Steinberg Cubase 6 Manual

							12
The transpose functions 
						

							132
The transpose functions
Introduction
Cubase offers transpose functions for audio, MIDI and in-
strument parts and for audio events. These allow you to 
create variations of your music or change the harmonics of 
an entire project or separate sections. 
Transpose can be applied on three levels:
•To the entire project
By changing the project Root Key in the Project window toolbar, the 
whole project will be transposed (see 
“Transposing an entire project with 
the root key” on page 132). 
•To sections of the project
By creating transpose events on the transpose track, you can set trans-
pose values for separate sections of your project (see “Transposing sep-arate sections of a project using transpose events” on page 134).
•To individual parts or events
By selecting individual parts or events and changing their transpose value 
in the info line, you can transpose individual parts or events (see “Trans-
posing individual parts or events using the info line” on page 135).
Apart from the transpose features described in this chapter, 
you can also transpose all MIDI notes on the selected track 
using the MIDI modifiers (see 
“Transpose” on page 350), 
selected notes using the Transpose dialog (see “Trans-
pose” on page 367), and MIDI tracks using MIDI effects 
(see the separate PDF document “Plug-in Reference”).
Transposing your music
In the following sections we will describe the different 
possibilities of transposing your music. Note that these 
can also be combined. However, we recommend you to 
set the root key first, before recording or changing trans
-
pose values on the transpose track. 
Transposing an entire project with the root key
The root key you specify for a project will be the reference 
that audio or MIDI events in your project will follow. You 
can however exclude separate parts or events from being 
transposed, e.
 g. drums or percussion (see “The Global 
Transpose setting” on page 136). 
Depending on whether you are using events which already 
contain root key information or not, the procedures differ 
slightly.
If the events already contain root key information
Let’s say you want to create a project based on loops. 
Proceed as follows:
1.Open the MediaBay and drag some loops into an 
empty project, see 
“Inserting the files into the project” on 
page 318.
For this example, import audio loops with different root keys.
2.Open the Root Key pop-up menu in the Project win-
dow toolbar and set the project root key.
If the Root Key pop-up menu is not visible, right-click the toolbar and se-
lect the “Project Root Key” option from the context menu. By default, no 
project root key is specified (“-”).
!The transpose functions do not change the actual 
MIDI notes or the audio, but only affect the playback. 
!As a general rule, always set the root key first when 
you work with content with a defined root key. 
						

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The transpose functions
The entire project will be played back with this root key. To 
do so, the separate loops are transposed to match the 
project root key. For example, if you have imported a bass 
loop in C and the project root key is set to E, the bass loop 
will be transposed up by 4 semitones.
3.With the root key set, record some audio or MIDI.
The recorded events will get the project root key.
4.When you are done, you can change the project root 
key and your events will follow.
If the events do not contain root key information
Let’s say you have created a project by recording audio 
and importing some MIDI loops, and you want to match 
the root key of the whole project to the register of a certain 
singer.
Proceed as follows:
1.Open the Project menu and select “Transpose” from 
the Add Track submenu (or right-click the track list select 
the corresponding option from the context menu). 
A transpose track is created. You can only have one transpose track in a 
project.
2.Set the project to the desired root key by selecting the 
corresponding option from the Root Key pop-up menu in 
the Project window toolbar.
3.Right-click the transpose track in the track list and se-
lect “Set root key for unassigned events” from the context 
menu.
This sets the project root key for all parts or events not containing any 
root key information. This option is only available, if a project root key has 
been set.
Recording with a project root key
Let’s say that you want to record a guitar line for a project 
that is in D# minor, but your guitar player prefers to play in 
A minor. In this case, change the project root key to A, so 
that you can record your guitar. Proceed as follows:
1.Open your project and set the project root key to A.
All parts and events will be transposed in order to match the root key.
2.Listen to your project and verify that no drums and 
percussions have been transposed. 
If drums have been transposed, select them and set their Global Trans-pose setting to “Independent”.
3.Record your guitar line as desired.
4.When you are done and satisfied with the result, you 
can change the project root key back to D# minor and 
your events will follow.
!If you work with drums or percussion, exclude these 
from being transposed by setting the “Global Trans
-
pose” setting on the info line to “Independent” (see 
“The Global Transpose setting” on page 136).
!If you work with drums or percussion, exclude these 
from being transposed by setting the “Global Trans-
pose” setting on the info line to “Independent” (see 
“The Global Transpose setting” on page 136).
!For recorded audio events and MIDI parts, the 
“Global Transpose” setting on the info line is auto
-
matically set to “Follow”, i. e. the events or parts will 
get the project root key. 
						

