Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							Tips and Tricks
Useful editing techniques
1321
Using “Scores Notes To MIDI”
This function converts the score data, as displayed, into MIDI data. Let’s say for 
example that you have set up the score so that it is displayed to 99
 % the way you 
want it to be. Yet, that last 1
 % forces you to deactivate some of the Staff Settings 
(like Clean Lengths, No Overlap, or Auto Quantize), which makes other parts of the 
score illegible. In this case, try using the “Scores Notes To MIDI” function. Note that 
you should work on a copy of the track!
RELATED LINKS
Using "Scores Notes To MIDI" on page 1125
Optimizing rests
If you have a number of consecutive empty bars, you can replace them with one 
multiple rest.
RELATED LINKS
Multi-Rests on page 1281
Zero system lines
Having no system lines at all might seem like a stupid idea to start with. But this 
option allows you to create chord sheets really quickly.
A lead sheet created by specifying “0” system lines
RELATED LINKS
Using Make Chord Symbols on page 1248
Examples and scales
If you are creating scale examples and similar, you can use the Real Book option 
and manually hide all symbols at the beginning of the first staff to make the score 
appear like separate unconnected “lines”.
Remember you can also hide the bar lines.
An example scale without bar lines. 
						

							Tips and Tricks
Frequently asked questions
1322
Controlling the order and appearance of grace notes
Normally, grace notes are beamed. Their order under the beam is controlled by their 
order in the track. It is enough to put a grace note one tick before the next grace 
note to make them appear in the desired order under the beam.
Initially the grace notes are put in with a 32nd note beam. By double-clicking the 
note and changing the “flag” type in the Set Note Info dialog, you can change this.
Complex grace notes
Speeding up inserting key changes
If you have a grand staff with many instruments, inserting key changes one by one 
can take a lot of time.
In this case, activate “Key Changes for the entire Project” on the Key context menu 
or in the Score Settings dialog, on the Project–Notation Style subpage (Keys 
category). This way, all changes made to the key always affect the entire project.
Speeding up inserting staccato and accents
Symbols linked to notes can also be put in for a number of notes at the same time, 
even on different staves.
RELATED LINKS
Adding a symbol to several notes using the Draw tool on page 1214
Setting the distance between staves in a piano score
Drag the first bass staff on the first page. This copies the spacing to all staves. 
Please note that this can only be done in Page Mode.
Frequently asked questions
In this section, you can find some answers to questions concerning adding and 
editing of notes as well as the handling of symbols and layouts. 
						

							Tips and Tricks
Frequently asked questions
1323
I enter a note with one value and it is shown as a note with 
another value.
Set the Rests value for Display Quantize to a smaller note value. Try deactivating 
Auto Quantize, especially if you do not have any triplets or triplets only.
Notes are not displayed at the correct positions.
Try changing the Notes value for Display Quantize.
There are a number of short rests after my notes.
Your Rests value for Display Quantize might be set to too small a note value. Raise 
it. Also check the “Clean Lengths” setting.
When I change the length of a note, nothing happens.
This is because the Display Quantize value puts a restriction on what note values 
can be displayed. Check that Display Quantize is set to the smallest note value you 
have in your project.
I have adjusted Display Quantize and the other staff settings 
best I can. The notes are still shown with the wrong values.
You might need to use one of these three features: inserting Display Quantize 
events, using polyphonic voicing, or applying “Scores Notes To MIDI”.
In the Score Settings dialog, I change the Display Quantize 
settings on the Staff page (Main subpage) and nothing 
happens.
Did you remember to click Apply? Maybe you have already inserted Display 
Quantize events in the score? These override the staff settings.
Suddenly many Display Quantize events appear in the score.
This is not a malfunction. If you had Auto Quantize on and start inserting Display 
Quantize events, the auto quantizing is automatically transformed into Display 
Quantize events. 
						

							Tips and Tricks
Frequently asked questions
1324
One long note is shown as many tied notes.
Do other notes occur at the same positions but with different lengths? Then you 
need to use polyphonic voicing. Are the note(s) syncopated? Then you should try 
the syncopation feature.
Even though I’ve tried the above, notes are not tied as I want 
them.
The way notes are tied in Cubase follows basic notation rules. You may need to 
make exceptions to these rules, by using the Cut Notes tool.
I have an unnecessarily large amount of rests.
Especially with polyphonic voicing, superfluous rests may be created. Try 
deactivating rests for one or more voices. You might also leave the rests activated 
in the Score Settings dialog on the Staff page (Polyphonic tab) and then hide the 
rests you do not need, one by one.
When using polyphonic voices, a number of rests are drawn on 
top of each other.
As above, you should try hiding rests in the Score Settings dialog on the Staff page 
(Polyphonic tab), center rests and possibly manually moving or hiding rests.
In polyphonic voices, notes that are on the same musical 
position are not displayed exactly vertically above each other.
This is not a malfunction. Cubase has built-in automatic algorithms for making the 
score as legible as possible. Sometimes this includes adjustments of the “graphic” 
position of notes, especially with small intervals like seconds. You can always move 
the notes using the Layout tool.
When using polyphonic voices, notes with small intervals 
“collide”.
As described above, Cubase tries to avoid this, but only for voices 1 and 2 in the 
upper staff and voices 5 and 6 in the lower. For other voices, please use the Layout 
tool to manually move the notes. 
						

