Steinberg Cubase 7 User Manual

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Editing tempo and signatureTempo and signature display
Tempo and signature display
You can view the current tempo and signature settings of your project in a number of 
ways:
•On the Transport panel.
See above, and the section “The Transport panel” on page 101.
•By displaying the tempo track and the signature track in the Project window.
Open the Project menu, select Add Track and the Signature and/or Tempo 
options.
•In the Tempo Track Editor.
Open the Project menu and select Tempo Track, or [Ctrl]/[Command]-click the 
Tempo button on the Transport panel.
About the tempo and signature tracks
The tempo track and the signature track allow you to view and edit tempo and 
signature data in the project context. 
•The Inspectors for these tracks show the positions and values of individual tempo 
curve points or signature events.
•The signature track’s background always shows bars.
This is independent of the ruler display format setting.
•In the track list for the tempo track, on the far right, you can specify the display 
range by clicking on the numbers at the top or bottom and dragging up or down.
Note that this does not change the tempo setting, but changes the display scale of 
the tempo track.
•You can lock the tempo track and the signature track to prevent unintentional 
editing.
Simply click the lock symbols in the track list to lock/unlock the tracks. 
						

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Editing tempo and signatureTempo and signature display
About the Tempo Track Editor
If you do not want to display two extra tracks in the Project window, you can also open 
the Tempo Track Editor to view and edit tempo and signature information.
The Tempo Track Editor has a toolbar, info line, and ruler just like other editors in 
Cubase, plus an area for the display of time signature events and a tempo curve display.
The toolbar
The toolbar contains various tools and settings:
•The tools for Object Selection, Erase, Zoom and Draw are used in the same way 
as in other editors. The Snap and Auto-Scroll functions also work exactly like in the 
Project window.
Note that in the Tempo Track Editor, the Snap function affects tempo events only. 
Time signature events always snap to the beginning of bars.
•The info line in the Tempo Track Editor allows you to change settings for selected 
time signature events, and the type and tempo of selected tempo curve points.
•The ruler in the Tempo Track Editor shows the timeline, and is similar to the ruler in 
the Project window. See 
“The ruler” on page 50 for details.
•The area below the ruler shows time signature events. 
•The main display shows the tempo curve (or, if fixed tempo mode is selected, the 
fixed tempo – see 
“Setting the fixed tempo” on page 615) .  T o  t h e  l e f t  o f  t h e  d i s p l a y  
you will find a tempo scale to help you quickly locate the desired tempo.
Note that the vertical “grid lines” in the tempo curve display correspond to the 
display format selected for the ruler.
Time Signature area
Tempo curve 
display
Tools
Activate 
Tempo Track
Auto-ScrollSnap on/offSuspend Auto-Scroll when Editing
Show Info
Curve type for new tempo events
The selected tempoSnap value
Tempo recording slider
(Cubase only)Open Process Tempo dialog (Cubase only)Open Process Bars dialog (Cubase only) 
						

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Editing tempo and signatureEditing tempo and signature
Editing tempo and signature
You can use the options of the Tempo Track Editor or the tempo and signature tracks 
to edit tempo and signature settings. The descriptions given below are valid in both 
cases. The only exception is the tempo recording slider, which is available only in the 
Tempo Track Editor (see 
“Recording tempo changes (Cubase only)” on page 615).
Editing the tempo curve
Adding tempo curve points
1.Use the “Insert curve” pop-up menu (on the toolbar of the Tempo Track Editor) or 
the “Type of New Tempo points” pop-up menu in the track list for the tempo track 
to select whether you want the tempo to change gradually from the previous curve 
point to the new one (“Ramp”) or change instantly to the new value (“Jump”).
You can also set this to Automatic. In this case, the types of existing tempo curve 
points will be used when inserting new points at the same position.
2.Select the Draw tool.
3.Click and drag in the tempo curve display to draw a tempo curve.
When you click, the tempo display on the toolbar shows the tempo value. If Snap 
is activated on the toolbar, this determines at which time positions you can insert 
tempo curve points, see 
“The Snap function” on page 52.
•You can also click on the tempo curve with the Object Selection tool.
This adds a single point with each click.
ÖTempo values can also be automatically inserted by the Beat Calculator, see “The 
Beat Calculator” on page 618.
Selecting tempo curve points
Curve points can be selected as follows:
•Using the Object Selection tool.
The standard selection techniques apply.
•Using the Select submenu of the Edit menu.
The options are:
!This section assumes that you are working in tempo track mode, i. e. the Tempo button 
must be activated on the Transport panel.
Insert curve set to “Ramp”  Insert curve set to “Jump”
OptionDescription
AllSelects all curve points on the tempo track.
NoneDeselects all curve points.
InvertInverts the selection – all selected curve points are deselected and all 
curve points that were not selected are selected instead.
In LoopSelects all curve points between the left and right locator. 
						

