Steinberg Cubase 7 User Manual

							421
The MediaBayWorking with Volume databases
Volume databases are automatically mounted when Cubase is launched. They are 
shown in the Define Locations section and their data can be viewed and edited in the 
Results list, as for the other media files in the MediaBay.
Rescanning and refreshing
Use the Rescan and Refresh MediaBay functions for a volume database if you have 
modified the scan settings on a different system, for example, by activating additional 
folders for scanning.
Removing volume databases
When you have worked on another computer using an external hard disk and return to 
your own computer and connect the external device again as part of your system 
setup, you do not need a separate volume database for it any more. Any data on this 
drive can then be included in the local database file again, by removing the extra 
database file.
•To remove a database, right-click on it and select “Remove Volume Database” 
from the context menu.
This integrates the metadata in the local MediaBay database file and subsequently 
deletes the volume database file.
ÖDepending on the size of the volume database, this might take a while.
Mounting and unmounting volume databases
When you launch Cubase, all available volume databases are automatically mounted. 
Databases that are made available while the program is running have to be mounted 
manually via the command “Mount Volume Database” on the context menu. To 
unmount a volume database, select “Unmount Volume Database” from the context 
menu. 
						

							422
Working with track presets
Introduction
Track presets are templates from audio, MIDI or instrument tracks that can be applied 
to newly created or existing tracks of the same type. They contain sound and channel 
settings, and allow you to quickly browse, preview, select and change sounds, or 
reuse channel settings across projects. 
Track presets are organized in the MediaBay (see the chapter “The MediaBay” on 
page 393), where you can categorize them with attributes. 
Types of track presets
There are four kinds of track presets (audio, instrument, MIDI and Multi) and two kinds 
of VST presets (VST instrument presets and VST effect plug-in presets). These are 
described in the following sections.
ÖTrack preset settings for volume, pan, input gain and input phase will be applied only 
when creating a new track from a track preset.
Audio track presets
Track presets for audio tracks include all settings that define the sound. You can use 
the factory presets as a starting point for your own editing and save the audio settings 
that you optimized for an artist you often work with as a preset for future recordings. 
The following data is saved in audio track presets:
- Insert effects settings (including VST effect presets)
-EQ settings
-Volume + pan
- Input gain + phase
Instrument track presets
Instrument track presets offer both MIDI and audio features and are the best choice 
when handling sounds of simple, mono-timbral VST instruments. Use instrument track 
presets for auditioning your tracks, or saving your preferred sound settings, for example. 
You can also extract sounds from instrument track presets for use in instrument tracks, 
“Extracting sound from an instrument track or VST preset” on page 426. 
The following data is saved in instrument track presets:
- Audio insert effects
-Audio EQ
- Audio volume + pan
- Audio input gain + phase
-MIDI insert effects
- MIDI track parameters
- Input Transformer settings
- The VST instrument used for the track
- Staff settings 
						

