Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual

							ReWire (not in Cubase LE)
Routing MIDI via ReWire
601
Routing MIDI via ReWire
When using Cubase with a ReWire-compatible application, additional MIDI outputs 
will automatically appear on the MIDI Output pop-up menus for MIDI tracks. This 
allows you to play the synthesizer application via MIDI from Cubase, using it as one 
or several separate MIDI sound sources.
The MIDI outputs for a Reason song. Here, each output goes directly to a device in 
the Reason rack.
• The number and configuration of MIDI outputs depends on the synthesizer 
application.
Considerations and limitations
Sample rates
Synthesizer applications may be limited to audio playback in certain sample rates. If 
Cubase is set to a sample rate other than those, the synthesizer application will play 
back at the wrong pitch. Consult the documentation of the synthesizer application 
for details.
ASIO drivers
ReWire works well with ASIO drivers. By using the Cubase bus system you can 
route sounds from the synthesizer application to various outputs on an ASIO 
compatible audio card. 
						

							602
Key Commands
Introduction
Most of the main menus in Cubase have key command shortcuts for certain items 
on the menus. In addition, there are numerous other Cubase functions that can be 
performed via key commands. These are all default settings.
You can customize existing key commands to your liking, and also add commands 
for many menu items and functions that currently have no key command assigned.
You can find out for which functions key commands can be assigned by looking in 
the Key commands dialog (see below), or by checking the tooltip for a particular 
interface element. If a tooltip shows [!] at the end, you can assign a key command 
to this function. Assigned key commands are shown in the tooltips in square 
brackets.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
You can also assign tool modifier keys, i. e. keys that change the behavior of various 
tools when pressed. This is done in the Preferences dialog.
RELATED LINKS
Setting up tool modifier keys on page 607
How are key commands settings saved?
Every time you edit or add any key command assignment, this is stored as a global 
Cubase preference – not as part of a project. If you edit or add a key command 
assignment, any subsequent projects that you create or open will use these 
modified settings. However, the default settings can be restored at any time by 
clicking the Reset All button in the Key Commands dialog.
In addition, you can save key commands settings as a “key commands file”, which 
is stored separately and can be imported into any project. This way you can quickly 
and easily recall customized settings, when moving projects between different 
computers, for example. The settings are saved in an XML file on the hard disk.
RELATED LINKS
Saving key commands presets on page 605 
						

							Key Commands
Setting up key commands
603
Setting up key commands
Adding or modifying a key command
In the Key Commands dialog you will find all main menu items and a large number 
of other functions, arranged in a hierarchical way similar to the Windows Explorer 
and Mac OS Finder. The function categories are represented by a number of 
folders, each containing various menu items and functions.
When you open a category folder by clicking the “+” sign beside it, the items and 
functions it contains are displayed with the currently assigned key commands.
To add a key command, proceed as follows:
PROCEDURE
1. Open the File menu and select “Key Commands…”.
The Key Commands dialog opens.
2. In the Commands list on the left, choose a category.
3. Click the “+” sign to open the category folder and display the items it 
contains.
Note that you can also click the “global” “+” and “-” signs in the top left corner to open 
and close all category folders at once.
4. In the list, select the item to which you want to assign a key command.
Already assigned key commands are shown in the Keys column as well as in the Keys 
section in the top right corner. 
						

							Key Commands
Setting up key commands
604
5. Alternatively, you can use the search function in the dialog to find the desired 
item.
For a description of how to use the search function, see below.
6. When you have found and selected the desired item, click in the “Type in Key” 
field and enter a new key command.
You can choose any single key or a combination of one or several modifier keys 
([Alt]/[Option], [Ctrl]/[Command], [Shift]) plus any key. Just press the keys you want 
to use.
7. If the key command you enter is already assigned to another item or function, 
this is displayed below the “Type in Key” field.
You can either ignore this and proceed to assign the key command to the new 
function instead, or you can select another key command.
8. Click the Assign button above the field.
The new key command appears in the Keys List.
IMPORTANT
If the key command you enter is already assigned to another function, you will get a 
warning message asking if you really want to reassign the command to the new 
function.
9. Click OK to exit the dialog.
NOTE
You can set up several different key commands for the same function. Adding a key 
command to a function that already has another key command will not replace the key 
command previously defined for the function. If you wish to remove a key command, 
see below.
Searching for key commands
If you want to know which key command is assigned to a certain function in the 
program, you can use the Search function in the Key Commands dialog.
PROCEDURE
1. Click in the search text field at the top left of the dialog and type in the function 
for which you want to know the key command.
This is a standard word search function, so you should type the command as it is 
spelled in the program. Partial words can be used; to search for all quantize related 
commands, type “Quantize”, “Quant”, etc.
2. Click the Search button (the magnifying glass icon).
The search is conducted and the first matching command is selected and displayed 
in the Commands list below. The Keys column and the Keys list show the assigned 
key commands, if any.
3. To search for more commands containing the word(s) you entered, click the 
Search button again.
4. When you are done, click OK to close the dialog. 
						