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Editing tempo and signatureEditing tempo and signature
•You can also use the left and right arrow keys on the computer keyboard to go 
from one curve point to the next.
If you press [Shift] and use the arrow keys, you can select several points at the 
same time.
Editing tempo curve points
Curve points can be edited in the following ways:
•By clicking and dragging horizontally and/or vertically with the Object Selection 
tool.
If several points are selected, all of them are moved. If Snap is activated on the 
toolbar, this determines to which time positions you can move curve points, see 
“The Snap function” on page 52.
•By adjusting the tempo value in the tempo display on the Tempo Track Editor 
toolbar, in the Inspector, or on the info line.
ÖSelecting several points and changing the tempo value in the info line leads to a 
relative adjustment of the tempo values.
Adjusting the curve type
You can change the curve type of a tempo curve segment at any time, using the 
following method:
1.With the Object Selection tool, select all curve points within the segment you want 
to edit.
2.In the info line, click below the word “Type” to switch the curve type between 
“Jump” and “Ramp”.
The curve sections between the selected points are adjusted.
From Start to 
CursorSelects all points to the left of the project cursor.
From Cursor to 
EndSelects all points to the right of the project cursor.
Option Description
!We recommend using the Bars+Beats display format when editing tempo curves. 
Otherwise, you may get confusing results. This is because moving a point will change 
the relationship between tempo and time. If you move a tempo point to the right and 
drop it at a certain time position, the mapping between tempo and time will be 
adjusted. Since you have changed the tempo curve, the moved point will appear at 
another position.  
						

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Editing tempo and signatureEditing tempo and signature
Removing tempo curve points
To remove a curve point, either click on it with the Erase tool or select it and press 
[Backspace]. The first tempo curve point cannot be removed.
Recording tempo changes (Cubase only)
The Tempo Recording slider on the toolbar of the Tempo Track Editor allows you to 
record tempo changes “on the fly”: simply start playback and use the slider to raise or 
lower the tempo at the desired positions. This is useful for creating natural sounding 
ritardandos, etc.
Setting the fixed tempo
When the tempo track is deactivated, the tempo track curve is grayed out (but still 
visible). Since the tempo is fixed throughout the whole project, there are no tempo 
curve points. Instead, the fixed tempo is displayed as a horizontal black line in the 
tempo curve display.
To set the tempo in fixed mode:
•Adjust the value numerically in the tempo display on the Tempo Track Editor 
toolbar or in the track list.
•On the Transport panel, click on the tempo value to select it, enter a new value and 
press [Enter].
Adding and editing time signature events
•To add a time signature event, click with the Draw tool in the time signature area or 
time signature track.
This adds a default 4/4 time signature event at the closest bar position.
•To edit the value of a time signature event, select it and adjust the value on the info 
line, or double-click the event and enter a new value.
Note that there are two controls for the signature display; the left one adjusts the 
numerator and the right one adjusts the denominator.
•To move a time signature event, click and drag it with the Object Selection tool.
Note that you can [Shift]-click to select multiple events. Also note that time 
signature events can only be positioned at the start of bars. This is also true if Snap 
is deactivated.
•To remove a time signature, either click on it with the Erase tool or select it and 
press [Backspace] or [Delete].
The first time signature event cannot be removed. 
						

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Editing tempo and signatureProcess Tempo (Cubase only)
Exporting and importing tempo tracks (Cubase only)
You can export the current tempo track for use in other projects by selecting “Tempo 
Track” from the “Export” submenu of the File menu. This allows you to save the tempo 
track information (including time signature events) as a special XML file (file extension 
“.smt”).
To import a tempo track, select “Tempo Track” from the Import submenu of the File 
menu. Note that this replaces all tempo track data in the current project (although the 
operation can be undone if needed).
Process Tempo (Cubase only)
Process Tempo allows you to define a specific length or end time for a set range, and 
the tempo track will automatically set a tempo that will fit the range in the specified 
time. 
Proceed as follows:
1.Specify a region or range that you wish to process by setting the left and right 
locators, either in the Tempo Track Editor or in the Project window. 
2.Click on the Process Tempo button (either in the Tempo Track Editor or on the 
tempo track).
The Process Tempo dialog opens.
3.In the Process Range fields, the specified range is shown, in Bars and Beats 
(PPQ) and in a time format, which can be selected from the Time Display Format 
pop-up menu.
The range defined in step 1 will already be set, but you can edit the range by 
adjusting the values in the Process Range fields if you wish.
Now you can either specify a new range length or a new range end time. What to 
choose depends on whether the range should have a specific length or whether it 
should end at a specific time position.
4.Enter the desired End or Length in the corresponding fields of the New Range 
section.
You can select a time format for the new range in the Time Display Format pop-up 
menu.
5.Click Process.
Now the tempo track is automatically adjusted, and the range will have the 
specified duration. 
						

