Steinberg Cubase Ai 5 Manual

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Audio processing and functions
Normalize
The Normalize function allows you to specify the desired 
maximum level of the audio. It then analyzes the selected 
audio and finds the current maximum level. Finally it sub-
tracts the current maximum level from the specified level 
and raises the gain of the audio by the resulting amount (if 
the specified maximum level is lower than the current max-
imum, the gain will be lowered instead). A common use for 
Normalizing is to raise the level of audio that was recorded 
at too low an input level. The dialog contains the following 
settings:
Maximum
The desired maximum level for the audio, between -50 and 
0 dB. The setting is also indicated below the Gain display 
as a percentage.
Pre- and Post-Crossfade
See “Pre/Post-Crossfade” on page 119.
Phase Reverse
Reverses the phase of the selected audio, turning the 
waveform “upside down”. 
The dialog contains the following settings:
Phase Reverse on
When processing stereo audio, this pop-up menu allows 
you to specify which channel(s) should be phase-reversed.
Pre- and Post-Crossfade
See “Pre/Post-Crossfade” on page 119.
Remove DC Offset
This function will remove any DC offset in the audio selec-
tion. A DC offset is when there is too large a DC (direct 
current) component in the signal, sometimes visible as the 
signal not being visually centered around the “zero level axis”. DC offsets do not affect what you actually hear, but 
they affect zero crossing detection and certain process-
ing, and it is recommended that you remove them.
Reverse
Reverses the audio selection, as when playing a tape 
backwards. There are no parameters for this function.
Silence
Replaces the selection with silence. There are no parame-
ters for this function.
Stereo Flip
This function works with stereo audio selections only. It al-
lows you to manipulate the left and right channel in various 
ways. 
The dialog contains the following parameters:
Mode
 
This pop-up menu determines what the function does:
!It is recommended that this function is applied to 
complete audio clips, since the DC offset (if any) is 
normally present throughout the entire recording.
Option Description
Flip Left-Right Swaps the left and right channel.
Left to Stereo Copies the left channel sound to the right channel.
Right to Stereo Copies the right channel sound to the left channel. 
						

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Audio processing and functions
Time Stretch
This function allows you to change the length and “tempo” 
of the selected audio without affecting the pitch. The dia-
log contains the following parameters:
Define Bars section
In this section, you set the length of the selected audio 
and the time signature:
Original Length section
This section contains information and settings regarding 
the audio selected for processing:
Resulting Length section
These settings are used if you want to stretch the audio to 
fit within a specific time span or tempo. The values will 
change automatically if you adjust the Time Stretch Ratio 
(see below).
Seconds Range section
These settings allow you to set the desired range for the 
time stretch.
Time Stretch Ratio section
The Time Stretch Ratio determines the amount of time 
stretch as a percentage of the original length. If you use 
the settings in the Resulting Length section to specify the 
amount of time stretch, this value will change automati-
cally. The possible range depends on the “Effect” option:
If the “Effect” checkbox is deactivated, the range is 75–
125 %.
This is the preferred mode if you want to preserve the character of the 
sound.
If the “Effect” checkbox is activated, you can specify val-
ues between 10 and 1000 %. 
This mode is mainly useful for special effects, etc.
Algorithm section
Here you can choose a preset for the Realtime algorithm. 
This is the algorithm used for the realtime time stretching 
features in Cubase AI. The Presets pop-up contains the 
same presets as found in the Algorithm pop-up in the 
Sample Editor.
Merge Merges both channels on each side for mono sound.
Subtract Subtracts the left channel information from the right and 
vice versa. This is typically used as a “Karaoke effect”, for 
removing centered mono material from a stereo signal.
Option Description
Bars If you use the tempo setting (see below), you can specify 
the length of the selected audio here, in bars.
Beats If you use the tempo setting, you can specify the length of 
the selected audio here, in beats.
Sign. If you use the tempo setting, you can specify the time sig-
nature here.
Option Description
Length in 
SamplesThe length of the selected audio, in samples.
Length in 
SecondsThe length of the selected audio, in seconds.
Tempo in BPM If you are processing music, and know the actual tempo 
of the audio, you can enter it here as beats per minute. 
This makes it possible to time-stretch the audio to an-
other tempo, without having to compute the actual time 
stretch amount. Option Description
Option Description
Samples The desired length in samples.
Seconds The desired length in seconds.
BPM The desired tempo (beats per minute). For this to work, 
you have to know the actual tempo of the audio, and 
specify this (along with time signature and length in bars) 
in the Original Length section to the left.
Option Description
Range Allows you to specify the desired length as a range be-
tween two time positions.
Use Locators Clicking the diamond-shaped button below the Range 
fields sets the Range values to the left and right Locator 
positions, respectively. 
						

