Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

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MixConsole
The MixConsole  provides a common environment for producing mixes in stereo or 
surround. It allows you to control level, pa n, solo/mute status, etc. for audio and MIDI 
channels. Furthermore, it is a convenient environment for setting up the input and 
output routing for multiple tracks or channels at the same time.
To open the  Mi
 xConsole, you have the following options:
• Press [F3].
•Select  Devic
 es > MixConsole.
• On the Project  window tool
 bar, click Open MixConsole  .
This is only visible on the toolbar if the section  Media & Mix
 Console 
Windows  is activated. 
						

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292
The MixConsole is divided into several sections:
1)Channel Selector
Allows you to set up the visibility and positions of channels in the fader 
section.
2)Fader Section
The fader section is the heart of the MixConsole. It is always visible and 
shows all channels in the same order as in the track list.
3)Channel Overview
Displays all channels as boxes. If you have more channels than can be 
displayed in the window, you can use the channel overview to navigate to 
other channels and select them.
4)Meter Bridge
Allows you to monitor the levels of your channels. 
						

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5)Equalizer Curve
Allows you to draw an EQ curve. Click in the curve display to open a larger 
view where you can edit the curve points.
6)Channel Racks
Allows you to show additional channel controls as needed.
7)Control Room/Meter
Opens the Control Room/Meters section (Cubase Pro only).
8)Pictures
Opens the Pictures section that allows you to add a picture to the selected 
channel. Pictures can help you identify your MixConsole channels quickly.
9)Notepad
In the Notepad section, you can enter notes and comments about a channel. 
Each channel has its own notepad.
RELATED LINKS
Track Pictures Browser on page 137
Setting Up the MixConsole
You can show and hide the different sections of the MixConsole. This saves screen 
space and enables you to display only the information that you need.
PROCEDURE
1. Click the Set up Window Layout button on the MixConsole toolbar.
2. Activate the checkboxes for the sections that you want to show.
MixConsole Toolbar
The toolbar holds tools and shortcuts for settings and functions in the MixConsole.
Set up Window Layout
Allows you to activate/deactivate the different sections of the MixConsole. 
						

							MixConsole
MixConsole Toolbar
294
Find Track/Channel
Opens a selector that lists all tracks/channels.
Filter Channel Types
Opens the channel filter that allows you to show/hide all channels of a certain 
channel type.
Channel Visibility Configurations
Allows you to create configurations that are useful for switching quickly 
between different visibility setups.
Channel Visibility Agents
Allows you to select channels with specific properties.
Show Channel Racks
Activates/Deactivates the rack selector.
Select Racks
Opens the rack selector that allows you to show/hide specific racks.
Rack Settings
Opens a pop-up menu with settings for the racks.
Locators
Shows the left and right locator positions.
Transport Buttons
Shows the transport controls.
Time Display
Shows the time display.
Markers
Shows the marker buttons.
State Buttons
Shows the mute, solo, listen, and automation states. Here you can also 
bypass inserts, EQs, channel strips, and sends.
Link Group
Allows you to link channels.
Zoom Palette
Allows you to increase/reduce the channel width and the rack height. You can 
change the width for all channels from viewable (narrow) to editable (wide), 
by using the default key commands [G] and [H].
Performance Meter
Shows the meters for ASIO time usage and hard disk transfer load. 
						

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Functions Menu
295
Functions Menu
Opens the Functions Menu, that allows you to make settings in the 
MixConsole.
Functions Menu
The Functions menu holds tools and shortcuts for settings and functions in the 
MixConsole.
• To open the Functions Menu, click the Functions Menu button in the top 
right corner of the MixConsole.
Scroll to Selected Channel
If this option is activated and you select a channel in the Visibility tab, the 
selected channel is automatically displayed in the Fader section.
Copy First Selected Channel’s Settings
Copies the settings of the first selected channel.
Paste Settings to Selected Channels
Pastes the settings to the selected channels.
Zoom
Opens a submenu where you can increase or reduce the channel width and 
the rack height.
Open VST Connections
Opens the VST Connections window.
Constrain Delay Compensation
Allows you to activate/deactivate the Constrain Delay Compensation that 
keeps all channels in perfect sync and automatically compensates any delay 
inherent in VST plug-ins during playback.
Direct Routing: Summing Mode On/Off
Allows you to feed your signals to several outputs at the same time.
After Fader Listen Mode (Cubase Pro only)
Allows you to enable/disable that the signal of a listen-enabled channel is 
routed to the MixConsole channel after applying the fader and pan settings.
EQ/Filter Transition
Allows you to change the EQ/Filter Transition mode from Soft to Quick. 
						

