Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual
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Fades, crossfades, and envelopes The Fade dialogs 251 The available options are: Curve Kind These buttons determine whether the fade curve consists of spline curve segments (left button), damped spline segments (middle button), or linear segments (right button). Fade display This shows the shape of the fade curve. The resulting waveform shape is shown in dark gray, with the current waveform shape in light gray. Click on the curve to add points, and click and drag existing points to change the shape. To remove a point from the curve, drag it outside the display. Curve shape buttons These buttons give you quick access to some common curve shapes. Restore button This button is only available when editing fades made by dragging the fade handles. Click this to cancel any changes you have made since opening the dialog. Fade Length Value This parameter is only available when editing fades made by dragging the fade handles. It can be used to enter fade lengths numerically. The format of values displayed here is determined by the Time Display in the Transport panel. • When you activate the Apply Length option, the value entered in the Fade Length value field is used when clicking Apply or OK. • When you set the current fade as the default fade, the length value is included as part of the default settings. Presets In this section you can set up presets for fade in or fade out curves that you want to apply to other events or clips. • To apply a stored preset, select it from the pop-up menu. • To rename the selected preset, double-click on the name and type in a new one. • To remove a stored preset, select it from the pop-up menu and click Remove. As Default button This button is only available when editing fades made by dragging the fade handles. Click this to save the current settings as the default fade, to be used whenever you create new fades by dragging event handles.
Fades, crossfades, and envelopes Creating crossfades 252 Applying a fade Depending on whether you are editing a fade made with the fade handles or applying a fade using processing, different buttons are shown in the bottom row of the Fade dialog. The Edit Fade dialogs have the following buttons: OK Applies the set fade curve to the event, and closes the dialog. Cancel Closes the dialog without applying any fade. Apply Applies the set fade curve to the event, without closing the dialog. The Process Fade dialogs have the following buttons: Preview Plays back the fade area. Playback will repeat until you click the button again (the button is labeled “Stop” during playback). Process Applies the set fade curve to the clip, and closes the dialog. Cancel Closes the dialog without applying any fade. Creating crossfades Overlapping audio material on the same track can be crossfaded, for smooth transitions or special effects. You create a crossfade by selecting two consecutive audio events and selecting the Crossfade command on the Audio menu (or by using the corresponding key command, by default [X]). The result depends on whether the two events overlap or not: • If the events overlap, a crossfade is created in the overlapping area. The crossfade will be of the default shape (linear, symmetric), but you can change this as described below. Crossfade area
Fades, crossfades, and envelopes Creating crossfades 253 NOTE The default crossfade length and shape are set in the Crossfade dialog. • If the events do not overlap but are directly consecutive (lined up end-to-start, with no gap) it is still possible to crossfade them – provided that their respective audio clips overlap! In this case, the two events are resized so that they overlap, and a crossfade of the default length and shape is applied. • If the events do not overlap and cannot be resized enough to overlap, a crossfade cannot be created. • You can specify the length of the crossfade using the Range Selection tool: make a selection range covering the desired crossfade area and use the Crossfade command on the Audio menu. The crossfade is applied to the selected range (provided that the events or their clips overlap, as described above). NOTE You can also make a selection range after creating the crossfade and use the function “Adjust fades to Range” on the Audio menu. • Once you have created a crossfade, you can edit it by selecting one or both crossfaded events, and selecting “Crossfade” from the Audio menu again (or by double-clicking in the crossfade zone). This opens the Crossfade dialog. RELATED LINKS The Crossfade dialog on page 254 Removing crossfades To remove a crossfade, proceed as follows: • Select the corresponding events and select “Remove Fades” from the Audio menu. • Use the Range Selection tool to select all fades and crossfades you wish to remove, and select “Remove Fades” from the Audio menu. • Select a crossfade by clicking, and drag it outside the track.
