Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual

							Project Handling
Project Setup Dialog
51
• If you select a sample rate that your audio hardware supports, but that 
differs from its current sample rate setting, it is automatically changed 
to the project sample rate.
• If your audio hardware is externally clocked and receives external clock 
signals, sample rate mismatches are accepted.
Bit Resolution
Allows you to specify the resolution of the audio files that you record in 
Cubase. Select the record format according to the bit resolution that is 
delivered by your audio hardware. The available options are 16
 Bit, 24 Bit, and 
32
 Bit float.
NOTE
• When you record with effects, consider setting the bit resolution to 32 Bit 
Float. This prevents from clipping (digital distortion) in the recorded files 
and keeps the audio quality absolutely pristine. Effect processing and 
level or EQ changes in the input channel are done in 32 Bit Float format. 
If you record at 16 or 24 Bit, the audio will be converted to this lower 
resolution when it is written to a file. As a result, the signal may degrade. 
This is independent of the actual resolution of your audio hardware. Even 
if the signal from the audio hardware has a resolution of 16 Bit, the signal 
will be 32 Bit Float after the effects are added to the input channel.
• The higher the bit resolution, the larger the files and the more strain is put 
on the disk system. If this is an issue, you can lower the record format 
setting.
Record File Type
Allows you to specify the file type of the audio files that you record in Cubase. 
The following file types are available:
•Wave files are a common file format on the PC platform. For recordings 
larger than 4 GB, the EBU RIFF standard is used. If a FAT 32 disk is 
used (not recommended), audio files are split automatically.
•Wave 64 is a proprietary format developed by Sonic Foundry Inc. 
Audio-wise it is identical to the Wave format, but the internal file 
structure allows for much larger file sizes as required by long live 
recordings.
•Broadcast Wave Files are, in terms of audio content, identical with 
regular Wave files, but with embedded text strings for supplying 
additional information about the file. These can be set up in the 
Preferences dialog (Record–Audio–Broadcast Wave).
•AIFF Files, Audio Interchange File Format, is a defined standard by 
Apple Inc. and can be used on most computer platforms. AIFF files can 
contain embedded text strings. These can be set up in the Preferences 
dialog (Record–Audio–Broadcast Wave). 
						

							Project Handling
Opening Project Files
52
•FLAC Files, Free Lossless Audio Codec, is an open source format. 
Audio files recorded in this format are typically 50 % to 60 % smaller 
than regular Wave files.
NOTE
If your recorded Wave file is larger than 4 GB and Use RF64 Format is 
activated on the When Recording Wave Files larger than 4
 GB pop-up 
menu (File > Preferences > Record > Audio), your recording is saved as 
an RF64 file. This way, you do not have to worry about the file size during 
recording. However, keep in mind that this format is not supported by all 
applications.
Stereo Pan Law
If you pan a channel left or right, the sum of the left and right side is higher 
(louder), than if this channel is panned center. These modes allow you to 
attenuate signals panned center. 0
 dB turns off constant-power panning. 
Equal Power means that the power of the signal remains the same regardless 
of the pan setting.
Volume Max
Allows you to specify the maximum fader level. By default, this is set to 
+12
 dB. If you load projects that were created with Cubase versions older 
than 5.5, this value is set to the old default value of +6
 dB.
HMT Type (MIDI only (Cubase Elements only))
Allows you to specify a mode for Hermode tuning of MIDI notes.
HMT Depth (MIDI only (Cubase Elements only))
Allows you to specify the overall degree of retuning.
Opening Project Files
You can open one or several saved project files at the same time.
IMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANTIMPORTANT
If you open a project saved with a different program version that contains data for 
functions that are not available in your version, this data may be lost when you save 
the project with your version.
PROCEDURE
1. Select File > Open.
2. In  the  fi le dialog th at  open s, sele ct  the project that you want to open and click 
Open.
3. If there already is an open project, you are asked if you want to activate the 
new project. Do one of the following:
• To activate the project, click Activate. 
						

							Project Handling
Opening Project Files
53
• To open the project inactive, click No.
This reduces load times for projects.
Activating Projects
If you have several projects opened at the same time in Cubase, only one project 
can be active. The active project is indicated by the lit Activate Project button in 
the upper left corner of the Project window. If you want to work on another project, 
you have to activate the other project.
PROCEDURE
• To activate a project, click its Activate Project button.
Opening Recent Projects
To open a recently opened project, do one of the following:
• In the category bar of Steinberg Hub or the Project Assistant dialog, click 
Recent, select a project from the projects list, and click Open.
•Select File > Recent Projects and select a recently opened project.
Re-Routing Missing Ports
If you open a Cubase project that was created on a different system with other 
audio hardware, Cubase tries to find matching audio inputs and outputs for the 
input/output busses. If Cubase cannot resolve all audio/MIDI inputs and outputs 
that are used in the project, the Missing Ports dialog opens.
This allows you to manually re-route any ports specified in the project to ports that 
are available in your system.
NOTE
To improve the search for matching audio inputs and outputs for the input/output 
busses, you should use descriptive, generic names for your input and output ports.
RELATED LINKS
Renaming the Hardware Inputs and Outputs on page 18 
						

							Project Handling
Saving Project Files
54
Saving Project Files
You can save the active project as a project file. To keep your projects as 
manageable as possible, make sure that you save project files and all related files 
in the respective project folders.
• To save the project and specify a file name and location, open the File menu 
and select Save As.
• To save the project with its current name and location, open the File menu and 
select Save.
NOTE
Make sure that the Use File Extension in File Dialog option (File > Preferences 
> General) is activated. This automatically adds the file name extension when you 
save a file and keeps your projects compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X 
systems.
About the Auto Save Option
Cubase can automatically save backup copies of all open project files with unsaved 
changes.
NOTE
Only the project files are backed up. If you want to include the files from the Pool 
and save your project in a different location, you must use the Back up Project 
function.
If you activate the Auto Save option (File > Preferences > General), Cubase 
automatically saves backup copies of all open projects with unsaved changes. 
These backup copies are named “-xx.bak” where xx is an 
incremental number. Unsaved projects are backed up in a similar way as 
“UntitledX-xx.bak”, with X being the incremental number for unsaved projects. All 
backup files are saved in the project folder.
• To specify the time intervals in which a backup copy is created, use the Auto 
Save Interval setting.
• To specify how many backup files are created with the Auto Save function, 
use the Maximum Backup Files option. When the maximum number of 
backup files is reached, the existing files are overwritten, starting with the 
oldest file. 
						

							Project Handling
Reverting to the Last Saved Version
55
Saving Project Files As a New Version
You can create and activate a new version of an active project file. This is useful if 
you are experimenting with edits and arrangements and want to be able to go back 
to a previous version at any time.
• To save a new version of the active project, press 
[Ctrl]/[Command]-[Alt]/[Option]-[S].
The new file is saved with the same name as the original project and an attached 
incremental number. For example, if your project is called “My Project,” new 
versions are called “My Project-01”, “My Project-02”, and so on.
Reverting to the Last Saved Version
You can return to the last saved version and discard all changes that have been 
introduced.
PROCEDURE
1. Select File > Revert.
2. In the warning message, click Revert.
If you have recorded or created new audio files since the last version was saved, you 
are prompted to delete or keep the files.
Choosing a Project Location
In Steinberg Hub and in the Project Assistant, you can specify where to save a 
project.
• To create a project in the default project location, select Use default 
location.
In the Project folder field, you can specify a name for the project folder. If you 
do not specify a project folder here, the project is saved in a folder named 
Untitled.
• To change the default project location, click in the path field.
A file dialog opens that allows you to specify a new default location.
• To create the project in a different location, select Prompt for project 
location.
In the dialog that opens, specify a location and a project folder. 
						

							Project Handling
Removing Unused Audio Files
56
Removing Unused Audio Files
You can use the Cleanup function to locate and delete unused audio files in the 
project folders on your disk.
PREREQUISITE 
Make sure that you have not moved or renamed files or folders without updating the 
project files to use the new paths. Also make sure that the project folder does not 
contain audio files that belong to projects that are not saved in the project folder.
PROCEDURE
1. Close all projects.
2. Select File > Cleanup.
3. Click the Start button.
Cubase scans the hard disks for project folders and lists all audio and image files that 
are not used by any project.
NOTE
You can also click the Search Folder button to select a specific folder for the 
Cleanup function. This is only recommended if you are sure that the folder contains 
no audio files that are used in other projects.
4. Select the files that you want to delete and click Delete.
Creating Self-Contained Projects
If you want to share your work or transfer it to another computer, your project must 
be self-contained.
The following functions facilitate this task:
•Select Media > Prepare Archive to verify that every clip that is referenced in 
the project is located in the project folder, and to take actions if that is not the 
case.
•Select File > Back up Project to create a new project folder where you can 
save the project file and the necessary work data. The original project remains 
unchanged. 
						

