Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual
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Project Handling About Template Files 71 Template projects are not saved in project folders and therefore contain no subfolders and no media files. • To open the location of a specific template, right-click a template in the template list and select Show in Explorer (Win) or Reveal in Finder (Mac). Saving a Project Template File You can save the current project as a template. When you create a new project, you can select this template as a starting point for your new project. PREREQUISITE Remove all clips from the Pool before you save the project as a template. This ensures that references to media data from the original project folder are deleted. PROCEDURE 1. Set up a project. 2. Select File > Save As Template. 3. In the New Preset section of the Save As Template dialog, enter a name for the new project template. 4. In the Attribute Inspector section, double-click the Value field of the Content Summary attribute to enter a description for the template. 5. Click the Value field of the Template Summary attribute and select a template category from the pop-up menu. If you do not select a category, the new template will be listed in Steinberg Hub in the More category. 6. Click OK to save the template.
Project Handling Project Setup Dialog 72 Renaming Templates PROCEDURE 1. In Steinberg Hub or the Project Assistant, right-click a template and select Rename. 2. In the Rename dialog, enter a new name and click OK. Project Setup Dialog You can perform general settings for your project in the Project Setup dialog. • To open the Project Setup dialog, select Project > Project Setup. • To open the Project Setup dialog automatically when you create a new project, activate the Run Setup on Create New Project option (File > Preferences > General). IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT While most Project Setup settings can be changed at any time, you must set the sample rate directly after creating a new project. If you change the sample rate at a later stage, you must convert all audio files in the project to the new sample rate to make them play back properly.
Project Handling Project Setup Dialog 73 The following options are available: Author Allows you to specify a project author that is written into the file, when you export audio files and activate the Insert iXML chunk option. You can specify a default author in the Default Author Name field (File > Preferences > General > Personalization). Company Allows you to specify a company name that is written into the file, when you export audio files and activate the Insert iXML chunk option. You can specify a default company in the Default Company Name field (File > Preferences > General > Personalization). Start Allows you to specify the start time of the project in timecode format. This also determines the sync start position when synchronizing to external devices. Length Allows you to specify the length of the project. Frame Rate Allows you to specify the timecode standard and frame rate for the project. When synchronizing to an external device, this setting must correspond to the frame rate of any incoming timecode. Get From Video Allows you to set the project frame rate to the frame rate of an imported video file. Display Format Allows you to specify the global display format that is used for all rulers and position displays in the program, except the ruler tracks. However, you can make independent display format selections for the individual rulers and displays. Display Offset Allows you to specify an offset for the time positions that are displayed in the rulers and position displays to compensate for the Start position setting. Bar Offset This setting is only used, when you select the Bars+Beats display format. Allows you to specify an offset for the time positions that are displayed in the rulers and position displays to compensate for the Start position setting. Sample Rate Allows you to specify the sample rate at which records and plays back audio. • If your audio hardware generates the sample rate internally and you select a non-supported sample rate, this is indicated by a different color. In this case, you must set a different sample rate to make your audio files play back properly.
