Steinberg Cubase 5 Operation Manual
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321 Using MIDI devices 4.Click Open. The Import MIDI Devices dialog appears where you can select one or several devices for import. A device setup file can contain one or several MIDI devices. 5.Select a device and click OK. The device is added to the list of installed devices in the MIDI Device Manager. 6.Select the correct MIDI output from the Output pop- up menu, select the device in the list and click the Open Device button. The device control panel opens in a separate window. The Edit (“e”) but- ton at the top opens the Edit Panel window, see the separate pdf docu- ment “MIDI Devices”. A device control panel representing an Access Virus synth. 7.Close the Device panel and return to the Project win- dow.8.Select the device from the “Output Routing” pop-up menu for a MIDI track. Note that for some devices, you may have to set the MIDI channel to “Any”. Now the Device panel can be opened by clicking the Open Device Panels button in the Inspector or in the channel strip for the corresponding track in the Mixer. ÖNote that [Ctrl]/[Command]-clicking the Open Device Panels button allows you to open a subpanel via the panel browser pop-up menu. Showing panels in the Inspector 1.In the Inspector, open the User Panel tab and click on the arrow on the right. A “Panels” folder is shown with the selected device in a node structure below it. If you open all the folders, you can select any individual panel from the device that “fits” into the User Panel space. 2.Select a panel by double-clicking it in the list. The panel opens in the Inspector.
322 Using MIDI devices ÖIf you cannot see any panels in the “Panels” folder, al- though you have successfully set up a MIDI device with several panels, make sure you selected the correct chan- nel from the Channel pop-up menu, preferably “Any” to see all device panels. Also make sure that the panels fit into the space, otherwise they will not be available in the “Panels” folder. Showing panels in the Mixer 1.Open the Mixer and make sure the extended channel view is shown. 2.Open the View options pop-up for the MIDI channel connected to the device and select “User Panel”. 3.Click the arrow next to the label “user” at the top of the extended section of the channel strip. The Panels folder is displayed like in the Inspector, but with different available panels. Just like in the Inspector, the panel has to “fit” into the available space to be selectable. 4.Double-click to select a panel. The panel is now shown in the extended section of the channel strip. Automating device parameters Automation works just like for normal audio and MIDI tracks: 1.Open the device control panel by clicking the Open Device Panels button in the Inspector. 2.Activate Write automation on the device panel. You can automate the device by either moving knobs and sliders on the control panel or by drawing curves on the automation track for a selected parameter. 3.If you now go back to the Project window, there will be a MIDI Device Automation track in the Track list. If the track is hidden, select “Show Used Automation” on the Track Fold- ing submenu of the Project menu. If you click in the name field, all parameters in the device are shown and can be selected for automation. To open another automation track for the next parame- ter on the pop-up menu, click the + button (“Append au- tomation track”) at the bottom left of the automation track. ÖIf you wrote automation but your MIDI device is not yet connected, the panel will not display any parameter changes when playing back the track with the Read but- ton activated.
323 Using MIDI devices About Studio Connections (Cubase only) Studio Connections is the name of an initiative led by Steinberg and Yamaha. The initiative intends to create in- dustry standards for totally integrated system environ- ments using software and hardware products. First implementation stage of the Studio Connections open standard is the integration and support of Yamaha’s Studio Manager 2 (SM2) and Total Recall for compatible hardware devices. For further information about Studio Connections, please visit the website http://www.studioconnections.org.If you have an SM2 component installed, there is an addi- tional menu item on the Devices menu.
