Steinberg Cubase 7 User Manual

							861
Working with layoutsMarker Track to Form
Marker Track to Form
If you have created markers in the Project window which denote the start of each new 
“section” in your music (verse, bridge, chorus, etc.), you can automatically transfer 
these markers into the current layout:
1.Open the Scores menu, open the Advanced Layout submenu and select “Marker 
Track to Form”.
Now, rehearsal marks and double bar lines are inserted in the score, at the position 
of each marker.
2.If you want the names of the markers shown as well, open the Advanced Layout 
submenu again and select “Display Markers”. 
						

							862
Working with MusicXML
Introduction
MusicXML is a music notation format developed by Recordare LLC in 2000 based 
primarily on two academic music formats. It allows the representation of scores in the 
current symbolic representation of western music notation, used since the 17th 
century. With Cubase you can now import and export MusicXML files created with 
version 1.1. This makes it possible to share and exchange sheet music with people 
who are using score writing programs such as Finale and Sibelius.
ÖAs MusicXML is supported to various degrees by different programs, you always have 
to do manual adjustments.
What is MusicXML used for?
The MusicXML file format can be used for the following purposes:
- Representation and printing of sheet music
- Exchange of sheet music between various score writing programs 
- Electronic distribution of musical scores 
- Storage and archiving of scores in an electronic format 
Notational representation vs. musical performance
MusicXML is a music notation file format, that means it deals especially with the layout 
of music notation and the correct graphical representation, i.e. how a piece of music 
should look. 
However, MusicXML music data also contains elements that define how a piece of 
music should sound. For example, these are used when creating a MIDI file from 
MusicXML. This means that MusicXML has things in common with MIDI. 
MIDI is a music interchange format for performance applications like Cubase or other 
sequencers. The MIDI file format is designed for playback, i.e. the main focus of the 
MIDI file format lies in the performance, not in the notation. 
Is MusicXML better than MIDI?
The following sections inform you about the advantages of MusicXML and MIDI 
regarding note representation and sound.
Advantages of MusicXML
MIDI tracks hold MIDI notes and other MIDI data. A MIDI note in Cubase is only 
defined by its position, length, pitch and velocity. This is not enough to decide how the 
note will be displayed in a score. For a correct representation, Cubase also needs the 
following information:
- Stem direction, beaming.
- Expression marks (staccato, accent, ties and slurs). 
- Information about the instrument in the score.
- Key and basic rhythm of the piece.
- Grouping of notes, etc. 
						

							863
Working with MusicXMLImporting and exporting MusicXML files
MusicXML can save a great part of this information. However, you have to adjust the 
scores with the tools available in the Score Editor.
Advantages of MIDI
Although MusicXML has obvious advantages in the representation of musical scores, 
there are also restrictions in sound. This is due to the fact that MusicXML as a music 
notation format has a graphical background and is designed for exchanging 
representation, not sound. 
When playing back MusicXML files in Cubase, the following parameters, among 
others, are not considered:
- On and Off velocities
- Dynamics 
- Controller data
-SysEx
- Standard MIDI file meta events
-Audio
- All Cubase-specific data like automation, MIDI effects, Input Transformer, etc.
Importing and exporting MusicXML files
Cubase can import and export MusicXML files, which makes it possible to transfer 
musical scores to and from applications that support this file format. However, there 
are some restrictions concerning the parameters supported by Cubase:
NotesExportImport
PitchYesYes
LengthYesYes
StavesYesUp to two per part
VoicesYesUp to four per staff
AccidentalsYesYes
TiesYesNo
DotsYesNo
StemYesYes
BeamsYesNo
Grace NotesYesYes
RestsYesYes
LayoutExportImport
Page SizeYesNo
Page marginsYes Yes
Page scalingYesYes
Page breaksYesNo
System breaksYesYes
Distance between staves 
and systemsYesYes
Left/right InsetYesNo
Distance between measuresYesNo 
						

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Working with MusicXMLImporting and exporting MusicXML files
Hidden stavesYesYes
x and y positions of symbolsYesYes
SymbolsExportImport
KeysYesYes
ClefsYesYes
Time SignatureYesYes
DynamicsYesYes
OrnamentsYes / incompleteYes / incomplete
ArticulationsYes / incompleteYes / incomplete
TechnicalsYes / incompleteYes / incomplete
LyricsYesYes
Chord SymbolsYesYes
Damper PedalYesYes
DynamicsYesYes
RehearsalsYesYes
TextYesYes
Layout TextYesN.A.
Project TextYes“Credits”
DashesYesYes
EndingsYesYes
Octave ShiftYesYes
Bar line typesYesYes
SlursYesYes
Hammer-on/pull-offNoNo
FormattingExportImport
Display TransposeYesYes
Drum notationYesYes
Short / long staff namesYesYes
Program changesYesN.A.
Music fontYes (if Jazz font)Yes
Tablature (including String 
tunings)YesYes
Layout Export Import 
						

