Steinberg Cubase 7 User Manual

551
Working with the Chord FunctionsCreating a Chord Progression from Scratch (Chords to MIDI)
Complexity Filters for Common Notes
The following complexity filters are available for common notes:
Creating a Chord Progression from Scratch (Chords to MIDI)
Let’s say you want to create a completely new harmonic structure by creating chord 
events, and you want to get suggestions about which chords may sound well 
together.
Adding Chord Events
Proceed as follows: 
1.Open the Project menu, and on the “Add...

552
Working with the Chord FunctionsExtracting Chords from MIDI (Make Chords)
Converting Chord Events to MIDI
Now that you have created a chord progression, you can convert your chord events to 
MIDI for further editing, or for printing a lead sheet in the Score Editor, for example. 
Proceed as follows:
1.Open the Project menu, and on the “Add Track” submenu, select MIDI or 
instrument.
2.Select the chord events that you want to convert to MIDI events, and drag them to 
the newly created MIDI or...

553
Working with the Chord Functions Controlling MIDI or Audio Playback with the Chord Track (Follow Chords)
Controlling MIDI or Audio Playback with the Chord Track (Follow 
Chords)
You can use the chord track to control MIDI or audio playback. In this scenario, the 
chord track is used to transpose already existing MIDI events or VariAudio segments. 
We recommend to use this function only if you are sure that you do not want to 
change the MIDI notes or VariAudio segments anymore. Also make sure that...

554
Working with the Chord FunctionsAssigning Chord Events to MIDI Effects or VST Instruments
Assigning Chord Events to MIDI Effects or VST Instruments 
You can assign a chord progression to the Chorder or to HALion Sonic SE.
Assigning a Chord Progression to the Chorder 
1.Create a MIDI track or an instrument track, and open the “MIDI Inserts” section in 
the Inspector.
2.Click in the insert slot to open the MIDI effect pop-up menu, and select the 
Chorder.
The effect is automatically activated, and its...

555
Expression maps (Cubase only)
Introduction
About articulations
Musical articulations, or expressions, define how certain notes “sound”, i. e. how they 
are sung or performed on a given instrument. They allow you to specify that a string 
instrument is bowed (not plucked), a trumpet muted (not played open), and so on. 
Articulations also define the relative volume of notes (to play some notes louder or 
softer than the others) or changes in pitch (create a tremolo).
Articulations can be divided into...

556
Expression maps (Cubase only)Using expression maps in Cubase
Expression maps
When working on a project, you might want to audition a composition including 
articulations. In Cubase, this can be achieved using expression maps, which can be 
selected via the Expression Map section in the Inspector for MIDI or instrument tracks. 
Within these maps, you can specify the sound mapping and characteristics for all your 
musical expressions, using the methods described in the table above.
When you select an...

557
Expression maps (Cubase only)Using expression maps in Cubase
The following applies:
•Included with Cubase are several track presets which are pre-configured for use 
with expression maps. They contain sounds that make use of key switches and 
have different articulations. To indicate that these presets can be used in this 
context, they have the suffix “VX”.
•Track presets for HALion Symphonic Orchestra can also be used with expression 
maps. The presets are installed automatically with Cubase....

558
Expression maps (Cubase only)Using expression maps in Cubase
Expression maps in the Score Editor
In the Score Editor, the articulations that are part of an expression map can be 
inserted like other symbols. There is a special tab in the Symbols Inspector, containing 
all articulation symbols of the current expression map.
•To insert a symbol, click on it in the Expression Map tab, and click at the desired 
position in the note display.
•To delete an articulation symbol from the score, select it and...

559
Expression maps (Cubase only)Using expression maps in Cubase
•When “Articulations/Dynamics” is selected for a controller lane, the note 
beginnings are displayed as thin vertical lines in the controller display.
•All articulations that are specified for the selected expression map are available on 
the controller lane. They appear on different rows one above the other. The order in 
which they are listed is the same as in the expression map. 
The different groups (1 to 4) are also reflected here, see...

560
Expression maps (Cubase only)Creating and editing expression maps
Expression maps in the List Editor
In the List Editor, the Articulations can be viewed and edited in the Comment column. 
The options are the same as on the Key Editor info line, see above.
Directions can be shown either as Text or as Graphic Symbols (like in the Score 
Editor). Either way, they are followed by the text “VST Expression” in brackets, so as 
to be easily recognizable and distinguishable from ordinary Score symbols....