							Project Handling
Creating Self-Contained Projects
57
Preparing Archives
The Prepare Archive function allows you to gather all files that are referenced by 
your project to ensure that these are in the project folder. This is useful if you want 
to move or archive your project.
PROCEDURE
1. Select Media > Prepare Archive.
If your project references external files, you are prompted if you want to copy them to 
your working directory. If any processing has been applied, you must decide if you 
want to freeze edits.
2. Click Proceed.
RESULT 
Your project is ready to be archived. You can move or copy the project folder to 
another location.
AFTER COMPLETING THIS TASK 
You must copy audio files that reside within the project folder to the Audio folder or 
save them separately. You must also move your video clips manually, as videos are 
only referenced and not saved in the project folder.
Backing Up Projects
You can create a backup copy of your project. Backups only contain the necessary 
work data. All media files except the files from VST Sound archives are included as 
a copy.
PROCEDURE
1. Select File > Back up Project.
2. Select an empty folder or create a new one.
3. Make your settings in the Back up Project Options dialog and click OK.
RESULT 
A copy of the project is saved in the new folder. The original project remains 
unaffected.
NOTE
VST Sound content provided by Steinberg is copy-protected and will not be 
included in the backup project. If you want to use a backup copy that uses VST 
Sound content on a different computer, make sure that the corresponding content 
is also available on that computer. 
						

							Project Handling
Creating Self-Contained Projects
58
Back up Project Options Dialog
This dialog allows you to create a backup copy of your project.
• To open the Back up Project Options dialog, select File > Back up Project.
Project Name
Allows you to change the name of the backed up project.
Keep Current Project Active
Allows you to keep the current project active after clicking OK.
Minimize Audio Files
Allows you to include only the audio file portions that are actually used in the 
project. This can significantly reduce the size of the project folder if you are 
using small sections of large files. It also means that you cannot use other 
parts of the audio files if you continue working with the project in its new 
folder.
Freeze Edits
Allows you to freeze all edits and make all processing and applied effects 
permanent to each clip in the Pool.
Remove Unused Files
Allows you to remove unused files and to back up only the files that are 
actually used.
Do Not Back up Video
Allows you to exclude video clips on the video track or in the Pool of the 
current project. 
						

							59
Tracks
Tracks are the building blocks of your project. They allow you to import, add, record, 
and edit data (parts and events). Tracks are listed from top to bottom in the Track 
list and extend horizontally across the Project window. Each track is assigned to a 
particular channel strip in the MixConsole.
If you select a track in the Project window, the controls, settings, and parameters 
displayed in the Inspector and the track list allow you to control the track.
Audio Tracks
You can use audio tracks for recording and playing back audio events and audio 
parts. Each audio track has a corresponding audio channel in the MixConsole. An 
audio track can have any number of automation tracks for automating channel 
parameters, effect settings, etc.
• To add an audio track to your project, select Project > Add Track > Audio.
RELATED LINKS
Adding Tracks on page 91 
						

							Tracks
Audio Tracks
60
Audio Track Inspector
The Inspector for audio tracks contains controls and parameters that allow you to 
edit your audio track.
The top section of the audio track Inspector contains the following basic track 
settings:
Track name
Click once to show/hide the basic track settings section. Double-click to 
rename the track.
Edit
Opens the Channel Settings window for the track.
Mute
Mutes the track.
Solo
Solos the track.
Read Automation
Allows you to read track automation.
Write Automation
Allows you to write track automation.
Auto Fades Settings
Opens a dialog where you can make separate audio fade settings for the 
track.
Record enable
Activates the track for recording.
Monitor
Routes incoming signals to the selected output.
Freeze Audio Channel
Allows you to freeze the audio channel.
Volume
Allows you to adjust the level for the track.