Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							Pool
Working with the Pool
511
Locating Missing Files
PROCEDURE
1. Select Media > Find Missing Files.
2. In the Resolve Missing Files dialog, decide if you want the program to find 
the file for you (Search), if you want to find it yourself (Locate), or if you want 
to specify in which directory the program will search for the file (Folder).
• If you select Search, a dialog opens to let you specify which folder or disk will 
be scanned by the program. Click the Search Folder button, select a directory 
or a disk, and click the Start button. If found, select the file from the list and 
click Accept. Afterwards Cubase tries to map all other missing files 
automatically.
• If you select Locate, a file dialog opens, allowing you to locate the file manually. 
Select the file and click Open.
•If you select Folder, a dialog opens to let you specify the directory in which the 
missing file can be found. This might be the preferred method if you have 
renamed or moved the folder containing the missing file, but the file still has the 
same name. Once you select the correct folder, the program finds the file and 
you can close the dialog.
Reconstructing Missing Edit Files
If a missing file cannot be found, this is normally indicated with a question mark in 
the Status column in the Pool. However, if the missing file is an edit file (a file that 
is created when you process audio and stored in the Edits folder within the project 
folder), it may be possible for the program to reconstruct it by recreating the editing 
to the original audio file.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Pool window, locate the clips for which files are missing.
2. Check the Status column. If the status of the files is “Reconstructible”, the 
files can be reconstructed by Cubase.
3. Select the reconstructable clips and select Media > Reconstruct.
RESULT 
The editing is performed and the edit files are recreated. 
						

							Pool
Working with the Pool
512
Removing Missing Files from the Pool
If the Pool contains audio files that cannot be found or reconstructed, you may want 
to remove these.
PROCEDURE
• In the Pool window, select Media > Remove Missing Files.
RESULT 
All missing files from the Pool and the corresponding events from the Project 
window are removed.
Auditioning Clips in the Pool
You can audition clips in the Pool using key commands, the Audition button, or by 
clicking in the waveform image for a clip.
• Key commands
If you activate the Playback Toggle triggers Local Preview option in the 
Preferences dialog (Transport page), you can use [Space] to audition. This is 
the same as activating the Audition button on the toolbar.
• Select a clip and activate the Audition button.
The whole clip plays back. To stop playback, click the Audition button again.
• Click in the waveform image for a clip.
The clip plays back from the selected position in the waveform until the end. 
To stop playback, click the Audition button or anywhere else in the Pool 
window.
The audio is routed directly to the Control Room, if activated (Cubase Pro only). 
When the Control Room is deactivated, the audio is routed to the Main Mix (the 
default output) bus, bypassing the settings of the audio channel, effects, and EQs. 
In Cubase Artist, the Main Mix bus is always used for auditioning.
NOTE
You can adjust the auditioning level with the miniature level fader on the toolbar. 
This does not affect the regular playback level.
If you have activated the Audition Loop button before you audition, the following 
happens:
• When you click the Audition button to audition a clip, the clip is repeated 
indefinitely until you stop playback by clicking the Audition or Audition Loop 
button again.
• When you click in the waveform image to audition, the section from the 
selected point to the end of the clip is repeated indefinitely until you stop 
playback. 
						

							Pool
Working with the Pool
513
Opening Clips in the Sample Editor
The Sample Editor allows you to perform detailed editing on the clip.
• To open a clip in the Sample Editor, double-click a clip waveform icon or a 
clip name in the Media column.
• To open a certain region of a clip in the Sample Editor, double-click a region 
in the Pool.
You can use this to set a snap point for a clip, for example. When you later 
insert the clip from the Pool into the project, the defined snap point allows it 
to be properly aligned.
RELATED LINKS
Adjusting the snap point on page 443
Sample Editor on page 432
Importing Media
The Import Medium dialog lets you import files directly into the Pool.
To open the dialog, select Media > Import Medium, or click the Import button on 
the Pool toolbar.
This opens a standard file dialog, where you can navigate to other folders, audition 
files, etc. The following audio file formats can be imported:
• Wave (Normal or Broadcast)
• AIFF and AIFC (Compressed AIFF)
•REX or REX 2
• FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
• SD2 (Sound Designer II) (Mac only)
• MPEG Layer 2 and Layer 3 (MP2 and MP3 files)
• Ogg Vorbis (OGG files)
• Windows Media Audio (Windows only)
• Wave 64 (W64 files)
The following characteristics are possible:
• Stereo or mono
•Any sample rate
NOTE
Files that have a different sample rate than the project sample rate are played 
back at the wrong speed and pitch.
• 8, 16, 24, or 32 bit float resolution 
						

