User Manual

ManualsBrandsSteinberg ManualsAudio SoftwareCubase Artist 12 ENG - DAW SOFTWARE SUITE FOR AUDIO / MIDI PRODUCTIONS

1051

Table Of Contents

Table of Contents
New Features
Introduction
- Platform-Independent Documentation
- PDF Documents and Online Documentation
- Documentation Structure
- Conventions
  - Typographical Elements
  - Markup
- Key Commands
Setting up Your System
- Studio Setup Dialog
- Setting up Audio
- Setting up MIDI
  - MIDI Connections
- Synchronizers
Audio Connections
- Audio Connections Window
- Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs
  - Hiding Ports
  - Activating and Deactivating Ports (macOS only)
- Adding Input and Output Busses
  - Setting the Default Output Bus (Main Mix)
- Presets for Input and Output Busses
  - Saving a Bus Configuration Preset
  - Deleting a Bus Configuration Preset
- Monitoring Bus
- Bus Configurations
Project Window
- Showing/Hiding Zones
- Project Zone
- Left Zone
  - Inspector
  - Visibility
    - Opening the Visibility
      - Showing/Hiding Individual Tracks
      - Synchronizing Track and Channel Visibility
    - Opening the Zones
- Lower Zone
- Right Zone
  - Opening the VSTi Rack in the Right Zone
    - VSTi Rack in the Right Zone
  - Opening the Media Rack in the Right Zone
    - Media Rack in the Right Zone
- Keyboard Focus in the Project Window
  - Activating Keyboard Focus for a Zone
- Zooming in the Project Window
- Snap Function
- Snap Grid
- Cross-Hair Cursor
- Edit History Dialog
  - Setting the Number of Maximum Undo Steps
- Color Handling
Project Handling
- Creating New Projects
- Hub
  - Deactivating the Hub
- Project Assistant Dialog
- Project Files
- Template Files
- Project Setup Dialog
- Opening Project Files
- Saving Project Files
  - Auto Save
  - Saving Project Files As a New Version
- Reverting to the Last Saved Version
- Choosing a Project Location
- Self-Contained Projects
  - Preparing Archives
  - Backing up Projects
    - Back up Project Options Dialog
Tracks
- Track Inspector Settings Dialog
  - Inspector Sections
- Track Controls Settings Dialog
  - Track Controls
- Add Track Dialog
- Audio Tracks
  - Add Track Dialog – Audio
  - Audio Track Inspector
- Instrument Tracks
  - Add Track Dialog – Instrument
  - Instrument Track Inspector
- Sampler Tracks
  - Add Track Dialog – Sampler
  - Sampler Track Inspector
- MIDI Tracks
  - Add Track Dialog – MIDI
  - MIDI Track Inspector
- Group Channel Tracks
  - Add Track Dialog – Group Channel
  - Group Channel Track Inspector
- FX Channel Tracks
  - Add Track Dialog – Effect
  - FX Channel Track Inspector
- Ruler Track
  - Add Track Dialog – Ruler
  - Ruler Track Controls
- Folder Tracks
- Tempo Track
  - Tempo Track Inspector
  - Tempo Track Controls
- Signature Track
  - Signature Track Inspector
  - Signature Track Controls
- Arranger Track
  - Arranger Track Inspector
  - Arranger Track Controls
- Transpose Track
  - Transpose Track Inspector
  - Transpose Track Controls
- Chord Track
  - Chord Track Inspector
  - Chord Track Controls
- Video Tracks
  - Video Track Inspector
  - Video Track Controls
- Marker Track
  - Marker Track Inspector
  - Marker Track Controls
Track Handling
- Adding Tracks via the Add Track Dialog
- Adding Tracks Using Track Presets
- Adding Tracks by Dragging Files from the MediaBay
- Exporting MIDI Tracks as Standard MIDI Files
  - Export Options Dialog for MIDI Files
- Removing Selected Tracks
- Removing Empty Tracks
- Moving Tracks in the Track List
- Renaming Tracks
- Automatically Assigning Colors to New Tracks/Channels
