Steinberg Cubase Ai 5 Manual

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The Pool
If you have activated the Audition Loop button before you 
audition, the following will happen:
When you click the Audition button to audition a clip, 
the clip is repeated indefinitely until you stop playback by 
clicking the Audition or Audition Loop button again.
When you click in the waveform image to audition, the 
section from the point you clicked to the end of the clip is 
repeated indefinitely until you stop playback.
Opening clips in the Sample Editor
The Sample Editor allows you to perform detailed editing 
on the clip (see “The Sample Editor” on page 124). You 
can open clips in the Sample Editor directly from the Pool 
in the following way:
If you double-click a clip waveform icon or a clip name 
in the Media column, the clip opens in the Sample Editor.
One practical use for this is to set a snap point for a clip 
(see “Adjusting the snap point” on page 129). When you 
later insert the clip from the Pool into the project, you can 
have it be properly aligned according to the set snap point.
About the Import Medium dialog
The Import Medium dialog lets you import files directly into 
the Pool. It is opened from the Media or context menu or 
using the Import button in the Pool window.
This is a standard file dialog, where you can navigate to 
other folders, audition files, etc. The following audio file 
formats can be imported:
 Wave (Normal or Broadcast, see “Broadcast Wave files” on 
page 230) AIFF and AIFC (Compressed AIFF)
“Importing ReCycle files” on page 258)
 SD2 (Sound Designer II) 
 MPEG Layer 3 (mp3 files – see “Importing compressed audio 
files” on page 258)
 Windows Media Audio (Windows – see “Importing com-
pressed audio files” on page 258)
They may have the following characteristics:

 Any sample rate (although files with another sample rate than 
the one used in the project will play back at the wrong speed 
and pitch – see below).
 8, 16, 24 bit or 32 bit float resolution
The following videos formats can also be imported:
 AVI (Audio Video Interleaved)
 MOV and QT (QuickTime)

 MPEG 1 and 2 video files
ÖIt is also possible to use the commands on the Import 
submenu on the File menu to import audio or video files 
into the Pool.
When you select a file in the Import Medium dialog and 
click Open, the Import Options dialog opens.
!For video files to be played back correctly, the right 
codecs have to be installed. 
						

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The Pool
It contains the following options:
Copy File to Working Directory
Activate this if you want a copy of the file to be made in the Audio folder of 
the project, and have the clip refer to this copy. If the option is off, the clip 
will refer to the original file in the original location (and will thus be marked 
as “external” in the Pool – see “About the Status column symbols” on 
page 145).
Convert to Project section
Here you can choose to convert the sample rate (if the sample rate is dif-
ferent than the one set for the project) or the sample size, i. e. resolution 
(if the sample size is lower than the record format used in the project).
The options are only available if necessary. Note that if you are importing 
several audio files at once, the Import Options dialog will instead contain 
a “Convert and Copy to Project if needed” checkbox. When this is acti-
vated, the imported files will be converted only if the sample rate is differ-
ent or the sample size is lower than the project’s.
Do not Ask again
If this is activated, files will always be imported according to the settings 
you have made, without this dialog appearing. This can be reset in the 
Preferences (Editing–Audio page). 
ÖYou can always convert files later by using the Convert 
Files (see “Convert Files” on page 153) or Conform Files 
(see “Conform Files” on page 154) options.
Changing the Pool Record folder
All audio clips that you record in the project will end up in 
the Pool Record folder. The Pool Record folder is indicated 
by the text “Record” in the Status column and by a red dot 
on the folder itself. By default, this is the main Audio folder. 
You can, however, at any time create a new Audio sub-
folder and designate this as your Pool Record folder.
To do this, proceed as follows:
1.Select the Audio folder or any audio clip.
You cannot designate the Video folder (or any of its subfolders) as the 
Pool Record folder.
2.Select “Create Folder” on the Media or context menu.
A new empty subfolder named “New Folder” appears in the Pool.
3.Select the new folder and rename it as desired.4.Select “Set Pool Record Folder” on the Media or con-
text menu, or click in the Status column of the new folder.
The new folder now becomes the Pool Record folder, and any audio re-
corded in the project will be saved in this folder.
Organizing clips and folders
If you accumulate a large number of clips in the Pool, it 
may sometimes be difficult to quickly find specific items. In 
such cases, organizing clips in new subfolders with suit-
able names that reflect the content can be a solution. For 
example, you could put all sound effects in one folder, all 
lead vocals in another, etc. Proceed as follows:
1.Select the type of folder, audio or video, for which you 
want to create a subfolder.
You cannot put audio clips in a video folder and vice versa.
2.Select “Create Folder” on the Media or context menu.
A new empty subfolder named “New Folder” appears in the Pool.
3.Rename the folder as desired.
4.Drag and drop the clips you wish to move to the new 
folder.
5.Repeat steps 1–4 as necessary.
Applying processing to clips in the Pool
You can apply audio processing to clips from within the 
Pool in the same way as to events in the Project window. 
Simply select the clip(s) and choose a processing method 
from the Audio menu. To find out more about audio pro-
cessing, see the chapter “Audio processing and functions” 
on page 117.
Undoing processing
If you have applied processing to a clip, in the Project win-
dow, the Sample Editor, or in the Pool, this is indicated by 
the red and gray waveform symbol in the Status column. 
Freeze Edits
You can use the Freeze Edits function to create a new file 
with processing applied or to replace the original with a 
processed version, see “Freeze Edits” on page 123.
The Pool Record 
folder 
						