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The transpose functions
Changing the root key of single events or parts
If you want to check if an audio event or part has root key 
information or if you want to change it, proceed as follows:
1.Open the Pool and display the Key column by activat-
ing the Root Key option on the View/Attributes pop-up 
menu.
2.Click in the Key column for the desired audio event 
and set the root key according to your needs.
You can also check and assign root keys in the MediaBay.
ÖIf you change the root key of an audio part or event, 
the corresponding audio file will not change. To save the 
root key in the audio file, you have to use the “Bounce Se
-
lection” function on the Audio menu. 
To check or change the root key setting of a MIDI part, 
proceed as follows:
1.Select your MIDI part in the Project window and check 
the Project window info line.
A MIDI part with the root key set to “D”
2.Click on the root key value in the info line to open the 
corresponding pop-up menu and select the desired root 
key.
Transposing separate sections of a project 
using transpose events
Sometimes you may want to transpose only certain sec-
tions of your project, e. g. to create harmonic variations. 
This can be done by creating transpose events. Trans
-
pose events allow you to add a relative transpose offset by 
specifying transpose values in semitones. For example, 
you can brighten up your loops in C major by transposing 
them by 5 semitones, so that the subdominant on F major 
is played back, or you can turn your hit more interesting by 
transposing the last chorus one semitone upwards.
1.Open the Project menu and select “Transpose” from 
the Add Track submenu (or right-click the track list select 
the corresponding option from the context menu). 
A transpose track is created. You can only have one transpose track in a 
project.
2.Select the Pencil tool and click in the transpose track 
to create a transpose event. 
A transpose event will be created from the point where you clicked until 
the end of the project.
3.To create another transpose event, click with the Pen-
cil tool on the first transpose event.
By default, the transpose value of new transpose events is set to 0.
You can add more transpose events by clicking with the pencil tool. 
4.Click in the transpose value field and enter the trans-
pose value for the transpose event.
You can enter the desired value with the computer keyboard, use the 
mouse wheel or [Alt]/[Option]-click on the transpose value to open a 
value fader. You can specify values between -24 and 24 semitones. 
5.Play back your project.
The parts of your project on the same position as the transpose events 
will be transposed according to the specified transpose values.
!If you change the project root key after setting the 
event root key, the events will keep their own root key 
settings, and will be transposed to match the project 
root key. If you record an audio or a MIDI part and the 
project root key is specified, this root key is automat
-
ically set. 
						

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The transpose functions
ÖYou can also transpose the whole project using the 
transpose track. This is useful if your singer does not 
reach a certain pitch, for example. You could then trans
-
pose the whole project by approx. -2 semitones. Always 
remember to verify that the “Global Transpose” setting for 
drums and percussion is set to “Independent” on the info 
line (see 
“The Global Transpose setting” on page 136).
You can erase and move transpose events, but you can-
not mute, cut or glue them. The “Locators to Selection” 
option does not apply on transpose events. 
Transposing individual parts or events using 
the info line
You can also transpose individual audio and MIDI parts 
and events via the info line (or the Inspector). This trans
-
position will be added to the global transposition (i. e. the 
root key or the transpose events). Proceed as follows:
1.Select the event that you want to transpose.
2.In the Project window info line, adjust the Transpose 
value as desired.
ÖA global transpose change will not overwrite individual 
part or event transpose, but will be added to the trans
-
pose value for the part or event. In this case, it might be 
useful to keep the transposition within the octave range 
(see 
“Keep Transpose in Octave Range” on page 136).
Other functions
Indicate Transpositions
When you transpose your music, you may sometimes 
want to visually compare the original sounds and the 
transposed music. For MIDI parts, you can check this by 
opening the Key Editor and clicking the “Indicate Transpo
-
sitions” button. This will help you see how your MIDI notes 
will be transposed. If the button is activated, the Key Edi
-
tor will show the note pitch you will hear, if it is deacti-
vated, the Key Editor shows the original pitch of the notes 
in your MIDI part. By default, the “Indicate Transpositions” 
button is deactivated.
A MIDI part as originally recorded
When you activate “Indicate Transpositions” you will see how your MIDI 
part will be transposed.  
						

