Steinberg Cubase 7 User Manual

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MIDI realtime parameters and effectsThe Inspector sections
ÖNote that the functionality of the Bank and Program selector settings (used for 
selecting sounds in the connected MIDI instrument) depends on the instrument to 
which the MIDI output is routed, and how you have set it up in the MIDI Device 
Manager. The MIDI Device Manager allows you to specify which MIDI instruments and 
other devices are connected to the various MIDI outputs, thus making it possible to 
select patches by name. See the chapter 
“Using MIDI devices” on page 460 for 
details about the MIDI Device Manager. 
ÖMany of the basic track settings are duplicated in the MIDI Fader section of the 
Inspector, see 
“MIDI Fader section” on page 454.
Expression Map section (Cubase only)
This section is used when working with the Expression Map features, see the chapter 
“Expression maps (Cubase only)” on page 555. 
Note Expression section (Cubase only)
This section is used when working with the Note Expression features, see the chapter 
“Note Expression” on page 565. 
MIDI Modifiers 
The settings on this tab affect the MIDI events on the track in realtime during playback. 
They will also be in effect if you play “live” with the track selected and record enabled 
(provided that “MIDI Thru Active” is activated in the Preferences dialog, MIDI page). 
This makes it possible, for example, to transpose or adjust the velocity of your live 
playing.
ÖIf you want to compare the result of your modifier settings with the “unprocessed” 
MIDI, you can use the Bypass button in the MIDI Modifiers section. When this is 
activated, the MIDI Modifiers settings will be temporarily disabled. A bypassed section 
is indicated by a yellow Bypass button.
Bank and Program 
Selector pop-up 
menuAllows you to select a sound, see below. (If no bank is available, only 
the Program selector is shown.)
Map pop-up menuAllows you to select a drum map for the track – see “Managing drum 
maps” on page 520.
Apply Track Preset 
buttonAllows you to apply a track preset, see “Applying track presets” on 
page 424.
Parameter Description 
						

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MIDI realtime parameters and effectsThe Inspector sections
Transpose
This allows you to transpose all notes on the track in semitones. The available range is 
-127 to +127 semitones, but remember that the total range of MIDI note numbers is 
0 to 127. Furthermore, not all instruments can play back notes over the whole range. 
Therefore, extreme transpositions can give rather strange and unwanted results.
•You can also transpose individual MIDI parts using the Transpose field in the info 
line.
The transposition in the info line (for the individual part) is added to the transpose 
value you have set up for the whole track in the Inspector.
ÖThis setting is also affected by the global Transpose settings. For detailed information, 
see the chapter 
“The transpose functions” on page 161.
Velocity Shift
This setting lets you change the dynamics of all notes on the track. The value in this 
field is added to the velocity of each note message that is sent out (use negative 
values to lower the velocities). The range is -127 to +127 with 0 representing no 
change in velocity.
Note that the effect of changing the velocity depends on the sound and instrument.
ÖYou can also adjust the velocity of events in individual MIDI parts using the Velocity 
field in the info line. The velocity shift in the info line (for the individual part) is added to 
the velocity shift you have set up for the whole track in the Inspector.
Velocity Compression
This function multiplies the velocity values with the factor you specify. This factor is set 
using a numerator (left value) and a denominator (right value), resulting in a fractional 
number (1/2, 3/4, 3/2 etc.). For example, if you set the factor to 3/4, the velocities will 
be three quarters of their original values. This will also affect the difference in velocity 
between the notes, thus compressing or expanding the velocity scale. Typically, you 
would combine this setting with the Velocity Shift parameter. 
An example:
Let’s say you have three notes with the velocity values 60, 90 and 120, and wish to 
“even out” the velocity differences somewhat. If you set the Velocity Compression 
value to 1/2, the notes will play back with the velocities 30, 45 and 60. By adding 60 
in the Velocity Shift field, the notes will play back with the velocities 90, 105 and 120, 
meaning you have compressed the velocity range. 
In a similar way, you can use Velocity Compression values greater than 1/1 together 
with negative values in the Velocity Shift field, to expand the velocity range.
Length Compression
This value adjusts the lengths of all notes on the track. As with Velocity Compression, 
the value is set with a numerator and denominator. For example, the value 2/1 means 
that all note lengths will be doubled, while 1/4 means all note lengths will be a quarter 
of the actual lengths.
!Remember that the maximum velocity is always 127 no matter how much you try to 
expand. 
						

