Steinberg Cubase Essential 4 Operation Manual

							9
Using markers 
						

							82
Using markers
About markers
Markers are used to locate certain positions quickly. If you 
often find yourself jumping to a specific position within a 
project, you should insert a marker at this position. There 
are two types of markers:
 Cycle markers allow you to store the start and end positions of 
a range.
 Standard markers store a specific position. 
Markers can be created and edited in several ways: 
 By using the Marker window (see below).
 By using the Marker track (see “Using the Marker track” on 
page 83).
 By using key commands (see “Marker key commands” on 
page 85).
ÖThe left and right locators are handled separately – 
see “The left and right locators” on page 44.
The Marker window
In the Marker window, you can perform most editing ope-
rations concerning markers. The markers are listed in the 
Marker window in the order in which they occur in the 
project. Most functions in the Marker window are also avail-
able in the Inspector when the Marker track is selected.
To open the Marker window, you can:
 Select “Markers” from the Project menu
 Click the “Show” button in the Marker section on the Trans-
port panel
 Use the key command (by default [Ctrl]/[Command]-[M]).
The Marker window columns
The Marker window is divided into six columns which are 
used for performing the following operations:
The leftmost column is the Locate column. 
Clicking in this column will move the project cursor to the corresponding 
marker position. A blue arrow indicates the marker at the project cursor 
position (or the closest marker before the project cursor).
The ID column is used to edit marker ID numbers. 
See “About marker ID numbers” on page 83.
The Position column displays the markers’ time posi-
tions (or start positions for cycle markers).
The marker positions can be edited directly in this column.
The End and Length columns display the end positions 
and length of cycle markers – see “About cycle markers” 
on page 83.
These values can also be edited directly in the respective column.
The Description column lets you enter names or de-
scriptions for markers.
Click on a column heading to sort the marker list by that 
column. The Marker columns can also be reordered by 
dragging and dropping the column headers.
Adding and removing markers in the Marker window
You add position markers (in Stop mode, during play-
back or during recording) by clicking the Add button or by 
pressing [Insert] (Windows only) on the computer key-
board. Markers are always added at the current project 
cursor position. 
To add a cycle marker, select “Cycle Markers” from the 
Show pop-up menu and click the Add button.
This adds a cycle marker between the left and right locator. You can also 
draw cycle markers on the Marker track (see “Editing markers on the 
Marker track” on page 84).
To remove a marker, select it and click the Remove 
button.
ÖNote that you can assign key commands to various 
marker commands in the Key Commands dialog (see 
“Marker key commands” on page 85). 
						

							83
Using markers
Moving marker positions in the Marker window
The Move button in the Marker window can be used to 
“reprogram” marker positions. Proceed as follows:
1.Set the project cursor to the position to which you 
want to move (or re-program) a marker.
2.Select the marker that you want to change in the 
Marker window.
Do not select the marker by clicking in the leftmost column, as this will 
move the project cursor to this marker.
If a cycle marker is selected, the Move operation affects 
the cycle marker start position.
The length of the range is not affected.
3.Click the Move button.
You can also move markers by editing their position nu-
merically in the Position column.
About marker ID numbers
Each time you add a marker, it is automatically and se-
quentially assigned an ID number, starting from ID 1. ID 
numbers can be changed at any time – this allows you to 
assign specific markers to key commands (see below). 
IDs for cycle markers are shown in brackets and start from 
[1]. These may also be changed.
Assigning markers to key commands
As explained above, marker ID numbers are assigned au-
tomatically and sequentially each time you add a marker. 
The nine first markers (1 to 9) can be recalled by using key 
commands – by default these are [Shift]-[1] to [9] on the 
typewriter part of the keyboard.
ÖIf you have more than nine markers, you cannot use 
key commands to navigate to markers numbered 10 or 
higher.
If you want to keep all current markers, but want to specify 
which markers should be accessed via key commands, 
the solution is to reassign the marker ID numbers. Pro-
ceed as follows:
1.First decide which of the current markers with an ID 
between 1 and 9 you want to reassign to a new ID number, 
and thus remove its key command assignment.
Memorize the ID number.
2.Enter this ID number in the ID column of the marker you 
want to access with a key command and press [Enter].
The two marker ID numbers are switched, and the key command now 
locates to the marker selected in this step.
3.Repeat as necessary for other markers.
You can also simply remove a marker with an ID number 
between 1 to 9 to free up a key – see “Adding and remo-
ving markers in the Marker window” on page 82.
For more about marker key commands, see “Marker key 
commands” on page 85.
Using the Marker track
The Marker track is used for viewing and editing markers. 
Markers shown on the Marker track are exactly the same 
as shown in the Marker window, and any changes made 
on the Marker track are reflected in the Marker window 
and vice versa. Standard position markers in the Marker 
track are shown as marker events: vertical lines with the 
marker name (if assigned) and number beside it. If you se-
lect the Marker track, all markers are shown in the Inspec-
tor, much like in the Marker window.
About cycle markers
Cycle markers are shown on the Marker track as two 
markers bridged by a horizontal line. Cycle markers are 
ideal for storing sections of a project. By setting cycle 
markers for sections of a song, for example “Intro”, 
“Verse”, “Chorus” etc., this enables you to quickly navi-
gate to the song sections, and also to optionally repeat 
the section (by activating Cycle on the Transport panel). 
In addition, Cycle markers appear on the horizontal Zoom 
pop-up menu in the Project window (see below).
Adding the Marker track
To add the Marker track to the Project, select “Marker” from 
the Add Track submenu of the Project menu (or right-click 
in the Track list and select “Add Marker Track”). You can 
only have one Marker track in a project.
Cycle marker Markers
Locators 
						

