Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							MIDI Processing
Other MIDI functions
681
Pedals to Note Length
This function scans for Sustain pedal on/off events, lengthens the affected notes to match 
the Sustain pedal off position, and then removes the Sustain Controller on/off events.
Delete Overlaps (mono)
This function allows you to make sure that no notes of the same pitch overlap (i. e. 
that one starts before the other ends). Overlapping notes of the same pitch can 
confuse some MIDI instruments (a new Note On is transmitted before the Note Off 
is transmitted). This command can then be used to automatically solve the problem.
Delete Overlaps (poly)
This function shortens notes when required, so that no note begins before another 
ends. This happens regardless of which pitch the notes have.
Velocity
This function opens a dialog that allows you to manipulate the velocity of notes in 
various ways.
The following types of velocity processing are available:
Add/Subtract
This simply adds a fixed number to the existing velocity values. You set the 
value (positive or negative) with the Amount parameter.
Compress/Expand
Compresses or expands the “dynamic range” of MIDI notes by scaling the 
velocity values according to the Ratio setting (0 to 300
 %). The principle 
behind this is that multiplying different velocity values with a factor higher than 
1 (over 100
 %) will also make the differences between velocity values greater, 
while using a factor lower than 1 (under 100
 %) will make the differences 
smaller. In short:
• To compress (“even out” velocity differences), use ratio values below 100 %.
After compression, you would probably want to add a velocity amount 
(with the Add/Subtract function) to maintain the average velocity level. 
						

							MIDI Processing
Other MIDI functions
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• To expand (create greater difference in velocity), use ratio values above 
100 %.
Before you expand, you may want to adjust the velocity with the 
Add/Subtract function, so that the average velocity is somewhere in the 
middle of the range. If the average velocity is high (near 127) or low 
(near 0), expansion will not work properly, simply because velocity 
values can only be between 0 and 127!
Limit
This function allows you to make sure that no velocity values fall outside a 
given range (the Lower and Upper values). Any velocity values outside this 
range are raised/lowered to exactly the Lower/Upper values.
Fixed Velocity
This function sets the velocity of all selected notes to the Insert Velocity value on the 
toolbar in the MIDI editors.
Delete Doubles
This function removes double notes, i. e. notes of the same pitch on the exact same 
position from the selected MIDI parts. Double notes can occur when recording in 
Cycle mode, after Quantizing, etc.
Delete Notes
Allows you to delete very short or weak notes. This is useful for automatically 
removing unwanted “ghost notes” after recording. Selecting “Delete Notes…” 
opens a dialog in which you set up the criteria for the function.
The parameters have the following functionality:
Minimum Length
When the Minimum Length checkbox is activated, the note length is taken into 
account, allowing you to remove short notes. You can either specify the 
minimum length (for notes to be kept) in the value field or by dragging the blue 
line in the graphical length display below. 
						

							MIDI Processing
Other MIDI functions
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• The graphical length display can correspond to 1/4 bar, one bar, two 
bars or four bars.
You change this setting by clicking in the field to the right of the display.
In this case, the whole length display corresponds to two bars, and the Minimum 
Length is set to 32nd notes (60 ticks).
Minimum Velocity
When the Minimum Velocity checkbox is activated, the velocity of notes is 
taken into account, allowing you to remove weak notes. You specify the 
minimum velocity (for notes to be kept) in the value display.
Remove when under
This setting is only available when both Minimum Length and Minimum 
Velocity is activated. By clicking in this field, you select whether both the 
length and the velocity criteria must be met for notes to be deleted, or whether 
one of the criteria will suffice.
OK and Cancel
Clicking OK performs the automatic delete according to the rules set up. 
Clicking Cancel closes the dialog without deleting notes.
Delete Controllers
This function removes all MIDI controllers from the selected MIDI parts.
Delete Continuous Controllers
This function removes all “continuous” MIDI controller events from the selected 
MIDI parts. Therefore, “on/off” events such as sustain pedal events are not removed.
Restrict Polyphony
Selecting this item opens a dialog in which you can specify how many “voices” are 
used (for the selected notes or parts). Restricting the polyphony this way is useful 
when you have an instrument with limited polyphony and want to make sure all notes 
will be played. The effect is achieved by shortening notes as required, so that they 
end before the next note starts. 
						

