures Yes No
Hidden staves Yes Yes
x and y positions of symbols Yes Yes 
						

							Working with MusicXML
Importing and exporting MusicXML files
1277
Importing and exporting Symbols
Importing and exporting Formats
Parameter Export Import
Keys Yes Yes
Clefs Yes Yes
Time Signature Yes Yes
Dynamics Yes Yes
Ornaments Yes / incomplete Yes / incomplete
Articulations Yes / incomplete Yes / incomplete
Technicals Yes / incomplete Yes / incomplete
Ly r i c s Ye s Ye s
Chord Symbols Yes Yes
Damper Pedal Yes Yes
Dynamics Yes Yes
Rehearsals Yes Yes
Te x t Ye s Ye s
Layout Text Yes N.A.
Project Text Yes “Credits”
Dashes Yes Yes
Endings Yes Yes
Octave Shift Yes Yes
Bar line types Yes Yes
Slurs Yes Yes
Hammer-on/pull-off No No
Parameter Export Import
Display Transpose Yes Yes
Drum notation Yes Yes
Short / long staff names Yes Yes
Program changes Yes N.A.
Music font Yes (if Jazz font) Yes
Tablature (including String 
tunings)Ye s Ye s 
						

							Working with MusicXML
Importing and exporting MusicXML files
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Importing MusicXML files
PROCEDURE
1. Open the File menu and open the Import submenu.
2. On the submenu, select “MusicXML…”.
3. In the file dialog that opens, locate and select the MusicXML file and click 
“Open”.
4. Another file dialog opens in which you can select the project folder for the new 
project.
Select an existing project folder or create a new one by clicking “Create” and entering 
a name in the dialog.
5. A new project is created with the name of the MusicXML file.
Exporting MusicXML files
PROCEDURE
1. Set up the score the way you want it in the Score Editor of Cubase.
2. Open the File menu and open the Export submenu.
3. On the submenu, select “MusicXML…”.
Note that this option is only available when the Score Editor is open.
4. A file dialog opens in which you can choose an existing empty folder or create 
a new folder for saving the MusicXML file (with the extension “.xml”). 
						

							1279
Designing your score: 
additional techniques
About this chapter
In this chapter you will learn:
• How to change the staff size.
• How to create multi-rests.
• How to add and edit bar lines.
• How to create upbeats.
• How to set measure spacing and the number of bars across the page.
• How to control staff and grand staff spacing.
• How to use the Auto Layout dialog.
• How to use the Reset Layout function.
• How to break bar lines.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
Before you start designing the score page layout, you should open the Page Setup 
dialog on the File menu, and make settings for paper size, print scale and margins!
Layout settings
The Layout page of the Score Settings dialog contains a number of settings that 
affect the display of the current layout. 
						

							Designing your score: additional techniques
Layout settings
1280
The track list
The track list lists the tracks included in the layout and allows you to make the 
following settings:
Brackets
These two columns allow you to add braces or brackets, encompassing any 
number of staves in the layout.
T
This is relevant if the “Modern Time Sign.” option is activated to the right. In 
that case, you use this column to specify for which tracks the time signature 
is shown – see below.
N
This option lets you specify for each staff in a layout whether the staff name is 
shown.
L
If this is activated, any layout symbols are shown; otherwise they are hidden. 
For example, this allows you to have rehearsal marks shown for the top staff 
only in a multi-staff layout.
D
This option lets you specify for each staff in a layout whether it should use 
Display Transpose.
C
This option lets you specify which staff should show the chord track symbols. 
The chord track symbols can only be shown on one staff.
RELATED LINKS
Adding brackets and braces on page 1296
Displaying the Chord Symbols from the Chord Track on page 1296