Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual

							Fades and crossfades
The Crossfade dialog
181
Equal Gain
Activate this parameter to adjust the fade curves so that the summed fade in 
and fade out amplitudes will be the same all along the crossfade region. This 
is often suitable for short crossfades.
Equal Power
Activate this parameter to adjust the fade curves so that the energy (power) 
of the crossfade will be constant all along the crossfade region.
Equal Power curves have only one editable curve point. You cannot use the 
Curve kind buttons or the presets when this mode is selected.
Play buttons
These buttons allow you to audition the whole crossfade, or the fade out part, 
or the fade in part. You can set up key commands for this in the following 
categories of the Key Commands dialog:
• Media category – Preview Start (triggers crossfade playback), Preview 
Stop (stops crossfade playback).
• Transport category – StartStop (triggers global playback), Stop (stops 
global playback) and StartStop Preview (triggers crossfade playback).
Pre-roll and Post-roll
Activate pre-roll to start playback before the fade area. Activate post-roll to 
stop playback after the fade area.
In the time fields you can enter the desired time (in seconds and milliseconds) 
for the pre-roll and post-roll length.
Length
This specifies the length of the crossfade area. Cubase tries to center the 
crossfade, i.
 e. the length change will be applied equally to both sides. To be 
able to resize a crossfade, it must be possible to resize the corresponding 
event. For example, if the fade out event already plays its audio clip to the end, 
its end point cannot be moved any further to the right.
Presets section
Click the Store button to the right of the Presets pop-up menu to store the 
settings of your crossfade so that you can apply them to other events later.
• To rename a preset, double-click on the name and type in a new one.
• To remove a preset, select it on the pop-up menu and click the Delete 
button.
Default buttons
Click the As Default button to store the current settings as default. These 
settings will then be used whenever you create new crossfades.
Click the Recall Default button to apply the curves and settings of the default 
crossfade to the Crossfade dialog.
RELATED LINKS
Key Commands on page 602 
						

							Fades and crossfades
Auto fades and crossfades
182
Auto fades and crossfades
Cubase features an Auto Fade function that can be set both globally, and separately 
for each audio track. The idea behind the Auto Fade function is to create smoother 
transitions between events by applying short (1 to 500
 ms) fade ins and fade outs.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
As event-based fades are calculated in realtime during playback, a higher number 
of audio events provokes to a higher the demand on the processor when Auto 
Fades is activated.
NOTE
Auto fades are not indicated by fade lines!
Making global Auto Fade settings
PROCEDURE
1. To make Auto Fades settings globally for a project, select “Auto Fades 
Settings…” from the Project menu.
This opens the Auto Fades dialog for the project.
2. Use the Length value field to specify the length of the Auto Fades or 
Crossfades (1 to 500
 ms).
3. Use the checkboxes in the upper right corner to activate or deactivate Auto 
Fade In, Auto Fade Out, and Auto Crossfades.
4. To adjust the shapes of Auto Fade In and Auto Fade Out, select the Fades 
tab and make settings as in the regular Fade dialogs.
5. To adjust the shape of the Auto Crossfade, select the “Crossfades” tab and 
make settings as in the regular Crossfade dialog. 
						

							Fades and crossfades
Auto fades and crossfades
183
6. If you want to use your settings in future projects, click the “As Default” button.
7. Click OK to close the dialog.
RELATED LINKS
The Fade dialogs on page 177
The Crossfade dialog on page 180
Making Auto Fade settings for individual tracks
By default, all audio tracks will use the settings you have made in the project’s Auto 
Fades dialog.
However, since Auto Fades use computing power, a better approach may be to turn 
Auto Fades off globally and activate them for individual tracks, as needed:
PROCEDURE
1. Right-click the track in the track list and select “Auto Fades Settings…” from 
the context menu (or select the track and click the “Auto Fades Settings” 
button in the Inspector).
The Auto Fades dialog for the track opens. This is identical to the project’s Auto 
Fades dialog, with the addition of a “Use Project Settings” option.
2. Deactivate the “Use Project Settings” option.
Any settings you now make are applied to the track only.
3. Set up the Auto Fades as desired and close the dialog.
Reverting to project settings
If you want a track with individual Auto Fade settings to use the global Auto Fade 
settings, open the Auto Fades dialog for the track and activate the “Use Project 
Settings” checkbox. 
						