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MIDI realtime parameters and effectsThe Inspector sections
Random
The Random settings let you introduce random variations to various properties of MIDI 
notes. Anything from very subtle variations to dramatic changes can be applied. There 
are two separate “random generators”, set up in the following way:
1.Open the Random pop-up menu and select which note property is randomized.
The options are position, pitch, velocity and length. 
ÖKeep in mind that depending on the content of the track, certain parameter changes 
might not be immediately noticeable or have any effect at all (as would be the case if 
applying random length to a percussion track playing “one-shot” samples for 
example). To best audition the random changes, choose a track with clearly defined 
rhythm and note content (as opposed to a string pad).
2.Set the desired range of random deviation by entering values in the two number 
fields.
The two values govern the limits of the randomization, so that the values will vary 
between the left value and the right value (you cannot set the left value higher than 
the right value). The maximum random range for each property is listed in the table 
below:
 
ÖYou can make independent settings for the two random generators.
•To deactivate the Random function, open the Random pop-up menu(s) and select 
“OFF”.
Range
The Range function lets you specify a note (pitch) or velocity range and either force all 
notes to fit within this range, or exclude all notes outside this range from playback. As 
with the Random function, there are two separate Range settings. Set them up as 
follows:
1.Open the Range pop-up menu and select one of the following four modes:
PropertyRange
Position-500 to +500 ticks
Pitch-120 to +120 semitones
Velocity-120 to +120 
Length-500 to +500 ticks
ModeDescription
Vel. LimitThis function affects all velocity values outside the specified range. 
Velocity values below the Min setting (the lower limit of the range) are 
set to the Min value, and velocity values above the Max setting are set 
to the Max value. Notes with velocity values within the set range are 
not affected. Use this if you want to force all velocity values to fit 
within a certain range.
Vel. FilterVelocity Filter works by excluding all notes with velocity values 
outside the specified range. Notes with velocity values below the Min 
setting or above the Max setting will not be played back. Use this to 
“isolate” notes with certain velocity values.
Note LimitThis function allows you to specify a pitch range, and forces all notes 
to fit within this range. Notes outside the specified range are 
transposed up or down in octave steps until they fit within the range.
Note: If the range is too “narrow”, so that some notes cannot be fit 
within the range by octave-transposing, these notes will get a pitch in 
the middle of the range. For example, if you have a note with a pitch of 
F3, and the range is C4-E4, that note will be transposed to D4. 
						