- Showing Track Pictures
  - Track Pictures Browser
- Setting the Track Height
  - Track Zoom Menu
- Selecting Tracks
  - Selecting Tracks with Arrow Keys
- Deselecting Tracks
- Duplicating Tracks
- Disabling Tracks
- Organizing Tracks in Folder Tracks
  - Moving Tracks to Folder Tracks
- Handling Overlapping Audio
- Track Folding Menu
- Events Display on Folder Tracks
- Modifying Event Display on Folder Tracks
- Lanes, Takes, and Overlapping Events
  - Assembling a Perfect Take
  - Assembling Operations
- Defining the Track Time Base
- Track Versions
  - Track Versions Pop-Up Menu
  - Track Versions Section
  - Creating New Track Versions
  - Track Version IDs
    - Selecting Tracks by Track Version ID
    - Assigning a Common ID
  - Active Track Version
    - Activating Track Versions
    - Activating Track Versions on Multiple Tracks
  - Duplicating Track Versions
  - Deleting Track Versions
  - Copying and Pasting Selection Ranges Between Track Versions
  - Copying and Pasting Selected Events between Track Versions
  - Track Version Names
  - Renaming a Track Version
  - Renaming Track Versions on Multiple Tracks
  - Track Versions vs. Lanes
    - Creating Lanes from Track Versions
    - Creating Track Versions from Lanes
- Track Presets
  - Audio Track Presets
  - MIDI Track Presets
  - Creating a Track Preset
  - Loading Presets for Tracks
  - Loading Presets for VST Instruments
  - Instrument Track Presets
  - VST Presets
  - Extracting the Sound from an Instrument Track or VST Preset
  - Multi-Track Presets
  - Loading Multi-Track Presets
  - Sampler Track Presets
  - Creating a Sampler Track Preset
  - Pattern Banks
  - Loading Track or VST Presets
  - Loading Inserts and EQ from Track Presets
  - Track Quick Control Presets
    - Saving/Loading Track Quick Control Assignments as Presets
Parts and Events
- Events
  - Audio Events
  - MIDI Events
    - Creating MIDI Events
- Parts
- Editing Techniques for Parts and Events
Range Editing
- Creating a Selection Range
  - Select Menu for Selection Ranges
  - Selecting Ranges for Several Tracks
- Editing Selection Ranges
Playback and Transport
- Transport Panel
  - Transport Panel Sections
- Transport Menu
- Transport Bar
  - Transport Bar Sections
- Transport Pop-Up Window
- Time Display Window
- Left and Right Locators
- Setting the Project Cursor
- Auto-Scroll Settings Menu
  - Suspend Auto-Scroll When Editing
- Time Formats
  - Selecting the Primary Time Format
  - Independent Time Displays
- Pre-Roll and Post-Roll
  - Using Pre-Roll and Post-Roll
- Punch In and Punch Out
- Metronome Click
- Chase
On-Screen Keyboard
- Recording MIDI With the On-Screen Keyboard
- On-Screen Keyboard Options
Recording
- Basic Recording Methods
- Monitoring
- Audio Recording Specifics
- MIDI Recording Specifics
- Remaining Record Time
- Lock Record
Importing Audio and MIDI Files
- Audio File Import
- MIDI File Import
Quantizing MIDI and Audio
- Quantize Functions
- Quantizing MIDI Event Starts
- Quantizing MIDI Event Lengths
- Quantizing MIDI Event Ends
- Quantizing Audio Event Starts
- Quantizing Audio Event Lengths (AudioWarp Quantizing)
- Quantize Panel
Fades, Crossfades, and Envelopes
- Event-Based Fades
- Creating Clip-Based Fades
  - On Processing Shared Clips
- Crossfades
- Auto Fades and Crossfades
  - Auto Fades Dialog
    - Making Global Auto Fade Settings
    - Making Auto Fade Settings for Individual Tracks
- Event Envelopes
  - Creating Event-Based Volume Changes
    - Removing Event Envelopes
  - Creating Clip-Based Volume Changes
Arranger Track
