Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							Tracks
Customizing Track Controls
131
Video Track Controls
The track list for the video track contains a number of parameters to control the 
video track.
The track list for the video track contains the following settings:
Mute Video Track
Mutes the track.
Show Frame Numbers
Allows you to show each thumbnail with the corresponding video frame 
number.
Show Thumbnails
Allows you to activate/deactivate the thumbnails of a video track.
Lock
Disables all editing of all events on the track.
Customizing Track Controls
For each track type you can configure which track controls are shown in the track 
list. You can also specify the order of controls and group controls so that they are 
always shown adjacent to each other.
• To open the Track Controls Settings dialog, right-click a track in the track 
list and select Track Controls Settings from the context menu, or click Open 
Track Controls Settings Dialog in the bottom right corner of the track list. 
						

							Tracks
Customizing Track Controls
132
Track Type
Allows you to select the track type to which your settings are applied.
Hidden Controls
This section displays controls currently hidden in the track list.
Visible Controls
This section displays controls currently visible in the track list.
Width
If you click in this column, you can set the maximum length for the track name.
Group
Displays the group number.
Add
Allows you to move an item selected in the hidden controls list to the list of 
visible controls.
Remove
Allows you to move an item selected in the visible controls list to the list of 
hidden controls. All controls can be removed except the Mute and Solo 
buttons.
Move Up/Move Down
Allows you to change the order of an item in the list of visible controls. 
						

							Tracks
Customizing Track Controls
133
Group
Allows you to group two or more controls selected in the visible controls list 
that are adjacent to each other. This ensures that they are always positioned 
side by side in the track list.
Ungroup
Allows you to ungroup grouped controls in the visible controls list. To remove 
an entire group, select the first (topmost) element belonging to this group and 
click the Ungroup button.
Reset
Allows you to restore all default track controls settings for the selected track 
type.
Controls Area Preview
Shows a preview of the customized track controls.
Controls Area Width
Allows you to determine the width of the track control area for the selected 
track type. In the Controls Area Preview, this area is shown with a black 
frame.
Presets
Allows you to save track controls settings as presets. To recall a preset, click 
the Switch Presets button in the bottom right corner of the track list. The 
name of the selected preset is shown in the left corner.
Track Name Width (global)
Allows you to determine the global name width for all track types.
Apply
Applies your settings.
Reset All
Allows you to restore all default track controls settings for all track types. 
						

							134
Track Handling
Adding Tracks
PROCEDURE
1. Select Project > Add Track, or right-click the track list.
2. Do one of the following:
• Add a track of a specific type.
For some track types a dialog opens that allows you to insert several tracks at 
once.
• To add a track based on a track preset, select Add Track Using Track Preset.
The Choose Track Preset dialog opens that allows you to select a track 
preset. The number and type of added tracks depends on the selected track 
preset.
RESULT 
The track is added to the project.
RELATED LINKS
Add Track Dialog on page 134
Track Presets on page 160
Add Track Dialog
The Add Track dialog opens when you add audio, MIDI, group/FX/VCA channel, or 
instrument tracks.
Browse
Expands the dialog and allows you to select a track preset for the track.
Count
Allows you to enter the number of tracks that you want to add. 
						

							Track Handling
Removing Tracks
135
Configuration
Allows you to set the channel configuration. Audio-related tracks can be 
configured as mono, stereo, or surround tracks (Cubase Pro only).
Speakers
Shows the speaker names according to the track configuration.
Track Name
Allows you to specify a track name.
Add Track
Adds the track and closes the dialog.
RELATED LINKS
Track Presets on page 160
Removing Tracks
You can remove selected or empty tracks from the track list.
• To remove selected tracks, select Project > Remove Selected Tracks or 
right-click the track that you want to remove, and from the context menu select 
Remove Selected Tracks.
• To remove empty tracks, select Project > Remove Empty Tracks.
Moving Tracks in the Track List
You can move tracks up or down in the track list.
PROCEDURE
• Select a track and drag it up or down in the track list. 
						

							Track Handling
Renaming Tracks
136
Renaming Tracks
PROCEDURE
1. Double-click the track name and type in a new name for the track.
2. Press [Return].
If you want all events on the track to get the same name, hold down any modifier key 
and press [Return].
AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK 
If the Parts Get Track Names option (File > Preferences > Editing) is activated, 
and you move an event from one track to another, the moved event will automatically 
be named according to its new track.
Coloring Tracks
All new tracks are automatically assigned a color according to the Auto Track 
Color Mode settings. However, you can change the track color manually.
• To change the color for the selected track, use the Select Colors pop-up 
menu on the toolbar.
• You can also use the Track Color Selector. In the Inspector, click the arrow 
to the right of the track name and select a color.
In the track list, [Ctrl]/[Command]-click in the left area and select a color.
• To control which colors are used for new tracks, select File > Preferences 
> Event Display > Tracks and edit the Auto Track Color Mode settings. 
						

