Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual
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File handling Importing audio 621 • REX 2 files (file format of ReCycle 2.0 and later, extension “.rx2”). IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT For this to work, the REX Shared Library needs to be installed on your system. PROCEDURE 1. Select an audio track and move the project cursor to where you want the imported file to start. You probably want to import REX files to tempo based audio tracks, since this will allow you to change the tempo later on (having the imported REX file automatically adjust). 2. Select
File handling Exporting and importing standard MIDI files 622 FLAC files FLAC is an open source format and stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. Audio files in this format are typically 50 to 60 % smaller than regular Wave files. FLAC files are not converted to Wave files on import. MPEG audio files MPEG, which stands for Moving Picture Experts Group, is the name of a family of standards used for encoding audio-visual information (e. g. movies, video, music) in a digital compressed format. Cubase can read two types of audio MPEG files: MPEG Layer 2 (*.mp2) and MPEG Layer 3 (*.mp3). Currently, mp3 is the most common of these formats, while the mp2 format is mostly used in broadcast applications. Ogg Vorbis files Ogg Vorbis is an open and patent-free format that offers very small audio files maintaining comparatively high audio quality. Ogg Vorbis files have the extension “.ogg”. Windows Media Audio files (Windows only) Windows Media Audio is an audio format developed by Microsoft, Inc. Due to advanced audio compression algorithms, Windows Media Audio files can be made very small, maintaining good audio quality. The files have the extension “.wma”. RELATED LINKS Export Audio Mixdown on page 551 Exporting and importing standard MIDI files Cubase can import and export standard MIDI files, which makes it possible to transfer MIDI material to and from virtually any MIDI application on any platform. When you import and export MIDI files, you can also specify whether certain settings associated with the tracks are included in the files (automation tracks, volume and pan settings, etc.). Exporting MIDI files To export your MIDI tracks as a standard MIDI file, open the File menu and select “MIDI File…” from the Export submenu. A regular file dialog opens, allowing you to specify a location and name for the file.
File handling Exporting and importing standard MIDI files 623 When you have specified a location and a name for the file, click “Save”. The Export Options dialog opens, allowing you to specify a number of options for the file, e. g. what is included in the file, its type and its resolution (see below for a description of the options). You will also find most of these settings in the Preferences dialog (MIDI–MIDI File page). If you set these up in the Preferences dialog, you only need to click OK in the Export Options dialog to proceed. The dialog contains the following options: Option Description Export Inspector PatchIf this is activated, the MIDI patch settings in the Inspector – Bank Select and Program Select (used for selecting sounds in the connected MIDI instrument) are included as MIDI Bank Select and Program Change events in the MIDI file. Export Inspector Vo l u m e / P a nIf this is activated, Volume and Pan settings made in the Inspector are included as MIDI Volume and Pan events in the MIDI file. Export AutomationIf this is activated, the automation data (as heard during playback) are converted to MIDI controller events and included in the MIDI file. Cubase Elements only: This also includes automation recorded with the MIDI Control plug-in (see the separate PDF document “Plug-in Reference”). Note that if a continuous controller (e. g. CC7) has been recorded but the Read button is deactivated for the automation track (i. e. the automation is effectively switched off for this parameter), only the part data for this controller will be exported. If this option is deactivated and the Automation Read button is activated, no Continuous Controllers are exported. If the Read button is deactivated, the Controller data of the MIDI part are exported (these will now be handled like “regular” part data). In most cases it is recommended to activate this option. Export Inserts If this is activated, any MIDI modifiers that you have added will be included in the MIDI file. Export Markers If this is activated, any markers you have added will be included in the MIDI file as standard MIDI file marker events.
