Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual
Have a look at the manual Steinberg Cubase 8 Manual online for free. It’s possible to download the document as PDF or print. UserManuals.tech offer 523 Steinberg manuals and user’s guides for free. Share the user manual or guide on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.
![Page 808
Note Expression
Note Expression and MIDI
808
Setting the length of the release phase
To determine the length of the release phase, drag the release length handle or
enter the value manually on the info line. You can also modify the release length after
having edited or recorded controller data. Only the controllers within the specified
length will be heard during playback.
NOTE
When you have opened the editor for several notes and hold down [Alt]/[Option]
while setting the release length for one...](http://img.usermanuals.tech/thumb/86/98229/w64_d_1507296127-steinberg-cubase-8-manual_d-807.png "Page 808
Note Expression
Note Expression and MIDI
808
Setting the length of the release phase
To determine the length of the release phase, drag the release length handle or
enter the value manually on the info line. You can also modify the release length after
having edited or recorded controller data. Only the controllers within the specified
length will be heard during playback.
NOTE
When you have opened the editor for several notes and hold down [Alt]/[Option]
while setting the release length for one...")
Note Expression Note Expression and MIDI 811 3. On the MIDI menu, open the Note Expression submenu and select “Convert to Note Expression”. The MIDI data of the types you specified in the Note Expression MIDI Setup dialog is converted from controller lane data into Note Expression data, leaving the corresponding controller lanes empty. RESULT During this process, the program searches for notes that are sounding at the same time as the controllers and if several notes are playing at the same time, the same Note Expression parameters will be attributed to them, with the same values. NOTE When converting MIDI controllers into Note Expression data, release phases are automatically created where necessary, so that no controller data is lost during this process. IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT When you are editing the MIDI notes after the conversion, it might be necessary to consolidate the controller data. RELATED LINKS Editing the release phase of a note on page 807 Consolidating MIDI overlaps It can be problematic to convert regular MIDI controllers into Note Expression data or to edit MIDI controllers which have been recorded as Note Expression data. For example, when you move notes so that they overlap other notes containing the same controllers (e. g. by moving or quantizing), these controllers are conflicting. This might cause trouble, especially for connected MIDI devices. You can eliminate such controller conflicts using the “Consolidate Note Expression Overlaps” command on the Note Expression submenu of the MIDI menu. When you select this command, the following happens: • If notes overlap that contain data for the same controller, the controller values of the second note are used from the beginning of the overlap. • If a note is moved so that it is positioned entirely within a longer note and if these notes contain controller data for the same controller, the controller values of the longer note are used until the encompassed note starts. The controllers for the “embedded” shorter note are used for the entire length of that note. At the end of the shorter note, the controllers of the longer note are used again.
Note Expression Note Expression and MIDI 812 Distributing notes to different channels If you do not have a VST 3 instrument, but still want to use the Note Expression functions, proceed as follows: PROCEDURE 1. Add a multi-timbral instrument, open its control panel, and assign the same sound to different channels. 2. In the Inspector for the corresponding MIDI track, make sure the MIDI output pop-up menu is set to “Any”. 3. Enable the “MIDI as Note Expression” button and record or enter MIDI notes with expression as needed. 4. On the MIDI menu, open the Note Expression submenu and select “Distribute Notes to MIDI Channels”. This will distribute the MIDI notes to different channels (starting at channel 1). 5. Edit Note Expression for each note independently without controller conflicts. Dissolving Note Expression data • To convert Note Expression data into MIDI controller data on controller lanes, select the “Dissolve Note Expression” option from the Note Expression submenu on the MIDI menu. Note that this applies only to Note Expression data that consists only of MIDI controllers (i. e. not the VST 3 controller data). Removing all Note Expression data • To delete all the Note Expression data for the current selection, open the MIDI menu and, on the Note Expression submenu, select “Remove Note Expression”. Trimming Note Expression data When you reduce the release length of a note after entering Note Expression data for the release phase, some of the data ends up behind the release phase, thereby becoming unused. • To keep only those Note Expression events that are actually used, select the notes and select “Trim Note Expression to Note Length” from the Note Expression submenu on the MIDI menu. This will delete any Note Expression data present after the end of the release phase for the notes.