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MIDI realtime parameters and effectsThe Inspector sections
2.Use the two fields to the right to set the minimum and maximum values.
These values will be shown as numbers (0 to 127) for the velocity modes and as 
note numbers (C-2 to G8) for the pitch modes.
ÖNote that you can make independent settings for the two Range functions.
•To deactivate the Range function, open the Range pop-up menu(s) and select 
“OFF”.
HMT: Follow
Activating this button for a track applies Hermode Tuning to the notes played on this 
track. Hermode Tuning retunes the notes you play and creates clear frequencies for 
every fifth and third interval, for example. Retuning only affects individual notes and 
maintains the pitch relationship between keys and notes. The retuning is a continuous 
process and takes the musical context into account.
When you apply Hermode Tuning to tracks that use VST 2 instruments, the played 
notes are retuned with every keystroke. Dynamic retuning while notes are playing is 
only possible with VST 3 instruments that support Micro Tuning and Note Expression. 
For VST instruments that support Note Expression, Hermode Tuning also works in 
MIDI Thru mode.
To activate Hermode tunig, activate the “HMT: Follow” button, and select one of the 
following tuning types in the “HMT Type” pop-up menu of the Project Setup dialog:
ÖIt may take a moment until all notes are recalculated and you hear the results of the 
retuning. Notes that are produced by MIDI plug-ins are not taken into account. 
HMT: Use for Analysis 
If you activate this option, the notes played on the track are used to calculate retuning. 
Keep this activated when working with Hermode Tuning. On tracks with acoustic 
piano, we recommend to activate this option, and to deactivate “HMT: Follow”. This 
excludes the piano from being tuned which would sound unnatural.
MIDI Fader section
This contains a single channel, allowing you to set volume, pan, mute/solo and other 
parameters for the track, and a panel view of the active sends/inserts. This is a “mirror” 
of the track’s channel in the MixConsole.
Note FilterNote Filter works by excluding all notes with pitches outside the 
specified range. Notes lower than the Min setting or higher than the 
Max setting will not be played back. Use this to “isolate” notes with 
certain pitches.
Mode Description
ModeDescription
NoneNo tuning is applied.
Reference  
(pure 3/5)
Tunes pure thirds and fifths. 
Classic  
(pure 3/5 
equalized)
Tunes pure thirds and fifths. In conflict situations, a slight equalization 
is applied. This tuning type is suitable for all kinds of music.
Pop Jazz (3/5/7)Tunes pure thirds and fifths, and natural septs. This tuning type 
should not be applied to polyphonic music. Try this with pop or jazz.
Baroque  
(3/5 adaptive)
Tunes pure thirds and fifths. The degree of purity changes according 
to the sequence of harmonies. This tuning type is suitable for church 
organ and polyphonic music. 
						

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MIDI realtime parameters and effectsMIDI effects
Notepad section
This is a standard notepad, allowing you to enter notes and comments about the 
track. Each track has its own notepad in the Inspector.
VST Instrument section
If the MIDI track is routed to a VST instrument, a new section will appear at the bottom 
of the Inspector, labeled with the name of the VST instrument. Clicking this section 
shows a duplicate of the Inspector settings for the VST instrument channel. This 
makes it easy to adjust the channel settings for the VST instrument while you are 
editing the MIDI track.
•If multiple outputs for a VST instrument are activated, there is a setting called 
“Output” at the top of the VST Instrument section.
New sections will also be added in the following cases:
- When a MIDI track is routed to an external instrument or effect that has an 
associated MIDI Device. In this case, the new section will get the name of the 
device.
- When a MIDI track is routed to an effect plug-in that also receives audio data, i. e. 
that is used as an insert effect for an audio track (e.
 g. MIDI Gate), a section for this 
audio track appears in the MIDI track inspector.
- If a MIDI track is routed to a plug-in assigned to an FX channel track, an FX section 
is added to the Inspector.
ÖFor an easy way to combine MIDI and VST instruments, check out instrument tracks 
(see 
“VST instruments and instrument tracks” on page 252).
Device Panel section (Cubase only)
This allows you to display MIDI device panels, which are control panels for external 
hardware. This is described in the separate PDF document “MIDI Devices”.
Quick Controls section
This allows you to configure quick controls, e. g. to use remote devices. See the 
chapter 
“Track Quick Controls” on page 430 for details.
MIDI effects
Cubase comes with a number of MIDI effect plug-ins, capable of transforming the 
MIDI output from a track in various ways.
Just like the MIDI modifiers, MIDI effects are applied in realtime to the MIDI data 
played back from the track (or to MIDI you play live “thru” the track).
What are MIDI effects?
Although a MIDI effect can be similar to an audio effect, it is important to remember 
that you are not processing the sound resulting from MIDI playback, but the MIDI data 
(the “instructions” for how the music is played back). 
A MIDI effect will change properties of the MIDI events (e. g. change the pitch of 
notes) and/or generate new MIDI events (for example, a MIDI delay may add new MIDI 
notes, “echoing” the original notes).
ÖThe included MIDI effect plug-ins are described in the separate PDF document “Plug-
in Reference”. 
						

