Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual

Chord Functions
Scale Events
511
Changing How Chord Events Are Displayed
You can change how chord events are displayed. This is useful, if chord events 
overlap each other at low zoom levels, or if you do not like the font type.
PROCEDURE
1. On the chord track, activate Resolve Display Conflicts.
2. Select File > Preferences > Event Display > Chords and set up the chord 
font.
Here you can also determine the note name and naming format.
Scale Events
Scale events inform you which chord events fit in a...

Chord Functions
Voicings
512
• Click the first scale event on the chord track, and on the info line, select a Root 
Key and Type.
• Double-click the scale event, and in the keyboard that appears, select a Root 
Key and Type of the scale. 
The keys that correspond to the scale are highlighted.
Voicings
Voicings determine how chord events are set up. They define the vertical spacing 
and order of the pitches in a chord, but also the instrumentation and genre of a 
musical piece.
For example, a C chord can...

Chord Functions
Voicings
513
1)Voicing library
Allows you to select Guitar, Piano, or Basic as a voicing library.
2)Voicing library subset
NOTE
This is only available, if Guitar or Piano is set as voicing library.
Allows you to select a preset voicing library subset.
3)Configure voicing parameters
Allows you to configure your own voicing parameters for a specific voicing 
scheme.
4)Adaptive Voicings
Activate this to let Cubase set the voicings automatically. This prevents the 
individual voices from...

Chord Functions
Voicings
514
4-note chords
Sets a default 4-note chord without root note. Chords with less than three 
notes are not changed.
4-note chords (Open Jazz)
Sets a 4-note chord without root note and without fifth. Chords with less than 
three notes are not changed.
5-note chords
Sets a 5-note chord with a ninth. Chords with less than four notes are not 
changed.
In the Options section for Piano voicings, you can set up the following parameters:
Add Root Note
Adds a root note.
Duplicate Root...

Chord Functions
Converting Chord Events to MIDI
515
For Basic voicings only Octave Offset from C3 is available. This allows you to 
determine an offset value for the default octave range.
Converting Chord Events to MIDI
You can convert chord events to MIDI for further editing or for printing a lead sheet 
in the Score Editor.
PROCEDURE
1. Add an instrument track or a MIDI track.
• To add an instrument track, select Project > Add Track > Instrument.
• To add a MIDI track, select Project > Add Track >...

Chord Functions
Controlling MIDI Playback using the Chord Track
516
• To map the MIDI input to scale events, select Scales.
4. Hit some keys on your MIDI keyboard or on the Virtual Keyboard.
RESULT 
Any key that you hit is mapped in realtime to the chord or scale events on the chord 
track.
Using Follow Chord Track
This allows you to match an existing recording to a chord progression on the chord 
track.
PROCEDURE
1. Select the track that you want to match to the chord track.
2. In the Inspector, click...

Chord Functions
Controlling MIDI Playback using the Chord Track
517
The following options are available on the Follow Chord Track pop-up menu:
Off
Follow Chord Track is deactivated.
Chords & Scales
This maintains the intervals of the original chord or scale as far as possible.
Chords
This transposes MIDI notes to match the key note and maps them to the 
current chord.
Scales
This transposes MIDI notes to match the current scale. This allows a bigger 
variety of notes and a more natural performance.
Root...

Chord Functions
Controlling MIDI Playback using the Chord Track
518
Follow Chord Track Dialog
This dialog opens the first time that you select an option on from the Follow Chord 
Track pop-up menu on the Chords section of the Inspector.
Follow Directly
Activate this if your MIDI notes are already in accordance with the chord track. 
This is the case if you extracted your chords from the MIDI events on the track 
by selecting Project > Chord Track > Create Chord Symbols, for example.
Synchronize Track...

Chord Functions
Assigning Voices to Notes
519
RESULT 
The chords and scales of each event or part are analyzed and used for mapping. If 
no chords are found, Cubase assumes that the performance is in “C”. The available 
mapping modes and voicings correspond to the Follow Chord Track parameters 
in the Chords section of the Inspector.
RELATED LINKS
Follow Chord Track Modes on page 516
Assigning Voices to Notes
You can transpose MIDI notes to match the voices of a selected voicing library.
PROCEDURE...

Chord Functions
Extracting Chord Events from MIDI
520
Extracting Chord Events from MIDI
You can extract chords from MIDI notes, parts, or tracks. This is useful, if you have 
a  M I D I  f i l e  a n d  w a n t  t o  s h o w  i t s  h a r m o n i c  s tructure, and use this file as starting point 
for further experimenting.
PREREQUISITE 
Add the chord track and create MIDI notes that can be interpreted as chords. 
Drums, monophonic bass, or lead tracks are not suitable.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Project...