							423
Working with track presetsTypes of track presets
- Color settings
- Drum map settings
MIDI track presets
MIDI tracks should be used for multi-timbral VST instruments and external 
instruments. When creating MIDI track presets you can either include the currently set 
channel, or the currently set patch. See 
“Creating a track preset” on page 427 for 
details.
•To ensure that saved MIDI track presets for external instruments will work again 
with the same instrument, install the instrument as a MIDI device, see the separate 
PDF document “MIDI Devices”.
The following data is saved in MIDI track presets:
- MIDI modifiers (Transpose, etc.)
-MIDI insert effects
- Output + Channel or Program Change
- Input Transformer settings
-Volume + pan
- Staff settings
- Color settings
- Drum map settings
Multi-track presets
You can use multi-track presets, for example, when recording setups that require 
several microphones (a drum set or a choir, where you always record under the same 
conditions) and you have to edit the resulting tracks in a similar way. Furthermore, they 
can be used when working with layered tracks, where you use several tracks to 
generate a certain sound instead of manipulating only one track.
If you select more than one track when creating a track preset, the settings of all 
selected tracks will be saved as one multi-track preset. Multi-track presets can only 
be applied if the target tracks are of the same type, number and sequence as the 
tracks in the track preset, therefore, they should be used in recurring situations with 
very similar tracks and settings.
VST (instrument) presets
VST instrument presets (extension “.vstpreset”) behave like instrument track presets 
and contain a VST instrument and its settings but no modifiers, MIDI inserts, inserts, 
or EQ settings. You can extract sounds from VST presets for use in instrument tracks, 
see 
“Extracting sound from an instrument track or VST preset” on page 426. 
The following data is saved in VST instrument presets:
- VST instrument
- VST instrument settings
VST effect plug-ins are available in VST3 and VST2 format. Presets for these effects 
are also saved as VST presets. These can be part of audio track presets (see 
“Audio 
track presets” on page 422).
ÖIn this manual, “VST presets” stands for VST3 instrument presets, unless stated 
otherwise. 
						

							424
Working with track presetsApplying track presets
Pattern banks
Pattern banks are presets created for the Beat Designer MIDI effect. They behave 
much like track presets. For detailed information, see 
“Previewing pattern banks” on 
page 406 and the chapter “MIDI effects” in the separate PDF document “Plug-in 
Reference”.
Applying track presets
When you apply a track preset, all the settings saved in the preset are applied. Track 
presets can be applied to tracks of their own type only, i.
 e. audio track presets to 
audio tracks, etc. The only exception are instrument tracks: for these, VST presets are 
also available. Note that applying VST presets to instrument tracks leads to removal of 
modifiers, MIDI inserts, inserts, or EQs, since these settings are not stored in VST 
presets. 
Applying track or VST presets via drag and drop
1.Open the MediaBay from the Media menu.
2.Select a MIDI or instrument track preset, or a VST preset.
3.Preview the preset using the functions in the Previewer section (for further 
information, see 
“Previewing files” on page 403).
!Once a track preset is applied, you cannot undo the changes! It is not possible to 
remove an applied preset from a track and return to the previous state. If you are not 
satisfied with the track settings, you have to either edit the settings manually or apply 
another preset. 
						

							425
Working with track presetsApplying track presets
4.Drag and drop it onto a track of the same type.
ÖYou can also drag and drop track presets from the Windows Explorer or the Mac OS 
Finder, but in this case, no preview for track presets is possible.
Loading track or VST presets in the Inspector or the context menu of the track
1.In the Project window, select a track.
2.Click in the Load Track Preset field at the top of the Inspector (above the track 
name) or right-click the track in the track list and select “Load Track Preset”.
The Presets browser opens.
3.Select a track or VST preset from the Results list.
If needed, filter the list by activating the attributes you are looking for in the Filters 
section. This section is similar to the Filters section in the MediaBay, see 
“The 
Filters section” on page 406.
4.Start playback to preview the selected audio, MIDI, instrument track, or VSTpreset.
All settings from the track preset are applied in realtime to the selected track. If you 
set up your target track to a cycle and play back in loop, previewing will be very 
comfortable. Note that you cannot preview multi-track presets.
5.When you have found the preset that you want, double-click on it (or click outside 
the Presets browser).
The preset is applied.
•To return to the preset that was selected when you opened the Presets browser, 
click the “Revert to Last Setting” button.
Applying a multi-track preset
1.Select several tracks in your project. 
Multi-track presets can only be applied if track type, number, and sequence are 
identical for the selected tracks and the track preset.
2.Right-click the track to open the context menu and select “Load Track Preset”.
The Presets browser opens. Only multi-track presets corresponding to the 
selection of tracks in the project are shown. 
3.Select a multi-track preset from the Results list.
…to open the Presets browser. Click here… 
						