File handling Exporting and importing standard MIDI files 624 NOTE The MIDI file will include the tempo information of the project (i. e. it will include the tempo and time signature events of the Tempo Track Editor or, if the tempo track is deactivated on the Transport panel, the current tempo and time signature). NOTE Inspector settings other than those specified in the Export options are not included in the MIDI file! To include these, you need to convert the settings to “real” MIDI events and properties by using the Merge MIDI in Loop function for each track. RELATED LINKS Automation on page 359 Markers on page 196 Basic track settings on page 405 Merge MIDI in Loop on page 424 Importing MIDI files To import a MIDI file from disk, proceed as follows: PROCEDURE 1. Select “MIDI File…” from the Import submenu of the File menu. 2. If there is already an open project, a dialog opens in which you can select whether a new project is created for the file. If you select “No”, the MIDI file will be imported into the current project. Export as Type 0If this is activated, the MIDI file will be of type 0 (all data on a single track, but on different MIDI channels). If you do not activate this option, the MIDI file will be of Type 1 (data on separate tracks). Which type to choose depends on what you want to do with the MIDI file (in which application or sequencer it should be used, etc.). Export ResolutionYou can specify a MIDI resolution between 24 and 960 for the MIDI file. The resolution is the number of pulses, or ticks, per quarter note (PPQ) and determines the precision with which you will be able to view and edit the MIDI data. The higher the resolution, the higher the precision. Choose the resolution depending on the application or sequencer with which the MIDI file will be used, though, since certain applications and sequencers may not be able to handle certain resolutions. Export Locator RangeIf this is activated, only the range between the locators will be exported. Export includes DelayIf this is activated, the delay of the MIDI track will be included in the MIDI file. Song name for Ty p e 0You can use this text field to change the name of the MIDI file as displayed when loading this file in a keyboard. Option Description
File handling Exporting and importing standard MIDI files 625 3. Locate and select the MIDI file in the file dialog that opens and click Open. If you choose to create a new project, select the project folder. Select an existing project folder or create a new one. RESULT The MIDI file is imported. The result depends on the contents of the MIDI file and the Import Options settings in the Preferences dialog (MIDI–MIDI File page). The Import Options are as follows: Option Description Extract First Patch If this is activated, the first Program Change and Bank Select events for each track are converted to Inspector settings for the track. Extract First Volume/Pan If this is activated, the first MIDI Volume and Pan events for each track are converted to Inspector settings for the track. Import Controller as Automation TracksIf this is activated, MIDI controller events in the MIDI file will be converted to automation data for the MIDI tracks. If this is deactivated, controller data for the MIDI Parts will be imported. Import to Left Locator If this is activated, the imported MIDI file will be placed so that it starts at the position of the left locator – otherwise it will start at the beginning of the project. Note that if you choose to have a new project created automatically, the MIDI file will always start at the beginning of the project. Import Markers If this is activated, any markers that have been added are imported with the MIDI file. Import dropped File as single PartIf this is activated and you drag and drop a MIDI file into the project, the whole file will be placed on a single track. Ignore Master Track Events on MergeIf this is activated and you import a MIDI file into the current project, tempo track data in the MIDI file are ignored. The imported MIDI file will play according to the current tempo track in the project. If this option is deactivated, the Tempo Track Editor will be adjusted according to the tempo information in the MIDI file. Auto Dissolve Format 0 If this is activated and you import a MIDI file of type 0 into the project, the file will automatically be “dissolved”: For each embedded MIDI channel in the file, a separate track will be inserted in the Project window. If this is deactivated, only one MIDI track will be created. This track will be set to MIDI Channel “Any”, allowing all MIDI events to play back on their original channels. You can also use the “Dissolve Part” function on the MIDI menu to distribute the events onto different tracks with different MIDI Channels at a later stage.