							Track Handling
Showing Track Pictures
137
Showing Track Pictures
You can add pictures to tracks to recognize your tracks easily. Track pictures are 
available for audio, instrument, MIDI, FX channel and group channel tracks.
PREREQUISITE 
Adjust the track height to at least 2 rows.
PROCEDURE
1. Right-click any track in the track list.
2. From the track list context menu, select Show Track Pictures.
If you move the mouse to the left on a track, a highlighted rectangle appears.
AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK 
Double-click the rectangle to open the Track Pictures Browser and set up a track 
picture.
RELATED LINKS
Track Pictures Browser on page 137
Track Pictures Browser
The Track Pictures Browser allows you to set up and select pictures that can be 
shown in the track list and in the MixConsole. Track pictures are useful to recognize 
tracks and channels easily. You can select pictures from the factory content or add 
new ones to the user library.
• To open the Track Pictures Browser for a track, double-click in the lower left 
side of the track list. 
						

							Track Handling
Showing Track Pictures
138
Factory
Shows the factory content in the pictures browser.
Pictures Browser
Shows the pictures that you can assign to the selected track/channel.
User
Shows your user content in the pictures browser.
Import
Opens a file dialog that allows you to select pictures in bmp, jpeg, or png 
format and add them to the user library.
Remove Selected Pictures from User Library
Removes the selected picture from the user library.
Reset Current Picture
Removes the picture from the selected track/channel.
Show/Hide Preview
Opens/Closes a section with further color and zoom settings.
Track Picture Preview
Shows the current track picture. When you zoom in the picture, you can drag 
it with the mouse to change its visible part.
Track Color
Opens the Track Color Selector. Click the rectangle to change the track 
color.
Intensity
Allows you to apply the track color to the track picture and set the color 
intensity. 
						

							Track Handling
Setting the Track Height
139
Zoom
Allows you to change the size of the track picture.
Rotate
Allows you to rotate the track picture.
Setting the Track Height
You can enlarge the track height to show the events on the track in detail, or you 
can decrease the height of several tracks to get a better overview of your project.
• To change the height of an individual track, click its lower border in the track 
list and drag up or down.
• To change the height of all tracks simultaneously, hold down 
[Ctrl]/[Command], click the lower border of one track, and drag up or down.
• To set the number of tracks to view in the Project window, use the track zoom 
menu.
• To set the track height automatically when you select a track, click Edit > 
Enlarge Selected Track.
RELATED LINKS
Track Zoom Menu on page 139
Customizing Track Controls on page 131
Track Zoom Menu
The track zoom menu allows you to set the number of tracks and the track height in 
the Project window.
• To open the track zoom menu in the lower right of the Project window, click 
the arrow button above the vertical zoom control. 
						

							Track Handling
Selecting Tracks
140
The following options are available:
Zoom Tracks x Rows
Zooms all track heights to show the specified number of rows.
Zoom Tracks Full
Zooms all tracks to fit in the active Project window.
Zoom x Tracks
Zooms the specified number of tracks to fit in the active Project window.
Zoom N Tracks
Allows you to set the number of tracks to fit in the active Project window.
Zoom Tracks Minimal
Zooms all track heights to the minimum size.
Snap Track Heights
Changes the track height in fixed increments when you resize it.
Selecting Tracks
• To select a track, click on it in the track list.
• To select several tracks, [Ctrl]/[Command]-click several tracks.
• To select a continuous range of tracks, [Shift]-click the first and last track in a 
continuous range of tracks.
Selected tracks are indicated by a light gray color in the track list.
RELATED LINKS
Track Selection follows Event Selection on page 1056
Scroll To selected Track on page 1061
Select Channel/Track on Solo on page 1061
Select Channel/Track on Edit Settings on page 1061
Selecting Tracks with Arrow Keys
You can select tracks and events with the up/down arrow keys on the computer 
keyboard. However, you can make the up/down arrow keys exclusively available for 
selecting tracks.
• To make the up/down arrow keys exclusively available for selecting tracks, 
select File > Preferences > Editing and activate Use Up/Down Navigation 
Commands for selecting Tracks only.