							Pool
Working with the Pool
514
• Various video formats
NOTE
You can also use the commands on the Import submenu of the File menu to import 
audio or video files into the Pool.
RELATED LINKS
Broadcast Wave files on page 949
Importing ReCycle files on page 1016
Importing compressed audio files on page 1017
Video File Compatibility on page 980
Importing Audio CDs in the Pool
You can import tracks or sections of tracks from an audio CD directly into the Pool. 
This opens a dialog in which you can specify which tracks are copied from the CD, 
converted to audio files, and added to the Pool.
• To import an audio CD to the Pool, select Media > Import Audio CD.
RELATED LINKS
Importing audio CD tracks on page 1013
Import Options Dialog
When you select a file in the Import Medium dialog and click Open, the Import 
Options dialog opens.
Copy File to Working Directory
If this option is activated, the file is copied to the Audio folder of the project, 
and the clip refers to this copy.
If the option is deactivated, the clip refers to the original file in the original 
location and will be marked as “external” in the Pool. 
						

							Pool
Working with the Pool
515
Convert to Project
If you are importing a single audio file, you can convert the sample rate 
provided that the sample rate is different than the one set for the project. You 
can also convert the sample size provided that the sample size is lower than 
the record format that is used in the project.
If you are importing several audio files at once, the Import Options dialog 
contains a Convert and Copy to Project if needed checkbox instead. When 
this option is activated, the imported files will be converted only if the sample 
rate is different or if the sample size is lower than the project sample size.
Split Channels/Split Multi-Channel Files
If this option is activated, the stereo or multi-channel audio files are split into 
a corresponding number of mono files, one for each channel.
NOTE
If this option is activated, the imported files are copied to the Audio folder of 
the project’s working directory.
If you import files via File > Import, the split files are inserted into the project 
and into the Pool as separate mono tracks.
If you import files via Media > Import Medium, the split files are only inserted 
into the Pool.
In all cases, the Split File Name Format pop-up menu lets you specify how 
the split files are named. This allows for compatibility with other products 
when exchanging audio files and avoids confusion if the source file contains 
no stereo or surround material, but poly-mono audio.
Please, don’t ask again
If this option is activated, files will always be imported according to the 
settings that you have made, without this dialog appearing. This can be reset 
in the Preferences dialog (Editing > Audio).
NOTE
You can also convert files later with the Convert Files or Conform Files options.
RELATED LINKS
Status on page 502
Converting Files on page 519
Conforming Files on page 521 
						

							Pool
Working with the Pool
516
Exporting Regions as Audio Files
If you have created regions within an audio clip, these can be exported as separate 
audio files. If you have two clips that refer to the same audio file, you can create a 
separate audio file for each clip.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Pool window, select the region that you want to export.
2. Select Audio > Bounce Selection.
3. Select the folder in which you want the new file to be created and click OK.
4. If you are using the Bounce Selection option to create a separate audio file 
for a clip that refers to the same audio file as another clip, enter a name for the 
new audio file.
RESULT 
A new audio file is created in the specified folder. The file has the name of the region 
and is automatically added to the Pool.
RELATED LINKS
Working with regions on page 448
Changing the Pool Record Folder
All audio clips that you record in the project will end up in the Pool Record folder. 
The Pool Record folder is indicated by the text Record in the Status column and by 
a red dot on the folder itself.
By default, this is the main Audio folder. However, you can create a new Audio 
subfolder and designate this as your Pool Record folder.
NOTE
The folders that you create in the Pool are only for organizing your files in the Pool. 
All files are recorded to the folder that you specified as the Pool Record Folder.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Pool, select the Audio folder or any audio clip.
NOTE
You cannot designate the Video folder or any of its subfolders as the Pool Record 
folder.
2. Select Media > Create Folder.
3. Rename the new folder.
4. Select the new folder and select Media > Set Pool Record Folder, or click 
in the Status column of the new folder. 
						