324 Using MIDI devices Total Recall Total Recall means that you can save and recall all set- tings of your hardware and software products by opening one integrated file in a DAW such as Cubase or Nuendo. Also you will have instant and organized access to hard- ware editors. When you load a project or switch to another active project that contains SM2 data, the Total Recall Synchronization dialog appears: This dialog can also be opened any time from the Studio Manager’s Synchronize menu. Click OK for the Dump to start. Virtual MIDI Devices If you have a new OPT component (e. g. the DM2000) which uses a new special interface, you can access these components as virtual MIDI Devices in the MIDI track’s output routing (if the output of the OPT is configured).When a MIDI track is routed to such a device, the “Open Device Panels” button becomes available. Click the Open Device Panels button… …to open the editor window for the device. ÖPlease also refer to the separate documentation for the Studio Manager 2 and the OPT components.
326 MIDI processing and quantizing Introduction This chapter describes the various MIDI processing func- tions available on the MIDI menu. They offer various ways to edit MIDI notes and other events, either in the Project window or from within a MIDI editor. MIDI functions vs. MIDI modifiers In some cases, the result of a MIDI function can also be obtained by using MIDI modifiers and effects (see “MIDI realtime parameters and effects” on page 305). For exam- ple, the operations “Transpose” and “Quantize” are avail- able both as MIDI modifiers and as MIDI functions. The main difference is that MIDI modifiers and effects do not affect the actual MIDI events on the track in any way, while MIDI functions change the events “permanently” (al- though recent changes can be undone). Use the following guidelines to decide which path to choose for operations that are available both as modifiers or effects and as functions: If you want to adjust a few parts or events only, use MIDI functions. The MIDI modifiers and effects affect the output of the whole track (although they can be made permanent in a specific area with the Merge MIDI in Loop function). If you want to experiment with different settings, use MIDI modifiers and effects. MIDI modifiers and effects settings are not reflected in the MIDI editors, since the actual MIDI events are not af- fected. This can be potentially confusing; if you have transposed notes using modifiers for example, the MIDI editors will still show the notes with their original pitch (but they will play back at their transposed pitch). Therefore, MIDI functions are a better solution if you want to see the effects of your editing in the MIDI editors. What is affected by the MIDI functions? Which events are affected when you use a MIDI function depends on the function, the active window and the cur- rent selection: Some MIDI functions only apply to MIDI events of a cer- tain type. For example, quantization only affects notes, while the Delete Controllers function only applies to MIDI controller events. In the Project window, the MIDI functions apply to all selected parts, affecting all events (of the relevant types) in them. In the MIDI editors, the MIDI functions apply to all se- lected events. If no events are selected, all events in the edited part(s) will be affected. The Quantizing functions What is quantizing? Quantizing in its fundamental form is a function that auto- matically moves recorded notes, positioning them on ex- act note values: However, quantizing is not only a method of correcting er- rors, it can also be used creatively in various ways. For ex- ample, the “quantize grid” does not have to consist of perfectly straight notes, some notes can automatically be excluded from quantizing, etc. ÖWhen quantizing MIDI, only MIDI notes are affected (no other event types). However, you can choose to move the controllers together with their re- spective notes by activating the “Move Controller” option in the Quantize Setup dialog, see “The Move Controller setting” on page 328. For example, if you record a series of eighth notes, some of them may end up slightly beside the exact eighth note positions. Quantizing the notes with the quantize grid set to eighth notes will move the “misplaced” notes to exact positions.
327 MIDI processing and quantizing Setting up quantize on the toolbar At its most basic, setting up quantizing consists of select- ing a note value from the Quantize pop-up menu on the toolbar (in the Project window or a MIDI editor). This allows you to quantize to exact note values (straight, triplet or dotted notes) only. Setting up quantize in the Quantize Setup dialog If you want more options than those available on the pop- up menu, select “Quantize Setup…” from the MIDI menu (or “Setup…” from the Quantize pop-up menu) to open the Quantize Setup dialog.ÖAny settings you make in the dialog are immediately reflected in the Quantize pop-up menus. However, if you want your settings permanently available on the Quantize pop-up menus, you have to use the presets functions (see “Presets” on page 328). The grid display in the middle of the dialog shows one bar (four beats), with blue lines indicating the quantize grid (the positions that notes will be moved to). Value changes in the grid, presets and quantize options will be graphically reflected here, see below. The Quantize Setup dialog contains the following settings: The Grid and Type pop-ups These are used to determine the basic note value for the quantizing grid. In other words, these have the same func- tionality as the Quantize pop-up menu on the toolbar. Swing The Swing slider is only available when a straight note value is selected for the grid and Tuplet is off (see below). It lets you offset every second position in the grid, creating a swing or shuffle feel. When you adjust the Swing slider, the result is shown in the grid display. A straight eighth note grid compared with a grid with 60 % swing. Tuplet Allows you to create more rhythmically complex grids by dividing the grid into smaller steps.