File handling Exporting and importing MIDI loops 626 RELATED LINKS Markers on page 196 Support for the Yamaha XF data format Cubase supports the Yamaha XF format. XF is an extension of the standard MIDI file format that allows you to save song-specific data with a MIDI file of type 0. When importing a MIDI file containing XF data, this data is placed in parts on separate tracks called “XF Data”, “Chord Data”, or “SysEx Data”. You can edit such a part in the List Editor (e. g. to add or change lyrics). IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT Do not change the order of events within the XF data or the event data itself, unless you have a lot of experience with XF data. Cubase can also export XF data as part of a MIDI file of type 0. If you do not want to export the XF data together with the MIDI data, mute or delete the tracks containing the XF data. Exporting and importing MIDI loops Cubase allows you to import MIDI loops (file extension “.midiloop”) and to save instrument parts as MIDI loops. MIDI loops are handy, as they contain not only MIDI notes and controllers, but also the number of voices, the associated VST instrument and instrument track preset settings. RELATED LINKS VST Instruments on page 368 Destination Here, you can specify what happens when you drag a MIDI file into the project: • If you select the “MIDI Tracks” option, MIDI tracks are created for the imported file. • If you select the “Instrument Tracks” option, instrument tracks are created for each MIDI channel in the MIDI file. Furthermore, the program automatically loads appropriate presets. • If you select the “HALion Sonic SE multi-timbral” option, several MIDI tracks are created, each routed to a separate instance of HALion Sonic SE in the VST Instruments window and the appropriate presets are loaded. Note that in Cubase LE, this is automatically set to “MIDI Tracks” and the other options are not available. Option Description
627 Customizing Using the Setup options You can customize the appearance of the following elements: • Transport panel • Info line • Toolbars •Inspector The setup context menus If you right-click the Transport panel, the toolbars, the info lines, or the Inspector, the respective setup context menu opens. The following general options are available on the setup context menus: • “Show All” makes all items visible. • “Default” resets the interface to the default setting. • “Setup…” opens the Setup dialog, see below. If presets are available, they can be selected on the lower half of the menu. The info line setup context menu
Customizing Using the Setup options 628 The Setup dialogs If you select “Setup…” from the setup context menus, the Setup dialog opens. This allows you to specify which elements are visible/hidden and to set the order of the elements. You can also save and recall setup presets in this dialog. The dialog is divided into two sections. The left section displays the currently visible items and the right section displays the currently hidden items. • You can change the current show/hide status by selecting items in one section and then use the arrow buttons in the middle of the dialog to move them to the other section. Changes are applied directly. • By selecting items in the “Visible Items” list and using the Move Up and Move Down buttons, you can reorder the items list. Changes are applied directly. To undo all changes and revert to the standard layout, select “Default” on the setup context menu. • If you click the Save button (disk icon) in the Presets section, a dialog opens, allowing you to name the current configuration and save it as a preset. • To remove a preset, select it on the presets pop-up menu and click the trash icon. • Saved configurations are available for selection from the Presets pop-up menu in the Setup dialog or directly from the setup context menu.
Customizing Appearance 629 Appearance In the Preferences dialog, the appearance of Cubase can be changed on the Appearance (Colors) and on the Metering (Appearance) page. The following subpages are available on the Appearance–Colors page: •General Allows you to adjust the default colors for the general interface of the program. •Track Type Defaults Allows you to adjust the default colors for the different track types. •Project Allows you to adjust the default colors in the Project window. •Editors Allows you to adjust the default colors in the editors. Appearance–Colors The Appearance–Colors page features several subpages that allow you to change the default color of the Cubase desktop, the track types, the Project, Editor elements, and MixConsole elements. To change a color, proceed as follows: PROCEDURE 1. Select a subpage and click the color field of the element to which you want to assign a new color. A color selector pane opens.
Customizing Appearance 630 2. Use the tools in the color selector pane to select a new color. The current and the new color are shown at the bottom of the pane. 3. Click outside the color selector pane to confirm your settings and apply your changes. Note that you must restart the application for some changes to take effect. • To copy a color and paste it on another element, even on another subpage, open the context menu in the color selector pane and select “Copy Color” and “Paste Color”. You can also copy colors on the same subpage using drag and drop. • To edit the colors numerically, open the context menu in the color selector pane, and select “Show Color Values”.