Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual

							Playback and Transport
Transport Panel
131
MIDI Activity
Allows you to monitor the MIDI input and the MIDI output signals.
Audio Activity
Allows you to monitor the audio input and output signals.
Audio Level Control
Shows clipping indicators and an output level control.
RELATED LINKS
Transport on page 669
Transport - Scrub on page 671
Pre-Roll and Post-Roll
You can activate pre-roll and post-roll with the corresponding buttons in the 
Locators section on the Transport panel or by selecting Transport > Use 
Pre-roll/Use Post-roll.
• By setting a pre-roll value you instruct Cubase to roll back a short section 
whenever playback is activated.
• By setting a post-roll value you instruct Cubase to play back a short section 
after automatic punch out before stopping.
NOTE
This is only relevant if Auto Punch Out is activated on the Transport panel 
and Stop after Automatic Punch Out is activated (File > Preferences > 
Transport).
Using Pre-Roll and Post-Roll
PROCEDURE
1. Set the locators to where you want to start and end recording.
2. On the Transport panel, activate Auto Punch In and Auto Punch Out.
3. Select File > Preferences > Transport and activate Stop after Automatic 
Punch Out. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Transport Panel
132
4. On the transport panel, click the Pre-roll Amount and the Post-roll Amount 
fields and enter the pre-roll and post-roll values.
5. Activate Use pre-roll and Use post-roll.
6. Activate Record.
RESULT 
The project cursor rolls back by the time specified in the Pre-roll Amount field and 
playback starts. When the cursor reaches the left locator, recording is automatically 
activated. When the cursor reaches the right locator, recording is deactivated, but 
playback continues for the time set in the Post-roll Amount field before stopping.
Playing Back with the Shuttle Speed Wheel
The shuttle speed wheel allows you to play back the project at up to four times the 
playback speed, forwards or backwards. This is a quick way to locate or cue to any 
position in the project.
• To start playback, turn the shuttle speed wheel to the right.
The further you turn the wheel, the faster the playback speed.
• To play the project backwards, turn the wheel to the left.
The further you turn the wheel, the faster the playback speed.
• To activate insert effects for scrubbing with the shuttle speed wheel, select 
File > Preferences > Transport > Scrub and activate Use Inserts While 
Scrubbing.
By default, insert effects are bypassed.
NOTE
You can also access the shuttle speed wheel via a remote control device.
Project Scrubbing - The Jog Wheel
The jog wheel allows you to move the playback position forwards or backwards, 
much like scrubbing on a tape deck. This helps you pinpoint exact locations in the 
project. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Transport Menu
133
• To move to another playback position, turn the jog wheel to the left or right.
The further you turn the jog wheel, the faster the playback speed. The original 
playback speed is the fastest speed possible. You can turn the jog wheel as 
many times as needed to move to a location.
If you click the jog wheel during playback, playback automatically stops and 
scrubbing starts.
• To activate insert effects for scrubbing with the jog wheel, select File > 
Preferences > Transport > Scrub and activate Use Inserts While Scrubbing.
By default, insert effects are bypassed.
NOTE
You can also access the jog wheel via a remote control device.
Transport Menu
The Transport menu contains several transport functions as well as many other 
options related to playback and recording.
Open Function
Transport Panel
Opens the Transport panel.
Locate Functions
Locators to Selection
Sets the locators to encompass the selection.
Locate Selection
Moves the project cursor to the beginning of the selection.
Locate Selection End
Moves the project cursor to the end of the selection.
Locate Next/Previous Marker
Moves the project cursor to the closest marker to the right or left.
Locate Next/Previous Hitpoint
Moves the project cursor to the next or to the previous hitpoint on the selected 
track.
Locate Next/Previous Event
Moves the project cursor to the next or to the previous event on the selected 
track. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Transport Menu
134
Playback Functions
Post-roll from Selection Start/End
Starts playback from the beginning or end of the currently selected range and 
stops after the time set in the post-roll field on the transport panel.