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Audio processing and functions
Freeze Edits
The Freeze Edits function on the Audio menu allows you 
to make all processing and applied effects permanent for 
a clip:
1.Select the clip in the Pool or one of its events in the 
Project window.
2.Select “Freeze Edits…” from the Audio menu.
If there is only one edit version of the clip (no other clips 
refer to the same audio file), the following dialog will appear:
If you select “Replace”, all edits will be applied to the orig-
inal audio file (the one listed in the clip’s Path column in 
the Pool). If you select “New File”, the Freeze Edits opera-
tion will create a new file in the Audio folder within the 
project folder (leaving the original audio file unaffected).
If the selected clip (or the clip played by the selected 
event) has several edit versions (i.e. there are other clips 
referring to the same audio file), the following alert will 
appear:
As you can see, you do not have the option to Replace the 
original audio file in this case. This is because that audio 
file is used by other clips. Select “New File” to have a new 
file created in the Audio folder within the project folder. 
						

							12
The Sample Editor 
						

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The Sample Editor
Background
The Sample Editor allows you to view and manipulate audio 
by cutting and pasting, removing or drawing audio data or 
processing audio (see “Audio processing and functions” 
on page 117). This editing can be called “non-destructive”: 
The actual file (if created or imported from outside the 
project) will remain untouched.
The Sample Editor also contains most of the AudioWarp 
related functions, i.e. the realtime time stretching functions 
in Cubase AI. These can be used to match the tempo of au-
dio loops to the project tempo (see “AudioWarp: Tempo 
matching audio” on page 132).
Another special feature of the Sample Editor is hitpoint 
detection. Hitpoints allow you to create “slices”, which are 
useful, for example, if you want to change the tempo with-
out affecting the pitch (see “Working with hitpoints and 
slices” on page 134).
Opening the Sample Editor
You open the Sample Editor by double-clicking an audio 
event in the Project window or the Audio Part Editor, or by 
double-clicking an audio clip in the Pool. You can have 
more than one Sample Editor window open at the same 
time.
Note that double-clicking an audio part in the Project 
window will open the Audio Part Editor, even if the part 
only contains a single audio event.
This is described in a separate chapter, see “The Audio Part Editor” on 
page 138. 
						

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The Sample Editor
Window overview
The Elements menu
If you hold [Alt]/[Option] and right-click in the Sample Ed-
itor to bring up the context menu, you will find a submenu 
called “Elements”. By activating or deactivating options on 
this submenu, you specify what is shown in the editor win-
dow. Some of these options are also available as icons on 
the toolbar.
ÖProvided that the “Popup Toolbox on Right Click” op-
tion in the Preferences dialog (Editing–Tools page) is ac-
tivated, a right-click holding a modifier key brings up the 
context menu.
The toolbar
The toolbar contains the following tools:
To the right of the tools the estimated length of your audio 
file is displayed in bars and beats (PPQ) together with the 
estimated tempo and the time signature. If you want to use 
Musical mode, you should always verify if the length in bars 
corresponds to the audio file you imported. If necessary, 
listen to your audio and enter the correct bar length. The 
Algorithm pop-up allows you to select an algorithm for the 
realtime time stretching.
You can customize the toolbar by right-clicking it and 
using the context menu to hide or show items.
The Sample
Editor toolsAudition, Loop & Volume 
controls
Solo Editor
Autoscroll
Show 
Inspector
Snap on/off Show Audio Event Show Info Suspend Autoscroll 
when Editing
Snap to Zero CrossingMusical Mode 
						