- Adding Arranger Events on the Arranger Track
  - Renaming Arranger Events
- Arranger Editor
- Setting up an Arranger Chain and Adding Events
- Jump Mode
  - Jump Mode Options
- Arranging Music to Video
Transpose Functions
- Project Root Key
- Transpose Track
- Keep Transpose in Octave Range
  - Indicate Transpositions
  - Transpose Track and Recording
- Transpose on the Info Line
  - Transposing Individual Parts or Events using the Info Line
- Excluding Individual Parts or Events from Global Transpose
Markers
- Position Markers
- Cycle Markers
  - Setting the Locators Using Cycle Markers
  - Editing Cycle Markers
- Markers Window
- Marker Track
- Importing and Exporting Markers
  - Importing Markers via MIDI
  - Exporting Markers via MIDI
MixConsole
- MixConsole in Lower Zone
  - Showing/Hiding MixConsole Channels in the Lower Zone
  - Determining the MixConsole Channel Order in the Lower Zone
- MixConsole Window
Audio Effects
- Insert Effects and Send Effects
- Insert Effects
- VST Effect Selector
- Send Effects
- Side-Chaining
- Dither Effects
  - Applying Dither Effects
- Effect Control Panel
- Effect Presets
- System Component Information Window
  - Managing System Components in the System Component Information Window
  - Exporting System Component Information Files
Direct Offline Processing
- Direct Offline Processing Workflow
- Direct Offline Processing Window
- Built-In Audio Processes
- Key Commands for Direct Offline Processing
Time Stretch and Pitch Shift Algorithms
- élastique
- MPEX
- Standard
- Limitations
Audio Functions
- Detect Silence Dialog
  - Removing Silent Sections
- Spectrum Analyzer Window
  - Analyzing the Audio Spectrum
  - Comparing Level Values
- Statistics Window
Sample Editor
- Sample Editor Toolbar
  - Locating Positions with the Scrub Tool
  - Editing Audio Samples with the Draw Tool
- Info Line
- Overview Line
- Sample Editor Inspector
- Ruler
- Waveform Display
- Range Editing
- Regions List
- Snap Point
  - Adjusting the Snap Point
Hitpoints
- Calculating Hitpoints
  - Hitpoint Filters in the Hitpoint Section
  - Editing Hitpoints Manually
- Locating to Hitpoints in the Project Window
- Slices
  - Slicing Audio
  - Slices and the Project Tempo
    - Closing Gaps
    - Deleting Overlaps
- Creating a Groove Quantize Preset
- Creating Markers
- Creating Regions
- Creating Events
- Creating Warp Markers
- Creating MIDI Notes
  - Convert Hitpoints to MIDI Notes Dialog
Tempo Matching Audio
- Algorithm Presets
- Stretching Audio Events to the Project Tempo
- Musical Mode
  - Matching Audio to the Project Tempo
  - Applying Swing
- Auto Adjust
  - Extracting a Tempo Definition Grid from Audio
- Manual Adjust
  - Correcting the Audio Definition Grid
- Free Warp
- Flattening Realtime Processing
  - Flatten Realtime Processing Dialog
- Unstretching Audio Files
Pitch Editing and Time Correction with VariAudio
- VariAudio and Offline Processes
- VariAudio Inspector Section
- Segments and Gaps
  - Segmenting Monophonic Audio
  - VariAudio Segment Colors Menu
- Sample Editor Piano Keyboard Display
- Navigating and Zooming through Segments
- Auditioning
- Smart Controls
- Segment Editing
- Selecting a Musical Scale for VariAudio Segments
- Using the Chord Track Data as Musical Scale
- Pitch Changes
- Timing Modifications
  - Warping Segments
- Showing MIDI Reference Tracks
- Formant Shifting
- Editing Volume
- Functions Menu
  - Extracting MIDI from Audio
    - Extract MIDI Dialog
  - Flattening Realtime Processing
- Harmony Voices for Audio
  - Generating Harmony Voices for Monophonic Audio
