Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual

							MIDI Editors
SysEx Messages
501
Recording a Bulk Dump
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
If your MIDI instrument does not offer a way to initiate a dump, you have to send a 
Dump Request message from Cubase to start the dump. In that case, use the MIDI 
SysEx Editor to insert the specific Dump Request message (see the instrument’s 
documentation) at the beginning of a MIDI track. When you activate recording, the 
Dump Request message is played back (sent to the instrument), the dump starts 
and is recorded.
PROCEDURE
1. Do one of the following:
• On Microsoft Windows, select File > Preferences.
• On Mac, select the Cubase menu, and select Preferences.
2. In the Preferences dialog, select MIDI > MIDI Filter.
3. In the Record section, deactivate the SysEx checkbox to make sure that the 
recording of SysEx data is not filtered.
This way, SysEx messages are recorded but not echoed back to the instrument. This 
can lead to unpredictable results.
4. Activate recording on a MIDI track and initiate the dump from the front panel 
of the instrument.
5. When you are done recording, select the new part and select MIDI > Key 
Editor.
6. Open the controller lane for the part.
This allows you to check that the SysEx dump was recorded. There should be one or 
several SysEx events in the controller lane.
Transmitting a Bulk Dump Back to a Device
PREREQUISITE 
Route the MIDI track with the System Exclusive data to the device. Check your 
device’s documentation to find details about which MIDI channel should be used, 
etc.
PROCEDURE
1. Solo the track.
2. Make sure that the device is set up to receive SysEx messages.
3. If necessary, put the device in Standby to Receive System Exclusive mode.
4. Play back the data. 
						

							MIDI Editors
SysEx Messages
502
About Recording and Transmitting Bulk Dumps
• Do not transmit more data than you need. If all you want is a single program, 
do not send all. Otherwise, it could get too difficult to find the recognized 
program. Usually, you can specify exactly which data you want to send.
• If you want the sequencer to dump the pertinent sounds to your instrument 
whenever you load a project, put the SysEx data in a silent count-in before the 
project itself starts.
• If the dump is very short, which can, for example, be a single sound you can 
put the dump in the middle of the project to quickly re-program a device. 
However, you can achieve the same effect by using Program Change. This is 
definitely preferable, since less MIDI data is sent and recorded. Some devices 
may be set up to dump the settings for a sound as soon as you select it on 
the front panel.
• If you create parts with useful SysEx dumps, you can put these on a special 
muted track. To make use of these parts, drag it to an empty unmuted track 
and play it back.
• Do not transmit several SysEx dumps to several instruments at the same time.
• Make a note of the current device ID setting of the instrument. If you change 
this, the instrument may later refuse to load the dump.
Recording SysEx Parameter Changes
Often you can use SysEx to remotely change individual settings in a device, for 
example, opening a filter, selecting a waveform, changing the decay of the reverb, 
etc. Many devices are also capable of transmitting changes that are made on the 
front panel as SysEx messages. These can be recorded in Cubase, and thus 
incorporated into a regular MIDI recording.
For example: you open up a filter while playing some notes. In that case, you record 
both the notes and the SysEx messages that are generated when you open the filter. 
When you play back the recording, the sound changes exactly as it did when you 
recorded it.
PROCEDURE
1. Select File > Preferences.
2. In the Preferences dialog, select MIDI > MIDI Filter and make sure that 
SysEx is deactivated in the Record section.
3. Make sure that the instrument is set to transmit changes of front panel 
controls as SysEx messages.
4. Record.
AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK 
On the controller lane, check if the events were recorded properly. 
						

							MIDI Editors
SysEx Messages
503
MIDI SysEx Editor
SysEx events are shown in the controller lane, their entire content is displayed in the 
MIDI SysEx Editor.
• To open the MIDI SysEx Editor for a SysEx event, double-click the SysEx 
event on the controller lane.
The display shows the entire message on one or several lines. SysEx messages 
always begin with F0 and end with F7 and a number of arbitrary bytes in between. 
If the message contains more bytes, so that they do not entirely fit on one line, it 
continues on the next line. The Address indication to the left helps you find out on 
which position in the message a certain value is located.
You can edit all values except for the first (F0) and the last ones (F7).
In the MIDI SysEx Editor, the bytes are displayed as follows:
• In the main display, values are shown in hexadecimal format.
• To the right of the main display, values are shown in ASCII format.
• At the bottom of the dialog, the selected value is shown in ASCII, binary, and 
decimal formats.
Adding and Deleting Bytes
• To add a byte, open the MIDI SysEx Editor and click Insert. The byte is 
added before the selected byte.
• To delete a byte, open the MIDI SysEx Editor, select a byte, and click Delete.
• To delete the complete SysEx message, select it in the controller lane and 
press [Delete] or [Backspace]. 
						

							MIDI Editors
SysEx Messages
504
Editing Byte Values
You can edit the selected byte value in the main display of the MIDI SysEx Editor, 
or in the ASCII, decimal, and binary displays.
• To edit the selected value, open the MIDI SysEx Editor, click on a byte, and 
type in the value.
Importing and Exporting SysEx Data
You can import SysEx data from disk and export the edited data to a file.
The file has to be in MIDI SysEx (.syx) binary format. Only the first dump in a SYX 
file will be loaded.
• To import SysEx data, open the MIDI SysEx Editor and click Import.
• To export SysEx data, open the MIDI SysEx Editor and click Export.
NOTE
Do not confuse this format with MIDI files, which have the extension .mid. 
						

