Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

							Expression maps (Cubase Pro only)
Creating and editing expression maps
791
Saving your settings
When you have made the desired settings, you need to save the expression map. 
To do so, click the Save button in the Expression Maps section of the window, 
specify a file name and a location for the expression map, and click Save. 
						

							792
Note Expression
Introduction
Note Expression offers a very intuitive way of controller editing in Cubase. As an 
alternative to working with controller lanes in the Key Editor, controller data can be 
viewed and edited directly on the associated MIDI note events in the event display.
With Note Expression, a note and its associated controller data are treated as a unit. 
When you quantize, move, copy, duplicate, or delete notes, all their associated 
controller information will follow. This allows for a very intuitive and accurate editing 
of note-related data. The Note Expression values can be edited in various ways. 
Furthermore, by superimposing the corresponding data curves in the event display, 
you can view all the Note Expression data for a note simultaneously, which gives you 
a good overview.
Note Expression curves in the Key Editor
When working with Note Expression, it is important to distinguish between VST 3 
controllers and MIDI controllers.
RELATED LINKS
Editing Note Expression data on page 802 
						

							Note Expression
Introduction
793
VST 3 controllers
VST 3 controllers are provided by the VST instrument. Therefore, different 
controllers can be available, depending on the instrument.
VST 3 controllers provide articulation information for each individual note. Unlike 
MIDI controllers (which are channel-specific), VST 3 controllers are note-specific 
and are suitable for polyphonic contexts. Articulating each note in a chord 
individually creates a much more natural feel. Furthermore, VST 3 controllers allow 
for a value range that exceeds the MIDI range of 0 to 127, which offers a more 
comfortable value editing and fine-tuning.
To be able to work with VST controllers, you need a VST instrument that offers this 
kind of controller parameters and is capable of playing back these controller 
messages. Included with Cubase is HALion Sonic SE, which is compatible with 
Note Expression.
RELATED LINKS
HALion Sonic SE on page 813
MIDI controllers
A major limitation of MIDI is the nature of controller information. With the exception of 
poly pressure, controller messages are channel-specific messages, i.
 e., they affect the 
entire instrument, regardless of whether they are inserted for a part or a note.
Therefore, when using Note Expression with MIDI instruments (hardware or VSTi), 
it is important to understand that articulation data on one note usually also affects 
all other notes of the same voice, i.
 e. any other note playing on the same channel at 
the same time. This limits the potential of Note Expression for MIDI controller events 
to monophonic (solo) performances. When using MIDI controllers in polyphonic 
performances, we recommend using controller lanes in the Key Editor.
However, Note Expression can be useful in the context of standard VST instruments 
and MIDI hardware instruments.
RELATED LINKS
Using the Controller Display on page 716
Recording MIDI controllers as Note Expression data on page 810
Converting MIDI Controllers into Note Expression data on page 810
Working with Note Expression
When working with Note Expression, start by activating the “Show Note Expression 
Data” button on the Key Editor toolbar. This will give you a visual feedback of your 
actions. Use the slider to the right of the button to modify the display size of the Note 
Expression data in the event display. 
						

							Note Expression
Setting up the Note Expression Inspector tab
794
• If you want to listen to your editing, activate the Acoustic Feedback button on 
the Key Editor toolbar.
Playback is triggered when you enter or change Note Expression data. All 
controllers that are present at the mouse position will be used during 
playback.
Note Expression can be used in the following ways:
• You can record notes live into Cubase while attaching some or all of the used 
controllers as Note Expression events to the notes.
• You can replace the existing Note Expression data of a MIDI part by recording 
Note Expression events for the MIDI notes during playback.
• You can add Note Expression data to one MIDI note after another using the 
“Note Expression MIDI Input” button.
• You can draw in Note Expression events for MIDI notes in the Note Expression 
editor.
RELATED LINKS
Recording on page 799
Overdubbing on page 800
Recording Note Expression data via MIDI input on page 801
Editing Note Expression data on page 802
Setting up the Note Expression Inspector tab
To be able to work with Note Expression, you have to set up the parameters first. 
This is done on the Note Expression tab in the Inspector of the Project window or 
the Key Editor.
The top area of the Note Expression tab shows a list of parameters. The VST 3 
controllers are shown first, followed by the MIDI controllers. Which VST 3 
controllers are available depends on the instrument that is used. The MIDI 
controllers can be set up in the MIDI Controller Setup dialog.
NOTE
If many controllers are available, you may have to navigate through the list using the 
scrollbar.
If an asterisk (*) is displayed in front of a parameter name, data for this controller 
exists. The number to the right of a parameter determines the MIDI controller 
mapped to the parameter for recording. 
						