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MIDI realtime parameters and effectsMIDI effects
Insert and send effects
As with audio effects, there are two ways to route the MIDI events on a track to an 
effect:
ÖIf you add an insert effect, the MIDI events will be sent to the effect, which will process 
the data and pass it on to the track’s MIDI output (or to another insert effect). In other 
words, the MIDI events will be routed “through” the insert effect.
ÖIf you use a send effect, the MIDI events will be sent both to the track’s MIDI output 
and to the effect. That is, you will get both the unprocessed MIDI events and the 
output of the MIDI effect. Note that the effect can send its processed MIDI data to any 
MIDI output – not necessarily to the one used by the track.
There are separate sections in the Inspector for MIDI inserts and MIDI sends.
MIDI Inserts section
This allows you to add up to four MIDI insert effects. The section contains the 
following items:
ÖEffects that display their controls in the Inspector can be opened in a separate control 
panel window by pressing [Alt]/[Option] and clicking the Edit button.
ItemDescription
Preset 
Management 
buttonClick this to open the Preset Management pop-up menu that allows 
you to save your settings as preset or to rename or remove the 
current preset.
Inserts State 
indicator and 
Bypass buttonThe symbol on the right of the title bar is blue when an insert effect is 
activated. You can click the symbol to bypass all insert effects for the 
track.
Effect selection 
pop-up menu (x 4)Selecting an effect from this pop-up menu automatically activates it 
and brings up its control panel (which can be a separate window or a 
number of settings below the insert slot in the Inspector).
To remove an insert effect completely, select “No Effect”.
On button (x 4)Allows you to turn the selected effect on or off.
Edit button (x4)Click this to bring up the control panel for the selected effect. 
Depending on the effect, this may appear in a separate window or 
below the insert slot in the Inspector. Clicking the button again hides 
the control panel. 
						

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MIDI realtime parameters and effectsMIDI effects
MIDI Sends section
This allows you to add up to four MIDI send effects. Unlike audio send effects, you can 
select and activate send effects individually for each track. The section contains the 
following items:
ÖEffects that display their controls in the Inspector can be opened in a separate control 
panel window by pressing [Alt]/[Option] and clicking the Edit button.
ItemDescription
Sends State 
indicator and 
Bypass buttonThe symbol on the right of the title bar is blue when a send effect is 
activated. You can click the symbol to bypass all send effects for the 
track.
Effect selection 
pop-up menu (x 4)Selecting an effect from this pop-up menu automatically activates it 
and brings up its control panel (which can be a separate window or 
a number of settings below the send slot in the Inspector).
To remove a send effect completely, select “No Effect”.
On button (x 4)Allows you to turn the selected effect on or off.
Pre/Post button (x4)If this is activated, the MIDI signals will be sent to the send effects 
before the MIDI modifiers and insert effects.
Edit button (x4)Click this to bring up the control panel for the selected effect. 
Depending on the effect, this may appear in a separate window or 
below the sends slot in the Inspector. Clicking the button again 
hides the control panel.
Output pop-up 
menu (x4)This determines to which MIDI output the effect will send the 
processed MIDI events.
Channel setting (x4)This determines on which MIDI channel the effect will send the 
processed MIDI events. 
						