  - Generate Harmony Voices Dialog
Audio Part Editor
- Audio Part Editor Toolbar
- Info Line
- Ruler
- Lanes
- Operations
Extensions in Cubase
- Activating Extensions for Audio Events
  - Activating Extensions for More Audio Events
- Removing Extensions from Audio Events
- Permanently Applying Extension Edits to Audio Events
- Activating Extensions for Audio Tracks
- Removing Extensions from Audio Tracks
- Permanently Applying Extension Edits to Audio Tracks
- Editor
- Audio Event Editing
Sampler Tracks
- Loading Audio Samples into Sampler Control
- Loading MIDI Parts into Sampler Control
- Creating Sampler Tracks
- Sampler Control
- Sample Editing and Playback Functions
- Transferring Samples from Sampler Control to VST Instruments
  - Transferring a Sample
Pool
- Pool Window
- Working with the Pool
MediaBay and Media Rack
- Media Rack in Right Zone
- MediaBay Window
- Working with Volume Databases
  - Creating Volume Databases
    - Locked Volume Databases on Network Drives
  - Removing Volume Databases
    - Mounting and Unmounting Volume Databases
- MediaBay Settings
Automation
- Recording your Actions
- Automation Curves
- Static Value Line
- Write/Read Automation
- Writing Automation Data
  - Automatic Writing of Automation Data
  - Manual Writing of Automation Data
    - Tools for Drawing Automation Data
- Editing Automation Events
- Automation Tracks
VST Instruments
- Adding VST Instruments
- VST Instrument Control Panel
  - Hiding/Showing VST Instrument Control Panels
  - Closing All Control Panels
- VST Instrument Selector
- Creating Instrument Tracks
- VSTi Rack in the Right Zone
- VST Instruments Window
- VST Instruments Window Toolbar
- VST Instrument Controls
  - VST Instrument Context Menu
- Presets for Instruments
- Playing Back VST Instruments
  - VST Instruments and Processor Load
    - Freezing Instruments
      - Freeze Channel Options Dialog
- Latency
  - Delay Compensation
    - Constrain Delay Compensation
- Import and Export Options
- Side-Chaining for VST Instruments
  - Using Instruments as Effects on Audio Tracks
Installing and Managing VST Plug-ins
- Plug-ins and Collections
  - VST Plug-in Manager Window
    - VST Plug-in Manager Toolbar
    - VST 2 Plug-in Path Settings
- Adding New Plug-in Collections
- Hiding Plug-ins
- Reactivating Plug-ins from the Blocklist
Track Quick Controls
- Parameter Assignment
- Controlling Automatable Parameters
  - Showing Automated Quick Control Assignments
MIDI Remote
- MIDI Remote Tab
  - MIDI Remote Info Line
- Using Supported MIDI Controllers with MIDI Remote
- Other MIDI Controllers and MIDI Remote
- Add MIDI Controller Surface Dialog
- MIDI Remote Mapping Assistant
  - Mapping Pages and Mapping Scopes
  - Focus Quick Controls
- MIDI Remote Manager Window
- MIDI Remote Script Console
- MIDI Remote API
Remote Controlling Cubase
- Connecting Remote Devices
- Removing the Remote Input from All MIDI Inputs
- Setting up Remote Devices
  - Resetting Remote Devices
  - Global Options for Remote Controllers
- Remote Devices and Automation
- Assigning Commands to Remote Devices
- Remote Control Editor
- Joysticks
  - Deactivating Joysticks
- Track Quick Controls
  - Setting up Track Quick Controls with Remote Controllers (Legacy)
  - Activating Pick-up Mode for Hardware Controls (Legacy)
- VST Quick Controls
  - VST Quick Controls in the VSTi Rack (Legacy)
  - Setting up VST Quick Controls with Remote Controllers (Legacy)
- Generic Remote Page (Legacy)
MIDI Realtime Parameters and MIDI Effects
- MIDI Track Parameters
  - Track Input Transformer