							184
Arranger Track (Cubase 
Elements only)
Introduction
The arranger track allows you to work with sections of your project in a non-linear 
fashion, to simplify arranging to the maximum extent. Instead of moving, copying and 
pasting events in the Project window to create a linear project, you can define how 
different sections are to be played back, like a playlist.
For this, you can define arranger events, order them in a list, and add repeats as 
desired. This offers a different and more pattern-oriented way of working, which 
complements the usual linear editing methods in the Project window.
You can create several arranger chains, making it possible to save different versions 
of a song within the project without sacrificing the original version. When you have 
created an arranger chain that you like, you have the option of “flattening” the list, 
which creates a normal linear project based on the arranger chain.
You can also use the arranger track for live performances on the stage, in clubs or 
at parties.
Setting up the arranger track
Let’s say you have prepared a number of audio files that form the base of a typical 
pop song, with introduction, verse, chorus and bridge. Now you want to arrange 
these files.
The first step is to create an arranger track. On the arranger track, you define 
specific sections of the project by creating arranger events. These can be of any 
length, may overlap and are not bound to the start or end of existing events and 
parts. Proceed as follows:
PROCEDURE
1. Open the project for which you want to create arranger events.
2. Open the Project menu and select Arranger from the Add Track submenu (or 
right-click the track list and select the corresponding option from the context 
menu).
An arranger track is added. There can be only one arranger track in a project, but you 
can set up more than one arranger chain for this track. 
						

							Arranger Track (Cubase Elements only)
Working with arranger events
185
3. On the Project window toolbar, make sure that Snap is activated and that the 
Snap Type is set to a mode that allows your arranger events to snap to 
appropriate positions in the project.
Snap to events is activated, i. e. when drawing in the Project window, new events will 
snap to existing events.
4. On the arranger track, use the Draw tool to draw an event of the desired 
length.
An arranger event is added, called “A” by default. Any following events will be named 
in alphabetical order.
You can rename an arranger event by selecting it and changing its name in the Project 
window info line or by holding down [Alt]/[Option], double-clicking on the name in the 
arranger chain (see below) and entering a new name.
You may want to name your arranger events according to the structure of your project, 
e.
 g. Verse, Chorus, etc.
5. Create as many events as you need for your project.
When arranger events have been created, the music sequence is determined by the 
arranger events.
Events can be moved, resized and deleted using the standard techniques. Please 
note:
• If you want to change the length of an event, select the Object Selection tool 
and click and drag the lower corners of the event in the desired direction.
• If you copy an arranger event (by [Alt]/[Option]-dragging or by using 
copy/paste), a new event will be created with the same name as the original.
However, this new event will be totally independent from the original event.
• Double-clicking on an arranger event adds it to the current arranger chain.
RELATED LINKS
Managing arranger chains on page 189
Working with arranger events
You now have a number of arranger events that form the basic building blocks for 
your arrangement. The next step is to arrange these events using the functions of 
the Arranger Editor. 
						

							Arranger Track (Cubase Elements only)
Working with arranger events
186
Creating an arranger chain
You can set up an arranger chain in the Arranger Editor or in the Inspector for the 
arranger track. The Arranger Editor is opened by clicking the “e” button in the 
Inspector or in the track list.
PROCEDURE
1. Click the “e” button to open the Arranger Editor.
On the right in the Arranger Editor, the available arranger events are listed, in the order 
they appear on the timeline. To the left you find the actual arranger chain, which 
shows in which order the events will be played back, from top to bottom, and how 
many times they are repeated.
Initially the arranger chain is empty – you set it up by adding events from the list to the 
chain. There are several ways to add events to the arranger chain:
• By double-clicking on the name of an event in the window section on the right 
(or in the Project window).
When an event is selected in the arranger chain on the left, this will add the 
event above the selected event. When no events are selected in the arranger 
chain, the event will be added at the end of the list.
• By selecting one or more events in the list, right-clicking and selecting “Append 
Selected In Arranger Chain”.
This will add the selected events at the end of the list.
• By dragging and dropping arranger events from the list on the right to the 
arranger chain on the left.
A blue insertion line shows you where the dragged event will end up.
An event is dragged into the arranger chain.
• By dragging arranger events from the Project window into the arranger chain.
If you followed our example, you should now have arranger events arranged in a very 
basic pop song pattern. However, we have used audio files that are only a few bars  
						

