Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							Playback and Transport
Transport Menu
201
Playback Functions
Post-roll from Selection Start/End
Starts playback from the beginning or end of the currently selected range and 
stops after the time set in the post-roll field on the transport panel.
Pre-roll to Selection Start/End
Starts playback from a position before the start or end of the currently 
selected range and stops at the selection start or end, respectively. The 
playback start position is set in the pre-roll field on the transport panel.
Play from Selection Start/End
Activates playback from the beginning or end of the current selection.
Play until Selection Start/End
Activates playback two seconds before the start or end of the current 
selection and stops at the selection start or end, respectively.
Play until Next Marker
Activates playback from the project cursor and stops at the next marker.
Play Selection Range
Activates playback from the start of the current selection and stops at the 
selection end.
Loop Selection
Activates playback from the start of the current selection and keeps starting 
over again when reaching the selection end.
Record Functions
Re-Record Mode
Activates/Deactivates the re-record mode that allows you to reinitiate a 
recording with a single click.
Start Recording at Left Locator
If this is activated, the project cursor locates to the left locator when you click 
the record button.
Use Pre-/Post-roll
Activates the pre-roll/post-roll.
Retrospective Record
Allows you to capture MIDI notes that you play in stop mode or during 
playback. Therefore, you need to enable the Retrospective Record option 
(File > Preferences > Record > MIDI). 
						

							Playback and Transport
Setting the Project Cursor Position
202
Metronome Functions
Metronome Setup
Opens the Metronome Setup dialog.
Metronome On/Off
Activates/Deactivates the metronome click.
Precount On/Off
Activates/Deactivates the precount.
Synchronization Functions
Project Synchronization Setup
Opens the Project Synchronization Setup dialog.
Use External Sync
Sets Cubase to be synchronized externally.
Setting the Project Cursor Position
To move the project cursor, do one of the following:
• Use fast forward and rewind.
• Use the jog/shuttle/nudge control on the Transport panel.
• Drag the project cursor in the lower part of the ruler.
• Click in the ruler.
Double-clicking in the ruler moves the cursor and starts/stops playback.
•If Locate when Clicked in Empty Space is activated (File > Preferences > 
Transport), you can click anywhere in an empty section of the Project 
window to move the cursor position.
• Change the value in any of the position displays.
• Use the position slider above the transport buttons in the Transport panel.
The range of the slider relates to the length setting in the Project Setup 
dialog. Hence, moving the slider all the way to the right takes you to the end 
of the project.
•Use markers.
• Use the playback options.
• Use the arranger function. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Left and Right Locators
203
• Use the functions on the Transport menu.
• Use key commands.
NOTE
If Snap is activated when dragging the project cursor, the snap value is taken into 
account. This is helpful for finding exact positions quickly.
RELATED LINKS
Markers on page 281
Transport Menu on page 200
Arranger Track on page 259
Playing Back with the Shuttle Speed Wheel on page 199
Left and Right Locators
The left and right locators are a pair of markers that you can use for specifying 
punch-in and punch-out positions, and cycle boundaries.
Locators are indicated by the flags in the ruler. The area between the locators is 
highlighted in the ruler and the event display.
If the right locator is positioned before the left locator, the area between the locators 
is shown in a different color.
Setting the Locators
There are several ways to set the locator positions.
To set the left locator, do one of the following:
• Drag the left handle in the ruler.
• Press [Ctrl]/[Command] and click at the position in the ruler.
• Adjust the Left Locator Position value on the Transport panel.
To set the left locator to the project cursor position, do one of the following:
• Press [Ctrl]/[Command], and on the numeric keypad press [1].
• Press [Alt]/[Option] and click L on the Transport panel.
To set the right locator, do one of the following:
• Drag the right handle in the ruler. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Auto-Scroll
204
• Press [Alt]/[Option] and click at the position in the ruler.
• Adjust the Right Locator Position value on the Transport panel.
To set the right locator to the project cursor position, do one of the following:
• Press [Ctrl]/[Command] and on the numeric keypad press [2].
• Press [Alt]/[Option] and click R on the Transport panel.