							865
Working with MusicXMLImporting and exporting MusicXML files
Importing MusicXML files
1.Open the File menu and open the Import submenu.
2.On the submenu, select “MusicXML…”.
3.In the file dialog that opens, locate and select the MusicXML file and click “Open”.
4.Another file dialog opens in which you can select the project folder for the new 
project.
Select an existing project folder or create a new one by clicking “Create” and 
entering a name in the dialog.
5.A new project is created with the name of the MusicXML file.
Exporting MusicXML files
1.Set up the score the way you want it in the Score Editor of Cubase.
2.Open the File menu and open the Export submenu.
3.On the submenu, select “MusicXML…”.
Note that this option is only available when the Score Editor is open.
4.A file dialog opens in which you can choose an existing empty folder or create a 
new folder for saving the MusicXML file (with the extension “.xml”). 
						

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Designing your score: additional techniques
About this chapter
In this chapter you will learn:
- How to change the staff size.
- How to create multi-rests.
- How to add and edit bar lines.
- How to create upbeats.
- How to set measure spacing and the number of bars across the page.
- How to control staff and grand staff spacing.
- How to use the Auto Layout dialog.
- How to use the Reset Layout function.
- How to break bar lines.
Layout settings
The Layout page of the Score Settings dialog contains a number of settings that 
affect the display of the current layout.
!Before you start designing the score page layout, you should open the Page Setup 
dialog on the File menu, and make settings for paper size, print scale and margins! 
						

							867
Designing your score: additional techniquesLayout settings
The track list
The track list lists the tracks included in the layout and allows you to make the 
following settings:
Equal Spacing
Activate this option when you want a note to take up space according to its note 
value. When Equal Spacing is activated, two sixteenth notes take up as much space 
as one eighth note, for example.
Size
Changes the size of all staves, see “Staff size” on page 868.
Multi-Rests
Whenever more than one-bar rests occur, the program can replace these with a multi-
rest symbol. This parameter allows you to set how many empty bars are “allowed” 
before Cubase collects them into a multi-rest. “Off” means “never”. See 
“Multiple 
rests” on page 870 for more information on multi-rests.
Real Book
When this option is activated, clef symbols are not set out at the beginning of each 
staff, only on the first staff on each page.
Staff Separators
When this option is activated, separator symbols are inserted at the beginning of each 
grand staff.
A staff separator between two systems
OptionDescription
BracketsThese two columns allow you to add braces or brackets, encompassing 
any number of staves in the layout, see 
“Adding brackets and braces” on 
page 878.
TThis is relevant if the “Modern Time Sign.” option is activated to the right. 
In that case, you use this column to specify for which tracks the time 
signature is shown – see below.
NThis option lets you specify for each staff in a layout whether the staff name 
is shown.
LIf this is activated, any layout symbols are shown; otherwise they are 
hidden. For example, this allows you to have rehearsal marks shown for 
the top staff only in a multi-staff layout.
DThis option lets you specify for each staff in a layout whether it should use 
Display Transpose.
CThis option lets you specify which staff should show the chord track 
symbols. The chord track symbols can only be shown on one staff, see 
“Displaying the Chord Symbols from the Chord Track” on page 878. 
						