Note Expression HALion Sonic SE 813 HALion Sonic SE HALion Sonic SE is a VST 3-compatible VST instrument. For use with Note Expression, it offers the VST 3 parameters “Tuning” (Pitch), “Volume”, and “Pan”. HALion Sonic SE comes with several presets (with the file name extension “*.NoteExp”) that can be used with Note Expression. Use them to get a quick overview of the possibilities HALion Sonic SE offers when working with Note Expression. For detailed information about HALion Sonic SE and its parameters, refer to the separate PDF document HALion Sonic SE. NOTE You can also open the Project Browser to have all the Note Expression data shown in a list. RELATED LINKS Project Browser (Cubase Pro only) on page 926
814 Chord Functions The chord functions provide you with many possibilities for working with chords. The chord functions allow you to: • Build chord progressions by adding chord events to the chord track. • Convert chord events to MIDI. • Use the chord track to control audio playback (Cubase Pro only) or MIDI playback. • Use the chord track voicing to change the pitches of your MIDI. • Extract chord events from MIDI data to get an overview of the harmonic structure of a MIDI file. • Record chord events with a MIDI keyboard. RELATED LINKS Chord Editing Section on page 711 Chord Track The chord track allows you to add chord events and scale events. RELATED LINKS Scale Events on page 824 Chord Events on page 815
Chord Functions Chord Events 815 Adding the Chord Track PROCEDURE •Select Project > Add Track > Chord. RESULT The chord track is added to your project. Chord Events Chord events are representations of chords that control or transpose playback on MIDI, instrument, and audio tracks (Cubase Pro only). Chord events alter the pitches of MIDI notes and VariAudio segments (Cubase Pro only), if their tracks are set up to follow the chord track. Chord events have a specific start position. Their end, however, is determined by the start of the next chord event. They can have a root note, a type, a tension, and a bass note: 1) Root note 2) Type 3) Tension 4) Bass note RELATED LINKS Controlling MIDI or Audio Playback using the Chord Track on page 829
Chord Functions Chord Events 816 Chord Editor The Chord Editor allows you to define or change chord events, and to add new chord events. • To open the Chord Editor, double-click a chord event. 1)Go to Previous/Next Chord Allow you to select the previous/next chord on the chord track for editing. 2)Add Chord Adds a new undefined chord event on the chord track. NOTE This works only if the last chord event on the chord track is selected. 3)Chord definition buttons Activate these buttons to define a root note, a chord type, a tension, and a bass note for your chord event. NOTE If you do not select a separate bass note, the setting is linked to the root note, so that no extra bass note is heard. 4)Keyboard display Shows the notes of the chord event, considering the current voicing settings. 5)Define Chord by Text Input Allows you to define a chord using the computer keyboard. 6)Activate MIDI Input Allows you to define a chord by playing a chord on your MIDI keyboard. If the chord is recognized, it is reflected by the chord buttons and the keyboard display.
Chord Functions Chord Events 817 Adding Chord Events PREREQUISITE Add the chord track. PROCEDURE 1. Select the Draw tool and click in the chord track. An undefined chord event named X is added. 2. Select the Object Selection tool and double-click the chord event. 3. In the Editor, select a root note. 4. Optional: Select a chord type, tension, and bass note. 5. Do one of the following: • To close the Editor, click anywhere outside the Editor. • To add a new undefined chord event, click Add Chord. RELATED LINKS Adding the Chord Track on page 815 Defining Chords By Text Input In the chord Editor, you can use the text input field to define a chord with the computer keyboard. PROCEDURE 1. Double-click a chord event to open the chord Editor. 2. Click in the text input field at the bottom of the Editor. 3. Enter a chord by performing the following actions: • Define a root note, for example, C, D, E. • Define accidentals, for example, # or b. • Define the chord type, for example maj, min, dim, sus, or aug. • Define a chord extension, for example 7, 9, or 13. NOTE If you have activated Solfège in the Note Name pop-up menu (File > Preferences > Event Display > Chords), you can also enter chords in this format. You must capitalize the first letter and write “Re” instead of “re”, for example. Otherwise, the chord is not recognized. 4. Press [Tab] to add a new chord and define it.
Chord Functions Chord Events 818 Chord Assistant The Chord Assistant allows you to use a chord as a starting point to get suggestions for the next chord. • To open the Chord Assistant, in the Chord Editor, click Chord Assistant. The Chord Assistant has the following modes: •List •Proximity • Circle of Fifths
Chord Functions Chord Events 819 Chord Assistant – List (Cubase Pro only) The List mode of the Chord Assistant allows you to create harmonic chord progressions based on harmonic rules that can be more or less complex. 1)Go to Previous/Next Chord Allow you to select the previous/next chord on the chord track for editing. 2)Add Chord Adds a new undefined chord event on the chord track. NOTE This works only if the last chord event on the chord track is selected. 3)Suggestions Shows suggestions for the next chord. Click a chord suggestion to select it. 4)Complexity Filter Allows you to increase the complexity and thus the number of suggestions. The higher the complexity, the more suggestions you get. 5)Gap Mode Activate this button to get suggestions for the chords in between two defined chords based on the previous and the next chord. Deactivate this button to get suggestions for the next chord based on the previous chord. NOTE For this to work you must select all undefined chords in between two defined chords.
Chord Functions Chord Events 820 6)Algorithm Mode Select Cadence to build up a chord progression based on cadences. Select Common Notes to build up a progression by specifying how many common notes the chords should share. 7)Cadence Type NOTE This option is only available, if you selected Cadence as Algorithm Mode. Allows you to select a cadence type for the suggestions. This way, only the chords with specific harmonic functions are suggested. 8)Chord Assistant tabs Click the tabs to open one of the chord assistant modes. Chord Assistant – Proximity (Cubase Pro only) The Proximity mode of the Chord Assistant takes a set of harmonic rules into account to offer suggestions that match the origin chord. If you open the Chord Assistant for a chord event, the previous event is set as origin chord. This is shown in the bottom center of the Chord Assistant. The farer away a suggestion is situated from the origin chord in the graphic, the more complex the suggestion. The suggested chords are triads or 4-note chords. • To assign a chord to the selected chord event and play it, click it. The last three suggested chords that you clicked are shown with a highlighted frame. • To use a chord as origin for further suggestions, right-click the suggested chord and select Use as Origin. NOTE • If you move the mouse pointer over one of the suggestions in the Chord Assistant, a tooltip with suggestions for progressions is shown.