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Editing tempo and signatureThe Process Bars dialog (Cubase only)
The Process Bars dialog (Cubase only)
The Process Bars dialog (opened from the Tempo Track Editor or the signature track) 
uses the global “Insert Silence” and “Delete Time” functions from the Range submenu 
of the Edit menu. However, the necessary ranges (or parameters) are calculated using 
a musical “bars+beats-based” environment. The function also ensures that the time 
signatures stay “in sync” after these operations. This allows for a much more intuitive 
approach when inserting, deleting or replacing “time” while working with a project set 
to the Bars+Beats time type.
The dialog contains the following elements:
OptionDescription
Bar RangeThe Bar Range display shows the bar range within the project as well 
as its length. Click on the right edge of the green indicator and drag it 
to the right to enlarge the range. You can also use the Start and 
Length value fields (see below).
The arrow pair in this section marks the length of the current project. 
The area to the right marks the bar range that can be added (10,000 
bars max.).
Bar Range – StartThis is where you specify the start position for the bar range. Click on 
the arrows to raise/lower the value or click directly in the value field to 
enter the value manually.
Bar Range – 
LengthThis is where you specify the length of the bar range. Click on the 
arrows to raise/lower the value or click directly in the value field to 
enter the value manually.
Action – Insert 
BarsWhen you select this action, clicking the Process button will insert 
the specified number of empty bars with the set time signature at the 
start position specified above.
Action – Delete 
BarsWhen you select this action, clicking the Process button will delete 
the specified number of bars, beginning at the start position specified 
above.
Action – 
Reinterpret BarsWhen you select this action, clicking the Process button will 
reinterpret the bar range to fit the specified time signature. This is 
very special in the sense that both bars+beats positions of the notes 
and the tempo are being changed to fit the new time signature, but 
the playback of the notes will stay just the same.
For example, if you want to reinterpret a bar with the time signature 
3/4 so that it gets the time signature 4/4, quarter notes will become 
half note triplets. If you reinterpret a bar with the time signature 4/4 to 
attain 3/4, you will get quadruplets.
Action – Replace 
BarsWhen you select this action, clicking the Process button will cause 
the time signature of the specified bar range to be replaced by the 
one you specify in this dialog. 
Action – SignatureThis lets you specify the time signature for the action you select on 
the Action pop-up menu (except for the Delete Bars action). 
						

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Editing tempo and signatureThe Beat Calculator
The Beat Calculator
The Beat Calculator is a tool for calculating the tempo of freely recorded audio or MIDI 
material. It also allows you to set the tempo by tapping.
Calculating the tempo of a recording
1.In the Project window, make a selection that covers an exact number of beats of 
the recording.
2.Select “Beat Calculator…” from the Project menu.
The Beat Calculator window appears.
3.In the Beats field, enter the number of beats that the selection encompasses.
The corresponding tempo is calculated and displayed in the BPM field.
•If you need to adjust the selection, you can go back to the Project window, leaving 
the Beat Calculator open.
To re-calculate the tempo after adjusting the selection, click Refresh.
4.You can also insert the calculated tempo into the tempo track by clicking one of 
the buttons in the lower left corner of the Beat Calculator window.
Clicking “At Tempo Track Start” will adjust the first tempo curve point, while “At 
Selection Start” will add a new tempo curve point at the selection’s start position, 
using the “Jump” curve type (see 
“Adding tempo curve points” on page 613).
Using Tap Tempo
The Tap Tempo function allows you to specify a tempo by tapping:
1.Open the Beat Calculator.
2.If you want to tap the tempo to some recorded material, activate playback.
3.Click the Tap Tempo button.
The Tap Tempo window appears.
ProcessClick on this button to apply your changes to the specified bar range.
CloseClicking this button without clicking on “Process” first will close the 
dialog without applying your settings.
Option Description
!If fixed tempo mode is selected when you insert the calculated tempo, the fixed tempo 
will be adjusted, regardless of which button you click. 
						