							84
Using markers
Editing markers on the Marker track
The following editing functions can be performed directly 
on the Marker track:
Adding position markers “on the fly”.
Use the [Insert] key (Win) or the “Add Marker” button in the Track list for 
the Marker track to add position markers at the current cursor position 
during playback. 
Adding a cycle marker at the left and right locator 
positions.
Clicking the “Add Cycle Marker” button in the Track list for the Marker 
track adds a cycle marker spanning the area between the left and right 
locator.
Selecting markers.
You can use standard selection techniques like dragging to make a se-
lection rectangle, or use [Shift] to select separate markers.
Drawing position markers.
By using the Pencil tool (or pressing [Alt]/[Option] and using the Arrow 
tool), you can create or “draw” position marker events at any position on 
the track. If snap is activated on the toolbar, this determines at which po-
sitions you can draw markers.
Drawing cycle markers.
To draw a cycle marker range, press [Ctrl]/[Command] and use the Pen-
cil tool or the Arrow tool. Snap settings are applied if activated. 
ÖCycle markers can freely overlap. 
Resizing a cycle marker.
Select a cycle marker by clicking on it. Two handles appear at the bottom 
of the start and end events. If you click and hold one of the handles you 
can drag the event left or right to resize the cycle marker. This can also 
be done numerically on the info line.
Moving markers.
Click and drag to move the selected markers or edit marker positions on 
the info line. As usual, snap is taken into account if activated.
Removing markers.
This is done exactly the same way as for other events, i.e. by selecting 
them and pressing [Delete], using the Erase tool etc.
Naming markers.
A selected marker’s name can be edited on the info line.
Navigating using cycle markers
Cycle markers represent ranges rather than single posi-
tions. Therefore you don’t use them for moving the project 
cursor, but for moving the left and right locators:
If you double-click on a cycle marker or select it from 
the Cycle pop-up menu in the Track list, the left and right 
locators are moved to encompass the cycle marker.
To move the project cursor position to the start or the end of the cycle 
marker, move it to the corresponding locator (e.g. by using the numeric 
pad keys [1] and [2]).
You can also use key commands for this – see “Marker 
key commands” on page 85.
Zooming to cycle markers
By selecting a cycle marker on the Zoom pop-up menu, 
the event display is zoomed in to encompass the selected 
range only (see the section “Zoom presets and Cycle mar-
kers” on page 24).
You can also do this by pressing [Alt]/[Option] and double-clicking on 
the cycle marker in the event display.
Editing cycle markers using tools
Cycle markers can be edited on the Marker track using the 
following tools (Snap applies as usual):
The other tools cannot be used with cycle markers.
Add Marker/Add Cycle Marker buttons
Tool Use
Pencil Press [Ctrl]/[Command] and use the Pencil tool to create 
new cycle markers (as described above).
Eraser Click with the Eraser tool to delete a cycle marker. If you 
hold down [Alt]/[Option] when you click, all consecutive 
markers will also be deleted.
Selection 
RangeThis is described in the following section. 
						