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The transpose functions
The Global Transpose setting
If you are working with drum and percussion loops or spe-
cial effects (FX) loops, you will want to exclude these from 
being transposed. This can be achieved by locking them 
using the Global Transpose setting. Proceed as follows:
1.Open your project.
2.Select the desired event or part and set the “Global 
Transpose” setting on the info line to “Independent”.
A symbol will be displayed in the lower right corner of the selected part 
or event, indicating that it will not be transposed neither by changing the 
root key nor by specifying transpose events. 
If Global Transpose is set to Independent, the selected part will not be 
transposed.
3.You can now change the project root key.
The “Independent” parts or events will not be affected by the root key 
changes.
ÖIf you import ready-made parts or events that are 
tagged drums or FX, Global Transpose will be automati
-
cally set to Independent.
If you record audio or MIDI, Global Transpose will be set to 
“Independent”, provided that the transpose track exists and 
you have specified at least one transpose event (even when 
the transpose value is not defined). In this case, your re
-
cording will sound exactly the way you played it. The trans-
pose events will not be taken into account during recording 
and the recorded event will not get the project root key. 
Have a look at the following example:
1.Set up a project with the root key in C.
2.Add a transpose track and enter transpose events 
with the values 0, 5, 7 and 0.
3.Record some chords with your MIDI keyboard. For our 
example, record C, F, G and C.
The transpose events are not taken into account and the 
result of your recording will be C, F, G and C. No root key 
will be set.
ÖRecorded events are independent from Global Trans-
pose.
If no transpose track exists or if no transpose event has 
been added, Global Transpose will be set to Follow.
If Global Transpose is set to Follow, the selected part will 
follow all global transpositions.
Locking the transpose track
If you want to prevent your transpose events from being 
changed by mistake, activate the Lock button on the 
transpose track. This way, you will not be able to move 
your transpose events or change their transpose values.
Muting transpose events
Sometimes it might be useful to disable the transpose 
track, e.
 g. to hear the original sound of individual tracks. If 
you activate the mute button on the transpose track, your 
transpose events will not be taken into account during 
playback.
Keep Transpose in Octave Range
The “Keep Transpose in Octave Range” button on the 
transpose track (the button with an up and down arrow in 
brackets) keeps the transposition in the octave range. This 
option is activated by default. This way, nothing will be 
transposed by more than seven semitones. This ensures 
that your music never sounds unnatural because the pitch 
was raised too high or too low.  
						

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The transpose functions
To understand the principle behind this, follow the exam-
ple below:
1.Create a MIDI part, enter a C major chord, open the 
Key Editor and activate “Indicate Transpositions”.
This way you can observe and understand what happens when you 
change the transposition.
2.Add a transpose track and create a transpose event.
By default, the transpose value is set to 0.
3.Make sure that the “Keep Transpose in Octave 
Range” button is activated on the transpose track and 
change the transpose value of the transpose event to 7.
Your chord will be transposed accordingly.
If you enter a transpose value of 7, your chord will be transposed by 
seven semitones upwards. In this example, this would be G3/B3/D4.
4.Set the transpose value to 8 semitones.
As “Keep Transpose in Octave Range” is activated, your chord will now 
be transposed to the nearest interval or pitch. 
Your chord has been transposed to the nearest pitch, this results in 
G#2/C3/D#3.
!If you mainly work with audio loops, we recommend 
activating “Keep Transpose in Octave Range”.  
						

							13
Using markers 
						

							139
Using markers
Introduction
Markers are used to locate certain positions quickly. If you 
often find yourself jumping to a specific position within a 
project, you should insert a marker at this position. You can 
also use markers to make range selections (see 
“Using 
markers to make range selections in the Project window” 
on page 142) or for zooming (see “Zooming to cycle mark-
ers” on page 139). Markers are located on the marker 
track. 
There are two types of markers: position markers and cy-
cle markers.
Position markers
As the name implies, position markers allow you to store a 
specific position. Position markers on the marker track are 
shown as marker events: vertical lines with the marker de
-
scription (if assigned) and number beside it. If you select a 
marker track, all its markers are shown in the Inspector. 
Cycle markers
By creating cycle markers you can store any number of left 
and right locator positions as start and end positions of a 
range and recall them by double-clicking on the corre
-
sponding marker. Cycle markers are shown on marker 
tracks as two markers bridged by a horizontal line. Cycle 
markers are ideal for storing sections of a project. By de
-
fining cycle markers for sections of a song, e. g. “Intro”, 
“Verse”, and “Chorus”, you can quickly navigate to the 
song sections and repeat the section by activating the Cy
-
cle button on the Transport panel. 
Using cycle markers
Cycle markers represent ranges in your project. Therefore 
you can use them for moving the left and right locators:
•If you double-click on a cycle marker or select it from 
the Cycle pop-up menu in the track list, the left and right 
locators are moved to encompass the cycle marker.
Now you can move the project cursor position to the start or the end of 
the cycle marker by moving it to the corresponding locator (e.g. by using 
the keys [1] and [2] on the numeric keypad).
Editing cycle markers using tools
Cycle markers can be edited on marker tracks using the 
following tools (Snap is taken into account):
Zooming to cycle markers
•When you select a cycle marker on the Zoom pop-up 
menu, the event display is zoomed in to show the selected 
range only (see the section 
“Zoom presets and cycle 
markers” on page 56).
•You can also zoom in by pressing [Alt]/[Option] and 
double-clicking on the cycle marker in the event display.
The Marker window
In the Marker window you can view and edit markers. The 
markers on the marker track are displayed in the marker 
list in the order in which they occur in the project. 
ToolUse
Arrow toolDrag the start or end handle of a cycle marker with the 
Arrow tool to change its start or end position, or drag the 
upper border to move the whole cycle marker.
 Double-click on a cycle marker to set the left and right lo-cators.
Selection  RangeDouble-click on a cycle marker – this creates a selection 
range spanning all tracks in the project. You can also se-lect a range inside the cycle marker and press [Ctrl]/
[Command]-[X] to trim or to divide a cycle marker.
PencilPress [Ctrl]/[Command] and use the Pencil tool to create 
new cycle markers.
EraserClick with the Eraser tool to delete a cycle marker. If you 
hold down [Alt]/[Option] when you click, all consecutive 
markers are also be deleted.
Functions Filter 
markers Locate 
arrowAuto-Scroll with 
Project Cursor 
						