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The Sample Editor
Selecting “Setup…” from the context menu allows you 
to rearrange sections on the toolbar, store toolbar presets, 
etc., see “Using the Setup options” on page 262.
The info line
If you activate the Show Info button on the toolbar, the info 
line will show information about the edited audio clip:
Initially, length and position values are displayed in the for-
mat specified in the Project Setup dialog. The info line can 
be customized, see “The Setup dialogs” on page 262. 
The Sample Editor Inspector
To the left in the Sample Editor, you will find the Sample Ed-
itor Inspector. It contains tools and functions for working in 
the Sample Editor. 
The Hitpoints tab
On this tab, the transients or hitpoints of the audio can be 
marked and edited (see “Working with hitpoints and sli-
ces” on page 134). Hitpoints allow you to slice your audio, 
and to create markers and events.
The thumbnail display
The thumbnail display provides an overview of the whole 
clip. The section currently shown in the main waveform dis-
play of the Sample Editor is indicated by a blue rectangle in 
the thumbnail, while the current selection range is shown in 
light blue. If the “Show Audio Event” button is activated in 
the toolbar, event start/end and snap point will also be 
shown in the thumbnail display.
You can move the blue rectangle in the thumbnail to 
view other sections of the clip.
Click in the lower half of the rectangle and drag to the left or right to 
move it.
You can resize the blue rectangle (by dragging its left or 
right edge) to zoom in or out, horizontally.
You can define a new viewing area by clicking in the up-
per half of the overview and dragging a rectangle. 
The ruler
The Sample Editor ruler is located between the thumbnail 
and the waveform displays. The ruler is explained in detail 
in the section “The ruler” on page 21.
The waveform display and the level scale
The waveform display shows the waveform image of the 
edited audio clip according to the wave image style set in 
the Preferences (Event Display–Audio page), see “Adjus-
ting how parts and events are shown” on page 25. To the 
left of the waveform display a level scale can be shown, in-
dicating the amplitude of the audio.
Audio format and length
Selected display format 
(for info line and ruler)Number of edits made to the clip
Zoom factor
Realtime status
Current selection range
Event Start Event End
Snap Point
Blue rectangle 
						

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The Sample Editor
When the level scale is shown, you can select whether 
the level should be shown as a percentage or in dB.
This is done by right-clicking the level scale and selecting an option from 
the context menu. This also allows you to hide the level scale.
To display the level scale after hiding it, bring up the 
Sample Editor context menu and activate Scale on the 
Elements submenu.
The Elements submenu also allows you to select 
whether you want the zero axis and/or the half level axis in-
dicated in the waveform display.
General Operations
Zooming
Zooming in the Sample Editor is done according to the 
standard zoom procedures, with the following special 
notes:
The vertical zoom slider changes the vertical scale rela-
tive to the height of the editor window, in a way similar to 
the waveform zooming in the Project window (see “Zoom 
and view options” on page 22).
The vertical zoom will also be affected if the Preference “Zoom Tool 
Standard Mode: Horizontal Zooming only” (Editing–Tools page) is deac-
tivated and you drag a rectangle with the Zoom tool.
The following options relevant to the Sample Editor are 
available on the Zoom submenu of the Edit menu or the 
context menu:
You can also zoom by resizing the rectangle in the 
thumbnail display.
See “The thumbnail display” on page 127.
The current zoom setting is shown in the info line, as a 
“samples per screen pixel” value.
Note that you can zoom in horizontally to a scale of less 
than one sample per pixel! 
This is required for drawing with the Pencil tool (see “Drawing in the 
Sample Editor” on page 131).
If you have zoomed in to one sample per pixel or less, 
the appearance of the samples depends on the option 
“Interpolate Audio Images” in the Preferences (Event Dis-
play–Audio page).
If the option is deactivated, single sample values are drawn as “steps”. If 
the option is activated, they are interpolated to a “curve” form.
Auditioning
While you can use the regular play commands to play 
back audio when the Sample Editor is open, it is often 
useful to listen to the edited material only.
ÖYou can adjust the auditioning level with the miniature 
level fader on the toolbar.
Half 
level 
axis Zero axis
Option Description
Zoom In Zooms in one step, centering on the position cursor.
Zoom Out Zooms out one step, centering on the position cursor.
Zoom Full Zooms out so that the whole clip is visible in the editor.
Zoom to 
SelectionZooms in so that the current selection fills the editor 
display.
Zoom to 
Selection (Horiz.)Zooms in horizontally so that the current selection fills 
the editor display.
Zoom to Event Zooms in so that the editor shows the section of the 
clip corresponding to the edited audio event. This is 
not available if you opened the Sample Editor from the 
Pool (in which case the whole clip is opened for edit-
ing, not an event).
Zoom In/Out 
VerticalThis is the same as using the vertical zoom slider (see 
above). 
						

