Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual

							MediaBay
Filters Section
351
1)Attribute columns
Let you select different attribute categories. If the columns are wide enough, 
the number of files that match this criteria is displayed to the right of the filter 
name.
2)Attribute values
Displays the attribute values and how often a certain attribute value is 
available among your media files.
NOTE
• Some attributes are directly linked to each other. For example, for each 
category value, there are certain sub category values available. Changing the 
value in one of these attribute columns displays different values in the other 
column.
• Each attribute column displays only the attribute values found in the currently 
selected location.
Applying an Attribute Filter
With the Attribute filter you can quickly find audio files with certain attributes.
• To apply an Attribute filter, click on an attribute value.
The Results list is filtered accordingly. Apply more attribute filters to restrict 
the result even more.
• To find files that match either one or the other attribute, 
[Ctrl]/[Command]-click different attribute values in the same column.
• To change the displayed attribute values of a column, click on the attribute 
column and select another attribute.
NOTE
Character attributes always form an AND condition.
Resetting the Filter
PROCEDURE
• To reset the filter, click the Reset Filter button at the top of the Filters section.
This also resets the Results list. 
						

							MediaBay
Sound Browser and Mini Browser
352
Sound Browser and Mini Browser
The Loop Browser and Sound Browser show different views of the MediaBay.
The Loop Browser lets you quickly browse your loops, for example, audio files and 
MIDI loops.
The Sound Browser lets you quickly search sounds. By default, it is set to display 
track presets and plug-in presets.
These browser windows offer the same functions as the MediaBay, for example, 
you can specify different browse locations, define searches, set up the available 
panes, etc.
MediaBay Preferences
The Preferences dialog in Cubase contains a special MediaBay page where you 
can set up the MediaBay. These settings are also available from within the 
MediaBay.
• To display the preferences, click the MediaBay Preferences button in the 
lower left corner of the MediaBay.
Show Managed Locations Only
If this option is activated, all folders that are not scanned for files are hidden. 
This keeps the tree view in the Define Locations section less cluttered.
Use Current Selection as Base Location
If this option is activated, only the selected folder and its subfolders are 
shown.
Scan Folders only when MediaBay is open
If this option is activated, Cubase only scans for media files when the 
MediaBay window is open. 
						

							MediaBay
MediaBay Key Commands
353
If this is deactivated, the folders are scanned in the background even when 
the MediaBay window is closed. However, Cubase never scans folders while 
playing back or recording.
Maximum Items in Results List
Specifies the maximum number of files that are displayed in the Results list. 
This avoids unmanageably long lists of files.
NOTE
The MediaBay does not warn you if the maximum number of files has been 
reached. There might be situations where a certain file you are looking for 
cannot be found because the maximum number of files was reached.
Show File Extensions in Results List
I f  t h i s  o p t i o n  i s  a c t i v a t e d ,  f i l e  name extensions are displayed in the Results list.
Scan unknown File Types
When scanning for media files, the MediaBay ignores files with an unknown 
file extension. If this option is activated, the MediaBay tries to open and scan 
any file in the search location and ignores those files that cannot be 
recognized.
MediaBay Key Commands
You can display the available MediaBay key commands from within the MediaBay 
window. This is useful if you want to get a quick overview over the assigned and the 
available MediaBay key commands.
• To open the key commands pane, click the Key Commands button in the 
lower left corner of the MediaBay.
• To close the key commands pane, click anywhere outside of the pane. 
						

							MediaBay
Working with MediaBay-Related Windows
354
• To assign or modify a key command, click the corresponding key command.
RELATED LINKS
Key Commands on page 602
Working with MediaBay-Related Windows
The MediaBay concept can be found throughout the program, for example, when 
adding new tracks or when choosing presets for VST instruments or effects. The 
workflow in all MediaBay-related windows is the same as in the MediaBay.
Adding Tracks
If you add a track by selecting Project > Add Track, the following dialog opens:
Click the Browse button to expand the dialog to show the Results list. Only file 
types that can be used in this context are shown. 
						

							MediaBay
Working with MediaBay-Related Windows
355
Applying Effect Presets
If you have added an insert effect to a track, you can choose from a variety of presets 
via the Results browser for the effect slot.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Inserts tab of the Inspector, click the Select Preset icon below the 
preset name.
2. In the Results browser, double-click a preset to apply it.
Applying Track Presets
You can choose from a variety of track presets.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Inspector, click the Preset Management icon on the right of the 
Inserts tab.
2. Select From Track Preset.
3. In the Results browser, double-click a track preset to apply it.
RELATED LINKS
Track Presets on page 101
Applying Instrument Presets
When working with VST instruments, you can choose from a variety of presets via 
the Results browser.
PROCEDURE
1. In the track list, right-click the instrument track and select Load Track Preset.
2. In the Results browser, double-click a preset to apply it. 
						

