Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

Chord Pads
Preparations
841
Preparations
Before you can start working with the chord pads, you must add a MIDI or an 
instrument track with an instrument loaded, and open the chord pads zone.
PREREQUISITE 
You have installed and set up a MIDI keyboard.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Project > Add Track > Instrument.
2. In the Add Instrument Track dialog, select an instrument, and click Add 
Track.
An instrument track with the selected instrument loaded is added to your project, and 
select a sound that is suited...

Chord Pads
Chord Assistant
842
The Chord Assistant has two modes:
•Chord Assistant – Proximity (Cubase Pro only)
•Chord Assistant – Circle of Fifths
You must define an origin chord as follows:
• Right-click the chord pad with the chord you want to use as origin and select 
Use X as Origin for Chord Assistant.
The Chord Assistant shows suggestions for follow-on chords that you can assign 
to the chord pads.
Chord Assistant – Proximity Mode (Cubase Pro only)
The Proximity mode of the Chord Assistant uses a...

Chord Pads
Chord Assistant
843
RELATED LINKS
Chord Assistant – List (Cubase Pro only) on page 819
Chord Assistant – Circle of Fifths Mode
The Circle of Fifths mode of the Chord Assistant shows the chords in an 
interactive visualization of the circle of fifths.
The origin chord that defines the current key is shown in the center of the Chord 
Assistant. The tonic (I) of that key is displayed above the center. The outer circle 
shows the twelve major chords ordered in intervals of fifths.
The inner circle...

Chord Pads
Assigning Chords to Chord Pads
844
Assigning Chords to Chord Pads
Some chords are preassigned to the chord pads. But you can also assign your own 
chords.
To assign chords to chord pads, you can use:
• The chord Editor
• The Chord Assistant – Proximity (Cubase Pro only)
• The Chord Assistant – Circle of Fifths
•Your MIDI keyboard
• The chord events from the chord track
You can overwrite the preassigned chords, or clear all chord pads first to start from 
scratch. Proceed as follows:
• To the...

Chord Pads
Assigning Chords to Chord Pads
845
Assigning Chords with the Chord Assistant – Proximity Mode 
(Cubase Pro only)
If you have a chord that you want to use as a starting point to find follow-on chords, 
you can use the Chord Assistant – Proximity mode.
PROCEDURE
1. Right-click the chord pad that you want to use as a starting point and activate 
Use x as Origin for Chord Assistant.
The Chord Assistant opens, and the borders of the chord pad change their color to 
indicate that the assigned chord...

Chord Pads
Assigning Chords to Chord Pads
846
Assigning Chords with the Chord Assistant – Circle of Fifths 
Mode
If you have a chord that you want to use as a starting point for a chord progression, 
but you do not know how to create such a progression, you can use the Chord 
Assistant – Circle of Fifths.
PROCEDURE
1. Right-click the chord pad that you want to use as a starting point and activate 
Use x as Origin for Chord Assistant.
The Chord Assistant opens, and the borders of the chord pad change...

Chord Pads
Assigning Chords to Chord Pads
847
Assigning Chords with the MIDI Keyboard
If you know which chord you want to assign to a specific chord pad, you can use a 
MIDI keyboard.
PREREQUISITE 
You have selected a MIDI track or an instrument track.
PROCEDURE
1. Right-click the chord pad that you want to use for the new chord, and select 
Assign Pad from MIDI Input.
The borders of the chord pad change their color to indicate that it is now ready for 
recording.
2. On your MIDI keyboard, press the keys...

Chord Pads
Moving and Copying Chord Pads
848
Moving and Copying Chord Pads
You can swap the chord assignments between 2 pads or copy a specific chord and 
its settings from one pad to another.
• To swap the chord pad assignment between 2 pads, click a chord pad and 
drag it to another chord pad.
While you drag, the border of the destination chord pad changes its color. 
When you drop the pad on another, the chord assignments are swapped.
• To copy the chord assignment of one chord pad to another pad,...

Chord Pads
Playing Back and Recording Chords
849
Recording Chords on MIDI or Instrument Tracks
You can record the chords that are triggered through the chord pads on MIDI or 
instrument tracks. This way, you can play back and edit your performance at any 
time.
PREREQUISITE 
You have connected and set up a MIDI keyboard, you have opened and set up the 
chord pads zone, and you have added an instrument or a MIDI track for which a VST 
instrument is loaded to your project.
PROCEDURE
1. On the instrument...

Chord Pads
Chord Pad Settings – Remote Control
850
5. On your MIDI keyboard, press the keys that trigger the chord pads.
NOTE
Use the keys that are not assigned to play and record other chords.
RESULT 
The chord events are recorded on the chord track.
NOTE
The recorded chord events may sound different from the chord pad playback. This 
is because the voicing settings for the chord track differ from the chord pad 
voicings.
RELATED LINKS
Chord Functions on page 814
Voicings on page 825
Chord Pad Settings...