    - Track Input Transformer Window Overview
    - Setting up Track Input Transformer Filter Lines
- MIDI Modifiers
  - MIDI Modifiers Section
  - Freezing MIDI Modifiers
- MIDI Effects
- Transpose and Velocity on the Info Line
Using MIDI Devices
- Program Change Messages and Bank Select Messages
- Patch Banks
- MIDI Device Manager
MIDI Functions
- Transpose Setup Dialog
- Merging MIDI Events into a New Part
  - MIDI Merge Options Dialog
  - Applying Effects to a Single Part
- Dissolve Part Dialog
  - Dissolving Parts into Separate Channels
    - MIDI Channel Setting
  - Dissolving Parts into Separate Pitches
- Repeating MIDI Events of Independent Track Loops
- Extending MIDI Notes
- Fixing MIDI Note Lengths
- Fixing MIDI Note Velocities
  - MIDI Insert Velocities Dialog
- Rendering Sustain Pedal Data to Note Lengths
- Deleting Overlaps
- Editing Velocity
  - Velocity Dialog
- Deleting Double Notes
- Deleting Controller Data
- Deleting Continuous Controller Data
- Restricting Polyphonic Voices
- Thinning Out Controller Data
- Extracting MIDI Automation
- Reversing the Playback Order of MIDI Events
- Inverting the Order of Selected MIDI Events
MIDI Editors
- Common MIDI Editor Functions
- Controller Display
- Key Editor
- Key Editor Operations
- Score Editor
- Score Editor Operations
- Drum Editor
- Drum Editor Operations
- Drum Maps
- List Editor
- List Editor Operations
- In-Place Editor
Note Expression
- VST Note Expressions
  - VST 3-Compatible VST Instruments
- MIDI Controllers
  - MIDI Input Devices that Support MPE
    - Note Expression Input Device Page
      - VST Note Expression Assignments
      - Loading MPE Instrument Presets
- Note Expression Inspector Section
- Note Expression Tools
- Controller Mapping
- Recording
- Note Expression Event Editor
- Trimming Note Expression Data
- Removing All Note Expression Data
- Note Expression MIDI Setup Dialog
Chord Functions
- Chord Track
  - Adding the Chord Track
- Chord Events
- Scale Events
  - Editing Scale Events
  - Musical Scale Setup Dialog
- Voicings
  - Inspector Settings for Voicings
  - Custom Voicing Panel
- Converting Chord Events to MIDI
  - Assigning Chord Events to HALion Sonic SE Pads
- Controlling MIDI Playback Using the Chord Track
- Assigning Voices to Notes
- Creating Chord Events from MIDI
  - Create Chord Symbols Dialog
- Creating Chord Events from Audio Events
  - Editing Chord Events That Were Detected from Audio Events
- Recording Chord Events with a MIDI Keyboard
Chord Pads
- Chord Pads Zone
  - Chord Pad Controls
  - Chord Pad Context Menu
- Functions Menu
- Chord Assistant
  - Chord Assistant – Circle of Fifths
- Chord Assignment
- Swapping Chord Assignments
- Copying Chord Assignments
- Playing Back and Recording Chords
- Player Setup
- Chord Pads Setup Dialog
- Chord Pads Presets
  - Saving Chord Pads Presets
- Creating Chord Events from Chord Pads
- Creating MIDI Parts from Chord Pads
Project Input Transformer
- Project Input Transformer Window Overview
- Project Input Transformer Presets Browser
- Project Input Transformer Filter Settings
- Project Input Transformer Functions
- Project Input Transformer Action Settings
  - Project Input Transformer Action Targets
  - Setting up Project Input Transformer Actions
- Project Input Transformer Operations
Logical Editor
- Logical Editor Window Overview
- Logical Editor Presets Browser
- Logical Editor Filter Settings
- Logical Editor Functions
- Logical Editor Action Settings
Editing Tempo and Time Signature
- Project Tempo Modes
- Track Time Base
- Tempo Track Editor