							Key Commands
Setting up key commands
605
Removing a key command
PROCEDURE
1. Use the list of categories and commands to select the item or function for 
which you wish to remove a key command.
The key command is shown in the Keys column and the Keys list.
2. Select the key command in the Keys list and click the Delete button (the trash 
icon).
You are asked whether you really want to remove the key command.
3. Click Remove to remove the selected key command.
4. Click OK to close the dialog.
Saving key commands presets
As mentioned above, any changes made to the key commands are automatically 
stored as a Cubase preference. However, it is also po ssible t o save  key co mmands 
settings separately. This way, you can save any number of different key command 
settings as presets for instant recall.
PROCEDURE
1. Set up the key commands to your liking.
When setting up key commands, remember to click “Assign” to make the changes.
2. Click the Save button next to the Presets pop-up menu.
A dialog opens, allowing you to type in a name for the preset.
3. Click OK to save the preset.
Your saved key commands settings are now available on the Presets pop-up menu.
Loading key command presets
To load a key command preset, simply select it from the Presets pop-up menu.
NOTE
The key command settings you load will replace the current key command settings 
for the same functions (if any). If you have macros of the same name as those stored 
in the preset you load, these will be replaced too. If you want to be able to revert to 
your current settings again, make sure to save them first, as described above! 
						

							Key Commands
Setting up key commands
606
Loading earlier key commands settings
If you have saved key commands settings with an earlier program version, it is 
possible to use them in this Cubase version, by using the “Import Key Command 
File” function, which lets you load and apply saved key commands.
PROCEDURE
1. Open the Key Commands dialog.
2. Click the “Import Key Command File” button to the right of the Presets 
pop-up menu.
A standard file dialog opens.
3. In the file dialog, use the “Files of type” pop-up menu to specify if you want to 
import a key commands file (“.key”) or a macro commands file (extension 
“.mac”).
When you have imported an older file, you might want to save it as a preset (see 
above) to be able to access it from the Presets pop-up menu in the future.
4. Navigate to the file you want to import and click “Open”.
The file is imported.
5. Click OK to exit the Key Commands dialog and apply the imported settings.
The settings in the loaded key commands file or macros file now replace the current 
settings.
About the Reset and Reset All functions
These two buttons in the Key Commands dialog will both restore the default 
settings. The following rules apply:
• “Reset” will restore the default key command setting for the function selected 
in the Commands list.
• “Reset All” will restore the default key commands for all commands.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
Note that the 
						

							Key Commands
Setting up tool modifier keys
607
Setting up tool modifier keys
A tool modifier key is a key you can press to get an alternate function when using a 
tool. For example, clicking and dragging an event with the Object Selection tool 
normally moves it – holding down a modifier key (by default [Alt]/[Option]) while 
dragging will copy it instead.
The default assignments for tool modifier keys can be found in the Preferences 
dialog (Editing–Tool Modifiers page). Here, you can also edit them:
PROCEDURE
1. Open the Preferences dialog and select the Editing–Tool Modifiers page.
2. Select an option in the Categories list, and locate the action for which you 
want to edit the modifier key.
For example, the “Copy” action mentioned above resides in the category “Drag & 
Drop”.
3. Select the action in the Action list.
4. Hold down the desired modifier key(s) and click the Assign button.
The current modifier keys for the action are replaced. If the modifier keys you pressed 
are already assigned to another tool, you will be asked whether you want to overwrite 
them. If you do, this will leave the other tool without any modifier keys assigned.
5. When you are done, click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog.
The default key commands
Below, the default key commands are listed according to category.
NOTE
When the Virtual Keyboard is displayed, the usual key commands are blocked 
because they are reserved for the Virtual Keyboard. The only exceptions are: 
[Ctrl]/[Command]-[S] (Save), Num [*] (Start/Stop Record), [Space] (Start/Stop 
Playback), Num [1] (Jump to left locator), [Delete] or [Backspace] (Delete), Num [/] 
(Cycle on/off), [F2] (Show/Hide Transport panel), and [Alt]/[Option]-[K] 
(Show/Hide Virtual Keyboard). 
						

