Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

Chord Functions
Controlling MIDI or Audio Playback using the Chord Track
831
Chords & Scales
This maintains the intervals of the original chord or scale as far as possible.
Chords
This transposes MIDI notes to match the key note and maps them to the 
current chord.
Scales
This transposes MIDI notes to match the current scale. This allows a bigger 
variety of notes and a more natural performance.
Root Notes
This transposes MIDI notes to match the root note of the chord event. The 
effect corresponds to...

Chord Functions
Controlling MIDI or Audio Playback using the Chord Track
832
Follow Directly
Activate this if your VariAudio segments (Cubase Pro only) or MIDI notes are 
already in accordance with the chord track. This is the case if you extracted 
your chords from the MIDI events on the track by selecting Project > Chord 
Track > Create Chord Symbols, for example.
Synchronize Track Data with Chord Track First
Activate Analyze Chords if the track data has nothing in common with the 
chord events. This...

Chord Functions
Assigning Voices to Notes
833
Assigning Voices to Notes
You can transpose MIDI notes to match the voices of a selected voicing library.
PROCEDURE
•Select Project > Chord Track > Assign Voices to Notes.
RESULT 
The note pitches now match the voicing of the chord track and you can still edit the 
MIDI notes. If you now select a note in the Key Editor, you see that Voice in the info 
line is assigned.
Extracting Chord Events from MIDI
You can extract chords from MIDI notes, parts, or tracks....

Chord Functions
Extracting Chord Events from MIDI
834
2. Select Project > Chord Track > Create Chord Symbols.
The Create Chord Symbols dialog opens.
3. Make your settings and click OK.
RESULT 
The chord events are added on the chord track.
NOTE
Cubase Pro only: You can now open the Chord Assistant to create variations.
RELATED LINKS
Create Chord Symbols Dialog on page 834
Create Chord Symbols Dialog
This dialog allows you to determine, which MIDI data should be taken into account 
when extracting chord...

Chord Functions
Recording Chord Events with a MIDI Keyboard
835
Recording Chord Events with a MIDI Keyboard
You can use a MIDI keyboard to record chord events on the chord track.
PREREQUISITE 
Your project contains an instrument track with Record Enable or Monitor activated.
PROCEDURE
1. On the chord track, activate Record Enable.
2. On the Transport Panel, activate Record.
3. Play some chords on your MIDI keyboard.
RESULT 
All recognized chords are recorded as chord events on the chord track.
NOTE
The...

836
Chord Pads
Chord pads allow you to play with chords, and to change their voicings and 
tensions. In terms of harmonies and rhythms, they allow for a more playful and 
spontaneous approach to composition than the chord track functions.
You can:
• Perform with chords in realtime via a MIDI keyboard.
• Record your performance as MIDI events on a MIDI or instrument track or 
even on the chord track.
NOTE
We assume that you have a MIDI keyboard connected and set up.
RELATED LINKS
Voicings on page 825...

Chord Pads
Chord Pads Zone
837
The chord pads zone holds the following controls:
1)Close Chord Pads Zone
Closes the chord pads zone.
2)Current Player
Shows the current player and opens a menu where you can select another 
player.
3)Chord Pad
Each chord pad can contain a chord symbol. To change it, click the Open 
Editor control on the left edge of the chord pad.
4)Keyboard
Shows which keys are played when you trigger a chord pad. To zoom the 
keyboard, click a key and drag up or down. To scroll the...

Chord Pads
Chord Pads Zone
838
10)Show/Hide Chord Assistant
Shows/Hides the Chord Assistant that shows suggestions of chords that 
match the chord that you specified as the origin chord.
11)Show/Hide Settings
Shows/Hides the chord settings, where you can configure different players, 
the pad layout, and the remote assignment.
RELATED LINKS
Chord Pad Settings – Remote Control on page 850
Players and Voicings on page 854
Chord Pad Controls
The chord pad controls allow you to edit the chord pads.
• To show...

Chord Pads
Chord Pads Zone
839
5)AV (Adaptive Voicing)/L (Lock)
By default, all chord pads follow the adaptive voicing. This is indicated by an 
AV symbol. If you change the voicing for a pad manually however, Adaptive 
Voicing is deactivated.
An L symbol indicates that the chord pad is locked for editing.
6)Voicing
Allows you to set another voicing for the chord pad.
7)Tensions
Allows you to add/remove tensions for the chord.
Chord Pad Context Menu
•Use X as Origin for Chord Assistant
Sets the chord of...

Chord Pads
Functions Menu
840
Functions Menu
•Show Voicing Indicators
Allows you to activate/deactivate the voicing indicators that can be displayed 
at the bottom of each chord pad.
•Assign Pads from Chord Track
Assigns the chord events from the chord track to the chord pads in the same 
order as they appear on the chord track. Chord events that have more than 
one occurrence are only assigned once.
•Snap Playback to Musical Grid
Allows you to delay the playback of a triggered chord pad to the next...