							Arranger Track (Cubase Elements only)
Working with arranger events
187
long – to turn our pattern into a “song” (or at least into a basic sketch of the song 
structure), these files must be looped. This is where the Repeats function comes in.
If you want an event to repeat several times, proceed as follows:
• Click in the Repeats field for an event, type in the desired number of repeats 
and press [Enter].
When playing back the arranger chain, the Counter column indicates which 
repeat of this event is currently playing.
• Click in the Mode field for an event and select the desired repeat mode.
When you now play back the arranger chain, you will hear the complete 
arrangement.
2. Make sure that Arranger mode is activated.
In Arranger mode the project will be played back using the arranger settings.
3. Position the Arranger Editor window so that you can see the arranger track in 
the Project window, and click in the arrow column for the event at the top of 
the list.
You will see the project cursor jump to the beginning of the first event specified in the 
arranger chain.
4. Activate playback, either from the Arranger Editor or on the Transport panel.
The events are played back in the specified order.
RELATED LINKS
Arranger Chain Repeat Modes on page 187
Arranger Chain Repeat Modes
Option Button Description
Normal In this mode, the arranger chain will be played back as 
you set it up.
Repeat forever In this mode, the current arranger event will be 
repeated in a loop until you either click on another 
event in the Arranger Editor or press play once again.
Pause after 
RepeatsIn this mode, the playback of the arranger chain will be 
stopped after having played back all repeats of the 
current arranger event. 
						

							Arranger Track (Cubase Elements only)
Working with arranger events
188
Editing the arranger chain
In the arranger chain on the left, you can do the following:
• Select multiple events by [Ctrl]/[Command]-clicking or [Shift]-clicking as 
usual.
• Drag events to move them in the list.
• Drag events holding [Alt]/[Option] to create copies of the selected items.
The insert location for both move and copy operations is indicated by a 
colored insertion line. A blue line indicates that the move or copy is possible; 
a red line indicates that moving or copying events to the current position is not 
allowed.
• Use the Repeats column to specify how many times each event is to be 
repeated.
• Click the arrow to the left of an event in the arranger chain to move the 
playback position to the start of that event.
• To remove an event from the list, right-click on it and select “Remove 
Touched” from the context menu. To remove several events, select them, 
right-click and select “Remove Selected”.
Navigating
To navigate between arranger events, you use the arranger transport buttons.
1) Previous chain step
2) Next chain step
3) First repeat of current chain step
4) Last repeat of current chain step
These controls are available in the Arranger Editor, on the Project window toolbar, 
and on the Transport panel.
In the Arranger Editor, the event that is currently played back is indicated by an 
arrow in the leftmost column, and the indicators in the Counter column. 
						

							Arranger Track (Cubase Elements only)
Flattening the arranger chain189
Managing arranger chains
You can create several arranger chains. This way, you can create alternative 
versions for playback.
In the Arranger Editor, the toolbar buttons on the right are used for this:
Click this to rename the current arranger chain.
Creates a new, empty arranger chain.
Creates a duplicate of the current arranger chain, containing the same events.
Removes the currently selected arranger  chain. Only available if you have 
created more than one arranger chain.
In the Inspector, these functions are accessed from the Arranger pop-up menu 
(open
 ed by clicking on the Arranger name field).
The arranger chains you create will be listed on th
 e Name pop-up menu, found in 
the Arranger Editor to the left of the bu ttons, at the top of the arranger track 
Inspector, and in the track list. Please note  that to be able to select another arranger 
chain from the pop-up menu, the Arranger mode must be activated.
Flattening the arranger chain
When you have found an arranger chain that suits your purposes, you can “flatten” 
it, i.  e. convert the list into a linear project.
PROCEDURE
1. Click the Flatten button (or select Flatten Chain from the pop-up menu in the 
Inspector for the arranger track).
The events and parts in the project are reor dered, repeated, resized, moved and/or 
deleted (if these are not within the boundarie s of any used arranger event), so that 
they correspond exactly to the arranger chain.
The Flatten button 
						

							Arranger Track (Cubase Elements only)
Flattening the arranger chain
190
2. Activate Playback.
The project will now play back exactly as in Arranger mode, but you can view it and 
work with it as usual.
IMPORTANT
Flattening the arranger chain may remove events and parts from the project. Only use 
the Flatten function when you know you do not want to edit the arranger track/chain 
any more. If in doubt, save a copy of the project before flattening the arranger chain.
Flattening options
Sometimes it might be useful to keep the original arranger events even after 
flattening the arranger track. By using flattening options you can define which chain 
is flattened, where it is stored and how it is named together with other options.
PROCEDURE
1. Click the Flattening options button.
2. In the window that opens, select the desired options.
3. You can now flatten the arranger track by clicking the Flatten button.
If you realize that you want to do further arrangements, you can click the “Go Back” 
button and make your adjustments. Your Flattening settings will be kept.
4. Click the “Go Back” button to go back to the Arranger Editor or close the 
window by clicking its Close button.
Flattening options in the Arranger Editor dialog
In the Source section you can specify which arranger chains are flattened.
Current Chain
If you activate this option, only the current chain will be flattened.