							Tips and Tricks
Frequently asked questions
1325
When I select a note, nothing is shown on the info line.
The note is probably tied to another note. This means that the second note does not 
really exist, it is just a graphic indication that the main note is long. Try selecting the 
main note instead.
Symbols from the Layout Symbols tab are sometimes invisible 
when I open the score.
This is not a malfunction. Those symbols are part of a layout. If you open the score 
with another layout, for example because you open another combination of tracks, 
you can see another layout which might not contain any Symbols at all.
RELATED LINKS
Working with layouts on page 1269
I can’t select an object on the screen, or I can’t select an object 
without selecting another object.
Drag a selection rectangle around the objects. Then hold down [Shift] and deselect 
all the objects you do not want included, by clicking on them. You should also check 
out the lock layer function.
Symbols have disappeared.
Are they layout symbols? Then maybe they belong to another layout than the one 
you are editing now.
If that is not the reason, maybe you have inserted the symbol into the wrong staff.
RELATED LINKS
Important! – Symbols, staves, and voices on page 1212
A symbol doesn’t move with its staff. Auto Layout produces far 
too wide spacing.
Maybe you have inserted the symbol into the wrong staff.
RELATED LINKS
Important! – Symbols, staves, and voices on page 1212 
						

							Tips and Tricks
Frequently asked questions
1326
A note symbol appears too far from the note I wanted it inserted 
on.
Do you have activated the correct voice? Note symbols are inserted into voices, just 
like notes.
The note I recorded is displayed with the wrong length. For 
example, I recorded a sixteenth and got a quarter note.
You probably have the wrong Display Quantize value set. Open the Score Settings 
dialog and select the Staff page. If Auto Quantize is activated, deactivate it, unless 
you have mixed triplets and regular notes. Also check the Notes and Rests Display 
Quantize values. If the settings are too “coarse”, change them to a smaller note 
value. If you for example need the program to display an eighth note rest, Rests 
Display Quantize must be set to “8” or a smaller value. If No Overlap is activated, 
you might want to turn it off.
RELATED LINKS
How the Score Editor works on page 1089
There is a pause after a note that I don’t want.
You probably added a note with the wrong note value. Either lengthen the note 
(physically or graphically) or delete the one you have and add a new one with the 
correct note value. If this problem occurs a lot in your score, try selecting a larger 
Rests Display Quantize value.
RELATED LINKS
Changing the length of notes on page 1143
Deleting notes on page 1150
Using Rests as Display Quantize setting on page 1092
There is no pause after the note although there should be one.
Either the note is too long (use Clean Lengths or change the current note’s length), 
or Rests Display Quantize is set to too high a value. Open the Score Settings, select 
the Staff page and lower the value. 
						

							Tips and Tricks
If you wish you had a faster computer
1327
The note has an accidental when it shouldn’t, or it doesn’t when 
it should.
Maybe the note is simply of the wrong pitch? Click on it (using the Object Selection 
tool) and look at the info line. Move it to the correct pitch. If this is not the reason, 
maybe you have the wrong key set? And finally, you can also use enharmonic 
shifting.
RELATED LINKS
The info line on page 1102
Editing pitches of individual notes on page 1141
Accidentals and enharmonic shift on page 1181
Notes are not grouped under beams the way I want it.
Normally the program groups eighth notes, sixteenths, etc. under beams. This can 
be deactivated. There is also detailed control of which notes are grouped under a 
beam.
RELATED LINKS
Handling beaming on page 1188
If you wish you had a faster computer
Here are some tips for those who find some operations slower than they would like:
• Work on a smaller section of the score at a time. Break the project up into 
parts and work on those parts individually until the final layout stage.
• Switch on multi-rests as late as possible.
• When working in Edit Mode, set Default Bars Across The Staff to a small 
value, for example 2.
• I n  E d i t  M o d e ,  r e s i z e  t h e  w i n d o w  s o  t h a t  o n l y  o n e  g r a n d  s t a f f  a t  a  t i m e  i s  v i s i b l e .
• Consider upgrading your computer hardware. 
						