Fades, crossfades, and envelopes The Crossfade dialog 254 The Crossfade dialog The Crossfade dialog contains separate, but identical, sections for the fade-in and fade-out curve settings in the crossfade on the left, and common settings on the right: Fade curve displays These displays show the shape of the fade out and fade in curve, respectively. Click on a curve to add points, click and drag existing points to change their shape, or drag a point outside the display to remove it. Curve buttons The curve kind buttons determine whether the corresponding fade curve consists of spline curve segments (left button), damped spline segments (middle button) or linear segments (right button). The curve shape buttons give you quick access to some common curve shapes. Equal Gain Activate this parameter to adjust the fade curves so that the summed fade in and fade out amplitudes will be the same all along the crossfade region. This is often suitable for short crossfades. Equal Power Activate this parameter to adjust the fade curves so that the energy (power) of the crossfade will be constant all along the crossfade region. Equal Power curves have only one editable curve point. You cannot use the Curve kind buttons or the presets when this mode is selected. Play buttons These buttons allow you to audition the whole crossfade, or the fade out part, or the fade in part. You can set up key commands for this in the following categories of the Key Commands dialog: • Media category – Preview Start (triggers crossfade playback), Preview Stop (stops crossfade playback).
Fades, crossfades, and envelopes Auto fades and crossfades 255 • Transport category – StartStop (triggers global playback), Stop (stops global playback) and StartStop Preview (triggers crossfade playback). Pre-roll and Post-roll Activate pre-roll to start playback before the fade area. Activate post-roll to stop playback after the fade area. In the time fields you can enter the desired time (in seconds and milliseconds) for the pre-roll and post-roll length. Length This specifies the length of the crossfade area. Cubase tries to center the crossfade, i. e. the length change will be applied equally to both sides. To be able to resize a crossfade, it must be possible to resize the corresponding event. For example, if the fade out event already plays its audio clip to the end, its end point cannot be moved any further to the right. Presets section Click the Store button to the right of the Presets pop-up menu to store the settings of your crossfade so that you can apply them to other events later. • To rename a preset, double-click on the name and type in a new one. • To remove a preset, select it on the pop-up menu and click the Delete button. Default buttons Click the As Default button to store the current settings as default. These settings will then be used whenever you create new crossfades. Click the Recall Default button to apply the curves and settings of the default crossfade to the Crossfade dialog. RELATED LINKS Key Commands on page 997 Auto fades and crossfades Cubase features an Auto Fade function that can be set both globally, and separately for each audio track. The idea behind the Auto Fade function is to create smoother transitions between events by applying short (1 to 500 ms) fade ins and fade outs. IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT As event-based fades are calculated in realtime during playback, a higher number of audio events provokes to a higher the demand on the processor when Auto Fades is activated. NOTE Auto fades are not indicated by fade lines!
Fades, crossfades, and envelopes Auto fades and crossfades 256 Making global Auto Fade settings PROCEDURE 1. To make Auto Fades settings globally for a project, select “Auto Fades Settings…” from the Project menu. This opens the Auto Fades dialog for the project. 2. Use the Length value field to specify the length of the Auto Fades or Crossfades (1 to 500 ms). 3. Use the checkboxes in the upper right corner to activate or deactivate Auto Fade In, Auto Fade Out, and Auto Crossfades. 4. To adjust the shapes of Auto Fade In and Auto Fade Out, select the Fades tab and make settings as in the regular Fade dialogs. 5. To adjust the shape of the Auto Crossfade, select the “Crossfades” tab and make settings as in the regular Crossfade dialog. 6. If you want to use your settings in future projects, click the “As Default” button. 7. Click OK to close the dialog. RELATED LINKS The Fade dialogs on page 250 The Crossfade dialog on page 254
Fades, crossfades, and envelopes Event envelopes 257 Making Auto Fade settings for individual tracks By default, all audio tracks will use the settings you have made in the project’s Auto Fades dialog. However, since Auto Fades use computing power, a better approach may be to turn Auto Fades off globally and activate them for individual tracks, as needed: PROCEDURE 1. Right-click the track in the track list and select “Auto Fades Settings…” from the context menu (or select the track and click the “Auto Fades Settings” button in the Inspector). The Auto Fades dialog for the track opens. This is identical to the project’s Auto Fades dialog, with the addition of a “Use Project Settings” option. 2. Deactivate the “Use Project Settings” option. Any settings you now make are applied to the track only. 3. Set up the Auto Fades as desired and close the dialog. Reverting to project settings If you want a track with individual Auto Fade settings to use the global Auto Fade settings, open the Auto Fades dialog for the track and activate the “Use Project Settings” checkbox. Event envelopes An envelope is a volume curve for an audio event. It is similar to the realtime fades, but allows you to create volume changes within the event, not only at the start or end. To create an envelope for an audio event, proceed as follows: PROCEDURE 1. Zoom in on the event so that you can view its waveform properly. 2. Select the Draw tool. When you move the Draw tool over an audio event, a small volume curve symbol is shown next to the tool. 3. To add an envelope point, click in the event with the Draw tool. An envelope curve and a curve point appear.
