Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual
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Recording MIDI Recording Specifics 161 NOTE Normally, the MIDI channel information is overridden by the MIDI channel setting for the track. However, if you set the track to the Any MIDI channel, the notes will be played back on their original channels. Recording Continuous Messages Pitchbend, aftertouch, and controllers, such as modulation wheel, sustain pedal, volume, etc. are considered as MIDI continuous events, as opposed to the momentary key down and key up messages. You can record continuous messages together or independently from the notes, that is, afterwards or before. You can record continuous messages on their own tracks, separately from the notes to which they belong. As long as you set the two tracks to the same output and MIDI channel, it will appear to the MIDI instrument as if you made the two recordings at the same time. Recording Program Change Messages When you switch from one program to another on your synthesizer or on another MIDI keyboard, a number corresponding to that program is sent out via MIDI as a Program Change message. You can record Program Change Messages together or independently from the notes, that is, afterwards or before. You can record Program Change Messages on their own tracks, separately from the notes to which they belong. As long as you set the two tracks to the same output and MIDI channel, it will appear to the MIDI instrument as if you made the two recordings at the same time. Recording System Exclusive Messages System Exclusive (SysEx) messages are special types of MIDI messages that are used to send data that only makes sense to a unit of a certain make and type. SysEx can be used to transmit a list of the numbers that make up the settings of one or more sounds in a synth. Reset Function The Reset function sends out note-off messages and resets controllers on all MIDI channels. This is sometimes necessary if you experience hanging notes, constant vibrato, etc. when punching in and out on MIDI recordings with pitchbend or controller data. • To perform a MIDI reset manually, select MIDI > Reset.
Recording MIDI Recording Specifics 162 • If you want Cubase to perform a MIDI reset on stop, select File > Preferences > MIDI and activate Reset on Stop. • If you want Cubase to insert a reset event at the end of a recorded part, select File > Preferences > MIDI and activate Insert Reset Events after Record. This resets controller data such as sustain, aftertouch, pitchbend, modulation, and breath control. This is useful if a MIDI part is recorded and the sustain pedal is still held after stopping recording. Usually, this would cause all following parts to be played with sustain, as the pedal off command was not recorded. RELATED LINKS MIDI on page 661 MIDI Record Modes By selecting a MIDI Record Mode you decide what happens to any existing parts on the track where you are recording. MIDI tracks can play back all events in overlapping parts. If you record several parts in the same locations or move parts so that they overlap, you will hear the events in all parts. • To select a MIDI Record Mode, click the MIDI symbol in the left section of the Transport panel. • To close the MIDI Record Mode panel again, click anywhere outside the panel. MIDI Record Mode New Parts Existing parts that are overlapped by a new recording are kept. The new recording is saved as a new part. Merge Existing events in parts that are overlapped by a new recording are kept. The newly recorded events are added to the existing part. Replace Existing events in parts that are overlapped by a new recording are replaced.
Recording MIDI Recording Specifics 163 MIDI Cycle Record Mode When you record MIDI in cycle mode, the result not only depends on the MIDI Record Mode, but also on the Cycle Record Mode that is selected in the MIDI Cycle Record Mode section. Mix For each completed lap, everything you record is added to what was previously recorded. This is useful for building up rhythm patterns. Record a hi-hat part on the first lap, the bass drum part on the second lap, etc. Overwrite As soon as you play a MIDI note or send any MIDI message, all MIDI that you have recorded on previous laps is overwritten from that point. Make sure that you stop playing before the next lap begins. Otherwise, you will overwrite the entire take. Keep Last Each completed lap replaces the previously recorded lap. If you deactivate recording or press Stop before the cursor reaches the right locator, the previous take will be kept. If you do not play or input any MIDI during a lap, nothing happens, and the previous take will be kept. Quantizing MIDI Recordings Cubase can automatically quantize MIDI notes on recording. • To enable automatic quantizing, open the Transport panel and in the Record Mode section, activate Auto Quantize. The notes that you record are automatically quantized according to the Quantize settings. RELATED LINKS Quantizing MIDI and Audio on page 166 Common Settings on page 168
Recording Remaining Record Time 164 Recovering MIDI Recordings Cubase allows you to recover MIDI recordings. Enabling Retrospective Record The Retrospective Record setting allows you to capture any MIDI notes that you play in Stop mode or during playback and turn them into a MIDI part after the fact. This is possible because Cubase can capture MIDI input in buffer memory, even when not recording. PROCEDURE 1. Select File > Preferences > Record–MIDI. 2. Enable Retrospective Record and specify a Retrospective Record Buffer Size. This activates the buffering of MIDI input. 3. In the MIDI track list, activate the Record Enable button. 4. Play some MIDI material either in Stop mode or during playback. 5. Select Transport > Retrospective Record. RESULT The content of the MIDI buffer is turned into a MIDI part on the record-enabled track, and the captured notes end up exactly where you played them in relation to the project. RELATED LINKS Record - MIDI on page 668 Remaining Record Time The Record Time Max display lets you see how much time you have left for recording. The available time depends on the current setup, for example, on the amount of tracks that are record-enabled, the sample rate for your project, and the available hard disk space. • To open the display, select Devices > Record Time Max.