							505
Chord Functions
The chord functions provide you with many possibilities for working with chords.
The chord functions allow you to:
• Build chord progressions by adding chord events to the chord track.
• Convert chord events to MIDI.
• Use the chord track to control MIDI playback.
• Use the chord track voicing to change the pitches of your MIDI.
• Extract chord events from MIDI data to get an overview of the harmonic 
structure of a MIDI file.
• Record chord events with a MIDI keyboard.
RELATED LINKS
Chord Editing Section (Cubase Elements only) on page 456
Chord Track
The chord track allows you to add chord events and scale events.
RELATED LINKS
Scale Events on page 511
Chord Events on page 506
Adding the Chord Track
PROCEDURE
•Select Project > Add Track > Chord.
RESULT 
The chord track is added to your project. 
						

							Chord Functions
Chord Events
506
Chord Events
Chord events are representations of chords that control or transpose playback on 
MIDI and instrument tracks.
Chord events alter the pitches of MIDI notes, if their track is set up to follow the 
chord track.
Chord events have a specific start position. Their end, however, is determined by 
the start of the next chord event. They can have a root note, a type, a tension, and 
a bass note:
1) Root note
2) Type
3) Tension
4) Bass note
RELATED LINKS
Controlling MIDI Playback using the Chord Track on page 515
Chord Editor
The Chord Editor allows you to define or change chord events, and to add new 
chord events.
• To open the Chord Editor, double-click a chord event. 
						

							Chord Functions
Chord Events
507
1)Go to Previous/Next Chord
Allow you to select the previous/next chord on the chord track for editing.
2)Add Chord
Adds a new undefined chord event on the chord track.
NOTE
This works only if the last chord event on the chord track is selected.
3)Chord definition buttons
Activate these buttons to define a root note, a chord type, a tension, and a 
bass note for your chord event.
NOTE
If you do not select a separate bass note, the setting is linked to the root note, 
so that no extra bass note is heard.
4)Keyboard display
Shows the notes of the chord event, considering the current voicing settings.
5)Define Chord by Text Input
Allows you to define a chord using the computer keyboard.
6)Activate MIDI Input
Allows you to define a chord by playing a chord on your MIDI keyboard. If the 
chord is recognized, it is reflected by the chord buttons and the keyboard 
display. 
						

							Chord Functions
Chord Events
508
Adding Chord Events
PREREQUISITE 
Add the chord track.
PROCEDURE
1. Select the Draw tool and click in the chord track.
An undefined chord event named X is added.
2. Select the Object Selection tool and double-click the chord event.
3. In the Editor, select a root note.
4. Optional: Select a chord type, tension, and bass note.
5. Do one of the following:
• To close the Editor, click anywhere outside the Editor.
• To add a new undefined chord event, click Add Chord.
RELATED LINKS
Adding the Chord Track on page 505
Defining Chords By Text Input
In the chord Editor, you can use the text input field to define a chord with the 
computer keyboard.
PROCEDURE
1. Double-click a chord event to open the chord Editor.
2. Click in the text input field at the bottom of the Editor.
3. Enter a chord by performing the following actions:
• Define a root note, for example, C, D, E.
• Define accidentals, for example, # or b.
• Define the chord type, for example maj, min, dim, sus, or aug.
• Define a chord extension, for example 7, 9, or 13.
NOTE
If you have activated Solfège in the Note Name pop-up menu (File > Preferences 
> Event Display > Chords), you can also enter chords in this format. You must 
capitalize the first letter and write “Re” instead of “re”, for example. Otherwise, the 
chord is not recognized.
4. Press [Tab] to add a new chord and define it. 
						

							Chord Functions
Chord Events
509
Chord Assistant
The Chord Assistant allows you to use a chord as a starting point to get 
suggestions for the next chord.
• To open the Chord Assistant, in the Chord Editor, click Circle of Fifths.
Chord Assistant – Circle of Fifths
The Circle of Fifths mode of the Chord Assistant shows the chords in an 
interactive visualization of the circle of fifths.
The origin chord that defines the current key is shown in the center of the Chord 
Assistant and is marked as tonic (I).
The outer circle shows the twelve major chords ordered in intervals of fifths.
The inner circle displays the corresponding parallel minor chords.
The roman numerals mark the chords of the current key with their scale degree. You 
can use these chords to create typical chord progressions or you can use the other 
chords for more creative results. 
						

							Chord Functions
Chord Events
510
• To play a chord and assign it to the selected chord event, click it.
The last three chords that you clicked are shown with a highlighted frame.
• To define a new key, right-click the chord in the Chord Assistant and select 
Use as Origin, or use the Rotate Left/Rotate Right controls.
• To select the parallel minor chord and define it as key, click Major/Minor.
Auditioning Chord Events
To hear the chord events on the chord track, you must connect the chord track to 
the output of an instrument or a MIDI track.
PREREQUISITE 
Add the chord track and some chord events.
PROCEDURE
1. Do one of the following:
• To add an instrument track, select Project > Add Track > Instrument.
• To add a MIDI track, select Project > Add Track > MIDI.
2. Assign a VST instrument to your instrument or MIDI track and select a sound.
3. In the chord track Inspector, activate Acoustic Feedback.
4. From the Select Track for Auditioning pop-up menu, select the track that 
you want to use for auditioning.
RESULT 
The chord events on the chord track now trigger the sound of the assigned 
instrument on the MIDI or instrument track.