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The Pool
Minimize File
The option “Minimize File” on the Media or context menu 
allows you shrink the audio files according to the size of 
the audio clips referenced in a project. The files produced 
using this option only contain the audio file portions actu-
ally used in the project. This can significantly reduce the 
size of the project, if large portions of the audio files are 
unused. Therefore, the option is useful for archiving pur-
poses after you have completed a project.
ÖThis operation will permanently alter the selected au-
dio files in the Pool. This cannot be undone!
If this is not what you want, you can use the option “Back up Project” on 
the File menu instead, see “Back up Project” on page 256. This function 
also has the option of minimizing files, but copies all files into a new 
folder, leaving the original project untouched.
Proceed as follows:
1.Select the file(s) you wish to minimize.
2.Select “Minimize File” on the Media menu.
An alert appears, informing you that the entire Edit History will be cleared. 
Click Minimize to proceed or Cancel to stop the process. 
3.After the minimizing is finished, another alert appears, 
because the file references in the stored project have be-
come invalid. 
Click Save Now to save the updated project or click Later to proceed 
with the unsaved project. 
Only the audio portions actually used in the project remain 
in the corresponding audio file(s) in the Pool Record folder.
Prepare Archive
The option “Prepare Archive” on the Media menu is useful 
if you want to archive a project. It verifies that every clip 
referenced in the project is located in the same folder, and 
takes actions if that is not the case: 
Any files that are located outside the current project 
folder will be copied into it.
Please note that audio files residing within the project folder will not be 
copied to the audio folder. You will therefore have to copy them there 
manually before backing up the audio folder or save them separately dur-
ing backup, see below.
If any processing has been applied, you will be asked 
whether you want to Freeze Edits.
If you do this, you do not have to archive the Edits folder. Everything be-
longing to the project will be contained in the project file and the Audio 
folder.
Once you have performed a Prepare Archive, you can copy 
the project file, the Audio folder and any other audio mate-
rial you saved in the project folder to a different location, 
e. g. a backup disk.
It is not necessary to archive the Images folder, since these 
Images can be recreated by Cubase AI. You may also find a 
file with the extension “.csh” in the project folder. This con-
tains image information for edited clips and other data that 
can be recreated, so it can safely be deleted.
Convert Files
Selecting the option “Convert Files” on the Media or con-
text menu opens the Convert Options dialog which oper-
ates on selected files. Use the pop-up menus to specify 
which audio file attributes you want to keep and which you 
want to convert. The available settings are:
Sample Rate
Keep as is, or convert to a sample rate between 8.000 and 96.000 kHz.
Sample Width
Keep the sample width (resolution) as is, or convert to 16 Bit, 24 Bit or 
32 Bit Float.
Channels
Keep as is, or convert the file to Mono or Stereo Interleaved.
File Format
Keep as is, or convert to Wave or AIFF format.
!Video clips are always referenced and not stored in 
the project folder. 
						

