Steinberg Cubase Essential 4 Menu Reference Manual

							Menu Reference 
						

							Revision and Quality Control:
Cristina Bachmann, Marion Bröer, Heiko Bischoff, Sabine Pfeifer
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part 
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Release Date: January 30, 2008
© Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, 2008.
All rights reserved. 
						

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Menu Reference 
						

							4
Menu Reference
Introduction
This manual lists all main menu items in Cubase Essential 
for quick reference. For any further information, please re-
fer to the Operation Manual.
Cubase Essential menu 
(Mac OS X only)
About Cubase Essential
Opens a window with information about the Cubase Es-
sential version number etc.
Preferences…
The Preferences dialog contains various settings and op-
tions. The dialog has several pages that you access by se-
lecting items in the Finder-like list on the left. To make 
settings without closing the dialog use the Apply button.
Use the Help button in the dialog for information about the 
items on the selected page.
Quit
Quits the program. If there are any unsaved changes in an 
open project, you will have the option of keeping these or 
discarding them before the program quits.
File menu
New Project
This item allows you to create a new untitled project. A list 
appears, allowing you to select an empty project or a 
project template. The factory templates are preconfigured 
setups to suit various types of projects. A project can be 
saved as a template, and will then appear on this list.
After making a selection, a project file dialog appears, al-
lowing you to specify a folder where all files relating to the 
new project will be stored. Select an existing folder or 
click the Create button to create a new folder.
Open…
This item opens a file dialog allowing you to locate and 
open saved project files. Cubase Essential Project files 
have the extension “.cpr”. Several projects can be open at 
the same time, but only one can be active. The active 
project is indicated by a blue button at the top left corner 
of the Project window.
Close
Closes the active window. If the Project window is active, 
the corresponding project will be closed.
Save
Saves any changes made to the project since you last 
saved. The Save command stores the project under its 
current name and location.
Save As…
Save As allows you to specify a new name and a new 
project folder for the project. 
Save Project to New Folder…
This item allows you to save the project into a new empty 
folder. It has some additional features that can be used for 
archiving purposes.
When a new empty folder has been selected, a dialog ap-
pears where you can change the name of the project and 
set the following options: 
						

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Menu Reference
•You can choose to minimize audio files.
This will crop files based on the audio clips referenced in the project. As 
the clips used in the project may be references to much larger audio files, 
this can reduce the project size significantly.
You can apply Freeze Edits.
This will make all processing and applied effects permanent for clips.
You can choose to remove all unused files.
When you save a project to a new folder, all files relating to 
the project based on the options set will be saved in the 
new project folder. The contents of the original project 
folder will be left untouched. If you are absolutely certain 
that you do not have any further need for the original project 
files, you can delete them.
Save as Template…
You can save any project as a template. When you create 
a new project, the available templates are listed, allowing 
you to base the new project on the selected template.
Saved templates will contain everything that was in the 
original project, including clips and events.
Revert
This menu item allows you revert to the last saved version 
of a project. If any new audio files have been recorded 
since you last saved, you have the option of keeping or 
deleting these.
Page Setup…
This item opens the standard Page Setup dialog, used for 
deciding about paper formats etc., before printing a score. 
The item is only available when the Score Editor is open.
Print… 
Opens the standard Print dialog, allowing you to select 
which pages to print, how many copies of each etc. This 
item is only available when the Score Editor is open.
Import
Export
Cleanup…
The Cleanup function helps you to save hard disk space by 
locating unused files which you can delete in the project 
folders on your disk.
Preferences…
ÖUnder Mac OS X, the Preferences dialog is accessed 
from the Cubase Essential menu.
The Preferences dialog contains various settings and op-
tions. The dialog has several pages that you access by se-
lecting items in the Explorer-like list on the left. To make 
settings without closing the dialog, use the Apply button.
Use the Help button in the dialog for information about the 
items on the selected page.
Option Description
Audio File… This command lets you import audio files directly into a 
project. The imported file will be placed at the current 
cursor position of the selected audio track.
Audio CD… Opens the Import from Audio CD dialog where you can 
import audio from CDs. For details use the Help function 
in the dialog.
Video File… Opens a file dialog allowing you to import a video file 
onto the video track. You do not have to create a video 
track before importing, it is automatically created. The im-
ported video will be placed at the current cursor position.
MIDI File… You can import Standard MIDI Files of Type “0” (all data 
on single track) or Type “1” (data on several tracks). 
When you import, you can choose to import the file into 
the current project, or to create a new project.
Option Description
MIDI File… Allows you to export MIDI tracks as standard MIDI files.
Audio 
Mixdown…Allows you to mix down and export an output bus. In Cu-
base Essential you can also export an audio track chan-
nel or any kind of audio channel in the mixer (including 
VST instrument channels, FX channels, Group channels 
and ReWire channels). The resulting mix is saved as a file 
on your hard disk, complete with effects, automation EQ 
etc., in one of several file formats. 
						

