Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

Setting Up Your System
Setting Up Video
21
Setting Up Video
Cubase plays back video files in a number of formats, such as AVI, QuickTime, or 
MPEG. QuickTime is used as the playback engine. Which formats can be played 
back depends on the video codecs that are installed on your system.
There are several ways to play back video, for example, without any special 
hardware, using a FireWire port, or using dedicated video cards.
If you plan to use special video hardware, install it and set it up as...

22
VST Connections
To play back and record in Cubase, you must set up input and output busses in the 
VST Connections window. Here, you can also set up group and FX channels, 
external effects, external instruments, and the Control Room (Cubase Pro only).
The bus types that you need depend on your audio hardware, on your general audio 
setup, for example your surround speaker setup, and on the projects that you use.
VST Connections Window
The VST Connections window allows you to set up input and output...

VST Connections
VST Connections Window23
PresetsOpens the  Pres
 ets menu, where you can select bus configuration presets. 
The  Store button 
 allows you to save a bus configuration as preset. The 
Delete  button 
 deletes the selected preset.
The following columns are available for the bus list:
Bus Name Lists the busses. Click the name of a bus to select or rename it.
Speakers Indicates the speaker configuration (m ono, stereo,
  surround formats (Cubase 
Pro only)) of each bus.
Audio Device Shows the...

VST Connections
VST Connections Window
24
+- All
Expands/Collapses all busses in the bus list.
Add Group
Opens the Add Group Channel Track dialog, where you can create a new 
group channel track.
Add FX
Opens the Add FX Channel Track dialog, where you can create a new FX 
channel track.
The following columns are available for the bus list:
Bus Name
Lists the busses. Click the name of a bus to select or rename it.
Speakers
Indicates the speaker configuration (mono, stereo, surround formats (Cubase 
Pro...

VST Connections
VST Connections Window
25
Bus Name
Lists the busses. Click the name of a bus to select or rename it.
Speakers
Indicates the speaker configuration (mono, stereo, surround formats (Cubase 
Pro only)) of each bus.
Audio Device
Shows the currently selected ASIO driver.
Device Port
Shows which physical inputs/outputs on your audio hardware are used by the 
bus. Expand the bus entry to show all speaker channels. If the bus entry is 
collapsed, only the first port that is used by this bus is...

VST Connections
VST Connections Window
26
Used
Whenever you insert an external effect into an audio track, this column shows 
a checkmark (x) to indicate that the effect is being used.
External Instruments Tab (Cubase Pro only)
This tab allows you to create input/output busses that can be used to connect 
external instruments.
The following options are available above the bus list:
+- All
Expands/Collapses all busses in the bus list.
Add External Instrument
Opens the Add External Instrument dialog, where...

VST Connections
VST Connections Window
27
Up to three bus assignments can be displayed in this way. If more 
connections have been made, this is indicated by a number at the end of the 
port name.
For example, “Adat 1 [Stereo1] [Stereo2] [Stereo3] (+2)” means that the 
Adat
 1 port is already assigned to three stereo busses plus two additional 
busses.
Delay
Allows you to enter a value to compensate for an inherent delay (latency) of 
your hardware effect device during playback. You can right-click the...

VST Connections
VST Connections Window28
+- AllExpands/Collapses all busses in the bus list.
Add Channel Opens a menu where you can select the ty pe
  of channel that you want to add. 
You can add the following channels:
• External Input
•T

alkback
•Cue
• Headphone
• Monitor
Presets Opens the  Pres
 ets menu, where you can select bus configuration presets. 
The  Store button 
 allows you to save a bus configuration as preset. The 
Delete  button 
 deletes the selected preset.
Control Room...

VST Connections
Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs
29
For example, “Adat 1 [Stereo1] [Stereo2] [Stereo3] (+2)” means that the 
Adat
 1 port is already assigned to three stereo busses plus two additional 
busses.
RELATED LINKS
Control Room (Cubase Pro only) on page 352
Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs
Before you set up busses, you should rename the default inputs and outputs of your 
audio hardware. This allows transferring projects between different computers and 
setups.
For example, if...

VST Connections
Adding Input and Output Busses
30
Hiding Ports
You can hide ports that you are not using. Hidden ports are not displayed in the VST 
Connections window.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Devices > Device Setup.
2. In the devices list, select your audio card.
3. In the Visible column, deactivate the ports that you want to hide.
4. Click OK.
Activating and Deactivating Ports (Mac only)
On Mac operating systems, you can specify which input and output ports are active. 
This allows you to use the...