							426
Working with track presetsApplying track presets
4.When you have found the preset that you want, double-click on it (or click outside 
the Presets browser).
The preset is applied.
•To return to the preset that was selected when you opened the Presets browser, 
click the “Revert to Last Setting” button.
Reloading track or VST presets
When you have modified the settings of a track or VST preset and are not satisfied 
with the results, you can revert to the default settings of the preset by clicking the 
“Reload Track Preset” button.
Applying inserts and EQ settings from track presets 
Instead of handling complete track presets, it is also possible to apply insert or 
equalizer settings from track presets. Proceed as follows:
1.Select the desired track, open the Inspector or the Channel Settings window and 
click the VST Sound button on the Inserts or Equalizers tab/section.
The Preset Management pop-up menu opens. 
2.On the pop-up menu, select “From Track Preset…”.
The Presets browser opens, showing all available track presets that contain inserts 
or EQ settings. 
3.Select a track preset and click outside the browser.
For information on the general handling of inserts presets, see “Effect presets” on 
page 243. The general handling of EQ presets is described in the section “Using EQ 
Presets” on page 197.
Extracting sound from an instrument track or VST preset
For instrument tracks, you can extract the “sound” of an instrument track preset or 
VST preset, that means the VST instrument and its settings. Proceed as follows:
1.Select the instrument track to which you want to apply a sound.
2.Click the VST Sound button below the Output Routing field in the Inspector. 
The Presets browser opens, showing a list of all available presets. 
3.Select an instrument track preset or VST preset by double-clicking on it. 
The VST instrument and its settings (but no inserts, EQs, or modifiers) on the 
existing track are overwritten with the data of the track preset. The previous VST 
instrument for this instrument track is removed and the new VST instrument with 
its settings is set up for the instrument track.  
						

							427
Working with track presetsCreating a track preset
Creating a track preset
A track preset can be created from an existing audio, MIDI, or instrument track – or a 
combination of these. Proceed as follows:
1.In the Project window, select one or more tracks. 
If several tracks are selected, all of them are stored in one combined multi-track 
preset, see 
“Multi-track presets” on page 423.
2.Right-click one of the selected tracks in the track list and select “Save Track 
Preset” from the context menu.
The Save Track Preset dialog opens.
3.In the New Preset section, enter a name for the new preset.
The track preset file name extension .trackpreset is assigned automatically.
•If you want to save attributes for the preset, click the button below the “New 
Preset” section at the bottom left.
The Attribute Inspector section opens, allowing you to define attributes for the 
preset. For further information about attributes, see 
“The Attribute Inspector” on 
page 410. 
•If you create a track preset for a MIDI track, you can decide whether you want to 
include the MIDI channel or the MIDI patch.
Select “Include MIDI channel” when working with a pre-configured multi-timbral 
external instrument (for example, a sampler). That way the correct channel will be 
called up.
 
Select “Include MIDI Patch” when working with a multi-timbral external instrument 
(e.
 g. a MIDI expander), where all sounds are available on all channels so that the 
sounds (patches) can be changed on the fly.
4.Click OK to save the preset and exit the dialog.
Track presets are saved within the application folder in the “Track Presets” folder (in 
default subfolders named according to their track type: audio, MIDI, instrument, and 
multi).
ÖYou cannot change the default folders, but you can add further subfolders (by clicking 
the New Folder button).
In the MediaBay, all presets are available under the (virtual) VST Sound node, see 
“The VST Sound node” on page 396.
ÖIf you want to use a MIDI track preset for a pre-configured VST instrument setup, load 
the VST instrument(s) in the VST Instruments window, select a VST instrument patch, 
save the track preset, and do not change the patch afterwards. To ensure this, use a 
template project with the VSTi setup included and save the sounds (track presets) of 
this template project in specific subfolders, as they only work within this setup. 
						