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Menu Reference
Key Commands…
The Key Commands dialog allows you to specify key com-
mands for virtually any Cubase Essential function, as well 
as customize existing key commands to your liking. Use 
the Help button in the dialog for information about the 
items in the dialog.
Recent Projects
This submenu provides shortcuts to the most recent 
projects you have been working with. The list is chrono-
logical with the most recent project at the top of the list.
Quit
ÖUnder Mac OS X, this item is accessed from the Cu-
base Essential menu.
This quits the program. If there are any unsaved changes 
in an open project, you will have the option of keeping 
these or discarding them before the program quits.
Edit menu
Undo/Redo
Cubase Essential offers wide-ranging, multiple Undo, al-
lowing you to undo virtually any action you perform.
To undo the last performed action, select Undo from the 
Edit menu, or use the corresponding key command (by 
default [Ctrl]/[Command]+[Z]).
If you select Undo again, the previously performed action will be undone, 
and so on.
To redo the last undone action, select Redo from the 
Edit menu, or use the corresponding key command (by 
default [Ctrl]/[Command]+[Shift]+[Z]).
Undone actions will be available for Redo until you perform another action 
(at which point the “Redo Stack” is cleared – see “History…” below).
History…
The Edit History window contains a graphical representa-
tion of the “Undo Stack” (the performed actions, with the 
most recent action at the top of the stack) and the “Redo 
Stack” (the undone actions, with the most recently un-
done action at the bottom of the stack). The two stacks 
are separated by a divider line.
The Edit History dialog allows you to undo or redo several 
actions in one go, by moving the divider between the Undo 
Stack and the Redo Stack (in essence, moving actions from 
the Undo Stack to the Redo Stack, or vice versa).
Cut/Copy/Paste
You can cut or copy selected events (or selection ranges) 
and paste them in again at the current cursor position on 
the original track(s).
Paste at Origin
This will paste an event at its original position, i.e. where it 
was originally cut or copied from.
Delete
This will delete all selected events.
!You can specify how many levels of Undo should be 
available with the “Maximum Undo” setting on the 
General page in the Preferences on the File menu. 
						

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Menu Reference
Split at Cursor
This splits selected events at the cursor position. If no 
events are selected, all events on all tracks intersected by 
the cursor will be split.
Split Loop
This splits all events at the left and right locator positions.
Range
The items on the Range submenu have the following 
functions:
Select
The items on this submenu have different functions, de-
pending on whether the regular event selection tool 
(Arrow tool) or the Range Selection tool is selected:
Event selection
Range selection
Option Description
Global Copy This copies everything in the selection range.
Cut Time Cuts out the selection range and moves it to the clip-
board. Events to the right of the removed range are 
moved to the left to fill out the gap.
Delete Time The selection range is removed and events to the right 
are moved to the left to fill out the gap.
Paste Time Pastes the clipboard data at the start position and track 
of the current selection. Existing events are moved to 
make room for the pasted data.
Paste Time 
at OriginPastes the clipboard data back at its original position. Ex-
isting events are moved to make room for the pasted 
data.
Split Splits any events or parts that are intersected by the se-
lection range, at the positions of the selection range 
edges.
Crop All events or parts that are partially within the selection 
range are cropped, that is sections outside the selection 
range are removed, leaving only events that are fully in-
side or outside the selection range.
Insert Silence Inserts empty track space at the start of the selection 
range. The length of the inserted silence equals the 
length of the selection range. Events to the right of the 
selection range start are moved to the right to “make 
room”. Events that are intersected by the selection range 
start are split, and the right section is moved to the right.
Option Description
All Selects all events in the window.
None Deselects all events.
In Loop Selects all events that are partly or wholly between the 
left and right locator.
From Start 
to CursorSelects all events that begin to the left of the project cur-
sor.
From Cursor 
to EndSelects all events that end to the right of the project cur-
sor.
All on Selected 
TracksSelects all events on the selected track.
Option Description
All In the Project window, this makes a selection that covers 
all tracks, from the start of the project to the end. In the 
Sample Editor, this selects the whole clip.
None Removes the current selection range.
In Loop Makes a selection between the left and right locator. In 
the Project window, the selection will span all tracks.
From Start 
to CursorMakes a selection from the start of the project to the 
project cursor. In the Project window, the selection will 
span all tracks.
From Cursor 
to EndMakes a selection from the project cursor to the end of 
the project. In the Project window, the selection will span 
all tracks.
Select Event This item (only available in the Sample Editor) selects the 
audio that is included in the edited event only.
All on selected 
tracksSelects all events on the selected track.
Left Selection 
Side to CursorMoves the left side of the current selection range to the 
project cursor position.
Right Selection 
Side to CursorMoves the right side of the current selection range to the 
project cursor position. 
						