Fades, crossfades, and envelopes Event envelopes 258 4. Drag the curve point to adjust the envelope shape. The waveform image reflects the volume curve. • You can add as many curve points as you like. • To remove a curve point from the envelope, click on it and drag it outside the event. • To remove an event envelope curve from a selected event, open the Audio menu and select the Remove Volume Curve option. • The envelope curve is a part of the audio event – it will follow when you move or copy the event. After copying an event with an envelope, you can make independent adjustments to the envelopes in the original event and the copy. NOTE It is also possible to apply an envelope to the audio clip using the Envelope function on the Process submenu of the Audio menu. RELATED LINKS Envelope on page 403
259 Arranger Track Introduction The arranger track allows you to work with sections of your project in a non-linear fashion, to simplify arranging to the maximum extent. Instead of moving, copying and pasting events in the Project window to create a linear project, you can define how different sections are to be played back, like a playlist. For this, you can define arranger events, order them in a list, and add repeats as desired. This offers a different and more pattern-oriented way of working, which complements the usual linear editing methods in the Project window. You can create several arranger chains, making it possible to save different versions of a song within the project without sacrificing the original version. When you have created an arranger chain that you like, you have the option of “flattening” the list, which creates a normal linear project based on the arranger chain. You can also use the arranger track for live performances on the stage, in clubs or at parties. Setting up the arranger track Let’s say you have prepared a number of audio files that form the base of a typical pop song, with introduction, verse, chorus and bridge. Now you want to arrange these files. The first step is to create an arranger track. On the arranger track, you define specific sections of the project by creating arranger events. These can be of any length, may overlap and are not bound to the start or end of existing events and parts. Proceed as follows: PROCEDURE 1. Open the project for which you want to create arranger events. 2. Open the Project menu and select Arranger from the Add Track submenu (or right-click the track list and select the corresponding option from the context menu). An arranger track is added. There can be only one arranger track in a project, but you can set up more than one arranger chain for this track.
Arranger Track Working with arranger events 260 3. On the Project window toolbar, make sure that Snap is activated and that the Snap Type is set to a mode that allows your arranger events to snap to appropriate positions in the project. Snap to events is activated, i. e. when drawing in the Project window, new events will snap to existing events. 4. On the arranger track, use the Draw tool to draw an event of the desired length. An arranger event is added, called “A” by default. Any following events will be named in alphabetical order. You can rename an arranger event by selecting it and changing its name in the Project window info line or by holding down [Alt]/[Option], double-clicking on the name in the arranger chain (see below) and entering a new name. You may want to name your arranger events according to the structure of your project, e. g. Verse, Chorus, etc. 5. Create as many events as you need for your project. When arranger events have been created, the music sequence is determined by the arranger events. Events can be moved, resized and deleted using the standard techniques. Please note: • If you want to change the length of an event, select the Object Selection tool and click and drag the lower corners of the event in the desired direction. • If you copy an arranger event (by [Alt]/[Option]-dragging or by using copy/paste), a new event will be created with the same name as the original. However, this new event will be totally independent from the original event. • Double-clicking on an arranger event adds it to the current arranger chain. RELATED LINKS Managing arranger chains on page 264 Working with arranger events You now have a number of arranger events that form the basic building blocks for your arrangement. The next step is to arrange these events using the functions of the Arranger Editor.