							868
Designing your score: additional techniquesStaff size
Modern Time Signature
When this is activated, time signatures are shown above the staves rather than in 
them. You can set the size of the modern time signature in the Time Sign section on 
the Project–Notation Style subpage of the Score Settings dialog. When modern time 
signature is selected, you use the “T” column in the track list in the Layout page to 
specify for which tracks time signatures are displayed.
•If you prefer to display the score in a more modern way, check out the other 
options on the Notation Style subpage.
For descriptions of the options use the Help button in the dialog.
Staff size
You can set the staff size as a percentage value of the normal size.
For one staff
To set the staff size for one staff, proceed as follows:
1.Make sure that the staff you want to edit is active.
2.Open the Score Settings dialog on the Staff page and select the Options tab.
3.Adjust the Size parameter in the System Sizes section.
The values range from 25 % up to 250 % of the normal size.
4.Click Apply.
For all tracks in a layout
To set the staff size for all tracks in a layout, proceed as follows:
1.Open the Score Settings and select the Layout page.
2.Change the Size parameter.
The values range from 25 % up to 250 % of the normal size.
3.Click Apply.
All staves now get the desired size. Staves that have individual size settings (see 
above) still are proportionally smaller/larger. 
This setting is part of the layout and can be used when printing a full score slightly 
smaller than the parts for each instrument, for example.
Hiding/showing objects
Any object on a page can be hidden, including notes, rests, symbols, clefs, bar lines, 
even entire staves.
This can be useful in the following situations:
Printing scales
If you want to create scale examples, enter the notes and hide time signatures, bar 
lines and other unwanted objects.
A scale created with hidden bar lines, time signatures, etc. 
						

							869
Designing your score: additional techniquesHiding/showing objects
Graphic notation
By hiding bar lines, you can produce graphic notation.
Hiding notes meant for playback only
If you have recorded your music, you may have added glissandos, falls, etc. that sound 
fine but result in a lot of unnecessary notes. You probably want to hide those notes 
and insert the suitable symbols instead.
Hiding
To hide items, proceed as follows:
1.Select all the items you want to hide.
2.Select “Hide/Show” from the Score menu or click on the “H” (Hide) button on the 
extended toolbar.
•Notes can also be hidden by selecting them, clicking the “i” button on the 
extended toolbar and ticking the Hide Note checkbox in the Set Note Info dialog 
(see 
“Other note details” on page 795).
Hiding in the current layout only
If you want the hiding to be “local” to the current layout, hold down [Ctrl]/[Command] 
when selecting “Hide/Show” as described above.
ÖYou can also move hidden objects to the layout by right-clicking the “Hide” marker 
and selecting “Move to Layout”.
Viewing hidden objects
The filter bar (shown by clicking the “Set up Window Layout” button on the toolbar 
and activating the Filters option) contains two options related to hidden objects:
•If you activate the “Hidden Notes” option, all hidden notes in the score are shown.
Deactivating “Hidden Notes” hides the notes again.
•If you activate the “Hide” option, all hidden objects (except notes) are indicated by 
a “Hide” text marker.
Showing one object
1.Make sure that “Hide” is activated on the filter bar.
2.Click on the “Hide” text marker below the object you want to display again.
The text is selected.
3.Press [Backspace] or [Delete].
The object appears. Undo is available if you change your mind.
!If the Hide option in the filter bar is activated, hidden objects are shown in gray so that 
they are still visible and you can select them.
!This is not possible when hiding notes, only other symbols. 
						

							870
Designing your score: additional techniquesColoring notes
Showing all objects
If you select “Hide/Show” from the Scores menu again, all hidden objects are 
displayed.
•You can also use the Reset Layout function to permanently display hidden notes 
and objects, as described in the section 
“Reset Layout” on page 881.
Showing a hidden note
While all hidden notes can be made visible by ticking the Hidden Notes checkbox on 
the filter bar, you may want to make some of them “permanently” visible again:
1.Activate the Hidden Notes checkbox on the filter bar.
2.Select the notes that you want to “un-hide”.
In the Preferences dialog (Scores–Colors for Additional Meanings) you can set 
the color for hidden notes.
3.Double-click one of the notes.
4.Deactivate the Hide Note option in the Set Note Info dialog and click Apply.
Coloring notes
You can use the color pop-up menu on the toolbar to colorize selected notes, e.g. for 
educational purposes. This is described in detail in the section 
“Coloring notes” on 
page 796.
Multiple rests
Multiple consecutive rests can be automatically displayed as multi-rests. Proceed as 
follows:
1.Open the Score Settings and select the Layout page.
2.Set the Multi-Rests option to the number of empty bars that are “allowed” before 
Cubase displays them as a multi-rest.
For example, a value of 2 means that three or more consecutive empty bars are 
displayed as a multi-rest. If you set this to “Off”, multi-rests are not used.
3.Click Apply and close the dialog.
The multi-rests now appear in the score.
A multi-rest over three bars
Splitting multi-rests
To divide one long multiple rest into several shorter ones, proceed as follows:
1.Double-click on the multi-rest symbol.
The Split Multi-Rest dialog appears:
2.In the dialog, enter the bar number where you want the first split.