Pre-roll to Selection Start/End
Starts playback from a position before the start or end of the currently 
selected range and stops at the selection start or end, respectively. The 
playback start position is set in the pre-roll field on the transport panel.
Play from Selection Start/End
Activates playback from the beginning or end of the current selection.
Play until Selection Start/End
Activates playback two seconds before the start or end of the current 
selection and stops at the selection start or end, respectively.
Play until Next Marker
Activates playback from the project cursor and stops at the next marker.
Play Selection Range
Activates playback from the start of the current selection and stops at the 
selection end.
Loop Selection
Activates playback from the start of the current selection and keeps starting 
over again when reaching the selection end.
Record Functions
Re-Record Mode
Activates/Deactivates the re-record mode that allows you to reinitiate a 
recording with a single click.
Start Recording at Left Locator
If this is activated, the project cursor locates to the left locator when you click 
the record button.
Use Pre-/Post-roll
Activates the pre-roll/post-roll.
Retrospective Record
Allows you to capture MIDI notes that you play in stop mode or during 
playback. Therefore, you need to enable the Retrospective Record option 
(File > Preferences > Record > MIDI). 
						

							Playback and Transport
Setting the Project Cursor Position
135
Metronome Functions
Metronome Setup
Opens the Metronome Setup dialog.
Metronome On/Off
Activates/Deactivates the metronome click.
Precount On/Off
Activates/Deactivates the precount.
Synchronization Functions
Project Synchronization Setup
Opens the Project Synchronization Setup dialog.
Use External Sync
Sets Cubase to be synchronized externally.
Setting the Project Cursor Position
To move the project cursor, do one of the following:
• Use fast forward and rewind.
• Use the jog/shuttle/nudge control on the Transport panel.
• Drag the project cursor in the lower part of the ruler.
• Click in the ruler.
Double-clicking in the ruler moves the cursor and starts/stops playback.
•If Locate when Clicked in Empty Space is activated (File > Preferences > 
Transport), you can click anywhere in an empty section of the Project 
window to move the cursor position.
• Change the value in any of the position displays.
• Use the position slider above the transport buttons in the Transport panel.
The range of the slider relates to the length setting in the Project Setup 
dialog. Hence, moving the slider all the way to the right takes you to the end 
of the project.
•Use markers.
• Use the playback options.
• Cubase Elements only: Use the arranger function. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Left and Right Locators
136
• Use the functions on the Transport menu.
• Use key commands.
NOTE
If Snap is activated when dragging the project cursor, the snap value is taken into 
account. This is helpful for finding exact positions quickly.
RELATED LINKS
Markers on page 196
Transport Menu on page 133
Arranger Track (Cubase Elements only) on page 184
Playing Back with the Shuttle Speed Wheel on page 132
Left and Right Locators
The left and right locators are a pair of markers that you can use for specifying 
punch-in and punch-out positions, and cycle boundaries.
Locators are indicated by the flags in the ruler. The area between the locators is 
highlighted in the ruler and the event display.
If the right locator is positioned before the left locator, the area between the locators 
is shown in a different color.
Setting the Locators
There are several ways to set the locator positions.
To set the left locator, do one of the following:
• Drag the left handle in the ruler.
• Press [Ctrl]/[Command] and click at the position in the ruler.
• Adjust the Left Locator Position value on the Transport panel.
To set the left locator to the project cursor position, do one of the following:
• Press [Ctrl]/[Command], and on the numeric keypad press [1].
• Press [Alt]/[Option] and click L on the Transport panel.
To set the right locator, do one of the following:
• Drag the right handle in the ruler. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Auto-Scroll
137
• Press [Alt]/[Option] and click at the position in the ruler.
• Adjust the Right Locator Position value on the Transport panel.
To set the right locator to the project cursor position, do one of the following:
• Press [Ctrl]/[Command] and on the numeric keypad press [2].
• Press [Alt]/[Option] and click R on the Transport panel.
To set both locators, do one of the following:
• Click and drag left or right in the upper half of the ruler.
• Select a range or an event and select Transport > Locators to Selection.