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Using markers
To open the Marker window, you have the following possi-
bilities:
• Open the Project menu and select “Markers”.
• Click the Show button in the marker section on the Transport 
panel.
• Use a key command (by default [Ctrl]/[Command]-[M]).
The Type pop-up menu
•By selecting an entry from the Type pop-up menu, you 
specify which markers (position markers, cycle markers, or 
all) are shown in the marker list.
Adding, moving, and removing markers 
•To select a marker, click on it in the Marker window. 
•To edit a selected marker, click on it. 
Select multiple markers by [Shift]-clicking or [Ctrl]/[Command]-clicking 
them.
•To add a position marker, open the Functions pop-up 
menu and select the “Insert Marker” option. 
A position marker is added at the current project cursor position on the 
marker track. You can also use key commands for this, see “Marker key 
commands” on page 143. 
•To add a cycle marker, open the Functions pop-up 
menu and select the “Insert Cycle Marker” option.
This adds a cycle marker between the left and right locators on the 
marker track. 
•To move one or more markers to a specific position, set 
the project cursor to this position, select the markers, and 
select “Move Markers to Cursor” from the Functions pop-
up menu.
You can also move markers by entering the new position numerically in 
the Position column. If a cycle marker is selected, the Move operation af-
fects the cycle marker start position. 
•To remove a marker, select it and select the “Remove 
Marker” option from the Functions pop-up menu.
Auto-Scroll with Project Cursor
This option helps you to keep track of the locate arrow, 
even if your project contains a large number of markers. 
When this option is activated, the Marker window is auto
-
matically scrolled to keep the locate arrow visible.
Navigating in the marker list
You can navigate in the marker list using your computer 
keyboard and select entries by pressing [Enter]. This is a 
quick and easy way to jump to markers during playback or 
recording:
•To move to the previous/next marker in the list, press 
[Up Arrow]/[Down Arrow]. 
•To jump to the first/last marker, press [PageUp]/[Page-
Down]. 
Marker attributes
The following marker attributes are shown in the marker 
list of the Marker window: 
Editing attributes
•To edit a marker attribute, select the corresponding 
marker, click in the desired attribute column, and make 
your settings.
•To change the attributes of several markers, select the 
markers and click the checkbox for the desired attribute. 
All selected markers will change their attributes accordingly. Note that 
this does not work when clicking on a timecode value or a text field.
ÖTo navigate in the list of marker attributes, you can also 
use the [Tab] key and the arrow keys.
ColumnDescription
Locate (left-most column)An arrow indicates which marker is at the project cursor 
position (or closest to the project cursor). If you click in 
this column, the project cursor is moved to the corre
-sponding marker position. This column cannot be hidden.
IDThis column shows the marker ID numbers, see “About marker IDs” on page 141.
PositionIn this column you can view and edit the markers’ time 
positions (or start positions for cycle markers). This col-umn cannot be hidden.
EndIn this column you can view and edit the end positions of 
cycle markers, see “Cycle markers” on page 139.
Length In this column you can view and edit the length of cycle 
markers, see “Cycle markers” on page 139.
DescriptionHere you can enter names or descriptions for markers.