							Pool
Working with the Pool
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RESULT 
The new folder becomes the Pool Record folder. Any audio recorded in the project 
will be saved in this folder.
Organizing Clips and Folders
If you accumulate a large number of clips in the Pool, it can be difficult to quickly 
find specific items. Organizing clips in new subfolders with names that reflect the 
content can be a solution. For example, you could put all sound effects in one folder, 
all lead vocals in another, etc.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Pool window, select the type of folder, audio or video, for which you 
want to create a subfolder.
NOTE
You cannot put audio clips in a video folder and vice versa.
2. Select Media > Create Folder.
3. Rename the folder.
4. Drag the clips to the new folder.
Applying Processing to Clips in the Pool
You can apply audio processing to clips from within the Pool in the same way as to 
events in the Project window.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Pool window, select the clips that you want to process.
2. Select Audio > Process and select a processing method.
RESULT 
A red and gray waveform symbol indicates that the clips have been processed.
RELATED LINKS
Audio processing and functions on page 401 
						

							Pool
Working with the Pool
518
Undoing Processing
You can undo processing that has been applied to clips.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Pool window, select the clip from which you want to remove the 
processing.
2. Select Audio > Offline Process History.
3. Select the action that you want to remove, and click Remove.
Minimizing Files
You can minimize the audio files according to the size of the audio clips referenced 
in the project. The files that are produced using this option only contain the audio 
file portions that are actually used in the project.
This can significantly reduce the size of the project if large portions of the audio files 
are unused. Therefore, the option is useful for archiving purposes after you have 
completed a project.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
This operation will permanently change the selected audio files in the Pool. This 
cannot be undone. If you only want to create the minimized audio files as a copy, 
leaving the original project untouched, you can use the Back up Project option.
NOTE
Minimizing files clears the entire edit history.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Pool window, select the files that you want to minimize.
2. Select Media > Minimize File.
3. Click Minimize.
After the minimizing is finished, the file references in the stored project have become 
invalid.
4. Do one of the following.
• To save the updated project, click Save Now.
• To proceed with the unsaved project, click Later.
RESULT 
Only the audio portions that are actually used in the project remain in the 
corresponding audio files in the Pool Record folder.
RELATED LINKS
Backing Up Projects on page 80 
						

							Pool
Working with the Pool
519
Importing and Exporting Pool Files  (Cubase Pro only)
You can import or export a Pool as a separate file (file extension “.npl”).
• To import a Pool file, select Media > Import Pool.
When you import a Pool file, its file references are added to the current Pool.
NOTE
Since the audio and video files are only referenced but not saved in the Pool 
file, the Pool import is only useful if you have access to all referenced files. 
These files have preferably the same file paths as when the Pool was saved.
• To export a Pool file, select Media > Export Pool.
You can also save and open libraries, that is, stand-alone Pool files that are not 
associated with a project.
RELATED LINKS
Working with Libraries (Cubase Pro only) on page 519
Working with Libraries (Cubase Pro only)
You can use libraries to save sound effects, loops, video clips, etc., and transfer 
media from a library into a project by using drag and drop.
• To create a new library, select File > New Library.
You must specify a project folder for the new library in which media files will 
be stored. The library appears as a separate Pool window.
• To open a library, select File > Open Library.
• To save a library, select File > Save Library.
Converting Files
In the Pool, you can convert files to another format or change file attributes.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Pool window, select the files that you want to convert.
2. Select Media > Convert Files.
3. In the Convert Options dialog, make your settings and click OK. 
						

							Pool
Working with the Pool
520
Convert Options Dialog
In this dialog, you can change the file format and attributes of audio files in the Pool.
To open the Convert Options dialog, select a clip in the Pool window, and select 
Media > Convert Files.
Sample Rate
Allows you to convert to another sample rate.
Sample Width
Allows you to convert to 16 Bit, 24 Bit, or 32 Bit Float.
Channels
Allows you to convert to Mono or Stereo Interleaved.
File Format
Allows you to convert to Wave, AIFF, Wave 64, or Broadcast Wave format.
Options
You can use the Options pop-up menu to set one of the following options:
•New Files
Creates a copy of the file in the audio folder and converts this new file 
according to the chosen attributes. The new file is added to the Pool, 
but all clip references still point to the original, unconverted file.
•Replace Files
Converts the original file without changing clip references. However, the 
references are saved with the next save action.
•New + Replace in Pool
Creates a new copy with the chosen attributes, replaces the original file 
with the new one in the Pool and redirects the current clip references 
from the original file to the new file. Select the latter option if you want 
your audio clips to refer to the converted file, but want to keep the 
original file on disk, for example, if the file is used in other projects.