							Note Expression
Setting up the Note Expression Inspector tab
795
1) In the CC column, the controller assignment is shown, if any.
2) VST 3 controllers
3) MIDI controllers
4) Settings for the selected controller
5) Global settings
In the middle section of the tab, you can make settings for the parameter that is 
selected in the list. The following options are available:
Parameter name and color selector
By clicking on the colored square to the right of the parameter name, you can 
specify which color is used for the parameter in the Inspector and in the note 
display. You can also define a Note Expression color set.
MIDI assignment field and pop-up menu
Here, you can specify the MIDI controller assignment for recording for the 
selected parameter by either selecting it from the pop-up menu or using the 
MIDI Learn button.
MIDI Learn button
You can assign any control of your external MIDI controller to the selected 
parameter. Click the MIDI Learn button and move the fader or knob on the 
external device.
Parameter range controls (Min/Max)
If you want to use only a certain value range of the parameter, you can specify 
it here. Set the range by changing the minimum and maximum values or use 
the slider below the fields.
Using a parameter range allows you to make finer settings for certain 
parameters. This is especially useful for the VST 3 parameter “Tuning”. 
Specify the range you want to use and enter or record the corresponding 
data. 
						

							Note Expression
Setting up the Note Expression Inspector tab
796
In the lower part of the Note Expression tab, the following global settings and 
parameters are available:
MIDI as Note Expression
If this button is activated, incoming MIDI controllers will be recorded as Note 
Expression data.
Channel Rotation
If this option is activated, individual MIDI channels are assigned to incoming 
MIDI notes and their controllers.
IMPORTANT
In order to use the Channel Rotation mode, the input controller must support 
channel rotation.
Overdub
When this is activated, you can overdub existing Note Expression data.
Latch Buffer
With this button, you can activate/deactivate the latch buffer used for overdub 
recording.
RELATED LINKS
Mapping controllers on page 797
Selecting the Event Type on page 716
Project Colors Dialog on page 1040
Recording MIDI controllers as Note Expression data on page 810
Channel Rotation on page 800
Overdubbing on page 800
Latch mode on page 800
Showing/hiding controllers
You can specify which parameters are displayed in the Note Expression editor and 
in the event display by activating/deactivating them in the leftmost column in the list. 
When you want to edit a single parameter, it might be best to hide the data for the 
other parameters.
Activating several parameters allows you to view them in context, giving you a better 
overview. In the Inspector, visible controllers are shown with a filled rectangle in 
front of their name. Hidden controllers are shown with an empty rectangle. To show 
or hide a parameter, click on its rectangle.
This controller is visible.
This controller is hidden. 
						

							Note Expression
Mapping controllers
797
Filtering the list
If you click on the Parameter column header, a pop-up menu opens, containing the 
following filter commands:
Show only used Parameters
Select this command to only display the parameters in the list for which data 
exists.
Make all Parameters visible
Select this command to display all available parameters in the event display.
Make only edited Parameter visible
Select this command to display only the currently edited parameter in the 
event display.
Bypassing Note Expression
Like for most other Inspector tabs, you can bypass the Note Expression settings by 
clicking on the button at the top right of the Inspector tab, so that it lights up yellow. 
If Bypass is activated, all Note Expression data will be bypassed for the track.
Bypass is active for the Note Expression Inspector tab.
Mapping controllers
External keyboards have no controls or faders for VST 3 parameters, which can 
therefore not be recorded directly. To remedy this, you have the possibility to assign 
a certain MIDI controller (or Pitchbend and Aftertouch) to any of the Note 
Expression parameters in the list. The MIDI assignment is shown in the CC column 
in the Inspector.
The same MIDI controller can be used for several parameters, but only one of these 
controllers can be active at a time. If the mapping is active, the number for the 
assigned MIDI controller is displayed (or PB and AT for Pitchbend and Aftertouch, 
respectively). If a MIDI controller is assigned but inactive, e.
 g., because the selected 
parameter uses the same assignment as another parameter, a dot is shown in the 
CC column. 
						