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The Pool
Options
When you convert a file, you can use the Options pop-up 
to set one of the following options regarding what to do 
with the new file:
Conform Files
By using this command, you will change all selected files 
that have different file attributes than what is specified for 
the project, to conform to this standard.
Proceed as follows:
1.Select the clips in the Pool.
2.Select “Conform Files…” on the Media menu.
A dialog opens allowing you to choose between keeping or replacing the 
original unconverted files in the Pool. 
The following applies:
 Clip/event references in the Pool are always redirected to the 
conformed files.
 If any “keep” option is selected, original files remain in the 
Project’s Audio folder and new files are created.
 If you select the “Replace” option, files in the Pool and in the 
Project’s Audio folder are replaced.
Option Description
New Files Creates a copy of the file in the audio folder and converts 
this new file according to the chosen attributes. The new 
file is added to the Pool, but all clip references will still 
point to the original, unconverted file.
Replace Files Converts the original file without changing clip refer-
ences. The references are however saved with the next 
save action.
New + 
Replace in 
PoolCreates a new copy with the chosen attributes, replaces 
the original file with the new one in the Pool and redirects 
the current clip references from the original file to the new 
file. This is the option to select if you want your audio clips 
to refer to the converted file, but still want to keep the orig-
inal file on disk (e. g. if the file is used in other projects). 
						

							15
Working with Track Presets 
						

							156
Working with Track Presets
Introduction
Track presets are templates from audio, MIDI or instrument 
tracks that can be applied to newly created or existing 
tracks of the same type. They contain sound and channel 
settings, thus allowing you to quickly browse, preview, se-
lect and change sounds, or reuse channel settings across 
projects. 
Types of track presets
There are four kinds of track presets (audio, instrument, 
MIDI and Multi) and two kinds of VST presets (VST Instru-
ment presets and VST effect plug-in presets). These are 
described in the following sections.
ÖNote that volume and pan will be restored only when 
creating a new track from a track preset.
Audio track presets
Track presets for audio tracks include all settings that “de-
fine” the sound. You can use the factory presets as a 
starting point for your own editing and save the audio set-
tings that you optimized for an artist you often work with as 
a preset for future recordings. 
The following data will be saved in audio track presets:
 Insert FX settings (including VST effect presets)

 Volume + Pan
Instrument track presets
Instrument track presets offer both MIDI and audio features 
and are best choice when handling sounds of simple, 
mono-timbral VST Instruments. Use instrument track pre-
sets for auditioning your tracks, inspiration, or saving your 
preferred sound settings. You can directly extract sounds 
from instrument track presets for use in instrument tracks. 
The following data will be saved in instrument track presets:


 Audio Volume + Pan

 Staff settings
 Color settings
 Drum map settings
MIDI track presets
MIDI tracks should be used for multi-timbral VST Instru-
ments. When creating MIDI track presets you can either in-
clude the currently set channel, or the currently set patch. 
See “Creating a track preset” on page 158 for details.
The following data will be saved in MIDI track presets:
 MIDI Modifiers (Transpose, etc.)
 Output + Channel or Program Change

 Staff settings
 Color settings
 Drum map settings
Multi track presets
You can use multi track presets e.g. when recording setups 
that require several microphones (a drum set or a choir, 
where you record always under the same conditions) and 
have to edit the resulting tracks in a similar way, or for lay-
ered tracks, where you use several tracks to generate a 
certain sound instead of manipulating only one track.
If you select more than one track when creating a track 
preset, the settings of all selected tracks will be saved as 
one multi track preset. Since you can apply a multi track 
preset only if the target tracks are of the same type, num-
ber and sequence as the tracks in the track preset, multi 
track presets are useful when you have a recurring situa-
tion with very similar tracks and settings.
VST (Instrument) presets
VST Instrument presets (extension .vstpreset) are VST 
presets that behave like instrument track presets in the 
context of the Project window and contain a VST Instru-
ment and its settings but no modifiers, inserts or EQ set-
tings. You can directly extract sounds from VST presets 
for use in instrument tracks. 
The following data is saved in VST Instrument presets:

 
						

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Working with Track Presets
VST effect plug-ins are available in VST3 and VST2 for-
mat. Presets for these effects are also saved as VST pre-
sets. These that can be part of audio track presets (see 
“Audio track presets” on page 156).
ÖIn this manual, “VST presets” stands for VST3 Instru-
ment presets, unless stated otherwise.
Applying track presets
When you apply a track preset, all saved settings are ap-
plied, see “Types of track presets” on page 156. Track 
presets can be applied to tracks of their own type only, i. e. 
audio track presets to audio tracks, etc. The only excep-
tion are instrument tracks: for these VST presets are also 
available. Note that applying VST presets to instrument 
tracks leads to removal of modifiers, inserts or EQs, since 
these settings are not stored in VST presets, see “Previe-
wing MIDI, instrument and VST presets independently of 
tracks” on page 159.
Applying track or VST presets via drag and drop
1.Open the Save Track Preset dialog for the desired 
track type and select a preset.
2.Drag and drop it onto a track of the same type.
ÖYou can also drag and drop track presets from the 
Windows Explorer or the Mac OS Finder.
Applying track or VST presets in the Inspector 
or the context menu of the track
1.Select a track in the Project window.
2.Click the VST Sound button in the Inspector or right-
click the track to open the context menu and select “Apply 
Track Preset”.
The Presets browser opens. Here, the files are presented in list form.
3.Select a track or VST preset from the list.
If needed, activate the Categories option in order to show a customiz-
able filter section.
4.Click outside the browser to apply the selected preset 
or click the Reset button below the list to return to the un-
changed track.
Applying a multi track preset
1.Select several tracks in your project. 
The selected tracks have to be of the same type, number and sequence 
as the tracks in the track preset.
2.Right-click the track to open the context menu and se-
lect “Apply Track Preset”.
The Presets browser opens. Only multi track presets corresponding to 
the selection of tracks in the project will be shown. 
3.Select a multi track preset from the list.
4.Click outside the browser to apply the selected preset 
or click the Reset button below the list to return to the un-
changed track.
Reloading track or VST presets
To revert to the default settings of the applied preset, click 
the “Reload Track Preset” button.
!Once a track preset is applied, you cannot undo the 
changes! It is not possible to remove an applied pre-
set from a track and return to the previous state. If you 
are not satisfied with the track settings, you can either 
edit the settings manually or apply another preset. 
						