• Double-click a cycle marker.
Auto-Scroll
Auto-Scroll allows the waveform display to scroll during playback, keeping the 
project cursor visible in the window.
•To activate Auto-Scroll, click the Auto-Scroll button on the toolbar.
• To keep the project cursor in the middle of the screen, select File > 
Preferences > Transport and activate Stationary Cursors.
NOTE
Auto-Scroll is available in the toolbar of the Project window and in all editors.
Suspend Auto-Scroll when Editing
If you do not want the Project window display to change when editing during 
playback, you can activate Suspend Auto-Scroll when Editing.
The Suspend Auto-Scroll when Editing button is located to the right of the 
Auto-Scroll button.
When this option is activated, auto-scrolling is suspended as soon as you click 
anywhere in the event display during playback. As a visual feedback for that, the 
Auto-Scroll button turns orange.
As soon as playback stops or when you click the Auto-Scroll button again, Cubase 
will return to the normal Auto-Scroll behavior. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Time Formats
138
Time Formats
You can set up different time formats.
Selecting the Primary Time Format
In the Transport panel, you can select the primary time format. This is the global 
display format that is used for all rulers and position displays in the program, except 
the ruler tracks.
PROCEDURE
1. In the main transport section of the Transport panel, click Select Primary 
Time Format.
2. Select a time format from the pop-up menu.
You can also select Project > Project Setup > Display Format to select the primary 
time format.
RESULT 
The time format in the Transport panel and all rulers and position displays are 
updated.
Independent Time Displays (Cubase Elements only)
You can show time displays that are independent from the global display format.
To select an independent time display, do one of the following:
• In the ruler of the Project window or any editor, click the arrow button to the 
right of the ruler.
•Select Project > Add Track > Ruler to add a ruler track, and right-click the 
ruler.
• In the Main Transport section of the Transport panel, click Select 
Secondary Time Format.
RELATED LINKS
Ruler on page 29
Ruler Track on page 86 
						

							Playback and Transport
Locating to Specific Time Positions
139
Switching the Primary and Secondary Time Format (Cubase 
Elements only)
PROCEDURE
• In the Main Transport section of the Transport panel, click Exchange Time 
Format.
RESULT 
The primary and secondary time formats are switched and all rulers and position 
displays are updated.
Locating to Specific Time Positions
You have several possibilities to locate to specific time positions in the Project 
window.
• In the Transport panel, use the functions in the Main Transport section or in 
the Jog/Scrub section.
• In the Transport panel, use the position slider above the transport buttons.
• In the ruler, click the time position that you want to locate to. 
Double-click to start/stop playback.
• In the lower part of the ruler, drag the project cursor.
• Use the following Transport menu functions: Locate Selection/Locate 
Selection End, Locate Next/Previous Marker, Locate Next/Previous 
Hitpoint, Locate Next/Previous Event.
•Use markers.
• Use the arranger functions.
•Use locators.
On the numeric keypad, press [1] to go to the left locator position, and press 
[2] to go to the right locator position.
On the Transport panel, click L to go to the left locator, and click R to go to 
the right locator.
NOTE
If Snap is activated, the snap value is taken into account. This is helpful for finding 
exact positions quickly. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Metronome
140
Metronome
You can use the metronome click as a timing reference. The two parameters that 
govern the timing of the metronome are tempo and time signature.
• To activate the metronome click, activate the Click button on the Transport 
panel.
You can also select Transport > Metronome On or use the corresponding 
key command.
• To activate the precount, click the Precount button on the Transport panel.
You can also select Transport > Precount On or set up a key command for 
this.
• To set up the metronome, select Transport > Metronome Setup.
Metronome Setup
You can make settings for the metronome in the Metronome Setup dialog.
• To open the Metronome Setup dialog, select Transport > Metronome 
Setup.
Metronome Options Section
In the Metronome Options section, the following options are available:
Metronome in Record
Allows you to activate the metronome click during recording.
Metronome in Play
Allows you to activate the metronome click during playback.