Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							11
Introduction
About the Program Versions
The documentation covers two different operating systems, Windows and Mac OS 
X. Some features and settings are specific to one of the platforms.
This is clearly stated in the applicable cases. If nothing else is said, all descriptions 
and procedures in the documentation are valid for both Windows and Mac OS X.
The screenshots are taken from the Windows version of Cubase.
Typographical Conventions
Many of the default key commands in Cubase use modifier keys, some of which are 
different depending on the operating system. For example, the default key command 
for Undo is [Ctrl]-[Z] on Windows and [Command]-[Z] on Mac OS X.
When key commands with modifier keys are described in this manual, they are 
shown with the Windows modifier key first, in the following way:
• [Win modifier key]/[Mac modifier key]-[key]
For example, [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Z] means “press [Ctrl] on Windows or [Command] 
on Mac OS X, then press [Z]”.
Similarly, [Alt]/[Option]-[X] means “press [Alt] on Windows or [Option] on Mac OS 
X, then press [X]”.
NOTE
This manual often refers to right-clicking, for example, to open context menus. If you 
are using a Mac with a single-button mouse, hold down [Ctrl] and click. 
						

							12
Part I - Getting into the Details 
						

							13
Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
Make sure that all equipment is turned off before making any connections.
Simple Stereo Input and Output Setup
If you only use a stereo input and output from Cubase, you can connect your audio 
hardware, for example, the inputs of your audio card or your audio interface, directly 
to the input source and the outputs to a power amplifier and speaker.
Once you have set up the internal input and output busses, you can connect your 
audio source, for example a microphone, to your audio interface and start recording.
Connecting Audio
Your system setup depends on many different factors, for example, on the kind of 
project that you want to create, on the external equipment that you want to use, or 
on the computer hardware that is available to you. Therefore, the following sections 
can only serve as examples.
How to connect your equipment, that is, whether to use digital or analog 
connections also depends on your setup. 
						

							Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
14
About Recording Levels and Inputs
When you connect your equipment, make sure that the impedance and levels of the 
audio sources and inputs are matched. Using the correct type of input is important 
to avoid distortion or noisy recordings. For microphones, for example, different 
inputs can be used, such as consumer line level (-10
 dBV) or professional line level 
(+4
 dBV).
Sometimes, you can adjust input characteristics on the audio interface or on its 
control panel. For details, refer to the documentation that came with the audio 
hardware.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
Cubase does not provide any input level adjustments for the signals that are coming 
into your audio hardware, since these are handled differently for each card. 
Adjusting input levels is either done in a special application that is included with the 
hardware or its control panel.
Word Clock Connections
If you are using a digital audio connection, you may also need a word clock 
connection between the audio hardware and external devices. For details, refer to 
the documentation that came with the audio hardware.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
Set up word clock synchronization correctly, or you may experience clicks and 
crackles in your recordings.
Selecting a Driver
You must select the correct driver in Cubase to make sure that the program can 
communicate with the audio hardware.
NOTE
On Windows operating systems, we recommend that you access your hardware via 
an ASIO driver developed specifically for the hardware. If no ASIO driver is installed, 
refer to your audio hardware manufacturer about available ASIO driver. You can use 
the Generic Low Latency ASIO driver if no specific ASIO driver is available.
When you start Cubase, a dialog opens that prompts you to select a driver. You can 
also select your audio hardware driver in the following way.
PROCEDURE
1. Launch Cubase and select Devices > Devices Setup.
2. In the devices list, select VST Audio System. 
						

							Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
15
3. On the ASIO Driver menu, select your audio hardware driver.
The selected driver is added to the devices list.
4. In the devices list, select the driver to open the driver settings for your audio 
hardware.
5. Open the control panel for the audio hardware in the following way:
• On Windows operating systems, click the Control Panel button.
• On Mac OS X operating systems, click the Open Config App button.
This button is available only for some hardware products. If it is not available in 
your setup, refer to the documentation of your audio hardware for information 
on where to make hardware settings.
NOTE
The control panel is provided by the audio hardware manufacturer and is different for 
each audio card brand and model. However, control panels for the ASIO DirectX 
driver and the Generic Low Latency ASIO Driver (Windows only) are provided by 
Steinberg.
6. Make the settings as recommended by the audio hardware manufacturer.
7. Click Apply.
8. Click OK.
RELATED LINKS
Using Audio Hardware with a DirectX Driver (Windows only) on page 15
Using Audio Hardware with a DirectX Driver (Windows only)
A DirectX driver is an alternative to a specific ASIO driver and the Generic Low 
Latency ASIO driver.
Cubase comes with the ASIO DirectX Full Duplex driver.
• To select the driver, select Devices > Device Setup > VST Audio System 
and open the ASIO Driver menu.
When the ASIO DirectX Full Duplex driver is selected, you can open ASIO DirectX 
Full Duplex Driver from the Devices List, and click Control Panel button. On the 
Control Panel for the driver, the following settings are available:
Direct Sound Output and Input Ports
Lists all available Direct Sound output and input ports. To activate/deactivate 
a port in the list, click the checkbox in the left column.
Buffer Size
Allows you to edit the buffer size. Audio buffers are used when audio data is 
transferred between Cubase and the audio card. Larger buffers ensure that 
playback occurs without glitches, but larger buffers also increase the latency.
Offset
Allows you to adjust the output or input latency time, if a constant offset is 
audible during playback of audio and MIDI recordings. 
						

							Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
16
Audio Channels
Lists the available audio channels.
Bits Per Sample
Shows the number of bits per sample.
Sync Reference
Shows if the driver is used as sync reference.
NOTE
To take advantage of DirectX Full Duplex driver, the audio hardware must support 
Windows Driver Model (WDM).
Using Hardware that is Based on an External Clock Source
For proper audio playback and recording, you must set the sample rate of the 
project to the sample rate of the incoming clock signals. If you are using an external 
clock source, Cubase must be notified that it receives external clock signals and 
derives its speed from that source.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices > Devices Setup.
2. In the devices list, select the page of your audio hardware driver.
3. Activate Externally clocked.
RESULT 
Cubase accepts the sample rate mismatch, and playback is therefore faster or 
slower.
When a sample rate mismatch occurs, the Record Format field on the status line 
is highlighted in a different color.
Using Several Audio Applications Simultaneously
If you want to use several audio applications simultaneously, you must allow other 
applications to play back via your audio hardware even though Cubase is running.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices > Devices Setup.
2. In the devices list, select the VST Audio System page.
3. Activate Release Driver when Application is in Background.
RESULT 
The application that is currently active gets access to the audio hardware. 
						

							Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
17
NOTE
Make sure that any other audio application accessing the audio hardware is also set 
to release the ASIO or Mac OS X driver.
Setting Up Busses
Cubase uses a system of input and output busses to transfer audio between the 
program and the audio hardware.
• Input busses let you route audio from the inputs of your audio hardware into 
Cubase. This means that audio is always recorded through one or several 
input busses.
• Output busses let you route audio from Cubase to the outputs of your audio 
hardware. This means that audio is always played back through one or several 
output busses.
Once you understand the bus system and know how to set up the busses properly, 
you can continue with recording, playing back, mixing, and doing surround work 
(Cubase Pro only).
RELATED LINKS
VST Connections on page 22
Configuring the Audio Hardware
Most audio cards provide one or more small applications that allow you to 
customize your hardware.
This includes:
• Selecting which inputs/outputs are active.
• Setting up word clock synchronization (if available).
• Turning on/off monitoring via the hardware.
• Setting levels for each input.
• Setting levels for the outputs so that they match the equipment that you use 
for monitoring.
• Selecting digital input and output formats.
• Making settings for the audio buffers.
In most cases, the settings for the audio hardware are gathered on a control panel 
that can be opened from within Cubase or separately, when Cubase is not running. 
For details, refer to the audio hardware documentation. 
						

							Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Audio
18
Plug and Play Support for ASIO Devices
The Steinberg UR824 hardware series supports plug and play in Cubase. These 
devices can be plugged in and switched on while the application is running. Cubase 
automatically uses the driver of the UR824 series and re-maps the VST 
connections accordingly.
Steinberg cannot guarantee that this works with other hardware. If you are unsure of 
whether your device supports plug and play, refer to the documentation of your device.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
If a device that does not support plug and play is connected or disconnected while 
the computer is running, it can get damaged.
Setting Up the Input and Output Ports
Once you have selected the driver for your audio hardware and have set it up, you 
must specify which inputs and outputs to use.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices > Device Setup.
2. In the Device Setup dialog, select your driver from the Devices list on the left.
3. Make your settings.
4. Optional: To hide a port, click its Visible column.
IMPORTANT
Hiding a port disconnects it.
Ports that are not visible cannot be selected in the VST Connections window where 
you set up your input and output busses.
5. Optional: To rename a port, click its name in the Show as column and type in 
a new name.
6. Click OK.
About Monitoring
In Cubase, monitoring means listening to the input signal while preparing to record 
or while recording.
The following ways of monitoring are available.
• Externally by listening to the signal before it reaches Cubase.
•Via Cubase.
• By using ASIO Direct Monitoring.
This is a combination of the other methods. 
						

							Setting Up Your System
Setting Up MIDI
19
RELATED LINKS
External Monitoring on page 217
Monitoring via Cubase on page 216
ASIO Direct Monitoring on page 217
Setting Up MIDI
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
Turn off all equipment before making any connections.
PROCEDURE
1. Connect your MIDI equipment (keyboard, MIDI interface, etc.) to your computer.
2. Install the drivers for your MIDI equipment.
RESULT 
You can use your MIDI equipment in Cubase.
About MIDI Ports
To play back and record MIDI data from your MIDI device, for example, a MIDI 
keyboard, you need to set up the MIDI ports in Cubase.
Connect the MIDI output port of your MIDI device to the MIDI input port of your 
computer. This way, the MIDI device sends MIDI data to be played back or recorded 
inside your computer.
Connect the MIDI input port of your MIDI device to the MIDI output port of your 
computer. This way, you can send MIDI data from Cubase to the MIDI device. For 
example, you can record your own playing, edit the MIDI data in Cubase, and then 
play it back on the keyboard and record the audio that is coming out of the keyboard 
for a better edited performance.
Showing or Hiding MIDI Ports
You can specify if a MIDI port is listed on the MIDI pop-up menus in the program.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices > Device Setup.
2. In the Device Setup dialog, select MIDI Port Setup from the Devices list on 
the left.
3. To hide a MIDI port, deactivate its Visible column.
4. Click OK. 
						

							Setting Up Your System
Connecting a Synchronizer
20
Setting Up All MIDI Inputs
When you record MIDI, you can specify which MIDI input each recording MIDI track 
should use. However, you can also record any MIDI data from any MIDI input. You 
can specify which inputs are included when you select All MIDI Inputs for a MIDI 
track.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices > Device Setup.
2. In the Device Setup dialog, select MIDI Port Setup from the Devices list on 
the left.
3. Activate In ‘All MIDI Inputs’ for a port.
NOTE
If you have a MIDI remote control unit connected, make sure to deactivate the In ‘All 
MIDI Inputs’ option for that MIDI input. This avoids accidental recording of data from 
the remote control when All MIDI Inputs is selected as input for a MIDI track.
4. Click OK.
RESULT 
When you select All MIDI Inputs on the Input Routing menu of a MIDI track in the 
Inspector, the MIDI track uses all MIDI inputs that you specified in the Device Setup 
dialog.
Connecting a Synchronizer
When using Cubase with external tape transports, you most likely must add a 
synchronizer to your system.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
Make sure that all equipment is turned off before making any connections.
For information on how to connect and set up your synchronizer, refer to the 
documentation of your synchronizer.
RELATED LINKS
Synchronization on page 954