							Note Expression
Mapping controllers
798
The VST 3 parameter Tuning is automatically assigned to the pitchbend wheel of 
your MIDI controller. All other parameters are assigned by default to the first MIDI 
controller (CC1: Modulation).
To manually specify the record mapping for the parameters, use the MIDI Learn 
function, or load a mapping preset, see below.
Manual mapping
To manually map a MIDI controller to the selected Note Expression parameter, you 
can select the MIDI controller from the MIDI assignment pop-up menu. If the MIDI 
controller you are looking for is not on the list, select “MIDI Controller Setup…” and 
activate it in the dialog. This is the same as selecting which controllers are available 
for the controller lanes in the Key Editor.
RELATED LINKS
Selecting the Event Type on page 716
MIDI Learn
Another way to assign the knobs and faders of your MIDI instrument to Note 
Expression parameters is using the MIDI Learn function.
PROCEDURE
1. Select the parameter to which you want to assign a MIDI controller.
2. Below the list, click the MIDI Learn button to the right of the MIDI assignment 
pop-up menu.
3. Use the knob or fader on your MIDI device that you want to assign to the 
selected Note Expression parameter.
This control is now automatically assigned.
4. Repeat this step for all the parameters you want to control with your MIDI 
device.
RESULT 
Now, you can record Note Expression data using the controls on your MIDI device. 
						

							Note Expression
Recording
799
Using mapping presets
When you have set up the mapping for a connected MIDI device, you can save 
these settings as mapping presets for future use, e.
 g. when working again with this 
device.
PROCEDURE
1. Open the Parameter pop-up menu and select “Save MIDI Input Assignment”.
2. In the file dialog that appears, specify a name and a location for the file.
A file with the extension “*.neinput” is created.
RESULT 
You can recall the mapping presets you created by using the “Load MIDI Input 
Assignment” command on the Parameter pop-up menu.
Recording
Recording notes and Note Expression data
To record MIDI notes together with Note Expression data using an external MIDI 
device, proceed as follows:
PROCEDURE
1. Create an instrument track, e. g. using HALion Sonic SE as VST instrument.
The Note Expression Inspector tab shows which parameters are available for 
recording.
• You can also load one of the available presets. Some presets were created 
especially for the use with Note Expression. These have the suffix “.NoteExp”.
2. Select a parameter from the list.
3. Set up the record mapping for the parameters.
You can use the data range controls to use only a subrange of the full parameter 
range. This allows for finer recording and editing.
4. Record some MIDI notes and use the mapped controls on your MIDI device 
to record the corresponding Note Expression data.
5. Open the Key Editor and activate the “Show Note Expression Data” button on 
the toolbar.
The Note Expression data is shown on the notes for which it was recorded.
RELATED LINKS
Mapping controllers on page 797 
						

							Note Expression
Recording
800
Channel Rotation
Some input controller can assign individual MIDI channels to incoming MIDI notes 
and their controllers. Each new MIDI note event gets its own internal MIDI channel 
and all controller that belong to this note event are created with the same MIDI 
channel. This allows a 16 voice polyphony, which is sufficient for most 
performances.
The Channel Rotation mode allows a correct mapping of these data as Note 
Expression data per note event. This reduces the amount of data in comparison to 
the MIDI to Note Expression conversion method.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
In order to use the Channel Rotation mode, the input controller must support 
channel rotation.
RELATED LINKS
Setting up the Note Expression Inspector tab on page 794
Overdubbing
You can also record or replace Note Expression data for existing notes. This is 
achieved by overdubbing. To activate this mode, click the Overdub button on the 
Note Expression Inspector tab. When this is activated, no notes are recorded when 
you click the Record button. Instead, you can use the controls on your MIDI device 
to record Note Expression data for the note that is playing.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT