Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual

							Remote controlling Cubase
The Remote Control Editor (Cubase Elements only)
401
Assignment Status
You can show the current assignment of all cells in a layout by activating the “i” 
button in the top right corner of the editor. This is useful to get a quick overview of 
the parameters that are assigned to the available controls.
Editing the Layout
In the Layout section, you can perform a number of editing operations and arrange 
the pages to your liking.
Making Name Settings for the Cells
The top three text fields in the Inspector can be used to specify the names for a cell.
This is useful if you are working with hardware devices that have value fields that 
only display a limited number of characters, for example. The first text field shows 
the long name, as it is shown in the cell. In the second field, you can enter a name 
that can contain up to 8 characters, and up to 4 characters in the third.
Rearranging the order of a page or a cell
• To copy the settings of one cell to another, select a cell, press [Alt]/[Option] 
and drag it to another cell.
• To move a cell, drag it to an empty cell.
• To swap the contents of two cells, press [Ctrl]/[Command] and drag one cell 
to the other.
NOTE
Drag and drop also works between different pages. 
						

							Remote controlling Cubase
The Remote Control Editor (Cubase Elements only)402
Navigating
• You can use the cursor keys to navigate in all directions.
• When Learn mode is active, pressing [Shift] allows you to step between the  con
 trols within the cells.
• To step forwards or backwards through the different layouts, use [Tab] and  [Shift]-[Tab
 ].
Adding/Removing Pages
• To add a page to a layout, click the  “+” button on the right of a page.
• To remove a page, click th e corresponding “-” 
 button.
NOTE
A layout always contains at least one page.
Adding/Removing a New Hardware Layout
• To add a hardware layout for a particular hardware type, click the “+” button 
to the right of the tabs.
• To remove a hardware layout, click the “x” icon of a tab.
Changing the Settings in a Layout
• To modify an existing layout, save the new settings by clicking the Apply  button in the top right corner of the editor.
If the hardware supports this function, the changes are immediately reflected 
on th
 e hardware controllers.
Resetting the Layout and Copying Layout Settings between Pages
Click the arrow button  in the top right corner of the editor to revert to the default 
settings for the current layout or to copy  th
 e settings of one layout page to another. 
						

							Remote controlling Cubase
Apple Remote (Macintosh only)
403
Apple Remote (Macintosh only)
Many Apple computers come with an Apple Remote Control, a small hand-held 
device akin to TV remote controls. It allows you to remotely control certain features 
in Cubase.
PROCEDURE
1. Open the Device Setup dialog and select Apple Remote Control from the Add 
Device pop-up menu.
2. In the list on the right, the Apple Remote’s buttons are listed. For each button 
you can open a pop-up menu from which you can select a Cubase parameter.
The parameter you select is assigned to the corresponding button on the Apple 
Remote.
By default, the Apple Remote always controls the application that currently has the 
focus on your Macintosh computer (provided that this application supports the Apple 
Remote).
NOTE
When the “Disable when application is not in front” option is not selected, the Apple 
Remote will control Cubase even if it does not have the focus. 
						

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MIDI realtime parameters
For each MIDI track, you can set up a number of track parameters, or modifiers. 
These affect how the MIDI data is played back, “transforming” MIDI events in 
realtime before they are sent to the MIDI outputs.
On the following pages, the available parameters and effects are described. Keep 
in mind:
• The actual MIDI events will not be affected – the changes happen “on the fly”.
• Since the modifier settings do not change the actual MIDI data on the track, 
they will not be reflected in the MIDI editors. To convert the track settings into 
“real” MIDI events, use the Freeze MIDI Modifiers function or the Merge MIDI 
in Loop function.
RELATED LINKS
Making your settings permanent on page 423
The Inspector – general handling
The MIDI modifiers and effects are set up in the Inspector.
• To show the Inspector, click the “Set up Window Layout” button on the 
toolbar and activate the Inspector option.
The Inspector is displayed to the left of the track list.
• For MIDI tracks, several sections are available in the Inspector. Which of these 
are displayed is determined in the setup context menu or the Setup dialog of 
the Inspector. 
						

							MIDI realtime parameters
The Inspector sections
405
• You can fold or unfold the sections individually by clicking on the section 
name.
Clicking the name for a hidden section brings it to view and hides the other 
sections. [Ctrl]/[Command]-clicking the tab allows you to hide or show a 
section without affecting other sections. [Alt]/[Option]-clicking a tab shows or 
hides all sections in the Inspector.
NOTE
Folding or hiding (via the Setup dialog) a section does not affect the functionality 
but merely hides the section from view. This means your settings will still be active 
even if you fold or hide the Inspector settings.
RELATED LINKS
Using the Setup options on page 627
The Inspector sections
Basic track settings
The topmost Inspector section contains the basic track settings. These settings 
either affect the basic functionality for the track (mute, solo, enable record, etc.) or 
send out additional MIDI data to the connected devices (program change, volume, 
etc.). The section contains all settings that are available in the track list, with a few 
additional parameters:
Load/Save Track Preset button
Allows you to load or save a track preset.
Track name field
Click once to show/hide the topmost Inspector section. Double-click to 
rename the track.
Edit button
This opens the Channel Settings window for the track (a window showing a 
channel with volume fader and other controls, along with effect settings).
Mute/Solo buttons
Mutes or solos the MIDI track.
Read/Write buttons
Used for automating the track settings.
Record enable button
Activate this to make the track ready for recording. 
						

							MIDI realtime parameters
The Inspector sections
406
Monitor button
When this is activated (and the “MIDI Thru Active” option is activated in the 
Preferences dialog, MIDI page), incoming MIDI will be routed to the selected 
MIDI output.
Volume
Use this to adjust the level for the track. Changing this setting will move the 
track’s fader in the MixConsole and vice versa.
MIDI Pan
Use this to adjust the panning of the track.
Delay
This adjusts the playback timing of the MIDI track. Positive values delay the 
playback while negative values cause the track to play earlier. The values are 
set in milliseconds.
In/Out/Chn pop-up menus
This is where you select MIDI input, MIDI output, and MIDI channel for the track.
Edit Instrument button
If the MIDI track is routed to a VST instrument, clicking this button opens the 
control panel for the VST instrument.
Bank and Program Selector pop-up menu
Allows you to select a sound, see below. (If no bank is available, only the 
Program selector is shown.)
Map pop-up menu
Allows you to select a drum map for the track.
NOTE
• Note that the functionality of the Bank and Program selector settings (used 
for selecting sounds in the connected MIDI instrument) depends on the 
instrument to which the MIDI output is routed, and how you have set it up in 
the MIDI Device Manager. The MIDI Device Manager allows you to specify 
which MIDI instruments and other devices are connected to the various MIDI 
outputs, thus making it possible to select patches by name.
• Many of the basic track settings are duplicated in the MIDI Fader section of 
the Inspector.
R
ELATED LINKS
Track List on page 33
Using Channel Settings on page 236
Writing Automation Data on page 361
Applying Track Presets on page 103
Setting Volume on page 219
MIDI Fader section on page 411
Using MIDI devices on page 413 
						

							MIDI realtime parameters
The Inspector sections
407
MIDI Modifiers
The settings on this tab affect the MIDI events on the track in realtime during 
playback. They will also be in effect if you play “live” with the track selected and 
record enabled (provided that “MIDI Thru Active” is activated in the Preferences 
dialog, MIDI page). This makes it possible, for example, to transpose or adjust the 
velocity of your live playing.
NOTE
If you want to compare the result of your modifier settings with the “unprocessed” 
MIDI, you can use the Bypass button in the MIDI Modifiers section. When this is 
activated, the MIDI Modifiers settings will be temporarily disabled. A bypassed 
section is indicated by a yellow Bypass button.
Transpose
This allows you to transpose all notes on the track in semitones. The available 
range is -127 to +127 semitones, but remember that the total range of MIDI 
note numbers is 0 to 127. Furthermore, not all instruments can play back 
notes over the whole range. Therefore, extreme transpositions can give rather 
strange and unwanted results.
• You can also transpose individual MIDI parts using the Transpose field 
in the info line.
The transposition in the info line (for the individual part) is added to the 
transpose value you have set up for the whole track in the Inspector.
Velocity Shift
This setting lets you change the dynamics of all notes on the track. The value 
in this field is added to the velocity of each note message that is sent out (use 
negative values to lower the velocities). The range is -127 to +127 with 0 
representing no change in velocity. 
						

