Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

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Transpose Functions
Cubase offers transpose functions for audio, MIDI and instrument parts and for 
audio events. These allow you to create variations of your music or change the 
harmonics of an entire project or separate sections.
Transpose can be applied on three levels:
• To the entire project
By changing the project Root Key on the Project window toolbar, the whole 
project will be transposed.
• To sections of the project
By creating transpose events on the transpose track, you can set transpose...

Transpose Functions
Transposing your music
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Transposing your music
In the following sections we will describe the different possibilities of transposing 
your music. Note that these can also be combined. However, we recommend you 
to set the root key first, before recording or changing transpose values on the 
transpose track.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
As a general rule, always set the root key first when you work with content with a 
defined root key.
Transposing an entire project with the...

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Transposing your music
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The entire project will be played back with this root key. To do so, the separate loops 
are transposed to match the project root key. For example, if you have imported a bass 
loop in C and the project root key is set to E, the bass loop will be transposed up by 
4 semitones.
3. With the root key set, record some audio or MIDI.
The recorded events will get the project root key.
4. When you are done, you can change the project root key and your events will...

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IMPORTANT
If you work with drums or percussion, exclude these from being transposed by setting 
the “Global Transpose” setting on the info line to “Independent”.
RELATED LINKS
The Global Transpose setting on page 277
Recording with a project root key
Let’s say that you want to record a guitar line for a project that is in D# minor, but 
your guitar player prefers to play in A minor. In this case, change the project root key 
to A, so that you can record your...

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Transposing your music
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To check or change the root key setting of a MIDI part, proceed as follows:
1) Select your MIDI part in the Project window and check the Project window 
info line.
A MIDI part with the root key set to “D”
2) Click on the root key value in the info line to open the corresponding pop-up 
menu and select the desired root key.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
If you change the project root key after setting the event root key, the events will 
keep their own...

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Transposing your music
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3. To create another transpose event, click with the Draw tool on the first 
transpose event.
By default, the transpose value of new transpose events is set to 0.
You can add more transpose events by clicking with the Draw tool.
4. Click in the transpose value field and enter the transpose value for the 
transpose event.
You can enter the desired value with the computer keyboard, use the mouse wheel 
or [Alt]/[Option]-click on the transpose value to open a...

Transpose Functions
Other functions
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Other functions
Indicate Transpositions
When you transpose your music using the transpose track, you may sometimes 
want to visually compare the original sounds and the transposed music. For MIDI 
parts, you can check this by opening the Key Editor and clicking the “Indicate 
Transpositions” button.
This will help you to see how your MIDI notes will be transposed. If the button is 
activated, the Key Editor will show the note pitch you will hear, if it is...

Transpose Functions
Other functions
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Proceed as follows:
1) Open your project.
2) Select the desired event or part and set the “Global Transpose” setting on the 
info line to “Independent”.
A symbol will be displayed in the upper right corner of the selected part or 
event, indicating that it will not be transposed neither by changing the root key 
nor by specifying transpose events.
If Global Transpose is set to Independent, the selected part will not be transposed.
3) You can now change the project...

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Other functions
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Locking the transpose track
If you want to prevent your transpose events from being changed by mistake, 
activate the Lock button on the transpose track. This way, you will not be able to 
move your transpose events or change their transpose values.
Muting transpose events
Sometimes it might be useful to disable the transpose track, e. g. to hear the original 
sound of individual tracks. If you activate the mute button on the transpose track, 
your transpose events...

Transpose Functions
Other functions
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3. Make sure that the “Keep Transpose in Octave Range” button is activated on 
the transpose track and change the transpose value of the transpose event to 
7.
Your chord will be transposed accordingly.
If you enter a transpose value of 7, your chord will be transposed by seven 
semitones upwards. In this example, this would be G3/D4/F#4.
4. Set the transpose value to 8 semitones.
As “Keep Transpose in Octave Range” is activated, your chord will now be 
transposed...