Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							Virtual Keyboard
Virtual Keyboard Options
211
AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK 
Close the virtual keyboard to make all key commands available again.
Virtual Keyboard Options
1)Note Velocity Level
This slider allows you to adjust the volume of the virtual keyboard. You can 
also use the up and down arrow keys for this.
2)Change Virtual Keyboard Display Type
This button allows you to switch between computer keyboard and piano 
keyboard display mode.
The computer keyboard mode, you can use the two rows of keys that are 
displayed on the Virtual Keyboard to enter notes.
The piano keyboard has a wider range of keys. It allows you to enter more than 
one voice simultaneously. You can also use the [Tab] key for this.
3)Octave Offset
These buttons allow you to switch the keyboard range to a lower or higher 
octave. You have seven full octaves at your disposal. You can also use the left 
and right arrow keys for this.
4)Pitchbend/Modulation Sliders
These sliders are only available in piano keyboard mode. They allow you to 
introduce pitchbend and modulation. You can also click on a key, hold the 
mouse button pressed until the mouse pointer becomes a cross-hair cursor 
and drag upwards/downward to introduce modulation or drag left/right to 
create pitchbend. 
						

							212
Recording
In Cubase, you can record audio and MIDI.
This chapter assumes that you are familiar with certain basic recording concepts 
and that some initial preparations have been made.
• Set up, connect, and calibrate your audio hardware.
• Open a project and set up the project setup parameters according to your 
specifications.
Project setup parameters determine the record format, sample rate, project 
length, etc. that affect the audio recordings that you make during the course 
of the project.
• If you plan to record MIDI, set up and connect your MIDI equipment.
RELATED LINKS
Setting Up Audio on page 13
Setting Up MIDI on page 19
Basic Recording Methods
This section describes the general recording methods.
Record Enabling Tracks
To be able to record, you must record-enable the tracks on which you want to 
record.
• To record-enable a track, activate the Record Enable button in the track list, 
in the Inspector, or in the MixConsole.
• To record-enable all audio tracks simultaneously, set up a key command for 
Activate Record Enable for all Audio Tracks in the Mixer category of the 
Key Commands dialog and use it.
• To record-enable audio or MIDI tracks on selection, activate the Enable 
Record on Selected Audio Track or the Enable Record on Selected MIDI 
Track option (File > Preferences > Editing > Project & MixConsole). 
						

							Recording
Basic Recording Methods
213
NOTE
The exact number of audio tracks that you can record simultaneously depends on 
your computer CPU and hard disk performance. Activate the Warn on Processing 
Overloads option (File > Preferences > VST) to show a warning message as 
soon as the CPU overload indicator lights up during recording.
RELATED LINKS
Editing - Project & MixConsole on page 1061
VST on page 1082
Activating Recording
You can activate recording manually or automatically.
Activating Recording Manually
• To activate recording, click the Record button on the Transport panel or on 
the toolbar. You can also use the corresponding key command, by default [*] 
on the numeric keypad.
Recording starts from the current cursor position.
NOTE
When you start recording in Stop mode, you can start recording from the left locator 
by activating Start Record at Left Locator on the Transport menu. The pre-roll 
setting or the metronome count-in will be applied.
Activating Recording Automatically
Cubase can automatically switch from playback to recording at a given position. 
This is useful if you must replace a section of a recording and want to listen to what 
is already recorded up to the recording start position.
PROCEDURE
1. Set the left locator to the position where you want to start recording.
2. Activate the Punch In button on the Transport panel.
3. Activate playback from any position before the left locator.
When the project cursor reaches the left locator, recording is automatically activated. 
						

							Recording
Basic Recording Methods
214
Stopping Recording
• To stop recording and playback, click the Stop button on the Transport panel 
or use the corresponding key command, by default [0] on the numeric keypad.
• To stop recording and continue playback, click the Record button or use the 
corresponding key command, by default [*] on the numeric keypad.
• To stop recording automatically when the project cursor reaches the right 
locator and continue playback, activate the Punch Out button on the 
Transport panel.
Cycle Recording
You can record in a cycle, that is you can record a selected section repeatedly and 
seamlessly.
PREREQUISITE 
A cycle is set up with the left and right locators.
PROCEDURE
1. Click the cycle button on the Transport panel to activate cycle mode.
2. Activate recording from the left locator, before or within the cycle.
As soon as the project cursor reaches the right locator, it jumps back to the left 
locator and continues recording a new lap.
RESULT 
The results of cycle recording depend on the selected record mode. They also differ 
for audio and MIDI.
RELATED LINKS
Recording MIDI on page 227
Recording Audio on page 221 
						