Project Handling Project Setup Dialog 74 • If you select a sample rate that your audio hardware supports, but that differs from its current sample rate setting, it is automatically changed to the project sample rate. • If your audio hardware is externally clocked and receives external clock signals, sample rate mismatches are accepted. Bit Resolution Allows you to specify the resolution of the audio files that you record in Cubase. Select the record format according to the bit resolution that is delivered by your audio hardware. The available options are 16 Bit, 24 Bit, and 32 Bit float. NOTE • When you record with effects, consider setting the bit resolution to 32 Bit Float. This prevents from clipping (digital distortion) in the recorded files and keeps the audio quality absolutely pristine. Effect processing and level or EQ changes in the input channel are done in 32 Bit Float format. If you record at 16 or 24 Bit, the audio will be converted to this lower resolution when it is written to a file. As a result, the signal may degrade. This is independent of the actual resolution of your audio hardware. Even if the signal from the audio hardware has a resolution of 16 Bit, the signal will be 32 Bit Float after the effects are added to the input channel. • The higher the bit resolution, the larger the files and the more strain is put on the disk system. If this is an issue, you can lower the record format setting. Record File Type Allows you to specify the file type of the audio files that you record in Cubase. The following file types are available: •Wave files are a common file format on the PC platform. For recordings larger than 4 GB, the EBU RIFF standard is used. If a FAT 32 disk is used (not recommended), audio files are split automatically. •Wave 64 is a proprietary format developed by Sonic Foundry Inc. Audio-wise it is identical to the Wave format, but the internal file structure allows for much larger file sizes as required by long live recordings. •Broadcast Wave Files are, in terms of audio content, identical with regular Wave files, but with embedded text strings for supplying additional information about the file. These can be set up in the Preferences dialog (Record–Audio–Broadcast Wave). •AIFF Files, Audio Interchange File Format, is a defined standard by Apple Inc. and can be used on most computer platforms. AIFF files can contain embedded text strings. These can be set up in the Preferences dialog (Record–Audio–Broadcast Wave). •FLAC Files, Free Lossless Audio Codec, is an open source format. Audio files recorded in this format are typically 50 % to 60 % smaller than regular Wave files.
Project Handling Opening Project Files 75 NOTE If your recorded Wave file is larger than 4 GB and Use RF64 Format is activated on the When Recording Wave Files larger than 4 GB pop-up menu (File > Preferences > Record > Audio), your recording is saved as an RF64 file. This way, you do not have to worry about the file size during recording. However, keep in mind that this format is not supported by all applications. Stereo Pan Law If you pan a channel left or right, the sum of the left and right side is higher (louder), than if this channel is panned center. These modes allow you to attenuate signals panned center. 0 dB turns off constant-power panning. Equal Power means that the power of the signal remains the same regardless of the pan setting. Volume Max Allows you to specify the maximum fader level. By default, this is set to +12 dB. If you load projects that were created with Cubase versions older than 5.5, this value is set to the old default value of +6 dB. HMT Type (MIDI only) Allows you to specify a mode for Hermode tuning of MIDI notes. HMT Depth (MIDI only) Allows you to specify the overall degree of retuning. Opening Project Files You can open one or several saved project files at the same time. IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT If you open a project saved with a different program version that contains data for functions that are not available in your version, this data may be lost when you save the project with your version. PROCEDURE 1. Select File > Open. 2. In the fi le dialog th at open s, sele ct the project that you want to open and click Open. 3. If there already is an open project, you are asked if you want to activate the new project. Do one of the following: • To activate the project, click Activate. • To open the project inactive, click No. This reduces load times for projects.
Project Handling Opening Project Files 76 Activating Projects If you have several projects opened at the same time in Cubase, only one project can be active. The active project is indicated by the lit Activate Project button in the upper left corner of the Project window. If you want to work on another project, you have to activate the other project. PROCEDURE • To activate a project, click its Activate Project button. Opening Recent Projects To open a recently opened project, do one of the following: • In the category bar of Steinberg Hub or the Project Assistant dialog, click Recent, select a project from the projects list, and click Open. •Select File > Recent Projects and select a recently opened project. Re-Routing Missing Ports If you open a Cubase project that was created on a different system with other audio hardware, Cubase tries to find matching audio inputs and outputs for the input/output busses. If Cubase cannot resolve all audio/MIDI inputs and outputs that are used in the project, the Missing Ports dialog opens. This allows you to manually re-route any ports specified in the project to ports that are available in your system. NOTE To improve the search for matching audio inputs and outputs for the input/output busses, you should use descriptive, generic names for your input and output ports. RELATED LINKS Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs on page 29
Project Handling Saving Project Files 77 Saving Project Files You can save the active project as a project file. To keep your projects as manageable as possible, make sure that you save project files and all related files in the respective project folders. • To save the project and specify a file name and location, open the File menu and select Save As. • To save the project with its current name and location, open the File menu and select Save. NOTE Make sure that the Use File Extension in File Dialog option (File > Preferences > General) is activated. This automatically adds the file name extension when you save a file and keeps your projects compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X systems. About the Auto Save Option Cubase can automatically save backup copies of all open project files with unsaved changes. NOTE Only the project files are backed up. If you want to include the files from the Pool and save your project in a different location, you must use the Back up Project function. If you activate the Auto Save option (File > Preferences > General), Cubase automatically saves backup copies of all open projects with unsaved changes. These backup copies are named “-xx.bak” where xx is an incremental number. Unsaved projects are backed up in a similar way as “UntitledX-xx.bak”, with X being the incremental number for unsaved projects. All backup files are saved in the project folder. • To specify the time intervals in which a backup copy is created, use the Auto Save Interval setting. • To specify how many backup files are created with the Auto Save function, use the Maximum Backup Files option. When the maximum number of backup files is reached, the existing files are overwritten, starting with the oldest file.
