Steinberg Cubase Essential 4 Operation Manual

24
Working with System Exclusive
messages 

262
Working with System Exclusive messages
Introduction
SysEx (System Exclusive) messages are model-specific 
messages for setting various parameters of a MIDI device. 
This makes it possible to address device parameters that 
would not be available via normal MIDI syntax.
Every major MIDI manufacturer has its own SysEx identity 
code. SysEx messages are typically used for transmitting 
patch data, i.e. the numbers that make up the settings of 
one or more sounds in a MIDI instrument.
Cubase Essential...

263
Working with System Exclusive messages
Transmitting a bulk dump back to a device
1.Make sure the MIDI track with the System Exclusive 
data is routed to the device.
You may want to check your device’s documentation to find details about 
which MIDI channel should be used, etc.
2.Solo the track.
This might not be necessary, but it is a good safety measure.
3.Make sure the device is set up to receive SysEx mes-
sages (often, receiving SysEx is turned off by default).
4.If necessary, put the device in...

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Working with System Exclusive messages
Editing System Exclusive messages
While SysEx events are shown in the List Editor, their en-
tire content is not (only the beginning of the message is 
displayed in the Comment column for the event). Also, you 
cannot edit the event (other than moving it) as you can 
with other event types in the List Editor.
Instead, you have to use the MIDI SysEx Editor for this.
To open the MIDI SysEx Editor for an event, click in the 
Comments column for the event in the...

25
Working with the Tempo track 

266
Working with the Tempo track
Background
For tempo-based tracks, the tempo can either be fixed 
through the whole project (this is called “Fixed tempo 
mode”) or follow the Tempo track (this is called “Tempo 
track mode”), which may contain tempo changes.
To switch between Fixed tempo mode and Tempo track 
mode, use the Tempo button on the Transport panel:
When the Tempo button is lit (and the text “Track” is 
shown), the tempo follows the Tempo track; when it is de-
activated (and the text “Fixed” is...

267
Working with the Tempo track
The ruler
The ruler in the Tempo Track Editor shows the timeline. As 
in other windows, you can select a display format by click-
ing on the arrow button to the right of the ruler and select-
ing an option from the pop-up menu that appears.
The two additional items at the bottom of the menu have 
the following functionality:
If “Time Linear” is selected, the ruler, time signature area 
and tempo curve display will be linear in relation to the 
timeline.
This means that if...

268
Working with the Tempo track
3.Click at the desired time position in the tempo curve 
display, and keep the mouse button pressed.
If Snap is activated on the toolbar, this determines at which time posi-
tions you can insert tempo curve points, see “Snap” on page 270.
When you click, the tempo display in the toolbar shows the tempo value.
4.Drag the curve point to the desired tempo value (indi-
cated in the tempo display), and release the mouse button.
The tempo curve point is inserted. The result...

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Working with the Tempo track
By adjusting the tempo value in the tempo display on 
the toolbar.
For this to work, a single tempo curve point must be selected.
Adjusting the curve type
You can change the curve type of a tempo curve segment 
at any time, using the following method:
1.Select all curve points within the segment you want to 
edit.
2.Pull down the Curve pop-up menu on the toolbar and 
select “Jump” or “Ramp”.
The curve sections between the selected points are adjusted.
Removing tempo curve...

270
Working with the Tempo track
You can move a time signature event by clicking and 
dragging it with the Arrow tool.
Again, note that time signature events can only be positioned at the start 
of bars.
To remove a time signature, either click on it with the 
Eraser tool or select it and press [Backspace].
The first time signature event cannot be removed.
Options and settings
Snap
You activate or deactivate Snap by clicking the Snap icon 
on the toolbar. The behavior of the function depends on 
the...