							Recording
Basic Recording Methods
215
Using Pre-Roll and Post-Roll
You can set up a pre-roll and a post-roll for recording.
PREREQUISITE 
Select File > Preferences > Transport and activate the Stop after Automatic 
Punch Out option.
PROCEDURE
1. Set the locators to where you want to start and end recording.
2. On the Transport panel, activate Auto Punch In and Auto Punch Out.
3. Activate Use Pre-roll and Use Post-roll.
4. Specify a Pre-roll Amount and a Post-roll Amount.
5. Click Record.
RESULT 
The project cursor rolls back and starts playback at the time that has been set as 
pre-roll amount. When the cursor reaches the left locator, recording is automatically 
activated. When the cursor reaches the right locator, recording is deactivated, and 
the playback continues as long as the time that has been set as post-roll amount.
Common Record Modes
The Common Record Modes determine what happens if you click the Record 
button during an audio or MIDI recording.
• In the Transport panel, click the upper part of the Record Modes section to 
open the Common Record Modes pop-up menu.
Punch In/Out
In this mode, the recording is stopped.
Re-Record
In this mode, the recording is reinitiated, the events are removed and 
recording is restarted from the exact same position.
Start Recording at Cursor
In this mode, recording starts from the cursor position.
Start Recording at Left Locator
In this mode, recording starts from the left locator. 
						

							Recording
Monitoring
216
Re-Recording
PROCEDURE
1. Activate Transport > Re-Record.
2. Activate recording.
3. Hit the Record button again to restart recording.
RESULT 
The project cursor jumps back to the record start position and recording is 
reinitiated. Pre-roll and pre-count settings are taken into account.
NOTE
The previous recordings are removed from the project and cannot be retrieved 
using Undo. However, they remain in the Pool.
Monitoring
In Cubase, monitoring means listening to the input signal while preparing to record 
or while recording.
The following ways of monitoring are available.
•Via Cubase.
• Externally by listening to the signal before it reaches Cubase.
• By using ASIO Direct Monitoring.
This is a combination of both other methods.
Monitoring via Cubase
If you use monitoring via Cubase, the input signal is mixed with the audio playback. 
This requires an audio hardware configuration with a low latency value.
PROCEDURE
1. In the track list, activate the Monitor button.
2. In the MixConsole, adjust the monitoring level and the panning.
You can add effects and EQ to the monitor signal using the track’s channel. If you are 
using plug-in effects with large inherent delays, the automatic delay compensation 
function in Cubase will increase the latency. If this is a problem, you can use the 
Constrain Delay Compensation function while recording. 
						

							Recording
Monitoring
217
3. Select File > Preferences > VST.
4. Open the Auto Monitoring pop-up menu and select a monitoring mode.
RESULT 
The monitored signal will be delayed according to the latency value which depends 
on your audio hardware and drivers. You can check the latency of your hardware in 
the Device Setup dialog (Device > Device Setup > VST Audio System).
RELATED LINKS
VST on page 1082
External Monitoring
External monitoring means listening to the inp u t  si gn al  b e f o r e  i t i s  s e n t i n to  Cu b as e .  
It requires an external mixer for mixing the audio playback with the input signal. The 
latency value of the audio hardware configuration does not affect the monitor signal. 
When using external monitoring, you cannot control the level of the monitor signal 
from within Cubase or add VST effects or EQ to the monitor signal.
PROCEDURE
1. Select File > Preferences > VST.
2. Open the Auto Monitoring pop-up menu and select Manual.
3. Deactivate the Monitor buttons in Cubase.
4. On your mixing desk or mixer application for your audio hardware, activate the 
Thru or Direct Thru mode to send the input audio back out again.
ASIO Direct Monitoring
If your audio hardware is ASIO 2.0 compatible, it may support ASIO Direct 
Monitoring. This feature may also be available for audio hardware with Mac OS X 
drivers. In ASIO Direct Monitoring mode, the monitoring is done in the audio 
hardware, and monitoring is controlled from Cubase. The latency value of the audio 
hardware configuration does not affect the monitor signal when using ASIO Direct 
Monitoring.
PROCEDURE
1. In the track list, activate the Monitor button.
2. Select Devices > Device Setup. 
						