Recording Lock Record 165 NOTE The remaining record time is also shown in the status line above the track list. If you use individual record folders to store your tracks on different drives, the time display refers to the medium with the least storage space available. Lock Record The Lock Record function prevents you from accidentally deactivating the record mode. •Select File > Key Commands and in the Transport category, assign key commands to the Lock Record and Unlock Record commands. If Lock Record is activated and you want to enter Stop mode, a dialog opens in which you need to confirm that you want to stop recording. You can also use the Unlock Record key command first and then enter Stop mode as usual. NOTE An automatic punch-out at the right locator position will be ignored in Lock Record mode.
166 Quantizing MIDI and Audio Quantizing means moving recorded audio or MIDI and positioning it on the nearest grid position that is musically relevant. Quantizing is designed to correct errors, but you can also use it in a creative way. You can quantize audio and MIDI to a grid or to a groove. Audio and MIDI can be quantized at the same time. However, what exactly happens during quantizing differs for audio and MIDI: • Audio quantizing affects the audio event starts. • MIDI quantizing can affect the starts of MIDI events in a part, the MIDI event lengths, or the MIDI event ends. NOTE Quantizing is based on the original position of the events. Therefore, you can freely try out different quantize settings without the risk of destroying anything. The Quantize function is found on the Edit menu. You can also use the key command [Q] or the “Quantize” button on the Quantize Panel. RELATED LINKS Quantizing Audio Event Starts on page 166 Quantizing MIDI Event Starts on page 167 Quantizing MIDI Event Lengths on page 167 Quantizing MIDI Event Ends on page 167 Quantizing Audio Event Starts If you select audio events or a sliced loop and use the Quantize function, the audio events are quantized based on their snap points or event starts. The snap points that do not match exact note positions on the selected grid are moved to the closest grid positions. The grid is set up on the Quantize pop-up menu. If no snap points are available, the event start is moved. NOTE If you use the Quantize function on an audio part, the event starts inside the part are quantized.
Quantizing MIDI and Audio Quantizing MIDI Event Starts 167 Quantizing MIDI Event Starts If you select MIDI notes in a part and use the Quantize function on the Edit menu, the MIDI note starts are quantized, that is, the starts of MIDI notes that do not match exact note positions are moved to the closest grid positions. The grid is set up on the Quantize pop-up menu. The note lengths are maintained. NOTE If you quantize MIDI parts, all events are quantized, even if none is selected. Quantizing MIDI Event Lengths The “Quantize MIDI Event Lengths” function on the Edit menu, Advanced Quantize submenu, quantizes the lengths of MIDI notes without changing their start positions. At its most basic level, this function sets the lengths of the notes to the Length Quantize value on the MIDI editor toolbar by cutting off the note ends. However, if you have selected the “Quantize Link” option on the “Length Quantize” pop-up menu, the function resizes the notes according to the quantize grid, taking the Swing, Tuplet, and Catch Range settings into account. Quantizing MIDI Event Ends The “Quantize MIDI Event Ends” function on the Edit menu, Advanced Quantize submenu, moves the ends of your MIDI notes to the nearest grid positions, taking the Quantize pop-up menu setting into account. Quantize Panel The Quantize Panel provides further parameters for defining how to quantize audio or MIDI. These parameters allow you to set up a more sophisticated quantization. Using the Quantize Panel, you can quantize aud i o o r M I D I to th e g r i d o r t o a g r o o v e . Depending on what method you choose, different parameters are shown on the Quantize Panel. There is also a set of common settings.
