Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual

							Playback and Transport
Metronome
141
Precount Options Section
In the Precount Options section, the following options are available:
Precount Bars
Allows you to set the number of bars that the metronome counts in before 
recording starts.
Use Project Count Base
Activate this to let the metronome play one click per beat according to the 
project count base.
Use Count Base
Activate this to set the rhythm of the metronome. For example, setting this to 
1/8, gives you eighth notes (two clicks per beat).
Use Time Sign. at Rec. Start Time
Activate this to let the precount automatically use the time signature and 
tempo set at the position where recording starts.
Use Time Sign. at Project Time
Activate this to let the precount use the time signature set on the tempo track 
and apply any tempo changes on the tempo track during the precount.
Use Signature
Allows you to set a time signature for the precount. In this mode, tempo 
changes on the tempo track do not affect the precount.
Click Outputs Section
In the Click Outputs section, the following options are available:
Activate MIDI Click
Allows you to activate the MIDI click.
MIDI Port/Channel
Allows you to select a MIDI output and channel for the MIDI click. You can 
also select a VST instrument previously set up in the VST Instruments 
window.
Hi Note/Velocity
Allows you to set the MIDI note number and velocity value for the first beat in 
a bar, the high note.
Lo Note/Velocity
Allows you to set the MIDI note number and velocity for the other beats, the 
low notes.
Activate Audio Click
Allows you to activate the audio click that sounds via the audio hardware. 
						

							Playback and Transport
Chase
142
Beeps
Allows you to activate beeps generated by the program. Adjust the pitch and 
level of the beeps for the Hi (first) beat and Lo (other) beats using the sliders 
below.
Sounds
Allows you to load audio files for the Hi and Lo metronome sounds in the 
Sound fields below. The sliders set the level of the click.
Chase
Chase is a function that makes sure your MIDI instruments sound as they should 
when you locate to a new position and start playback. This is accomplished by the 
program transmitting a number of MIDI messages to your instruments each time that 
you move to a new position in the project, making sure all MIDI devices are set up 
correctly with regard to program change, controller messages (such as MIDI 
Volume), etc.
EXAMPLE
You have a MIDI track with a program change event inserted at the beginning. This 
event makes a synth switch to a piano sound.
At the beginning of the first chorus you have another program change event which 
makes the same synth switch to a string sound.
You now play back the song. It begins with the piano sound and then switches to 
the string sound. In the middle of the chorus you stop and rewind to some point 
between the beginning and the second program change. The synth now still plays 
the string sound although in this section it really should be a piano.
The Chase function takes care of that. If program change events are set to be 
chased, Cubase tracks the music back to the beginning, finds the first program 
change, and transmits it to your synth, setting it to the correct sound.
The same thing can apply to other event types as well. The Chase Events settings 
(File > Preferences > MIDI) determine which event types are chased when you 
locate to a new position and start playback.
Activated event types are chased.
RELATED LINKS
Chase Events on page 661 
						

							143
Virtual Keyboard
The Virtual Keyboard allows you to play and record MIDI notes by using your 
computer keyboard or mouse. This is useful if you have no external MIDI instrument 
at hand and you do not want to draw in notes with the Draw tool.
When the Virtual Keyboard is displayed, the usual key commands are blocked 
because they are reserved for the Virtual Keyboard. The only exceptions are:
• Save: [Ctrl]/[Command]-[S]
• Start/Stop Record: Num [*]
• Start/Stop Playback: [Space]
• Jump to left locator: Num [1]
• Delete: [Delete] or [Backspace]
• Cycle on/off: Num [/]
• Show/Hide Transport panel: [F2]
• Show/Hide Virtual Keyboard: [Alt]/[Option]-[K]
Recording MIDI With the Virtual Keyboard
PREREQUISITE 
You have selected a MIDI or instrument track and activated Record Enable.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices > Virtual Keyboard.
The Virtual Keyboard is displayed in the Transport panel.
2. On the Transport panel, activate Record.
3. Perform one of the following actions to enter some notes:
• Click with the mouse on the keys of the virtual keyboard.
• Press the corresponding key on your computer keyboard.
NOTE
Press several keys simultaneously to enter polyphonic parts. The maximum number of 
notes that can be played at one time varies between the different operating systems 
and hardware configurations. 
						