							428
Working with track presetsCreating tracks from track presets or VST presets
Creating tracks from track presets or VST presets
Using drag and drop
1.Open the MediaBay from the Media menu.
2.Select a track or VST preset from the list of all presets. 
3.Start playback to preview the selected VSTpreset.
All settings are applied in realtime to the selected track. If you set up your target 
track to a cycle and play back in loop, previewing will be very comfortable. Note 
that you cannot preview multi-track presets.
4.Drag and drop the preset onto the track list in the Project window.
One or more (in case of multi-track presets) tracks are created. If you drag and 
drop a VST instrument preset, an instrument track is created.
ÖYou can also drag and drop from the Windows Explorer or the Mac OS Finder, but in 
this case, no preview for MIDI and instrument track presets is possible.
Using the Choose Track Preset dialog
1.Right-click the track list to open the context menu and on the Add Track submenu 
select “Add Track Using Track Preset…”.
The Choose Track Preset dialog opens, showing a list of the available presets.
2.Select a preset from the Results list.
The Results section of the Choose Track Preset dialog displays all preset sounds 
for all track types and VST instruments.
•Using the Filters section, you can narrow down the list by selecting the attributes 
that you are looking for.
This section is similar to the Filters section in the MediaBay, see “The Filters 
section” on page 406.
•Open the Location Tree section to select the folder in which you want to look for 
presets.
To show the Location Tree section, click the “Set Up Window Layout” button and 
activate the Location Tree option.
3.To preview MIDI and instrument track presets or VST presets, you have to play 
MIDI notes on a MIDI keyboard or load a MIDI file because there is no track 
connected.
The previewing options are described in detail in the section “Previewing VST 
presets and track presets for MIDI and instrument tracks” on page 404.
4.When you have found the right preset, click the Add Track button to close the 
dialog.
One or more tracks (in case of multi-track presets) are created.
!The Preview functions work in the same way in the MediaBay and its related dialogs. 
Note however that not all Preview functions available in the MediaBay are also 
available in the dialogs. 
						

							429
Working with track presetsCreating tracks from track presets or VST presets
Using the Add Track function
1.Right-click the track list and select one of the Add Track options on the context 
menu.
2.Click the Browse button to expand the Add Track dialog.
The Presets Browser opens. The options are the same as when applying a preset 
to an existing track, see 
“Loading track or VST presets in the Inspector or the 
context menu of the track” on page 425. The view is filtered to show only the 
corresponding track presets.
3.Select a track preset or VST preset.
4.Click the Add Track button to create the track.
ÖThis method is not available for multi-track presets. 
						

							430
Track Quick Controls
Introduction
Cubase can give you instant access to up to eight different parameters (e. g. track, 
effect, or instrument controls). This is done with the aid of the so-called quick 
controls, set up on the Quick Controls Inspector tab for the corresponding track.
The Quick Controls tab can be used as a kind of track control center, an area in which 
your most important parameters are assembled in one place. This saves you from 
having to click your way through the various windows and sections pertaining to your 
track.
Also, Cubase allows you to assign these quick controls very quickly to an external 
remote control device. This does not only give you manual control of your most 
important track parameters, but also allows you to conveniently use an external MIDI 
device such as a foot controller to control effect parameters.
•Quick control assignments are saved with the current project.
•Since quick control settings are part of the track setup, you can save them as track 
presets, allowing you to re-use your settings across different projects.
Track presets are described in the chapter “Working with track presets” on page 
422.
•You can automate the parameter settings on the Quick Controls tab using the 
Read/Write buttons (R and W).
The automation features of Cubase are described in detail in the chapter 
“Automation” on page 279. 
ÖYou can also assign parameters to quick controls in the MixConsole, see “Working 
with the Channel Racks” on page 190.
Assigning parameters to quick controls
The Quick Controls tab shows eight slots, one for each quick control. To start with, 
these slots are empty. Parameters can be assigned manually or retrieved 
automatically, see below.
Get default QCs 
from Plug-inRemove all QC Assignments QC Learn Mode