Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

Sample Editor
General Functions
451
You can also use the “Events from Regions” function from the Advanced submenu 
of the Audio menu.
RELATED LINKS
Region Operations on page 190
Exporting regions as audio files
If you create a region in the Sample Editor, the region can be exported to disk as a 
new audio file. This is done from the Pool.
RELATED LINKS
Exporting Regions as Audio Files on page 516
Selecting an algorithm for realtime playback
On the Algorithm pop-up menu on the toolbar you can select the...

Sample Editor
Warping audio452
When Musical Mode is activated, audio events will adapt to any tempo changes in 
Cubase, just like MIDI events.
You can activate Musical Mode 
 on the AudioWarp tab, the Definition tab, and the 
toolbar.
NOTE
It is also possible to activate/deactivat e Musical Mode from within the Pool by 
clicking the corresponding checkbox in the Musical Mode column.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
Cubase supports ACID® loops. These loops are standard audio files but with 
embedded...

Sample Editor
Warping audio
453
4. Activate the Musical Mode button.
Your loop is warped and stretched automatically to adapt it to the project tempo.
The rulers reflect the change.
RESULT 
In the Project window, the audio event is now shown with a note symbol and a warp 
symbol in the upper right corner to indicate that time stretching has been applied.
RELATED LINKS
About time stretch and pitch shift algorithms on page 428
Adjusting complex audio material to the project tempo using 
Musical Mode
If you...

Sample Editor
Warping audio
454
4. Click the Auto Adjust button.
The snap point is moved to the start of the selected range, which is now also the start 
position of the local definition grid. The lower ruler changes to reflect your edits. The 
transients, i.
 e. the bars and beats positions, are marked with vertical lines.
5. Activate the Musical Mode button.
RESULT 
Your clip is warped and stretched automatically to adapt it to the project tempo. The 
rulers reflect the change.
NOTE
You can also apply...

Sample Editor
Warping audio
455
5. In the upper part of the waveform, move the mouse pointer to the vertical line 
nearest to the second bar so that the tooltip “Stretch Grid” and a blue vertical 
line are shown.
“Stretch Grid” allows you to correct the tempo by stretching or compressing the 
whole grid.
6. Click and drag the blue vertical line to the left or right to the position of the 
first downbeat in the second bar and release the mouse button.
The beginning of the next bar is set, and all bar...

Sample Editor
Warping audio
456
11. To remove a misplaced beat edit, press any modifier key so that the Erase tool 
is shown and click on the adjusted grid line.
NOTE
If you want to hear your changes immediately, you can activate Musical Mode for this 
procedure. The warping will be recalculated after each edit.
Applying swing
If you find that your audio sounds too straight, for example, after having used the 
“Auto Adjust” function, you can add swing.
PROCEDURE
1. Activate Musical Mode.
2. On the...

Sample Editor
Warping audio
457
Free Warp
The Free Warp tool allows you to change the timing of individual positions in the 
audio material. The Free Warp tool snaps to hitpoint positions and/or warp markers.
The Free Warp tool creates warp markers. Warp markers are a kind of marker or 
anchor that can be attached to musically relevant time positions in an audio event, 
for example, the first beat of every bar. Warp markers can be dragged to the 
corresponding time positions in the project, and the audio...

Sample Editor
Warping audio
458
4. On the Transport panel, activate the Click button, and play back your audio 
clip to determine positions where the beat is not on time with the click.
If you find it difficult to pinpoint an exact position in the audio event, you can use the 
Scrub tool and/or zoom in the view.
5. On the AudioWarp tab, select the Free Warp tool, place the pointer at the 
position of the beat that you want to adjust, click, and hold.
The mouse pointer changes to a clock with arrows on...

Sample Editor
Working with hitpoints and slices459
Resetting warp modifications
You can reset your Free Warp edits.
PROCEDURE
•Click Reset   on the AudioWarp tab.
This also resets  Disable Warp Changes   on the same tab.
NOTE
If Musical Mode is activated, only Free Warp edits are reset.
Working with hitpoints and slices
Cubase can detect hitpoints, musically rele vant positions, by analyzing onsets and 
melodic changes. At these po sitions a type of marker is added. Hitpoints allow you 
to create slices,...

Sample Editor
Working with hitpoints and slices
460
Hitpoints can also be used to quantize audio material without creating slices.
RELATED LINKS
Creating Groove Quantize Presets on page 246
Quantizing MIDI and Audio on page 234
Which audio files can be used?
Here are some guidelines as to what type of audio files are suited for slicing using 
hitpoints:
• Each individual sound should have a noticeable attack.
Slow attacks, legato playing, etc. may not produce the expected result.
• Poorly recorded audio...