Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual

Export Audio Mixdown
The available file formats
951
Windows Media Audio Pro files (Windows only)
This is a continuation of the Windows Media Audio format developed by Microsoft 
Inc. Due to the advanced audio codecs and lossless compression used, WMA Pro 
files can be decreased in size with no loss of audio quality. Furthermore, WMA Pro 
features the possibility of mixing down to 5.1 surround sound. The files have the 
extension “.wma”.
When you select “Windows Media Audio File” as the file format, you...

Export Audio Mixdown
The available file formats
952
Constant Bitrate
This will encode to a 5.1 surround file with a constant bit rate (set in the Bit 
Rate/Channels menu, see below).
Constant bit rate is preferably used if you want to limit the size of the final file. 
The size of a file encoded with a constant bit rate is always the bit rate times 
the duration of the file.
Variable Bitrate
Encodes to a 5.1 surround file with a variable bit rate, according to a quality 
scale (the desired quality is set...

Export Audio Mixdown
The available file formats
953
The Quiet Mode in a Windows Media player can be set to one of three settings. 
Below, these settings are listed together with an explanation of how the Dynamic 
Range settings affect them:
• Off: If Quiet Mode is off, the dynamic range settings that were automatically 
calculated during the encoding will be used.
• Little Difference: If this is selected and you have not manually changed the 
dynamic range settings, the peak level will be limited to 6...

954
Synchronization
Background
What is synchronization?
Synchronization is the process of getting two or more devices to play back together 
at the same exact speed and position. These devices can range from audio and 
video tape machines to digital audio workstations, MIDI sequencers, 
synchronization controllers, and digital video devices.
Synchronization basics
There are three basic components of audio/visual synchronization: position, speed, 
and phase. If these parameters are known for a particular...

Synchronization
Timecode (positional references)
955
Machine control is an integral part of any synchronization setup. In many cases, the 
device simply called “the master” will control the whole system. However, the term 
“master” can also refer to the device that is generating the position and speed 
references. Care must be taken to differentiate between the two.
Master and slave
Calling one device the “master” and another the “slave” can lead to a great deal of 
confusion. The timecode relationship...

Synchronization
Timecode (positional references)
956
Timecode standards
Timecode has several standards. The subject of the various timecode formats can 
be very confusing due to the use and misuse of the shorthand names for specific 
timecode standards and frame rates. The reasons for this confusion are described 
in detail below. The timecode format can be divided into two variables: frame count 
and frame rate.
Frame count (frames per second)
The frame count of timecode defines the standard with which...

Synchronization
Clock sources (speed references)
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24 fps
This is the true speed of standard film cameras.
24.9 fps (Cubase Pro only)
This frame rate is commonly used to facilitate transfers between PAL and 
NTSC video and film sources. It is mostly used to correct for some error.
25 fps
This is the frame rate of PAL video.
29.97 fps
This is the frame rate of NTSC video. The count can be either non-drop or 
drop-frame.
30 fps
This frame rate is not a video standard anymore but has been commonly used...

Synchronization
The Project Synchronization Setup dialog
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Audio clock
Audio clock signals run at the speed of the sample rate used by a digital audio 
device and are transmitted in several ways:
Word clock
Word clock is a dedicated signal running at the current sample rate that is fed 
over BNC coaxial cables between devices. It is the most reliable form of audio 
clock and is relatively easy to connect and use.
AES/SPDIF Digital Audio
An audio clock source is embedded within AES and SPDIF digital...

Synchronization
The Project Synchronization Setup dialog
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• On the Transport menu, select the “Project Synchronization Setup…” option.
• On the Transport panel, [Ctrl]/[Command]-click the Sync button.
The dialog is organized into sections separating related groups of settings. The 
arrows shown between the various sections of the dialog indicate how settings in 
one section influence settings in another section. In the following, the available 
sections are described in detail.
The Cubase Section
At...

Synchronization
The Project Synchronization Setup dialog
960
ASIO Audio Device
This option is only available with audio cards that support ASIO Positioning 
Protocol. These audio cards have an integrated LTC reader or ADAT sync 
port and can perform a phase alignment of timecode and audio clock.
VST System Link
VST System Link can provide all aspects of sample-accurate synchronization 
between other System Link workstations.
RELATED LINKS
Working with VST System Link on page 966
Timecode Preferences
When...