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The Sample Editor
Using key commands
If you activate the “Playback Toggle triggers Local Preview” 
option in the Preferences (Transport page), you can start/
stop auditioning by pressing [Space]. This is the same as 
clicking the Audition icon on the toolbar.
Using the Audition icon
Clicking the Audition icon on the toolbar plays back the 
edited audio, according to the following rules:
 If you have made a selection, this selection will be played back.
 If there is no selection, but the option “Show Event” is acti-
vated (see “Show Audio Event” on page 132), the section of 
the clip corresponding to the event will be played back.
 If there is no selection, and “Show Event” is deactivated, play-
back will start at the cursor position (if the cursor is outside 
the display, the whole clip will be played back).
 If the Audition Loop icon is activated, playback will continue 
repeatedly until you deactivate the Audition Loop icon. Other-
wise, the section will be played back once.
Using the Speaker tool
If you click somewhere in the waveform display with the 
Speaker (“Play”) tool and keep the mouse button pressed, 
the clip will be played back from the position at which you 
clicked. Playback will continue until you release the mouse 
button.
Scrubbing
The Scrub tool allows you to locate positions in the audio 
by playing back, forwards or backwards, at any speed:
1.Select the Scrub tool.
2.Click in the waveform display and keep the mouse 
button pressed.
The project cursor is moved to the position at which you click.
3.Drag to the left or right.
The project cursor follows the mouse pointer and the audio is played 
back. The speed and pitch of the playback depends on how fast you 
move the pointer.
You can adjust the response of the Scrub tool with the 
Scrub Response (Speed) setting in the Preferences 
(Transport–Scrub page).
You will also find a separate Scrub Volume setting on this page.
Adjusting the snap point
The snap point is a marker within an audio event (or clip, 
see below). This is used as a reference position when you 
are moving events with snap activated, so that the snap 
point is “magnetic” to whatever snap positions you have 
selected.
By default, the snap point is set at the beginning of the au-
dio event, but often it is useful to move the snap point to a 
“relevant” position in the event, such as a downbeat, etc.
1.Activate the “Show Audio Event” option on the toolbar, 
so that the event is displayed in the editor.
2.Scroll so that the event is visible, and locate the “S” 
flag in the event.
If you haven’t adjusted this previously, it will be located at the beginning 
of the event.
3.Click on the “S” flag and drag it to the desired position.
When you drag the snap point, a tooltip shows its current position (in the 
format selected on the Sample Editor ruler).
If the Scrub tool is selected when you move the snap 
point, you will hear the audio while dragging (just like 
when scrubbing).
This makes it easier to find the correct position. 
						

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The Sample Editor
It is also possible to define a snap point for a clip (for 
which there is no event yet).
To open a clip in the Sample Editor, double-click it in the Pool. After hav-
ing set the snap point using the procedure described above, you can in-
sert the clip into the project from the Pool or the Sample Editor, taking 
the snap point position into account.
Making selections
To select an audio section in the Sample Editor, you click 
and drag with the Range Selection tool.
If Snap to Zero Crossing is activated on the toolbar, the 
start and end of the selection will always be at zero cross-
ings (see “Snap” on page 132).
You can resize the selection by dragging its left and 
right edge or by [Shift]-clicking.
Using the Select menu
In the Select submenu of the Edit menu you can find the 
following options:
Editing selection ranges
Selections in the Sample Editor can be processed in sev-
eral ways. Please note the following:
If you attempt to edit an event that is a shared copy (i.e. 
the event refers to a clip that is used by other events in the 
project), you are asked whether you want to create a new 
version of the clip.
Select “New Version” if you want the editing to affect the selected event 
only. Select “Continue” if you want the editing to affect all shared copies. 
Note: If you activate the option “Do not show this message again” in the 
dialog, any further editing you do will conform to the selected method 
(“Continue” or “New Version”). You can change this setting at any time 
with the “On Processing Shared Clips” pop-up menu in the Preferences 
(Editing–Audio page).
Cut, Copy and Paste
The Cut, Copy and Paste commands (on the Edit menu in 
the Sample Editor context menu or in the main Edit menu) 
work according to the following rules:
Selecting Copy copies the selection to the clipboard.
Selecting Cut removes the selection from the clip and 
moves it to the clipboard.
The section to the right of the selection is moved to the left to fill the gap.
!Events and clips can have different snap points. If 
you open a clip from the Pool you can edit the clip 
snap point. If you open a clip from within the project 
window, you can edit the event snap point. The clip 
snap serves as a template for the event snap point 
and does not affect snapping.
Function Description
All Selects the whole clip.
None Selects no audio (the selection length is set to “0”).
In Loop Selects all audio between the left and right locator.
Select Event Selects the audio that is included in the edited event 
only. This is not available if you opened the Sample Edi-
tor from the Pool (in which case the whole clip is 
opened for editing, not an event).
A selected range
From Start 
to CursorSelects all audio between the clip start and the project 
cursor.
From Cursor 
to EndSelects all audio between the project cursor and the 
end of the clip. For this to work, the project cursor must 
be within the clip boundaries.
Left Selection 
Side to CursorMoves the left side of the current selection range to the 
project cursor position. For this to work, the cursor must 
be within the clip boundaries.
Right Selection 
Side to CursorMoves the right side of the current selection range to 
the project cursor position (or the end of the clip, if the 
cursor is to the right of the clip). Function Description