							Virtual Keyboard
Virtual Keyboard Options
144
AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK 
Close the virtual keyboard to make all key commands available again.
Virtual Keyboard Options
1)Note Velocity Level
This slider allows you to adjust the volume of the virtual keyboard. You can 
also use the up and down arrow keys for this.
2)Change Virtual Keyboard Display Type
This button allows you to switch between computer keyboard and piano 
keyboard display mode.
The computer keyboard mode, you can use the two rows of keys that are 
displayed on the Virtual Keyboard to enter notes.
The piano keyboard has a wider range of keys. It allows you to enter more than 
one voice simultaneously. You can also use the [Tab] key for this.
3)Octave Offset
These buttons allow you to switch the keyboard range to a lower or higher 
octave. You have seven full octaves at your disposal. You can also use the left 
and right arrow keys for this.
4)Pitchbend/Modulation Sliders
These sliders are only available in piano keyboard mode. They allow you to 
introduce pitchbend and modulation. You can also click on a key, hold the 
mouse button pressed until the mouse pointer becomes a cross-hair cursor 
and drag upwards/downward to introduce modulation or drag left/right to 
create pitchbend. 
						

							145
Recording
In Cubase, you can record audio and MIDI.
This chapter assumes that you are familiar with certain basic recording concepts 
and that some initial preparations have been made.
• Set up, connect, and calibrate your audio hardware.
• Open a project and set up the project setup parameters according to your 
specifications.
Project setup parameters determine the record format, sample rate, project 
length, etc. that affect the audio recordings that you make during the course 
of the project.
• If you plan to record MIDI, set up and connect your MIDI equipment.
RELATED LINKS
Setting Up Audio on page 8
Setting Up MIDI on page 14
Basic Recording Methods
This section describes the general recording methods.
Record Enabling Tracks
To be able to record, you must record-enable the tracks on which you want to 
record.
• To record-enable a track, activate the Record Enable button in the track list, 
in the Inspector, or in the MixConsole.
• To record-enable all audio tracks simultaneously, set up a key command for 
Activate Record Enable for all Audio Tracks in the Mixer category of the 
Key Commands dialog and use it.
• To record-enable audio or MIDI tracks on selection, activate the Enable 
Record on Selected Audio Track or the Enable Record on Selected MIDI 
Track option (File > Preferences > Editing > Project & MixConsole). 
						

							Recording
Basic Recording Methods
146
NOTE
The exact number of audio tracks that you can record simultaneously depends on 
your computer CPU and hard disk performance. Activate the Warn on Processing 
Overloads option (File > Preferences > VST) to show a warning message as 
soon as the CPU overload indicator lights up during recording.
RELATED LINKS
Editing - Project & MixConsole on page 654
VST on page 671
Activating Recording
You can activate recording manually or automatically.
Activating Recording Manually
• To activate recording, click the Record button on the Transport panel or on 
the toolbar. You can also use the corresponding key command, by default [*] 
on the numeric keypad.
Recording starts from the current cursor position.
NOTE
When you start recording in Stop mode, you can start recording from the left locator 
by activating Start Record at Left Locator on the Transport menu. The pre-roll 
setting or the metronome count-in will be applied.
Activating Recording Automatically
Cubase can automatically switch from playback to recording at a given position. 
This is useful if you must replace a section of a recording and want to listen to what 
is already recorded up to the recording start position.
PROCEDURE
1. Set the left locator to the position where you want to start recording.
2. Activate the Punch In button on the Transport panel.
3. Activate playback from any position before the left locator.
When the project cursor reaches the left locator, recording is automatically activated. 
						

							Recording
Basic Recording Methods
147
Stopping Recording
• To stop recording and playback, click the Stop button on the Transport panel 
or use the corresponding key command, by default [0] on the numeric keypad.
• To stop recording and continue playback, click the Record button or use the 
corresponding key command, by default [*] on the numeric keypad.
• To stop recording automatically when the project cursor reaches the right 
locator and continue playback, activate the Punch Out button on the 
Transport panel.
Cycle Recording
You can record in a cycle, that is you can record a selected section repeatedly and 
seamlessly.
PREREQUISITE 
A cycle is set up with the left and right locators.
PROCEDURE
1. Click the cycle button on the Transport panel to activate cycle mode.
2. Activate recording from the left locator, before or within the cycle.
As soon as the project cursor reaches the right locator, it jumps back to the left 
locator and continues recording a new lap.
RESULT 
The results of cycle recording depend on the selected record mode. They also differ 
for audio and MIDI.
RELATED LINKS
Recording MIDI on page 160
Recording Audio on page 154 
						