To set both locators, do one of the following:
• Click and drag left or right in the upper half of the ruler.
• Select a range or an event and select Transport > Locators to Selection.
• Double-click a cycle marker.
Auto-Scroll
Auto-Scroll allows the waveform display to scroll during playback, keeping the 
project cursor visible in the window.
•To activate Auto-Scroll, click the Auto-Scroll button on the toolbar.
• To keep the project cursor in the middle of the screen, select File > 
Preferences > Transport and activate Stationary Cursors.
NOTE
Auto-Scroll is available in the toolbar of the Project window and in all editors.
Suspend Auto-Scroll when Editing
If you do not want the Project window display to change when editing during 
playback, you can activate Suspend Auto-Scroll when Editing.
The Suspend Auto-Scroll when Editing button is located to the right of the 
Auto-Scroll button.
When this option is activated, auto-scrolling is suspended as soon as you click 
anywhere in the event display during playback. As a visual feedback for that, the 
Auto-Scroll button turns orange.
As soon as playback stops or when you click the Auto-Scroll button again, Cubase 
will return to the normal Auto-Scroll behavior.
Time Formats
You can set up different time formats. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Time Formats
205
Selecting the Primary Time Format
In the Transport panel, you can select the primary time format. This is the global 
display format that is used for all rulers and position displays in the program, except 
the ruler tracks.
PROCEDURE
1. In the main transport section of the Transport panel, click Select Primary 
Time Format.
2. Select a time format from the pop-up menu.
You can also select Project > Project Setup > Display Format to select the primary 
time format.
RESULT 
The time format in the Transport panel and all rulers and position displays are 
updated.
Independent Time Displays
You can show time displays that are independent from the global display format.
To select an independent time display, do one of the following:
• In the ruler of the Project window or any editor, click the arrow button to the 
right of the ruler.
•Select Project > Add Track > Ruler to add a ruler track, and right-click the 
ruler.
• In the Main Transport section of the Transport panel, click Select 
Secondary Time Format.
RELATED LINKS
Ruler on page 48
Ruler Track on page 122 
						

							Playback and Transport
Locating to Specific Time Positions
206
Switching the Primary and Secondary Time Format
PROCEDURE
• In the Main Transport section of the Transport panel, click Exchange Time 
Format.
RESULT 
The primary and secondary time formats are switched and all rulers and position 
displays are updated.
Locating to Specific Time Positions
You have several possibilities to locate to specific time positions in the Project 
window.
• In the Transport panel, use the functions in the Main Transport section or in 
the Jog/Scrub section.
• In the Transport panel, use the position slider above the transport buttons.
• In the ruler, click the time position that you want to locate to. 
Double-click to start/stop playback.
• In the lower part of the ruler, drag the project cursor.
• Use the following Transport menu functions: Locate Selection/Locate 
Selection End, Locate Next/Previous Marker, Locate Next/Previous 
Hitpoint, Locate Next/Previous Event.
•Use markers.
• Use the arranger functions.
•Use locators.
On the numeric keypad, press [1] to go to the left locator position, and press 
[2] to go to the right locator position.
On the Transport panel, click L to go to the left locator, and click R to go to 
the right locator.
NOTE
If Snap is activated, the snap value is taken into account. This is helpful for finding 
exact positions quickly. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Metronome
207
Metronome
You can use the metronome click as a timing reference. The two parameters that 
govern the timing of the metronome are tempo and time signature.
• To activate the metronome click, activate the Click button on the Transport 
panel.
You can also select Transport > Metronome On or use the corresponding 
key command.
• To activate the precount, click the Precount button on the Transport panel.
You can also select Transport > Precount On or set up a key command for 
this.
• To set up the metronome, select Transport > Metronome Setup.
Metronome Setup
You can make settings for the metronome in the Metronome Setup dialog.
• To open the Metronome Setup dialog, select Transport > Metronome 
Setup.
Metronome Options Section
In the Metronome Options section, the following options are available:
Metronome in Record
Allows you to activate the metronome click during recording.
Metronome in Play
Allows you to activate the metronome click during playback. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Metronome
208
Precount Options Section
In the Precount Options section, the following options are available:
Precount Bars
Allows you to set the number of bars that the metronome counts in before 
recording starts.