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Editing tempo and signatureMerge Tempo From Tapping (Cubase only)
4.Tap the tempo on the Spacebar of the computer keyboard or with the mouse 
button.
The tempo display will update the calculated tempo between each tap.
5.Click OK to close the Tap Tempo dialog.
The tapped tempo is now shown in the Beat Calculator’s BPM display. You can 
insert it into the tempo track as described above.
Merge Tempo From Tapping (Cubase only)
This function allows you to create a complete tempo track based on your tapping. 
Typically, you would use this if you have an audio file with no tempo mapping and want 
to be able to add other material afterwards, etc.
1.Create an empty time-based MIDI track and, while playing back your audio 
material, tap the new tempo on your MIDI keyboard and record the created notes 
onto the new MIDI track.
Note that you must create note events – pedal events cannot be used for this 
function.
2.Play back the audio and check that the timing of the MIDI notes corresponds to 
that of the audio. 
If necessary, edit the MIDI notes in an editor.
3.Select the MIDI part (or the individual notes in an editor) that you want to use for 
the calculation.
4.Select “Merge Tempo From Tapping” from the Functions submenu of the MIDI 
menu.
A dialog opens.
5.In the dialog, specify what type of note (1/2, 1/4, etc.) you tapped during the 
recording.
If you activate the “Begin at Bar Start” option, the first note will automatically start 
at the beginning of a bar when calculating the new tempo curve.
6.Click OK.
The project’s tempo is adjusted to the tapped notes.
7.Open the Project menu and select “Tempo Track” to check that the new tempo 
information is reflected in the tempo curve.
ÖAnother way of creating a tempo map for freely recorded audio would be to use the 
Time Warp tool, see below.
The Time Warp tool (Cubase only)
The Time Warp tool lets you adjust the tempo track so that “musical time-based” 
material (positions related to the tempo) matches “linear time-based” material 
(positions in time). Some typical applications:
•When you have recorded music (audio or MIDI) without tempo reference or 
metronome click, the Time Warp tool can be used for creating a tempo map that 
fits the recording (allowing you to rearrange or add other material).
•When you are creating music for a movie and want to match certain positions in 
the video with certain positions in the music.
The Time Warp tool makes use of the fact that tracks can be based on time positions 
(linear time base) or positions related to tempo (musical time base), see 
“Defining the 
track time base” on page 90 for a description of these modes. 
						

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Editing tempo and signatureThe Time Warp tool (Cubase only)
Basic procedure
You use the Time Warp tool to drag a musical position (a position in bars+beats 
format) to a certain position in time. This can be done in the Project window or in an 
editor, as described below. Here is the general procedure:
1.Make sure tempo track mode is active.
You cannot use the Time Warp tool in fixed tempo mode.
2.Select the Time Warp tool.
Bars+Beats format is automatically selected for the ruler in the active window, and the ruler is 
shown in brown.
3.Click in the window at a musical position and drag it so that it matches a position 
in the material you are editing – e.
 g. the start of an event, a certain “hit” within an 
audio event, a frame in a video clip, etc.
When you click with the Time Warp tool, it snaps to the grid in the window.
Dragging the start of the bar to the start of the audio event.
While you are dragging, the track(s) you are editing are temporarily switched to linear 
time base. This means that the contents of the tracks remain at the same time 
positions regardless of the tempo (there is an exception to this in the Project window, 
see below).
4.When you release the mouse button, the musical position you clicked on matches 
the time position you dragged it to.
This is because the Time Warp tool changed the last tempo event on the tempo 
track (and/or added new ones, depending on window and usage), thereby scaling 
the tempo track to fit.
Rules
•When you use the Time Warp tool, the tempo value of the last tempo event (before 
the click position) is adjusted.
•If later tempo events exist, a new tempo event will be created at the click position. 
This way, the later tempo event(s) will not be moved.
•When you click with the Time Warp tool, it snaps to the tempo grid in the window.
•When you drag the tempo grid to a new position, it can be magnetic to events in 
the window.
In the Project window, this requires that Snap is activated and “Events” is selected 
on the Snap Type pop-up menu – the grid will then snap to the start and end of 
events or parts, and to markers. In the Sample Editor, this requires that Snap is 
activated – the grid will then snap to hitpoints (if any). In the MIDI editors, this 
requires that Snap is activated – the grid will then snap to the start and end of notes.
•The function will create tempo values up to 300 bpm.