							MIDI realtime parameters
The Inspector sections
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Note that the effect of changing the velocity depends on the sound and 
instrument.
NOTE
You can also adjust the velocity of events in individual MIDI parts using the 
Velocity field in the info line. The velocity shift in the info line (for the individual 
part) is added to the velocity shift you have set up for the whole track in the 
Inspector.
Velocity Compression
This function multiplies the velocity values with the factor you specify. This 
factor is set using a numerator (left value) and a denominator (right value), 
resulting in a fractional number (1/2, 3/4, 3/2 etc.). For example, if you set the 
factor to 3/4, the velocities will be three quarters of their original values. This 
will also affect the difference in velocity between the notes, thus compressing 
or expanding the velocity scale. Typically, you would combine this setting with 
the Velocity Shift parameter.
An example:
Let’s say you have three notes with the velocity values 60, 90 and 120, and 
wish to “even out” the velocity differences somewhat. If you set the Velocity 
Compression value to 1/2, the notes will play back with the velocities 30, 45 
and 60. By adding 60 in the Velocity Shift field, the notes will play back with 
the velocities 90, 105 and 120, meaning you have compressed the velocity 
range.
In a similar way, you can use Velocity Compression values greater than 1/1 
together with negative values in the Velocity Shift field, to expand the velocity 
range.
IMPORTANT
Remember that the maximum velocity is always 127 no matter how much you 
try to expand.
Length Compression
This value adjusts the lengths of all notes on the track. As with Velocity 
Compression, the value is set with a numerator and denominator. For 
example, the value 2/1 means that all note lengths will be doubled, while 1/4 
means all note lengths will be a quarter of the actual lengths.
Random
The Random settings let you introduce random variations to various 
properties of MIDI notes. Anything from very subtle variations to dramatic 
changes can be applied.
Range
The Range function lets you specify a note (pitch) or velocity range and either 
force all notes to fit within this range, or exclude all notes outside this range 
from playback. As with the Random function, there are two separate Range 
settings. 
						

							MIDI realtime parameters
The Inspector sections
409
HMT: Follow (Cubase Elements only)
Activating this button for a track applies Hermode Tuning to the notes played 
on this track. Hermode Tuning retunes the notes you play and creates clear 
frequencies for every fifth and third interval, for example. Retuning only affects 
individual notes and maintains the pitch relationship between keys and notes. 
The retuning is a continuous process and takes the musical context into 
account.
When you apply Hermode Tuning to tracks that use VST 2 instruments, the 
played notes are retuned with every keystroke. Dynamic retuning while notes 
are playing is only possible with VST 3 instruments that support Micro Tuning 
and Note Expression. For VST instruments that support Note Expression, 
Hermode Tuning also works in MIDI Thru mode.
To activate Hermode tunig, activate the “HMT: Follow” button, and select one 
of the following tuning types in the “HMT Type” pop-up menu of the Project 
Setup dialog:
NOTE
It may take a moment until all notes are recalculated and you hear the results 
of the retuning. Notes that are produced by MIDI plug-ins are not taken into 
account.
HMT: Use for Analysis (Cubase Elements only)
If you activate this option, the notes played on the track are used to calculate 
retuning. Keep this activated when working with Hermode Tuning. On tracks 
with acoustic piano, we recommend to activate this option, and to deactivate 
“HMT: Follow”. This excludes the piano from being tuned which would sound 
unnatural.
Editing Transpose and Velocity for MIDI Parts
When one or several MIDI parts are selected, the info line contains transpose and 
velocity fields.
Mode Description
None No tuning is applied.
Reference (pure 
3/5)Tunes pure thirds and fifths.
Classic (pure 3/5 
equalized)Tunes pure thirds and fifths. In conflict situations, a slight 
equalization is applied. This tuning type is suitable for all kinds of 
music.
Pop Jazz (3/5/7) Tunes pure thirds and fifths, and natural sevenths. This tuning 
type should not be applied to polyphonic music. Try this with pop 
or jazz.
Baroque (3/5 
adaptive)Tunes pure thirds and fifths. The degree of purity changes 
according to the sequence of harmonies. This tuning type is 
suitable for church organ and polyphonic music. 
						

							MIDI realtime parameters
The Inspector sections
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• Adjusting the Transpose field transposes the selected parts in semitone 
steps.
• Adjusting the Velocity field shifts the velocity for the selected parts. The value 
that you specify is added to the velocities of the notes in the parts.
NOTE
This transposition does not change the actual notes in the part. It only affects the 
notes on playback. The transposition that you specify for a part on the info line is 
added to the transposition set for the whole track.
Setting up random variations
There are two separate “random generators”, set up in the following way:
PROCEDURE
1. Open the Random pop-up menu and select which note property is 
randomized.
The options are position, pitch, velocity and length.
NOTE
Keep in mind that depending on the content of the track, certain parameter changes 
might not be immediately noticeable or have any effect at all (as would be the case if 
applying random length to a percussion track playing “one-shot” samples for 
example). To best audition the random changes, choose a track with clearly defined 
rhythm and note content (as opposed to a string pad).
2. Set the desired range of random deviation by entering values in the two 
number fields.
The two values govern the limits of the randomization, so that the values will vary 
between the left value and the right value (you cannot set the left value higher than 
the right value). The maximum random range for each property is listed in the table 
below:
NOTE
You can make independent settings for the two random generators.
To deactivate the Random function, open the Random pop-up menu(s) and select 
“OFF”.
Property Range
Position -500 to +500 ticks
Pitch -120 to +120 semitones
Velocity -120 to +120
Length -500 to +500 ticks