Use Project Count Base
Activate this to let the metronome play one click per beat according to the 
project count base.
Use Count Base
Activate this to set the rhythm of the metronome. For example, setting this to 
1/8, gives you eighth notes (two clicks per beat).
Use Time Sign. at Rec. Start Time
Activate this to let the precount automatically use the time signature and 
tempo set at the position where recording starts.
Use Time Sign. at Project Time
Activate this to let the precount use the time signature set on the tempo track 
and apply any tempo changes on the tempo track during the precount.
Use Signature
Allows you to set a time signature for the precount. In this mode, tempo 
changes on the tempo track do not affect the precount.
Click Outputs Section
In the Click Outputs section, the following options are available:
Activate MIDI Click
Allows you to activate the MIDI click.
MIDI Port/Channel
Allows you to select a MIDI output and channel for the MIDI click. You can 
also select a VST instrument previously set up in the VST Instruments 
window.
Hi Note/Velocity
Allows you to set the MIDI note number and velocity value for the first beat in 
a bar, the high note.
Lo Note/Velocity
Allows you to set the MIDI note number and velocity for the other beats, the 
low notes.
Activate Audio Click
Allows you to activate the audio click that sounds via the audio hardware. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Chase
209
Beeps
Allows you to activate beeps generated by the program. Adjust the pitch and 
level of the beeps for the Hi (first) beat and Lo (other) beats using the sliders 
below.
Sounds
Allows you to load audio files for the Hi and Lo metronome sounds in the 
Sound fields below. The sliders set the level of the click.
Chase
Chase is a function that makes sure your MIDI instruments sound as they should 
when you locate to a new position and start playback. This is accomplished by the 
program transmitting a number of MIDI messages to your instruments each time that 
you move to a new position in the project, making sure all MIDI devices are set up 
correctly with regard to program change, controller messages (such as MIDI 
Volume), etc.
EXAMPLE
You have a MIDI track with a program change event inserted at the beginning. This 
event makes a synth switch to a piano sound.
At the beginning of the first chorus you have another program change event which 
makes the same synth switch to a string sound.
You now play back the song. It begins with the piano sound and then switches to 
the string sound. In the middle of the chorus you stop and rewind to some point 
between the beginning and the second program change. The synth now still plays 
the string sound although in this section it really should be a piano.
The Chase function takes care of that. If program change events are set to be 
chased, Cubase tracks the music back to the beginning, finds the first program 
change, and transmits it to your synth, setting it to the correct sound.
The same thing can apply to other event types as well. The Chase Events settings 
(File > Preferences > MIDI) determine which event types are chased when you 
locate to a new position and start playback.
Activated event types are chased.
RELATED LINKS
Chase Events on page 1069 
						

							210
Virtual Keyboard
The Virtual Keyboard allows you to play and record MIDI notes by using your 
computer keyboard or mouse. This is useful if you have no external MIDI instrument 
at hand and you do not want to draw in notes with the Draw tool.
When the Virtual Keyboard is displayed, the usual key commands are blocked 
because they are reserved for the Virtual Keyboard. The only exceptions are:
• Save: [Ctrl]/[Command]-[S]
• Start/Stop Record: Num [*]
• Start/Stop Playback: [Space]
• Jump to left locator: Num [1]
• Delete: [Delete] or [Backspace]
• Cycle on/off: Num [/]
• Show/Hide Transport panel: [F2]
• Show/Hide Virtual Keyboard: [Alt]/[Option]-[K]
Recording MIDI With the Virtual Keyboard
PREREQUISITE 
You have selected a MIDI or instrument track and activated Record Enable.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices > Virtual Keyboard.
The Virtual Keyboard is displayed in the Transport panel.
2. On the Transport panel, activate Record.
3. Perform one of the following actions to enter some notes:
• Click with the mouse on the keys of the virtual keyboard.
• Press the corresponding key on your computer keyboard.
NOTE
Press several keys simultaneously to enter polyphonic parts. The maximum number of 
notes that can be played at one time varies between the different operating systems 
and hardware configurations.