							85
Using markers
Using markers to make range selections in the 
Project window
Besides enabling you to quickly move the project cursor 
and the locators, markers can be used in conjunction with 
the Range Selection tool to make range selections in the 
Project window. This is useful if you quickly want to make 
a selection that spans all tracks in the project. 
Double-click with the Range Selection tool between any 
two markers – this creates a selection range between the 
markers, spanning all tracks in the project (just as if you had 
used the Range Selection tool to draw a rectangle).
Any functions or processing you perform now will affect the selection only.
Moving and copying sections
This is a quick way to move or copy complete sections of 
the project (on all tracks):
1.Set markers at the start and end of the section you 
want to move or copy.
2.Select the Range Selection tool and double-click on 
the Marker track between the markers.
Everything in the project within the cycle marker boundaries is selected.
3.Click on the Marker track in the selected range and 
drag the range to a new position.
The selection in the Project window is moved to the same position.
If you hold down [Alt]/[Option] while you drag the range, 
the selection in the Project window is copied instead.
Marker key commands
You can use key commands for the following marker oper-
ations:
If you need to check or change any key command assign-
ments, the marker commands can be found in the Trans-
port category in the Key Commands dialog.
ÖFor the [Shift]+[Pad1] to [Pad9] commands to work, 
Num Lock must be deactivated on the computer key-
board!
Operation Description Default key
Insert Marker Creates a new marker at the current 
project cursor position.[Insert] 
(Windows only)
Locate Next 
MarkerMoves the project cursor to the right to 
the next marker position (if any).[Shift]+[N]
Locate Previous 
MarkerMoves the project cursor to the left to 
the previous marker position (if any).[Shift]+[B]
To Marker 1-9 Moves the project cursor to the speci-
fied marker (number 1 to 9).[Shift]+[1] to [9]
Set Marker 1-9 Moves the specified marker (number 1 
to 9) to the current project cursor posi-
tion.[Ctrl]+[1] to [9]
Recall Cycle 
Marker 1-9Moves the left and right locators to 
encompass the specified cycle marker 
(1 to 9).[Shift]+[Pad1] to 
[Pad9] 
						

							10
The mixer 
						

							87
The mixer
About this chapter
This chapter contains detailed information about the ele-
ments used when mixing audio and MIDI, and the various 
ways you can configure the mixer. 
Some mixer-related features are not described in this 
chapter. These are the following:
Setting up and using audio effects.
See the chapter “Audio effects” on page 103.
Setting up and using MIDI effects.
See the chapter “MIDI realtime parameters and effects” on page 205.
Automation of all mixer parameters.
See the chapter “Automation” on page 131.
How to mix down several audio tracks (complete with 
automation and effects if you wish) to a single audio file.
See the chapter “Export Audio Mixdown” on page 272.
Overview
The mixer offers a common environment for controlling 
levels, pan, solo/mute status etc. for both audio and MIDI 
channels. 
Opening the mixer
The mixer can be opened in several ways:
By selecting Mixer from the Devices menu.
By clicking the Mixer icon on the toolbar.
By using a key command (by default [F3]).By clicking the Mixer button in the Devices panel.
You open the Devices panel by selecting Show Panel from the Devices 
menu.
What channel types can be shown in the mixer?
The following track-based channel types are shown in the 
mixer:


 Effect return channels (referred to as FX channels in the 
Project window)
 Group channels
 Instrument tracks
The order of audio, MIDI, instrument, group and effect re-
turn channel strips (from left to right) in the mixer corre-
sponds to the Project window Track list (from the top 
down). If you reorder tracks of these types in the Track list, 
this will be mirrored in the mixer.
In addition to the above, the following channel types are 
also shown in the mixer:
 Activated ReWire channels (see the chapter “ReWire” on 
page 299).
 VST Instrument channels (see the chapter “VST Instruments 
and Instrument tracks” on page 119).
ReWire channels cannot be reordered and always appear 
to the right of other channels in the main mixer pane (see 
below). VST instrument (VSTi) channels can be reordered 
in the Track list which will in turn be mirrored in the mixer.
Folder, Marker, Video and Automation tracks are not 
shown in the mixer.
Output busses in the mixer
Output busses are represented by output channels in the 
mixer. They appear in a separate “pane” separated by a 
movable divider and with its own horizontal scrollbar, see 
“The output channels” on page 92. 
						