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Menu Reference
Duplicate/Repeat…
Duplicate creates a copy of the selected event and 
places it directly after the original.
If several events are selected, all of these are copied “as one unit”, main-
taining the relative distance between the events.
Selecting “Repeat…” from the Edit menu opens a dia-
log, allowing you to create a number of copies (regular or 
shared) of the selected event(s).
This works just like the Duplicate function, except that you can specify 
the number of copies.
Fill Loop
This creates a number of copies starting at the left locator 
and ending at the right locator. The last copy is automati-
cally shortened to end at the right locator position.
Move to
The following functions are available from this submenu:
Convert to Real Copy
This creates a new version of a clip (that can be edited in-
dependently) and adds this to the Pool.
Group/Ungroup
You can group several events so that they are treated as a 
single unit, meaning that if you edit one of the grouped 
events, all other events in the group are affected as well.
Similarly, you can ungroup the events by selecting “Un-
group”.
Lock…/Unlock
If you want to make sure you don’t edit or move an event by 
accident, you can lock the selected event(s). Locking can 
affect one (or any combination) of the following properties:
To specify which of these properties should be affected 
by the Lock function, use the “Lock Event Attributes” pop-
up menu in the Preferences (Editing page).
Selecting locked events and choosing “Unlock” will un-
lock the events.
Mute/Unmute
You can mute (silence) events by selecting them and se-
lecting “Mute”.
Similarly, you can unmute the selected events by selecting 
“Unmute”.
Automation follows Events
This option can also be activated in the Preferences (Edit-
ing page). It is, however, also available on the Edit menu 
for quick activation and deactivation. When activated, au-
tomation events will automatically follow when you move 
an event or part on a track that contains automation for 
them. I.e. the automation events that affect an event will be 
moved along with it rather than remain in a specific posi-
tion in the project.
Option Description
Cursor Moves the selected event to the project cursor position. If 
there are several selected events on the same track, the 
first event will start at the cursor, and the following will be 
lined up end-to-start after the first one.
Origin Moves the selected events to their original positions, i.e. 
the positions at which they were originally recorded.
Front/
BackThis function doesn’t actually change the position of the 
events, but moves the selected events to the front or 
back, respectively. This is useful if you have overlapping 
events and want to see one that is partially obscured.
For audio events, this is an extra important feature, since 
only the visible sections of events will be played back. 
Moving an obscured audio event to front (or moving the 
obscuring event to back) will allow you to hear the whole 
event on playback.
Note that it is also possible to use the “Front” function on 
the event context menu for this (although this works in a 
different way).
Option Description
Position If this is locked, the event cannot be moved.
Size If this is locked, the event cannot be resized.
Other If this is locked, all other editing of the event is disabled. 
This includes adjusting the fades and event volume, pro-
cessing, etc. 
						