							1328
Index
A
Accelerando 1191
Accents
Above stems 1213
Accidentals
About 1181
Distance from note 1183
ACID® loops 451
Acoustic feedback 689
Sample Editor 441
Score Editor 1138
VariAudio 485
Activate ’Link Panners’ for New 
Tracks
 1082
Activate Project 76
Activate Read/Write for all 
tracks
 585
Active TrackVersion 154
Adapt (Display Quantize) 1157
ADAT Lightpipe 957
Add Track 134
Add Track dialog 134
Adding chords 817, 821
AES/SPDIF Digital Audio 957
AES17
Meters 315
AIFF files 948
Algorithms
Limitations 430
Sample Editor 451
Time stretching 428
Aligning
Dynamics 1237
Text 1253
Aligning file and project attributes
Pool 521
Alignment level (Meters) 315
All MIDI Inputs 20
Allow Editing in Results List 1073
Appearance
Colors 1053
Metering 1074
Applying Track Presets 162
Archive
Prepare 79
Arranger mode 1314
Arranger track 103
Arranger tracks
Adding 259
Creating a chain 260
Flattening 264
Renaming events 259
Articulations 778
Adding sound slots 786
Auditioning with expression 
maps
 779
Editing 722
Editing on the controller 
lane
 783
Editing on the info line 784
Mapping sound slots 787
Remote key settings 789
Sorting in Groups 789
ASCII display
Editing byte values 777
ASIO
Direct Monitoring 18
ASIO devices
Plug and play support 18
ASIO Direct Monitoring 217
ASIO driver
DirectX setup 15
ASIO Latency Compensation 
Active by Default
 1076
ASIO ports
Using for data only 975
ASIO-Guard 1049
Aspect ratio
Video Player window 988
Attributes
About 544
Defining 549
Editing in the MediaBay 546
Managing lists 549
Audio
Detecting the tempo 920
Handling 167
Overlapping 143
Slicing 465
Audio channels
Mixing down to file 938
Audio clips
About 167, 401
Audio clock
About 957
Audio effects
Applying 416
Surround 558
Using VST System Link 978
Audio events
About 167
Auditioning 169
Creating from regions 450
Editing in Project Browser 929
Editing in Sample Editor 433
Editing selections 446
Fade handles 247
Making selections 444
Showing in Sample Editor 433
Slicing 465
Volume handles 249
Audio files
Adjusting to the project 
tempo
 453
Exporting 938
Removing unused 79
Audio hardware 1047
Connections 13
Externally clocked 16
Audio loops
Musical Mode 452
Tempo matching 452
Audio parts
Auditioning 169
Creating 168
Editing in Audio Part Editor 492
Editing in Project Browser 930
Audio performance
Optimizing 1045
Audio Pre-Record Seconds 1075
Audio processing
Pool 517
Audio Record Modes 222 
						

							Index
1329
Audio Recording 221
Preparations 220
Pre-Record Time 224
RAM Requirements 220
Record File Format 219
Record Folder 219
Record Modes 222
Recording a downmix 223
Recording with Effects 222
Recovering 224
Recovering recordings 223
Undo 223
Audio regions
About 167
Audio tracks 82
Render in Place 172
AudioWarp
Unstretching audio 491
Audition chords 823
Audition through MIDI 
Inserts/Sends
 1068
Auditioning
Acoustic feedback 441
Audio events 169
Audio Part Editor 495
Audio parts 169
Sample Editor 441
Speaker tool 441
Using key commands 441, 495
Auditioning key commands
Pool 512
Auto Disable Talkback Mode 1085
Auto fades
Global settings 256
Track settings 257
Auto layout
About 1297
Hiding empty staves 1298
Moving bars 1298
Moving staves 1298
Auto Layout - Don’t hide first 
staff
 1077
Auto Monitoring 1082
Auto Punch In 215
Auto Punch Out 215
Auto Quantize 1157
Auto Save 1067
Auto save 77
Auto Save Internal 1067
Auto Select Events under 
Cursor
 1054
Auto Track Color Mode 1066
Automatable parameters
Controlling with Quick 
Controls
 625
Automatic scales 824
Automatic voicings 825
Automatically generating new 
audio clips
Pool 521
Automation
About 576
Activating Loop 592
Activating To End 591
Activating To Punch 591
Activating To Start 591
Continuous fill 592
Drawing Fill manually 592
Editing in Project Browser 934
Fill options 590
Freeze Trim 589
Functions pop-up menu 589
Initial value 584
Jump curves 576
One Shot 592
Ramp curves 576
Read 577
Show options 594
Static value line 576
SurroundPanner V5 573
Suspend options 593
Suspend Read 593
Tempo 907
Trim 588
Virgin territory 584
Write 577
Automation data
Adjusting curves 581
Editing 580
Removing 581
Selecting 580
Automation follows Events 1054
Automation Merge Modes 596
Automation modes
About 586
Auto-Latch 587
Cross-over 587
Touch 586
Automation panel
About 585
Read buttons 585
Write buttons 585
Automation tracks
About 582
Assigning parameters 583
Hiding 583
Muting 584
Removing 583
Showing 583
Auto-Scroll
Crossfades 254
Sample Editor 433
Score Editor 1098
B
Back up Project 79
Background Color 
Modulation
 1064
Bank assignments 663
Bar handles 1229, 1320
Bar lines
Breaking 1301
Indenting 1292
Moving 1291
Selecting type 1287
Bar numbers
Offsetting 1268
Settings 1266
Spacing 1267
Bars
Moving 1298
Moving to next/previous 
staff
 1290
Number across page 1289
Resetting spacing 1292
Basic chord types
Applying to selected notes 713
Batch export
Audio channels 938
Beams 1189
Across staves 1193
Appearance 1194
Group settings 1194
Grouping 1188
Manual adjustment 1195
On/Off 1188
Slant 1194
Stem direction 1178
Beat Calculator 911
Bezier slurs 1217
Binary display
Editing byte values 777
Block text 1259
Bounce (Export Audio) 938
Bounce MIDI 679
Bounce Selection 189
Sample Editor 448
Box symbol 1239
Braces 1296
Bracket heads 1183
Brackets 1296
Brillenbass 1190
Broadcast Wave Files
Embedded information 1076
Broadcast Wave files
Exporting 949
Buffer
Settings 1047 
						