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Functions Menu
296
Save Selected Channels
Saves the settings for the selected channels.
Load Selected Channels
Loads the settings for the selected channels.
Global Meter Settings
Opens a submenu where you can set up the global meter settings.
Reset MixConsole Channels
Allows you to reset EQ, insert, and send effect settings for all or selected 
channels. Solo and mute buttons are deactivated, the volume fader is set to 
0
 dB, and pan is set to the center position.
Link MixConsoles
If you opened more than one MixConsole, you can link them.
Saving MixConsole Settings
You can save MixConsole settings for selected audio-related channels in the 
MixConsole and load them into any project.
PROCEDURE
1. Select the channels with the settings that you want to save.
2. Select Functions > Save Selected Channels.
3. In the file dialog, specify the file name and location.
4. Click Save.
RESULT 
The settings for the selected channels are saved with the file extension .vmx. The 
input/output routing is not saved.
Loading MixConsole Settings
You can load MixConsole settings that have been saved for selected channels.
PROCEDURE
1. Select the same number of channels that you selected when you saved your 
MixConsole settings.
The loaded MixConsole settings are applied in the same order as originally saved. 
For example, if you have saved the settings for channels 4, 6, and 8, and apply these 
settings to channels 1, 2, and 3, the settings saved for channel 4 are applied to 
channel 1, the settings saved for channel 6 to channel 2, and so on. 
						

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2. Select Functions > Load Selected Channels.
3. In the Load Selected Channels dialog, select the .vmx settings file and click 
Open.
RESULT 
The channel settings are applied to the selected channels.
NOTE
When you apply loaded MixConsole settings to fewer channels, some of the saved 
settings are not applied. Since the saved settings are applied from left to right as 
shown in the MixConsole, the settings for the channels furthest to the right are not 
applied to any channels.
Configuring the MixConsole
You can configure the MixConsole exactly to your needs and to your individual 
workflow.
Channel Selector
The channel selector contains the Visibility tab and the Zones tab. These tabs list 
all channels contained in your project.
Visibility Tab
The Visibility tab allows you to determine which channels are shown in the 
MixConsole. This is particularly helpful if you organize your tracks in folder or group 
tracks.
• To show/hide channels, activate/deactivate the dots.
• To collapse/expand groups and folders, click the group or folder name.
Zones Tab
The Zones tab allows you to determine and lock the position of certain channels. 
						

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• To lock channels on the left/right of the fader section, activate the left/right 
dots next to the channel names.
Locked channels are excluded from scrolling and are always visible.
Input Routing Configurations for Mono Channels
• Mono input busses or individual channels within a stereo or surround input 
bus (Cubase Pro only).
• External inputs configured on the Studio tab of the VST Connections 
window. 
These can be mono or individual channels within a stereo or surround bus 
(Cubase Pro only). They can also be routed to the Talkback input.
• Mono output busses, mono group output busses, or mono FX channel output 
busses.
These should not lead to feedback.
RELATED LINKS
Routing on page 325
Input Routing Configurations for Stereo Channels
• Mono or stereo input busses or stereo child busses within a surround bus 
(Cubase Pro only).
• External inputs that are configured on the Studio tab of the VST Connections 
window.
 These can be mono input busses or stereo input busses. They can also be 
routed to the Talkback input.
• Mono or stereo output busses, mono or stereo group output busses, and 
mono or stereo FX channel output busses.
These should not lead to feedback.
RELATED LINKS
Routing on page 325 
						

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Configuring the MixConsole
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Input Routing Configurations for Surround Channels (Cubase Pro only)
• Surround input busses.
• External inputs that are configured on the Studio tab of the VST Connections 
window.
These must have the same input configuration.
• Output busses.
These must have the same input configuration and should not lead to 
feedback.
RELATED LINKS
Routing on page 325
Filtering Channel Types
The channel types filter on the MixConsole toolbar allows you to determine which 
channel types are shown.
PROCEDURE
1. Click Filter Channel Types.
This opens the channel types filter.
2. Click a dot to the left of a channel type to hide it.
RESULT 
Channels of the filtered type are removed from the fader section and the color of the 
Filter Channel Types button changes to indicate that a channel type is hidden. 
						

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Configuring the MixConsole
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Rack Selector
The rack selector allows you to activate specific MixConsole functions, such as 
routing, insert, or send handling, that are organized in racks.
• To activate the rack selector, activate Show Channel Racks.
Channel Racks
You can activate and deactivate the different channel racks in the MixConsole.
• To open the Select Racks pop-up menu, click Select Racks.
Depending on the channel type, you can activate/deactivate the following racks:
Routing
Allows you to set up the input and output routing. For MIDI, you can also 
select the MIDI channel.
Pre (Filters/Gain)
Contains input filter and gain controls along with Phase and Gain controls for 
audio-related channels or an Input Transformer control for MIDI channels.
Inserts
Allows you to select insert effects for your channel.
Equalizers (audio-related channels only)
Allows you to set the channel EQ.
Channel Strip (audio-related channels only)
Allows you to integrate channel strip modules, such as Gate, Compressor, 
EQ, Transformer, Saturator, and Limiter that allow you to enhance your sound.
Sends
Allows you to select send effects for your channel.
Cue Sends (audio-related channels only) (Cubase Pro only)
Allows you to activate and control the level and pan for up to 4 cue sends.
Direct Routing (Cubase Pro only)
Allows you to set and activate outputs for all selected channels at once.
Track Quick Controls
Allows you to add quick controls for instant access.