							Key Commands
The default key commands
608
Audio category
Automation category
Chords
Devices category
Edit category
Option Key command
Adjust Fades to Range [A]
Crossfade [X]
Option Key command
Read Automation for All Tracks On/Off [Alt]/[Option]-[R]
Write Automation for All Tracks On/Off [Alt]/[Option]-[W]
Option Key command
Chord Pads [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[C]
Option Key command
MixConsole [F3]
Video [F8]
Virtual Keyboard [Alt]/[Option]-[K]
VST Connections [F4]
VST Instruments (not in Cubase LE) [F11]
VST Performance [F12]
Option Key command
Activate/Deactivate Focused Object [Alt]/[Option]-A
Auto-Scroll On/Off [F]
Copy [Ctrl]/[Command]-[C]
Cut [Ctrl]/[Command]-[X]
Cut Time [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[X]
Delete [Delete] or [Backspace]
Delete Time [Shift]-[Backspace]
Duplicate [Ctrl]/[Command]-[D]
Expand/Reduce [Alt]/[Option]-E 
						

							Key Commands
The default key commands
609
Insert Silence [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[E]
Invert [Alt]/[Option]-F
Left Selection Side to Cursor [E]
Move to Cursor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[L]
Move to Front (Uncover) [U]
Mute [M]
Mute Events [Shift]-[M]
Mute/Unmute Objects [Alt]/[Option]-[M]
Open Default Editor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[E]
Open Score Editor [Ctrl]/[Command]-[R]
Open/Close Editor [Return]
Paste [Ctrl]/[Command]-[V]
Paste at Origin [Alt]/[Option]-[V]
Paste Relative to Cursor [Shift]-[V]
Paste Time [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[V]
Primary Parameter: Decrease [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Down Arrow]
Primary Parameter: Increase [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Up Arrow]
Record Enable [R]
Redo [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Z]
Repeat [Ctrl]/[Command]-[K]
Right Selection Side to Cursor [D]
Secondary Parameter: Decrease [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Left Arrow]
Secondary Parameter: Increase [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[Right Arrow]
Select All [Ctrl]/[Command]-[A]
Select None [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[A]
Snap On/Off [J]
Solo [S]
Split At Cursor [Alt]/[Option]-[X]
Split Range [Shift]-[X]
Undo [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Z]
Unmute Events [Shift]-[U]
Wr i t e [ W ] Option Key command 
						

							Key Commands
The default key commands
610
Editors category
File category
Inspector
Media category
Option Key command
Show/Hide Editors [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[E]
Show/Hide Info Line [Ctrl]/[Command]-[I]
Show/Hide Inspector [Alt]/[Option]-[I]
Show/Hide Overview [Alt]/[Option]-[O]
Show/Hide Rack [Alt]/[Option]-[T]
Toggle Rack Tabs [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[T]
Option Key command
Close [Ctrl]/[Command]-[W]
New [Ctrl]/[Command]-[N]
Open [Ctrl]/[Command]-[O]
Quit [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Q]
Save [Ctrl]/[Command]-[S]
Save As [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[S]
Save New Version [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[S]
Option Key command
Toggle Inspector Footer Tabs [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[Shift]-[T]
Toggle Inspector Tabs [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Shift]-[T]
Option Key command
Open MediaBay [F5]
Preview Cycle On/Off [Shift]-Num [/]
Preview Start [Shift]-[Enter]
Preview Stop [Shift]-Num [0]
Search MediaBay [Shift]-[F5]
Toggle Filters [Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-Num [5]