328 MIDI processing and quantizing Magnetic Area This allows you to specify that only notes within a certain distance from the grid lines should be affected by quantiz- ing. When the slider is set to 0 %, the Magnetic Area func- tion is deactivated, i.e. all notes are affected by quantizing. If you move the slider gradually to the right, you will note how the mag- netic areas are shown around the blue lines in the grid display. Presets The controls in the lower left corner of the dialog allow you to store the current settings as a preset, which will then be available on the Quantize menus on the toolbars. The usual preset procedures apply: To store the settings as a preset, click the Store button. To load a stored preset into the dialog, simply select it from the pop-up menu. This is useful if you want to modify an existing preset. To rename the selected preset, double-click on the name and type in a new one. To remove a stored preset, select it from the pop-up menu and click Remove. You can also create presets by extracting existing grooves from a MIDI part. Just select the desired MIDI part and drag it on the grid display in the middle of the Quantize Setup dialog or open the Advanced submenu on the MIDI menu and select “Part to Groove” (see “Part to Groove” on page 330). Apply and Auto These functions allow you to apply quantizing directly from the dialog, see below. The Non Quantize setting This setting affects the result of the quantizing. It allows you to set a “distance” in ticks (120ths of sixteenth notes). Events that already are within the specified distance from the quantize grid will not be quantized. This allows you to keep slight variations when you quantize, but still correct notes that are too far from the grid. The Random Quantize setting This setting affects the result of the quantizing. It allows you to set a “distance” in ticks (120ths of sixteenth notes). Events will be quantized to random positions within the specified “distance” from the quantize grid, thus creating a more “loose” quantizing. Much like the Non Quantize setting, this allows for slight variations, while at the same time keeping notes from ending up too far from the grid. The Iterative Strength setting Here you specify how much the notes should be moved towards the grid when using the Iterative Quantize func- tion, see below. The Move Controller setting When this is activated, controllers related to notes (pitch- bend, etc.) are automatically moved with the notes when these are quantized. Applying quantize There are several ways to apply the quantize: The standard method is to select “Over Quantize” from the MIDI menu (or using a key command, by default [Q]). This quantizes the selected MIDI parts or notes according to the current Quantize pop-up menu setting. You can also apply quantizing directly from the Quantize Setup dialog, by clicking the “Apply Quantize” button. !If you do not want to apply the quantizing you have set up in the dialog, close the window by clicking its close button. Only notes within the indicated zones will be affected by quantizing.