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Menu Reference
Auto Select Events under Cursor
This option can also be activated in the Preferences (Edit-
ing page). It is, however, also available on the Edit menu 
for quick activation and deactivation. When activated, all 
events on the selected track(s) that are “touched” by the 
project cursor are automatically selected.
Enlarge Selected Tracks
This option can also be activated in the Preferences (Edit-
ing – Project & Mixer page). When activated, the selected 
tracks in the Project Window are automatically enlarged in 
height.
Zoom
The following options are available on the Zoom submenu 
on the Edit menu:
Macros
If you have created Macros, these will be available on the 
Macros submenu. A Macro is a combination of several 
functions or commands, to be performed in one go. Mac-
ros are set up in the Key Commands dialog.
Project menu
Add Track
Select a track type from the Add Track submenu to add a 
new track. The “Browse Sounds…” option opens a dialog 
in which you can search for track presets or VST presets.
Duplicate Tracks
This will create a duplicate (copy) of the selected track.
Remove Selected Tracks
This will remove all selected tracks and any parts or events 
on them from the Project window.
Hide All Automation
This closes all open automation subtracks.
Pool
This opens the audio Pool, which contains all clips (audio 
and video) that belong to a project.
Markers
This opens the Marker window. Markers store positions to 
facilitate quick navigation to important locations in a project.
Tempo Track
This menu item opens the Tempo Track Editor. For tempo 
based tracks, the tempo can follow the tempo track (acti-
vated with the Tempo button on the Transport panel), which 
may contain tempo changes.
Beat Calculator…
This opens the Beat Calculator window. The Beat Calcu-
lator is a tool for calculating the tempo of recorded audio 
or MIDI material.
Project Setup…
This dialog contains general settings for a project. See the 
dialog help for specifics.
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 project is visible. “The whole 
project” means the timeline from the project start to the 
Length set in the Project Setup dialog.
Zoom to 
SelectionZooms in both horizontally and vertically so that the cur-
rent selection fills the screen.
Zoom to 
Selection 
(Horiz.)Zooms in horizontally so that the current selection fills the 
screen.
Zoom to 
EventThis option is available only in the Sample Editor.
Zoom In 
VerticalZooms in one step vertically.
Zoom Out 
VerticalZooms out one step vertically.
Zoom In 
TracksZooms in selected track(s) one step vertically.
Zoom Out 
TracksZooms out selected track(s) one step vertically.
Zoom Selected 
TracksThis zooms in vertically on the selected track(s) and min-
imizes the height of all other tracks. 
						

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Menu Reference
Auto Fades Settings…
This opens the Auto Fades dialog, where you can specify 
various fade options. Use the Help button in the dialog for 
details.
Audio menu
Process
Basically, you apply audio processing by making a selec-
tion and selecting a function from the Process submenu. 
For details about the functions and parameters in the vari-
ous processing dialogs, use the Help button in the corre-
sponding dialog.
Hitpoints
This submenu relates to Cubase Essential’s special Hit-
point detection functions. This is a special feature that de-
tects transient attacks in audio material and adds a type of 
marker, a “hitpoint” at each attack. Once the hitpoints have 
been correctly set, you can slice up the file which amongst 
other things enables you to change the tempo without af-
fecting pitch. 
The submenu contains the following items:
Advanced
The Advanced submenu contains the following items:
Option Description
Envelope The Envelope function allows you to apply a volume en-
velope to the selected audio.
Fade In/Out Allows you to set fade-ins and fade-outs.
Gain Allows you to change the gain (level) of the selected au-
dio.
Merge
ClipboardThis function mixes the audio from the clipboard into the 
audio selected for processing, starting at the beginning 
of the selection.
For this function to be available, you need to have cut or 
copied a range of audio in the Sample Editor first.
Noise Gate Scans the audio for sections weaker than a specified 
threshold level, and silences them.
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 
maximum, 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.
Phase 
ReverseReverses the phase of the selected audio, turning the 
waveform “upside down”.
Remove 
DC OffsetThis function will remove any DC offset in the audio se-
lection. A DC offset is when there is too large a DC (di-
rect 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 
processing, and it is recommended that you remove 
them.
It is recommended that this function is applied to com-
plete audio clips, since the DC offset (if any) is normally 
present throughout the entire recording.
Reverse Reverses the audio selection, as when playing a tape 
backwards.
Silence Replaces the selection with silence.
Stereo Flip This function works with stereo audio selections only. It 
allows you to manipulate the left and right channel in var-
ious ways.
Time Stretch This function allows you to change the length and 
“tempo” of the selected audio, without affecting the pitch.
Option Description
Calculate 
HitpointsInvokes the hitpoint calculation in the Sample Editor.
Create Audio 
Slices from 
HitpointsSlices the event according to the hitpoints and adjusts 
the tempo of the loop to the current project tempo.
Create Markers 
from HitpointsCreates markers (on the Marker track) according to the 
hitpoints.
Divide Audio 
Events at 
HitpointsSplits the event into several events, according to the hit-
points.
Remove 
HitpointsThis removes all hitpoints.
Option Description
Set Tempo 
from EventAdjusts the project tempo to the tempo detected in the 
edited loop.
Close Gaps Applies time stretch to close the gaps between slices 
(typically when the project tempo is lower than the loop 
tempo).
Stretch to 
Project TempoStretches the selected event(s) to fit the project tempo. 
Requires that hitpoints have been calculated for the 
event(s).
Delete 
OverlapsUsed when recording audio in Cycle Recording mode. In 
this mode, each take (cycle lap) ends up on a separate 
lane on the track in the Project window. After editing the 
takes (composing a “perfect take” for example), you can 
select Delete Overlaps to return the separate takes to a 
single lane and remove all overlapped material – e.g. only 
the material that will be played back will be visible in the 
Project window. Option Description