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MIDI realtime parameters and effectsMIDI effects
About presets
Several of the MIDI plug-ins come with a number of presets for instant use.
•To load a preset, select it from the Presets pop-up menu of the plug-in.
•To save your current settings as a preset, click on the “+” button (“Save Preset”) 
to the right of the Presets menu.
You will be asked to specify a name for the preset. The saved preset will then be 
available for selection from the pop-up menu for all instances of that MIDI plug-in, 
in all projects.
•To remove a preset, select it and click on the “-” button (“Remove Preset”).
At the left and right borders of the Presets pop-up menu you will also find MIDI In and 
Out activity indicators. Whenever the plug-in receives or transmits MIDI data, the left 
or the right indicator will light up, respectively.
Applying a MIDI insert effect – an example
Here is a step-by-step example of how to add a MIDI insert effect to a MIDI track:
1.Select the MIDI track and open the Inspector.
2.Open the MIDI Inserts tab in the Inspector.
•Alternatively you can use the MixConsole: activate the Channel Racks and select 
“Inserts”.
3.Click in one of the insert slots to open the MIDI effect pop-up menu.
4.Select the desired MIDI effect from the pop-up menu.
The effect is automatically activated (the power button for the insert slot lights up) 
and its control panel appears, either in a separate window or in the MIDI Inserts 
section below the slot (depending on the effect).
Now all MIDI from the track will be routed through the effect.
5.Use the control panel to make settings for the effect.
All included MIDI effects are described in the separate PDF document “Plug-in 
Reference”.
•You can bypass the insert effect by clicking its power button (above the insert slot).
•To bypass all insert effects for the MIDI track, use the bypass button in the MIDI 
Inserts section in the Inspector, in the MixConsole toolbar or in the track list.
•To remove an insert effect, click in its slot and select “No Effect”.
Save and Remove 
Preset buttons MIDI In and Out activity indicators 
						

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MIDI realtime parameters and effectsManaging plug-ins
Managing plug-ins
Selecting Plug-in Information from the Devices menu opens a window in which all 
loaded plug-ins, audio and MIDI, are listed.
•To view the MIDI effect plug-ins, click the MIDI Plug-ins tab.
•The leftmost column allows you to deactivate plug-ins.
This is useful if you have plug-ins installed that you do not want to use in Cubase. 
Only plug-ins that are activated (ticked checkbox) will appear on the MIDI effect 
pop-up menus.
Note that plug-ins that are currently in use cannot be deactivated.
•The second column shows how many instances of each plug-in are currently used 
in the project.
•The remaining columns show various information about each plug-in and cannot 
be edited. 
						

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Using MIDI devices
Background
The MIDI Device Manager allows you to specify and set up your MIDI devices, making 
global control and patch selection easy.
But the MIDI Device Manager also features powerful editing functions that can be 
used to create MIDI device panels (Cubase only). MIDI device panels are internal 
representations of external MIDI hardware, complete with graphics. The MIDI device 
panel editor provides all the tools you need to create device maps where every 
parameter of an external device (and even an internal device like a VST instrument) 
can be controlled and automated from inside Cubase.
For descriptions of how to create device maps and the powerful device panel editing 
features, see 
“About Device panels (Cubase only)” on page 467. For additional 
information on how to create panels for VST instruments, see the separate PDF 
document “MIDI Devices”.
MIDI devices – general settings and patch handling
On the following pages, we will describe how to install and set up preset MIDI 
devices, and how to select patches by name from within Cubase. For a description on 
how to create a MIDI device from scratch, please refer to the separate PDF document 
“MIDI Devices”.
About Program Change and Bank Select
To instruct a MIDI instrument to select a certain patch (sound), you send a MIDI 
Program Change message to the instrument. Program Change messages can be 
recorded or entered in a MIDI part like other events, but you can also enter a value in 
the Program Selector field in the Inspector for a MIDI track. This way, you can quickly 
set each MIDI track to play a different sound.
With Program Change messages, you are able to select between 128 different 
patches in your MIDI device. However, many MIDI instruments contain a larger 
number of patch locations. To make these available from within Cubase, you need to 
use Bank Select messages, a system in which the programs in a MIDI instrument are 
divided into banks, each bank containing 128 programs. If your instruments support 
MIDI Bank Select, you can use the Bank Selector field in the Inspector to select a 
bank, and then the Program Selector field to select a program in this bank.
Unfortunately, different instrument manufacturers use different schemes for how Bank 
Select messages are constructed, which can lead to some confusion and make it hard 
to select the correct sound. Also, selecting patches by numbers this way seems 
unnecessarily cumbersome, when most instruments use names for their patches 
nowadays.