							MediaBay
Working With Volume Databases
356
Instrument Presets Results Browser
The Results browser for instrument track presets lets you preview VST presets and 
apply them to your instrument track.
To open the Results browser, right-click an instrument track, and select Load 
Track Preset.
VST presets for instruments can be divided into the following groups:
Presets
Presets contain the settings of the entire plug-in. For multi-timbral 
instruments, this means the settings for all sound slots as well as the global 
settings.
Programs
Programs contain only the settings for one program. For multi-timbral 
instruments, this means only the settings for one sound slot.
Working With Volume Databases
Cubase stores all media file information used in the MediaBay, such as paths and 
attributes, in a local database file on your computer. However, in some cases, it 
might be necessary to browse and manage this kind of metadata on an external 
volume.
For example, a sound editor might have to work both at home and in a studio, on 
two different computers. Therefore, the sound effects are stored on an external 
storage medium. To be able to connect the external device and directly browse its 
contents in the MediaBay without having to scan the device, you have to create a 
volume database for the external device. 
						

							MediaBay
Working With Volume Databases
357
Volume databases can be created for drives of your computer or for external 
storage media. They contain the same kind of information about the media files on 
these drives as the regular MediaBay database.
NOTE
When you launch Cubase, all available volume databases are automatically 
mounted. Databases that are made available while the program is running have to 
be mounted manually.
Rescanning and Refreshing Volume Databases
If you have modified the scan settings on a different system, you must rescan or 
refresh the MediaBay.
RELATED LINKS
Updating the MediaBay on page 337
Creating a Volume Database
PROCEDURE
• In the Define Locations section, right-click the external storage medium, 
drive, or partition of your computer system that you want to create a database 
for, and select Create Volume Database.
IMPORTANT
You must select the topmost level (root) for this. You cannot create a database file for 
a lower-level folder.
RESULT 
The file information for this drive is written into a new database file. When the new 
database file is available, this is reflected by the symbol to the left of the drive name.
NOTE
If the drive contains a large amount of data, this process may take a while. 
						

							MediaBay
Working With Volume Databases
358
Volume databases are automatically mounted when Cubase is launched. They are 
shown in the Define Locations section and their data can be viewed and edited in 
the Results list.
Removing a Volume Database
If you have worked on another computer using an external hard disk and return to 
your own computer and connect the external device again as part of your system 
setup, you do not need a separate volume database for it any more. Any data on this 
drive can then be included in the local database file again, by removing the extra 
database file.
PROCEDURE
• In the Define Locations section, right-click the volume database and select 
Remove Volume Database
RESULT 
The metadata is integrated in the local MediaBay database file and the volume 
database file is deleted.
NOTE
If the drive contains a large amount of data, this process may take a while.
Mounting and Unmounting Volume Databases
Volume databases that are made available while Cubase is running must be 
mounted manually.
• To mount a volume database manually, right-click the external storage 
medium, drive, or partition of your computer system that you want to mount 
and select Mount Volume Database.
• To unmount a volume database, right-click it and select Unmount Volume 
Database. 
						

							359
Automation
In essence, automation means recording the values for a particular MixConsole or 
effect parameter. When you create your final mix, Cubase can adjust this particular 
parameter control.
Recording your Actions
If the settings in your current project are crucial, you may not want to experiment 
with automation until you know more about how it all fits together. If so, you can 
create a new project for the following example. The project does not have to contain 
any audio events, just a few audio tracks.
PROCEDURE
1. In the Project window toolbar, click W to activate write for all tracks.
2. Start playback and adjust some volume faders and/or other parameter 
settings in the MixConsole.
Stop playback when you are done, and return to the position where you started 
playback.
3. Click W to deactivate the write mode and click R to activate read for all tracks.
4. Start playback, and watch the MixConsole.
All your actions that were performed during the previous playback are reproduced 
exactly.
5. Select Project > Show All Used Automation to view all recorded 
automation events.
6. To redo anything that was recorded, click W again and start playback from the 
same position.
NOTE
You can have W and R activated simultaneously, if you want to watch and listen to 
your recorded MixConsole actions while you are recording fader movements for 
another channel, etc. 
						

							Automation
Automation Curves
360
Automation Curves
Within a Cubase project, the changes in a parameter value over time are reflected 
as curves on automation tracks.
There are two kinds of automation curves:
1)Ramp curves
Ramp curves are created for any parameter that generates continuous 
multiple values, such as fader or encoder movements.
2)Jump curves 
Jump curves are created for on/off parameters such as mute.
Static Value Line
When you open an automation track for the first time, it does not contain any 
automation events. This is reflected in the event display as a straight horizontal black 
line, the static value line. This line represents the current parameter setting.
If you manually added any automation events or used write automation for the 
corresponding parameter and then disable the reading of automation data, the 
automation curve is grayed-out in the event display and the static value line is used 
instead.
As soon as Read is enabled, the automation curve becomes available.
Write/Read Automation
You can automation enable tracks and MixConsole channels by activating their 
automation write W and read R buttons.
• If you activate W for a channel, virtually all MixConsole parameters that you 
adjust during playback for that specific channel are recorded as automation 
events.
•If R is activated for a channel, all your recorded MixConsole actions for that 
channel are performed during playback.
The R and W buttons for a track in the track list are the same as the R and W buttons 
in the MixConsole.