  - Tempo Track Editor Toolbar
- Tempo Track
  - Tempo Event Editor
- Tempo Changes for Projects
- Setting up a Fixed Project Tempo
- Beat Calculator
- Copying Warp Markers to Other Events
- Set Definition from Tempo Dialog
  - Adjusting the Audio Tempo to the Project Tempo
- Time Signature Events
Rendering Audio and MIDI
- Render Tracks Dialog
  - Rendering Tracks
- Render Selection Dialog
  - Rendering Selections
Export Audio Mixdown
- Export Audio Mixdown Dialog
  - Naming Scheme Dialog
  - Defining Naming Schemes
    - Entering Free Text
- Mixing Down to Audio Files
- File Formats
- Saving File Format Presets
Synchronization
- Master and Slave
- Timecode Formats
  - Timecode Standards
- Clock Sources
- Project Synchronization Setup Dialog
- External Synchronization
VST System Link
- Setting up VST System Link
- Activating VST System Link
  - Putting Network Computers Online
  - Activating MIDI Ports for VST System Link
- Application Examples
Video
- Video File Compatibility
  - Video Container Formats
  - Codecs
- Frame Rates
- Video Output Devices
  - Dedicated Video Cards
- Preparations for Creating Video Projects
- Preparations for Video Playback
- Editing Video
- Export Video
  - Export Video Dialog
  - Exporting Video Files
- Extracting Audio from Video
Exchanging Files with Other Applications
- AAF Files
  - Importing AAF Files
    - AAF Import Options Dialog
  - Exporting AAF Files
    - AAF Export Options Dialog
Key Commands
- Key Commands Dialog
  - Macros Section
- Assigning Key Commands
- Searching for Key Commands
- Removing Key Commands
- Setting up Macros
- Saving Key Commands Presets
- Loading Key Command Presets
- Resetting Key Commands
- Default Key Commands
- Setting up Tool Modifier Keys
Customizing
- Workspaces
- Setup Options
  - Setup Context Menus
  - Setup Dialog
- Windows Dialog
- Where are the Settings Stored?
  - Updating from a Previous Version of Cubase
- Safe Mode Dialog
  - Disabling the Preferences
  - Disabling Third-Party Plug-ins
Optimizing Audio Performance
- Performance Aspects
- Settings That Affect Performance
  - Audio Buffer Settings
    - Adjusting the Buffer Size
  - Multi Processing
- Audio Performance Window
- ASIO-Guard
  - Activating the ASIO-Guard
Preferences
- Preferences Dialog
  - Saving Preference Presets
  - Saving Partial Preference Settings
- Editing
- Editors
- Event Display
- General
  - General - Personalization
- MIDI
  - MIDI - MIDI File
    - Export Options
    - Import Options
  - MIDI - MIDI Filter
- MediaBay
- Metering
  - Metering - Appearance
- Record
  - Record - Audio
    - Record - Audio - Broadcast Wave
  - Record - MIDI
- Transport
  - Transport - Scrub
- User Interface
  - Customizing the User Interface Colors
  - User Interface - Track & MixConsole Channel Colors
- VST
  - VST - Plug-ins
- VariAudio
- Video
Index
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- Z

The info line setup context menu

Setup Dialog

The setup dialog allows you to specify which elements are visible/hidden and in what order they

are shown. You can save and recall setup presets.

● To open a setup dialog, right-click the element that you want to set up, and select Setup.

Hidden Items

Lists the elements that are hidden.

Visible Items

Lists the elements that are visible.

Add

Select an item in the list of Hidden Items, and click Add to make it visible.

Remove

Select an item in the list of Visible Items, and click Remove to hide it.

Customizing

Setup Options

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Cubase Artist 12