							MIDI Processing
Other MIDI functions
684
Thin Out Data
Thins out MIDI data. Use this to ease the load on your external MIDI devices if you 
have recorded very dense controller curves, etc.
NOTE
Cubase Pro only: T h i s  a l s o  t h i n s  o u t  M I D I  c o n t r o l l e r  a n d  V S T  3  e v e n t s  t h a t  f o r m  p a r t  
of Note Expression data.
You can also manually thin out the controller data by using the quantize function in 
the Key Editor.
Extract MIDI Automation
This is an extremely useful function as it allows you to quickly and easily convert the 
continuous controllers of your recorded MIDI parts into MIDI track automation data, 
making them available for editing in the Project window.
PROCEDURE
1. Select the desired MIDI part containing the continuous controller data.
2. On the MIDI menu, open the Functions submenu and select “Extract MIDI 
Automation”.
3. In the Project window, open the automation tracks for the respective MIDI 
track. You will find that an automation track has been created for each of the 
continuous controllers in the part.
RESULT 
NOTE
In the MIDI editors, the controller data will automatically be removed from the 
controller lane.
This function can only be used for continuous controllers. Data such as Aftertouch, 
Pitchbend, or SysEx cannot be converted to MIDI track automation data.
NOTE
MIDI controller automation is also affected by the Automation Merge Mode.
RELATED LINKS
MIDI Controller Automation on page 595
Merge Tempo from Tapping (Cubase Pro only) on page 685 
						

							MIDI Processing
Other MIDI functions
685
Reverse
This function inverts the order of the selected events (or of all events in the selected 
parts) rhythmically, causing the MIDI music to play backwards. Note that the effect 
is different from reversing an audio recording. With MIDI, the individual notes will 
still play as usual in the MIDI instrument – it is only the order of playback that is 
changed. 
Merge Tempo from Tapping (Cubase Pro only)
This function allows you to create a complete tempo track based on your tapping.
RELATED LINKS
Merge Tempo from Tapping (Cubase Pro only) on page 685 
						

							686
MIDI Editors
There are several ways to edit MIDI in Cubase. You can use the tools and functions 
in the Project window for large-scale editing or the functions on the MIDI menu to 
process MIDI parts in various ways. To manually edit your MIDI data on a graphical 
interface, you can use the MIDI editors.
• The Key Editor is the default MIDI editor, presenting notes graphically in a 
piano roll-style grid. The Key Editor also allows for detailed editing of 
non-note events such as MIDI controllers.
• The Score Editor shows MIDI notes as a musical score and provides 
advanced tools and functions for notation, layout, and printing.
Cubase Artist features a basic version of the Score Editor.
• The Drum Editor is similar to the Key Editor, but each key corresponds to a 
separate drum sound.
You can use the Drum Editor to edit drum or percussion parts.
• The List Editor shows all events in the selected MIDI parts as a list and allows 
you to view and edit their properties numerically. It also allows you to edit 
SysEx messages.
• The In-Place Editor allows you to edit MIDI parts directly in the Project 
window so that you can edit MIDI in context with other track types.
Cubase Pro only: You can also edit MIDI in the Project Browser.
RELATED LINKS
Key Editor on page 696
Drum Editor on page 743
List Editor on page 761
Basic Score Editor (Cubase Artist only) on page 728
Project Browser (Cubase Pro only) on page 926
In-Place Editor on page 771
Opening MIDI editors
PROCEDURE
1. Do one of the following:
• Select one or several MIDI parts.
• Select a whole MIDI track without selecting parts. 
						

							MIDI Editors
Changing the Default MIDI Editor
687
2. Do one of the following:
• To open the Key Editor, select MIDI > Open Key Editor.
• To open the Score Editor, select MIDI > Open Score Editor.
In Cubase Artist, select MIDI > Scores > Open Score Editor.
• To open the Drum Editor, select MIDI > Open Drum Editor.
• To open the List Editor, select MIDI > Open List Editor.
• To open the In-Place Editor, select MIDI > Open In-Place Editor.
• To open the default MIDI editor, double-click a part.
RESULT 
The selected editor opens and displays the selected parts or tracks. If no parts were 
selected, all parts on the track are shown.
Opening a Drum Map in the Drum Editor
You can automatically open a drum map in the Drum Editor.
•Select Preferences > Event Display > MIDI and activate Edit as Drums 
when Drum Map is assigned.
RELATED LINKS
Selecting a Drum Map for a Track on page 758
Changing the Default MIDI Editor
When you double-click a MIDI part, the default MIDI editor opens. The Key Editor 
is the default MIDI editor. You can set any MIDI editor as the default MIDI editor.
PROCEDURE
1. Click File > Preferences.
2. Select Event Display > MIDI.
3. From the Default Edit Action pop-up menu, select the MIDI editor that you 
want to use.
4. Click OK. 
						