							Recording
Monitoring
218
3. In the Device Setup dialog, select your driver in the Devices list on the left to 
display the driver settings for your audio hardware, and activate the Direct 
Monitoring checkbox.
If the checkbox is grayed out, your audio hardware (or its driver) does not support 
ASIO Direct Monitoring. Consult the audio hardware manufacturer for details.
4. Select File > Preferences > VST.
5. Open the Auto Monitoring pop-up menu and select a monitoring mode.
6. In the MixConsole, adjust the monitoring level and panning.
Depending on the audio hardware, this might not be possible.
AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK 
You can monitor the input levels of audio tracks, that is, you can map the input bus 
metering to monitor-enabled audio tracks and watch the input levels of your audio 
tracks when working in the Project window.
•Select File > Preferences > Metering and activate Map Input Bus 
Metering to Audio Track (in Direct Monitoring).
As the tracks are mirroring the input bus signal you will see the same signal in 
both places. When using mapped metering, any functions that you apply to 
the audio track are not reflected in its meters.
NOTE
When using Steinberg hardware (MR816 series) in combination with ASIO Direct 
Monitoring, monitoring will be virtually latency-free. If you are using RME Audio 
Hammerfall DSP audio hardware, make sure that the pan law is set to -3
 dB in the 
card’s preferences.
NOTE
With Direct Monitoring activated, Direct Routing can not be used for routing 
destinations 2-8. Only the Main bus can be used for Direct Monitoring.
RELATED LINKS
VST on page 1082
Monitoring MIDI Tracks
You can monitor everything you play and record though the MIDI output and 
channel that are selected for the MIDI track.
PREREQUISITE 
Local Off is activated on your MIDI instrument.
PROCEDURE
1. Select File > Preferences > MIDI.
2. Make sure MIDI Thru Active is activated. 
						

							Recording
Audio Recording Specifics
219
3. In the track list, activate the Monitor button.
RESULT 
Incoming MIDI is echoed back out again.
RELATED LINKS
MIDI on page 1068
Audio Recording Specifics
Preparations
Selecting a Record File Format
You can set up the record file format, that is the sample rate, bit resolution, and 
record file type for new audio files.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Project > Project Setup.
2. Set up the settings for Sample Rate, Bit Resolution, and Record File Type.
IMPORTANT
The bit resolution and file type can be changed at any time while the sample rate of a 
project cannot be changed at a later stage.
RELATED LINKS
Creating New Projects on page 67
Setting the Audio Record Folder
Each Cubase project has a project folder containing an Audio folder. By default, 
this is where recorded audio files are stored. However, you can select record 
folders independently for each audio track if needed.
PROCEDURE
1. In the track list, select all tracks that you want to assign the same record 
folder.
2. Right-click one of the tracks to open the context menu.
3. Select Set Record Folder.
A file dialog opens. 
						

							Recording
Audio Recording Specifics
220
4. Navigate to the folder that you want to use as record folder or create a new 
folder with the New Folder button.
If you want to have separate folders for different types of material (speech, ambient 
sounds, music, etc.), you can create subfolders within the project Audio folder and 
assign different tracks to different subfolders. This way, all audio files will still reside 
within the project folder, which will make managing the project easier.
Getting the Track Ready for Recording
Creating a Track and Setting the Channel Configuration
PROCEDURE
1. Select Project > Add Track > Audio.
2. In the Count field, enter the number of tracks that you want to add.
3. Open the Configuration pop-up menu and select a channel configuration.
4. Optional: Enter a track name.
5. Click Add Track.
RELATED LINKS
Add Track Dialog on page 134
RAM Requirements for Recording
Each track on which you record requires a certain amount of RAM, and the memory 
usage increases the longer the recording lasts. For each audio channel, 2.4
 MB of 
RAM are required for MixConsole settings, etc. The memory usage increases with 
the length of the recording, the sample rate, and the number of tracks you record. 
Consider the RAM limitation of your operating system when setting up your project 
for recording.