329 MIDI processing and quantizing If you activate the “Auto” checkbox in the Quantize Setup dialog, any change you make in the dialog is immediately applied to the selected MIDI parts or notes. A great way of using this feature is to set up a playback loop, and adjust the settings in the dialog until you get the desired result. The Auto Quantize function If you activate the Auto Q button on the Transport panel, all MIDI recordings you make are automatically quantized according to the settings you have made in the Quantize Setup dialog. Iterative Quantize Another way to apply “loose” quantization is to use the Iter- ative Quantize function on the MIDI menu. It works like this: Instead of moving a note to the closest quantize grid posi- tion, Iterative Quantize moves it only part of the way. You specify how much the notes should be moved towards the grid with the “Iterative Strength” setting in the Quantize Setup dialog. Iterative Quantize also differs from “regular” quantization in that the operation is not based on the notes’ original po- sitions but on their current, quantized position. This makes it possible to repeatedly use Iterative Quantize, gradually moving the notes closer to the quantize grid until you’ve found the desired timing. Advanced Quantize functions Quantize Lengths This function (on the Advanced Quantize submenu on the MIDI menu) will quantize the length of the notes, without changing their start positions. At its most basic level, this function will set the length of the notes to the Length Quantize value on the MIDI editor toolbar. However, if you have selected the “Quantize Link” option on the Length Quantize pop-up menu, the function will resize the note according to the quantize grid, taking the Swing, Tuplet and Magnetic Area settings into account. An example: 1. Length Quantize set to “Quantize Link”. 2. Some 16th notes. 3. Here, the quantize value has been set to straight 16th notes with Swing at 100 %. 4. Selecting Quantize Lengths will adjust the note lengths according to the grid. If you compare the result to the first figure above, you will find that notes that started within the odd sixteenth note “zones” show the longer grid length, and notes in the even zones have the shorter length. Quantize Ends The Quantize Ends function on the Advanced Quantize submenu will only affect the end positions of notes. Apart from that, it works just like regular quantizing, taking the Quantize pop-up menu setting into account. Undo Quantize As mentioned above, the original position of each quan- tized note is stored. Therefore, you can make the selected MIDI notes revert to their original, unquantized state at any time by selecting Undo Quantize from the Advanced Quantize submenu. This is independent from the regular Undo History. !When you apply quantize, the result is based on the original position of the notes. Therefore, you can freely try out different quantize settings with no risk of “destroying” anything. See also “Undo Quantize” on page 329. !This function is only available from within the MIDI editors.
330 MIDI processing and quantizing Freeze Quantize There may be situations when you want to make the quan- tized positions “permanent”. For example, you may want to quantize notes a second time, having the results based on the current quantized positions rather than the original po- sitions. To make this possible, select the notes in question and select “Freeze Quantize” from the Advanced Quantize submenu. This makes the quantized positions permanent. Part to Groove With this function, you can extract the groove from a se- lected MIDI part and turn it into a Quantize preset. You can also extract grooves from audio, using e.g. hit- points (see “Creating groove quantize maps” on page 237), or audio parts, ReCycle (.rex) parts or drum parts that have been processed with the Detect Silence func- tion. Since audio contains no velocity information, velocity will remain unchanged after applying a Groove that you extracted from audio. In both cases, the resulting groove appears on the Quan- tize menus and you apply it as you would any Quantize preset. You can also view and edit the resulting quantize settings in the Quantize Setup dialog. Transpose The Transpose item on the MIDI menu opens a dialog with settings for transposing the selected notes: ÖYou can also use the Transpose track for transposing, see “The Transpose functions” on page 103. Semitones This is where you set the amount of transposition. Scale Correction Scale Correction transposes the selected notes by for- cing them to the closest note of the selected scale type. This can be used for creating interesting key and tonal changes, either by itself or in conjunction with the other settings in the Transpose dialog. To activate Scale Correction, click the checkbox. Select a root note and scale type for the current scale from the upper pop-up menus. Select a root note and scale type for the new scale from the lower pop-up menus. Make sure to select the correct root note if you want to keep the result in the same key as the original notes, or select an entirely different key if you want to experiment. Keep Notes in Range When this is activated, transposed notes will remain within the Upper and Lower Limit values. If a note ends up outside the limits after transposition, it will be shifted to another octave, keeping the correct transposed pitch if possible. If this is not possible (if you have set a very narrow range between the Upper and Lower Limit), the note will be transposed “as far as possible”, i.e. to the Upper or Lower Limit note. If you set the Upper and Lower Lim- its to the same value, all notes will be transposed to this pitch! OK and Cancel Clicking OK performs the transposition. Clicking Cancel closes the dialog without transposing. !After you have performed a Freeze Quantize for a note, you cannot undo its quantization.