							Recording
Basic Recording Methods
148
Using Pre-Roll and Post-Roll
You can set up a pre-roll and a post-roll for recording.
PREREQUISITE 
Select File > Preferences > Transport and activate the Stop after Automatic 
Punch Out option.
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. Activate Use Pre-roll and Use Post-roll.
4. Specify a Pre-roll Amount and a Post-roll Amount.
5. Click Record.
RESULT 
The project cursor rolls back and starts playback at the time that has been set as 
pre-roll amount. When the cursor reaches the left locator, recording is automatically 
activated. When the cursor reaches the right locator, recording is deactivated, and 
the playback continues as long as the time that has been set as post-roll amount.
Common Record Modes
The Common Record Modes determine what happens if you click the Record 
button during an audio or MIDI recording.
• In the Transport panel, click the upper part of the Record Modes section to 
open the Common Record Modes pop-up menu.
Punch In/Out
In this mode, the recording is stopped.
Re-Record
In this mode, the recording is reinitiated, the events are removed and 
recording is restarted from the exact same position.
Start Recording at Cursor
In this mode, recording starts from the cursor position.
Start Recording at Left Locator
In this mode, recording starts from the left locator. 
						

							Recording
Monitoring
149
Re-Recording
PROCEDURE
1. Activate Transport > Re-Record.
2. Activate recording.
3. Hit the Record button again to restart recording.
RESULT 
The project cursor jumps back to the record start position and recording is 
reinitiated. Pre-roll and pre-count settings are taken into account.
NOTE
The previous recordings are removed from the project and cannot be retrieved 
using Undo. However, they remain in the Pool.
Monitoring
In Cubase, monitoring means listening to the input signal while preparing to record 
or while recording.
The following ways of monitoring are available.
•Via Cubase.
• Externally by listening to the signal before it reaches Cubase.
• By using ASIO Direct Monitoring.
This is a combination of both other methods.
Monitoring via Cubase
If you use monitoring via Cubase, the input signal is mixed with the audio playback. 
This requires an audio hardware configuration with a low latency value.
PROCEDURE
1. In the track list, activate the Monitor button.
2. In the MixConsole, adjust the monitoring level and the panning.
You can add effects and EQ to the monitor signal using the track’s channel. If you are 
using plug-in effects with large inherent delays, the automatic delay compensation 
function in Cubase will increase the latency. If this is a problem, you can use the 
Constrain Delay Compensation function while recording. 
						

							Recording
Monitoring
150
3. Select File > Preferences > VST.
4. Open the Auto Monitoring pop-up menu and select a monitoring mode.
RESULT 
The monitored signal will be delayed according to the latency value which depends 
on your audio hardware and drivers. You can check the latency of your hardware in 
the Device Setup dialog (Device > Device Setup > VST Audio System).
RELATED LINKS
VST on page 671
External Monitoring
External monitoring means listening to the inp u t  si gn al  b e f o r e  i t i s  s e n t i n to  Cu b as e .  
It requires an external mixer for mixing the audio playback with the input signal. The 
latency value of the audio hardware configuration does not affect the monitor signal. 
When using external monitoring, you cannot control the level of the monitor signal 
from within Cubase or add VST effects or EQ to the monitor signal.
PROCEDURE
1. Select File > Preferences > VST.
2. Open the Auto Monitoring pop-up menu and select Manual.
3. Deactivate the Monitor buttons in Cubase.
4. On your mixing desk or mixer application for your audio hardware, activate the 
Thru or Direct Thru mode to send the input audio back out again.
ASIO Direct Monitoring
If your audio hardware is ASIO 2.0 compatible, it may support ASIO Direct 
Monitoring. This feature may also be available for audio hardware with Mac OS X 
drivers. In ASIO Direct Monitoring mode, the monitoring is done in the audio 
hardware, and monitoring is controlled from Cubase. The latency value of the audio 
hardware configuration does not affect the monitor signal when using ASIO Direct 
Monitoring.
PROCEDURE
1. In the track list, activate the Monitor button.
2. Select Devices > Device Setup.