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Working with Track Presets
Applying Inserts and EQ settings from track 
presets
Instead of handling complete track presets, it is also pos-
sible to apply Insert or Equalizer settings from track pre-
sets:
1.Select the desired track, open the Inspector or the 
Channel Settings window and click the VST Sound button 
on the Inserts or Equalizers tab/section.
The presets pop-up menu is opened. 
2.Select “From Track Preset…” in the pop-up menu.
The Presets browser opens, showing all available track presets that con-
tain Inserts or EQ settings. 
3.Select the track preset with the desired Inserts or EQs 
and click outside the browser.
For information on the general handling of Inserts presets, 
see “Effect presets” on page 94. The general handling of 
EQ presets is described in the section “Using EQ pre-
sets” on page 79.
Extracting sound from an instrument track or 
VST preset
For instrument tracks, you can extract the “sound” of an 
instrument track preset or VST preset, that means the VST 
Instrument and its settings.
Proceed as follows:
1.Select the instrument track to which you want to apply 
a sound.
2.Click the VST Sound button below the Output Rou-
ting field in the Inspector. 
The Presets browser opens, showing a list of all available 
presets. 
3.Select an instrument track preset or VST preset by 
double-clicking on it. 
The VST instrument and its settings (but no inserts, EQs and modifiers) 
of the existing track are overwritten with the data of the track preset. The 
previous VST instrument for this instrument track is removed and the new 
VST instrument with its settings is set up for the instrument track. 
ÖThe VST instrument of an instrument track does not 
show up in the VST Instrument window but only in the 
Plug-In Information window, see the section “The Plug-in 
Information window” on page 97.
Creating a track preset
A track preset is created from an existing audio, MIDI or 
instrument track – or several of these tracks. Proceed as 
follows:
1.Select one or more tracks in the Project window. 
If several tracks are selected, all of them are stored in one combined 
multi track preset, see “Multi track presets” on page 156.
2.Right-click one of the selected tracks in the Track list to 
open the context menu and select “Create Track Preset”.
The Save Track Preset dialog opens. 
3.Enter a file name in the “File Name” field.
The track preset file name extension .trackpreset is assigned automatically.
If you selected a MIDI track, you can include either the 
MIDI channel or the MIDI patch in your track preset.
ÖIf you want to use a MIDI track preset for a pre-config-
ured VST Instrument setup, load the VST Instrument(s) in 
the VST Instruments window, select a VST Instrument 
patch, save the track preset and do not change the patch 
afterwards. To ensure this, use a template project with the 
VSTi setup included and save the sounds (track presets) 
of this template project in specific subfolders, as they only 
work within this setup.
4.Open the “Tag Editor” by clicking on the correspond-
ing option and edit the tags.
5.Click OK to create the track preset. 
						

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Working with Track Presets
Track presets are saved within the application folder in the 
“Track Presets” folder (in default subfolders named accord-
ing to their track type: audio, MIDI, instrument and multi).
Creating tracks from track presets 
or VST presets
Using drag and drop
1.Open the Save Track Preset dialog for the desired 
track type and select a preset.
2.Drag and drop the preset onto the Track list in the 
Project window.
One or more (in case of multi track presets) tracks will be created. If you 
drag and drop a VST instrument preset, this will result in an instrument 
track.
ÖYou can also drag and drop from the Windows Ex-
plorer or the Mac OS Finder.
Using the Browse Sounds dialog
1.Right-click the Track list to open the context menu and, 
on the Add Track submenu, select “Browse Sounds…”.
The Browse Sounds dialog with all available presets opens. 
2.Select a track or VST preset from the list of all presets.
At this point you can preview selected MIDI and instrument track presets 
as well as VST presets, see “Previewing MIDI, instrument and VST presets 
independently of tracks” on page 159. If you want to list a certain track pre-
set type only, open the respective folder in the Browser section.
3.Click OK to create one or more (in case of multi track 
presets) tracks.
Using the Add Track function
1.Right-click the Track list to open the context menu and 
select the desired option on the context menu.
If you want to create more than one track of the same 
type, enter the number in the Count field.
2.Click “Browse Presets” to open the Browse Presets 
section of the “Add Track” dialog with the search pane 
and a list of all available presets.
The view is filtered to show only the corresponding track presets. 
If you want to see the contents of presets subfolders 
within the VST Sound node, click the “Show Location” 
option to open the Browser section.
3.Select a track or VST preset.
4.Click OK to create the track.
Notice that the new track will not be named after the track preset.
ÖThis method is not available for multi track presets.
Previewing MIDI, instrument and 
VST presets independently of tracks
1.Open the “Browse Sounds” dialog and select a MIDI, 
an instrument track or a VST preset.
2.Make sure the “In ‘All MIDI Inputs’” option is activated 
for your MIDI input device (default setting).
Only MIDI data incoming via “All MIDI Inputs” is used for preview.
3.Click the MIDI Input button.
4.Play some MIDI notes via your MIDI input device, for 
example a keyboard.
The Activity meter on the far right mirrors the MIDI in activity.
!You cannot change the default folders, but you can 
add further subfolders, e.g. “drums” and “choir”. 
						

							16
Remote controlling Cubase AI