Quantizing MIDI and Audio Quantize Panel 168 You can open the Quantize Panel by clicking the corresponding button on the toolbar or by opening the Edit menu and selecting “Quantize Panel”. Common Settings Quantize Presets Pop-Up Menu On this pop-up menu, you can select a quantize or a groove preset. Save/Remove Preset The preset controls allow you to save the current settings as a preset, making them available on all “Quantize Presets” pop-up menus. This includes Swing, “Catch Range”, etc. • To save a preset, click the “Save Preset” button (the plus sign) to the right of the Quantize Presets pop-up menu. A preset name is generated automatically, according to your settings. • To rename a preset, open the “Quantize Presets” pop-up menu, select “Rename Preset” and enter the new name in the dialog that appears. • To remove a user preset, select it and click the “Remove Preset” button. Non-Quantize This setting allows you to create a safe zone before and after the quantize positions, by specifying a “distance” in ticks (120 ticks = one 16th note). Events that lie within this zone are not quantized. This allows you to keep slight variations when you quantize, but correct notes that are too far away from the grid positions. Grid Display In the middle of the Quantize Panel the grid display is shown. The green lines indicate the quantize grid, that is, the positions that audio or MIDI is moved to. Randomize This setting allows you to set a distance in ticks, so that your audio or MIDI is quantized to random positions within the specified distance from the quantize grid. This allows for slight variations and, at the same time, prevents your audio or MIDI from ending up too far away from the grid.
Quantizing MIDI and Audio Quantize Panel 169 MIDI CC If you activate this button, controllers related to MIDI notes (pitchbend, etc.) are automatically moved with the notes when these are quantized. Auto Apply If you activate this button, any changes you make are immediately applied to the selected parts or events. A way of using this feature is to set up a playback loop and adjust the settings until you are satisfied with the result. iQ Mode and Iterative Strength Setting If you quantize your audio or MIDI with the “iQ Mode” (iterative quantize) option activated, a “loose” quantization is applied. This means that your audio or MIDI moves only part of the way to the closest quantize grid position. You can specify an “Iterative Strength” value to the right of the “iQ Mode” option. This value determines how close your audio or MIDI moves towards the grid. NOTE Iterative quantizing is based on the current, quantized positions and not on the original event positions. This makes it possible to repeatedly use iterative Quantize, gradually moving your audio or MIDI closer to the quantize grid until you have found the right timing. Reset Quantize This button is identical with the “Reset Quantize” function on the Edit menu. IMPORTANT If you move an audio event manually, the actual event start changes. Therefore, the “Reset Quantize” function has no effect on an event that was moved manually. Quantize Clicking this button applies your settings. RELATED LINKS Reset Quantize on page 172
Quantizing MIDI and Audio Quantize Panel 170 Options For Quantizing to a Musical Grid Grid On this pop-up menu you can determine the basic value for the quantize grid. Swing This parameter lets you offset every second position in the grid, creating a swing or shuffle feel. This setting is only available when a straight value is selected for the grid and Tuplet is off (see below). Catch Range This parameter allows you to specify that quantizing affects only audio or MIDI within a certain distance from the grid lines, the so-called catch range. This allows for complex quantization tasks, for example, if you want to quantize only the heavy beats near each beat, and not the events in-between. With a value of 0 %, all audio or MIDI is affected by quantizing. With higher percentages, wider catch ranges are shown around the green lines in the grid display. Tuplet This parameter allows you to create rhythmically more complex grids by dividing the grid into smaller steps, and thereby creating n-tuplets.