Project Handling Reverting to the Last Saved Version 78 Saving Project Files As a New Version You can create and activate a new version of an active project file. This is useful if you are experimenting with edits and arrangements and want to be able to go back to a previous version at any time. • To save a new version of the active project, press [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[S]. The new file is saved with the same name as the original project and an attached incremental number. For example, if your project is called “My Project,” new versions are called “My Project-01”, “My Project-02”, and so on. Reverting to the Last Saved Version You can return to the last saved version and discard all changes that have been introduced. PROCEDURE 1. Select File > Revert. 2. In the warning message, click Revert. If you have recorded or created new audio files since the last version was saved, you are prompted to delete or keep the files. Choosing a Project Location In Steinberg Hub and in the Project Assistant, you can specify where to save a project. • To create a project in the default project location, select Use default location. In the Project folder field, you can specify a name for the project folder. If you do not specify a project folder here, the project is saved in a folder named Untitled. • To change the default project location, click in the path field. A file dialog opens that allows you to specify a new default location. • To create the project in a different location, select Prompt for project location. In the dialog that opens, specify a location and a project folder.
Project Handling Removing Unused Audio Files 79 Removing Unused Audio Files You can use the Cleanup function to locate and delete unused audio files in the project folders on your disk. PREREQUISITE Make sure that you have not moved or renamed files or folders without updating the project files to use the new paths. Also make sure that the project folder does not contain audio files that belong to projects that are not saved in the project folder. PROCEDURE 1. Close all projects. 2. Select File > Cleanup. 3. Click the Start button. Cubase scans the hard disks for project folders and lists all audio and image files that are not used by any project. NOTE You can also click the Search Folder button to select a specific folder for the Cleanup function. This is only recommended if you are sure that the folder contains no audio files that are used in other projects. 4. Select the files that you want to delete and click Delete. Creating Self-Contained Projects If you want to share your work or transfer it to another computer, your project must be self-contained. The following functions facilitate this task: •Select Media > Prepare Archive to verify that every clip that is referenced in the project is located in the project folder, and to take actions if that is not the case. •Select File > Back up Project to create a new project folder where you can save the project file and the necessary work data. The original project remains unchanged.
Project Handling Creating Self-Contained Projects 80 Preparing Archives The Prepare Archive function allows you to gather all files that are referenced by your project to ensure that these are in the project folder. This is useful if you want to move or archive your project. PROCEDURE 1. Select Media > Prepare Archive. If your project references external files, you are prompted if you want to copy them to your working directory. If any processing has been applied, you must decide if you want to freeze edits. 2. Click Proceed. RESULT Your project is ready to be archived. You can move or copy the project folder to another location. AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK You must copy audio files that reside within the project folder to the Audio folder or save them separately. You must also move your video clips manually, as videos are only referenced and not saved in the project folder. Backing Up Projects You can create a backup copy of your project. Backups only contain the necessary work data. All media files except the files from VST Sound archives are included as a copy. PROCEDURE 1. Select File > Back up Project. 2. Select an empty folder or create a new one. 3. Make your settings in the Back up Project Options dialog and click OK. RESULT A copy of the project is saved in the new folder. The original project remains unaffected. NOTE VST Sound content provided by Steinberg is copy-protected and will not be included in the backup project. If you want to use a backup copy that uses VST Sound content on a different computer, make sure that the corresponding content is also available on that computer.