							88
The mixer
Configuring the mixer
The mixer window can be configured in various ways to 
suit your needs and to save screen space. Here follows a 
run through of the various view options (the following de-
scriptions assume that you have an active project contain-
ing some tracks):
The mixer shows the channel faders for the various tracks 
of your project. On the right of the fader panel you find the 
output channel fader. On the left is the common panel 
which allows for global settings affecting all channels.
Setting the width of channel strips
The Channel Narrow/Wide button
Narrow channel strips contain a narrow fader, miniature 
buttons, and the View options pop-up.
Wide and narrow channel strips
When selecting “All targets narrow” or “All targets 
wide” on the common panel, all channel strips selected as 
command targets (see “About the Command Target” on 
page 90) are affected.
Selecting what channel types to show/hide
You can specify what channel types to show or hide in the 
mixer. In the lower part of the common panel you find a 
vertical strip with different indicator buttons. Each indica-
tor represents a channel type to show or hide in the mixer:
To hide or show a channel type, click the corresponding 
indicator.
If an indicator is dark, the corresponding channel type will be shown in 
the mixer. If it is orange, the corresponding channel type will be hidden.
!Each channel strip can be set to either “Wide” or 
“Narrow” mode by using the Channel Narrow/Wide 
button on the left above the fader strip.
Audio Channels
Group Channels
ReWire Channels
MIDI Channels
VST Instrument Channels
FX Channels
Output Channels “Can Hide” options – see below.
Reveals all channel strips “Command Target” options – see “About 
the Command Target” on page 90. 
						

							89
The mixer
Showing/hiding individual channels (the “Can 
Hide” setting)
You can also show/hide individual channels of any type in 
the mixer. For this, you can assign channels a “Can Hide” 
status, which allows you to hide these channels collec-
tively. Proceed as follows:
1.Pull down the View options pop-up menu for the chan-
nel you want to hide and activate the “Can Hide” option or 
[Alt]/[Option]-click the / icon (visible when moving the 
mouse pointer to the top middle of a channel strip) for the 
channel you want to hide.
If “Can Hide” is activated for a channel strip, the corresponding icon (/) 
will be visible in the top middle section of the channel strip.
2.Repeat this for all channels you want to hide.
3.Click the top button “Hide Channels set to ’Can 
Hide’” on the common panel.
This hides all channels set to “Can Hide”. To show them again, click the 
Hide button again or click the button at the bottom on the common panel 
(“Reveal All Channels”).
Below the top hide button, there are three additional “Can 
Hide” buttons.
Channel view sets
Channel view sets are saved configurations of the mixer 
windows, allowing you to quickly switch between different 
layouts for the mixer. Proceed as follows:
1.Set up the mixer the way you wish to store it as a view 
set.
The following settings will be stored:
 Settings for individual channel strips (e. g. narrow or wide mode 
and whether the channel strip is (or can be) hidden or not).
 The hide/show status for channel types.
2.Click the “Store View Set” button (the plus sign) at the 
bottom of the common panel.
3.A dialog appears, allowing you to enter a name for the 
view set.
4.Click OK to store the current mixer view set.
You can now return to this stored configuration at any 
time, by clicking the “Select Channel View Set” button 
(the down arrow to the left of the “Store View Set” button) 
and selecting it from the pop-up menu.
To remove a stored channel view set, select it and click 
the “Remove View Set” button (the minus sign).
Option Description
Set Target Channels 
to ’Can Hide’This activates “Can Hide” for all Channels you spec-
ified as “Command Targets”. For more information, 
see below.
Remove ’Can Hide’ 
from Target 
ChannelsThis deactivates “Can Hide” for all Channels you 
specified as “Command Targets”. For more informa-
tion, see below.
Remove ’Can Hide’ 
from All ChannelsThis deactivates “Can Hide” for all Channels in the 
Mixer.
!Some remote control devices (such as Steinberg’s 
Houston) feature this function, which means that you 
can use the remote device to switch between the 
channel view sets. 
						

							90
The mixer
About the Command Target
Command targets let you specify which channels should 
be affected by the “commands” (basically all the functions 
that can be assigned key commands) when working with 
the Mixer, e.g. the width setting of the channel strips, etc. 
You can set command targets using the Mixer common 
panel or the context menu.
The following options are available:
All Channels
Select this if you want your commands to affect all channels.
Selected Only
Select this if you want your commands to affect the selected channels 
only.
Exclude Outputs
Select this if you don’t want your commands to affect the output channels.
The Command Target Controls 
on the common panel
The Command Target submenu on the Mixer context menu