							Index
1330
Busses
Adding 30
Child busses 31
Mixing down to file 938
Bypass
AudioWarp 485
Pitch changes 485
SurroundPanner V5 573
Byte values
Editing in ASCII display 777
Editing in binary display 777
Editing in decimal display 777
C
Cadence mode
Chord Assistant 819
Complexity filters 819
Changing styles 741
Channel linking 307
Channel names
Searching 305
Channel overview
MixConsole 291
Channel racks 300, 325
EQ 330
Filters 327
Gain 328
Inserts 328
Phase 328
Pre 327
Routing 325
Sends 342
Strips 333
Channel Rotation 800
Channel settings 348
Assigning Quick Control 
parameters
 347, 620
Copying 319
Channel strip rack 333
Compressor 333
EQ position 333
Gate 333
Limiter 333
Presets 342
Saturation 333
Transformer 333
Channel types
MixConsole 299
Channels
Adding to link groups 307
Controlling with VCA faders 308
Linking 305
Removing from link groups 308
Chase Events 1068
Chase events 209
Child busses 31
In surround configuration 560
Chord Assistant 818, 841
Assigning Chords to Chord 
Pads
 845, 846
Cadence mode 819
Circle of Fifths 841, 843
Common notes mode 819
Complexity 819
Gap mode 819
Proximity 841, 842
Chord Editor
Assigning Chords to Chord 
Pads
 844
Chord editor 816
Adding chords 821
MIDI Input 818
Chord events 815
Adding 817
Adding chords 817
Assigning to MIDI effects or 
VSTis
 828
Auditioning 823
Chord type 815
Converting to MIDI 828
Editing 817
Extracting from MIDI 833
Getting suggestions 821
Mapping offset 825
Resolving Display Conflicts 823
Tension 815
Voicings 825
Chord Font 1066
Chord Pad Controls 838
Chord Pad Settings
Pad layout 856
Players 853
Remote Control 850
Chord Pads 836, 841
Adaptive voicing 854
Assigning Chords from the 
Chord track
 847
Assigning Chords to Chord 
Pads
 844
Assigning Chords with the 
Chord Assistant
 845, 846
Assigning Chords with the 
Chord Editor
 844
Assigning Chords with the MIDI 
keyboard
 847
Changing the pads remote 
range
 852
Context menu 839
Controls 841
Creating events from chord 
pads
 858
Default remote assignment 851
Functions menu 840
Moving and Copying 848
Pads remote range 851
Pattern player 855
Players 854
Playing back with a MIDI 
keyboard
 848
Preparations 841
Presets 857
Recording chords on MIDI or 
instrument tracks
 849
Recording chords on the Chord 
track
 849
Saving presets 858
Setting up 841
Using different players on 
multiple tracks
 855
Voicings 854
Zone 841
Chord Pads Zone 836, 838, 839, 
840
Chord Symbols 1066
Chord symbols
Global settings 1249
Inserting manually 1246
Chord track 105
About 814
Assign Pads 847
Controlling MIDI or audio 
playback
 830
Live transform 829
Chord voicing
Changing 711
Chords
Changing pitch 710
Changing voicing 711
Editing 711
Inserting 712