							MIDI Editors
Common MIDI Editor Functions
688
Common MIDI Editor Functions
You can use the tools and functions within the MIDI editors to process MIDI parts 
in various ways.
Changing the Display Format for the Ruler
By default, the ruler shows the timeline in the display format that is selected on the 
transport panel.
You can change the display format for the ruler. Click the arrow button to the right 
of the ruler and select an option from the pop-up menu.
RELATED LINKS
Ruler Display Formats on page 49
Zooming in MIDI Editors
The MIDI editors provide several zooming options:
• Zoom sliders
•Zoom tool
•Via Edit > Zoom.
When you use the Zoom tool for zooming, you can determine if you want to zoom 
horizontal only or horizontal and vertical at a time.
• To activate/deactivate the corresponding option, select File > Preferences 
> Editing > Tools and activate/deactivate Zoom Tool Standard Mode: 
Horizontal Zooming Only.
Using Cut and Paste
You can use the Cut, Copy, and Paste options from the Edit menu to move or copy 
material within a part or between different parts.
• To insert note events at the project cursor position without affecting existing 
notes, select Edit > Paste. 
						

							MIDI Editors
Common MIDI Editor Functions689
• To insert note events at the project cursor position, move, and if necessary split the existing note events to make  room for the pasted notes, select Edit 
> Range > Paste Time .
1) Data on clipboard
2) Cursor position
3) Pasted data at cursor position
Following the Project Cursor During Playback
Auto-Scroll allows the event display to scroll  during playback, keeping the project 
cursor visible in the window.
Auto-Scroll in MIDI editors is independent of the Auto-Scroll function in the  Project
  
Window .
• To activate/deactivate Auto-Scroll, click  Auto-Scroll 
.
Soloing a MIDI Editor
• To only hear the parts of a particular  MIDI editor during playback, activate 
Solo Editor  
.
Acoustic Feedback
If Acoustic Feedback  is activated, individual note s are automatically played back 
(auditioned) when you move or transpose them, or when you create new notes by 
drawing. This makes it easier to hear what you are doing.
• To activate acoustic  fe
 edback, activate Acoustic Feedback   on the toolbar.
• To take any MIDI sends or inserts that are used for the track into account  wh
 en auditioning, select  File > Preferences > MIDI  and activate Audition 
through MIDI Inserts/Sends .
This way, the acoustic feedback of the e
 ditors sends the MIDI data to the 
output that is selected for the track an d additionally through any MIDI inserts 
and MIDI sends that are assigned to it.  However, this also means that the MIDI 
events are sent through any MIDI plug-ins that are assigned to this track.
R
ELATED LINKS
MIDI on  page  1068 
						

							MIDI Editors
Common MIDI Editor Functions
690
Handling Note Events
Coloring Notes and Events
You can select different color schemes for the note events in the MIDI editor.
The following options are available on the Event Colors pop-up menu on the 
toolbar:
Velocity
The note events get different colors depending on their velocity values.
Pitch
The note events get different colors depending on their pitch.
Channel
The note events get different colors depending on their MIDI channel value.
Part
The note events get the same color as their corresponding part in the Project 
window. Use this option when you are working with two or more tracks in an 
editor, to see which note events belong to which track.
Grid Match
The note events get different colors depending on their time position. For 
example, this mode enables you to see if the notes of a chord start at the exact 
same beat.
Sound Slot (Cubase Pro only)
The note events get different colors depending on the articulation that has 
been assigned to the note in the Expression Map Setup dialog.
Voice
The note events get different colors depending on their voice (soprano, alto, 
tenor, etc.).
Chord Track
The note events get different colors depending on whether they match the 
current chord, scale, or both.
For all of the options except Part, the pop-up menu also contains a Setup option. 
This option opens a dialog in which you can specify the colors that are associated 
with velocities, pitches, or channels.
RELATED LINKS
Expression maps (Cubase Pro only) on page 778