Steinberg Cubase LE Operation Manual

							CUBASE LERecording 2 – 41
MIDI Preferences
The following options and settings in the Preferences dialog (MIDI 
page) affect MIDI recording and playback:
“Note On” Priority
When this is activated, MIDI Note On messages are given priority over 
other types of MIDI messages, ensuring tight timing even if you use a 
lot of continuous MIDI data.
Length Correction
Adjusts the length of notes so that there always is a short time be-
tween the end of one note and the start of another (of the same pitch 
and on the same MIDI channel).
Snap Record Parts to Bars
When this is activated, recorded MIDI parts will automatically be 
lengthened to start and end at whole bar positions. If you are working 
in a Bars+Beats-based context, this can make editing (Moving, Dupli-
cating, Repeating, etc.) easier.
Solo Record in Editors
If this is activated and you open a part for editing in a MIDI editor, its 
track is automatically Record Enabled. Furthermore, Record Enable is 
deactivated for all other MIDI tracks until you close the editor again.
This makes it easier to record MIDI data when you’re editing a part – 
you will always be sure the recorded data ends up in the edited part 
and not on any other track.
Record Catch Range
When you record starting at the left locator, this setting helps you 
make sure the very start of the recording is included. A very annoying 
scenario is when you have recorded a perfect MIDI take, only to find 
out that the very first note wasn’t included – because you started play-
ing a little bit too early! If you raise the Record Catch Range, Cubase 
LE will catch the events played just before the recording start point, 
eliminating this problem.  
						

							CUBASE LE2 – 42 Recording
Filtering MIDI
The MIDI–Filter page in the Preferences dialog allows you to prevent 
certain MIDI messages from being recorded and/or “thruput” (echoed 
by the MIDI Thru function).
The dialog is divided into four sections:
Section Description
Record  Activating any of these options prevents that type of MIDI message from 
being recorded. It will, however, be thruput, and if already recorded, it 
will play back normally.
Thru  Activating any of these options prevents that type of MIDI message from 
being thruput. It will, however, be recorded and played back normally.
Channels If you activate a channel button, no MIDI messages on that MIDI channel 
will be recorded or thruput. Already recorded messages will, however, 
be played back normally. 
						

							CUBASE LERecording 2 – 43
Options and Settings
Recording-related Preferences
A couple of settings in the Preferences dialog (Transport page) are 
relevant for recording. Set these according to your preferred method 
of work:
Deactivate Punch In on Stop
If this is activated, punch in on the Transport panel is automatically de-
activated whenever you enter Stop mode.
Stop after Automatic Punchout
If this is activated, playback will automatically stop after automatic 
punch out (when the project cursor reaches the right locator and 
punch out is activated on the Transport panel). If the postroll value on 
the Transport panel is set to a value other than zero, playback will con-
tinue for the set time before stopping (see below).
Controller  Allows you to prevent certain MIDI controller types from being recorded 
or thruput.
To filter out a controller type, select it from the list at the top of the sec-
tion and click “Add”. It will appear on the list below.
To remove a controller type from the list (allow it to be recorded and 
thruput), select it in the lower list and click “Remove”. Section Description 
						

							CUBASE LE2 – 44 Recording
About Preroll and Postroll
The preroll and postroll value fields on the Transport panel have the 
following functionality:
• By setting a preroll value, you instruct Cubase LE to “roll back” a short section 
whenever playback is activated.
This applies whenever you start playback, but is perhaps most relevant when recording 
from the left locator (punch in activated on the Transport panel) as described below.
• By setting a postroll value, you instruct Cubase LE to play back a short sec-
tion after automatic punch out, before stopping.
This is only relevant when punch out is activated on the Transport panel and “Stop 
after Automatic Punchout” is activated in the Preferences dialog (Transport page).
• To enable or disable the pre/postroll function, select the option “Use Pre/
Post-Roll” on the Transport menu.
An example:
1.Set the locators to where you want to start and end recording.
2.Activate punch in and punch out on the Transport panel.
3.Activate the option “Stop after Automatic Punchout” in the Prefer-
ences dialog (Transport page).
4.Set suitable preroll and postroll times by clicking in the corresponding 
fields on the Transport panel and typing in time values.
5.Make sure Click is deactivated on the Transport panel.
If the Click is activated when you record from the left locator in stop mode, the preroll 
setting is disregarded and the metronome precount is used instead (see page 45).
6.Pull down the Transport menu and tick the option “Use Pre/Post-Roll”.
7.Activate recording.
The project cursor “rolls back” by the time specified in the preroll field and playback 
starts. When the cursor reaches the left locator, recording is automatically activated. 
When the cursor reaches the right locator, recording is deactivated, but playback contin-
ues for the time set in the postroll field before stopping. 
						

							CUBASE LERecording 2 – 45
Using the metronome
The metronome will output a click that can be used as a timing refer-
ence. The two parameters that govern the timing of the metronome 
are tempo and time signature, and these are edited in the Tempo 
Track window (see page 432).
•To activate the metronome, click the Click button on the Transport 
panel, or use the corresponding key command (by default [C]).
Metronome settings
You make settings for the metronome in the Metronome Setup dialog, 
opened from the Transport menu.
The metronome can use either an audio click played back via the au-
dio hardware, send MIDI data to a connected device which will play 
back the click or do both.  
						

							CUBASE LE2 – 46 Recording
The following metronome parameter settings can be made in the dialog:
Parameter Description
MIDI Click on/off Selects whether or not the metronome will sound via MIDI.
MIDI Output Use the pop-up to select a MIDI output for the metronome click.
Channel Selects the MIDI channel for the metronome click.
High Note Sets the MIDI note number for the “high note” (the first beat in a 
bar). 
High Velocity Sets the velocity value for the “high note” (the first beat in a bar). 
Low Note Sets the MIDI note number for the “low note” (the other beats). 
Low Velocity Sets the velocity value for the “low note” (the other beats). 
Audio Click On/Off Selects whether or not the metronome will sound via the audio 
hardware.
Audio Click Volume 
sliderAdjusts the volume for the audio click.
Precount on/off Turns on or off the metronome count-in before recording starts 
(when starting recording from stop mode).
Precount Bars Sets the number of bars the metronome will count in before it 
starts recording if precount is activated.
From Master Track When this is activated, the precount will be in the time signature 
set in the Master Tempo track.
Use Signature If “From Master Track” is deactivated, you can use these fields to 
set a time signature for the precount.
Click during Allows you to specify whether the metronome should be heard 
during playback, recording or both (when Click is activated on the 
Transport bar).
Use Count Base If this option is activated, you use the field to the right to specify 
the “rhythm” of the metronome. Normally, the metronome plays 
one click per beat, but setting this to e.g. “1/8” gives you eighth 
notes – two clicks per quarter note beat. It’s also possible to cre-
ate unusual metronome rhythms such as triplets etc. 
						

							3
The Project Window 
						

							CUBASE LE3 – 48 The Project Window
Background
The Project window is the main window in Cubase LE. This provides 
you with an overview of the project, allowing you to navigate and per-
form large scale editing. Each project has one Project window.
About tracks
The Project window is divided vertically into tracks, with a time line 
running horizontally from left to right. The following track types are 
available:
Track type Description
Audio For recording and playing back audio events and audio parts. Each au-
dio track has a corresponding audio channel in the Mixer. You can use 
up to 48 audio tracks in a project. 
An audio track can have one automation “subtrack” for automating mixer 
channel parameters or insert effect settings etc.
Folder Folder tracks function as containers for other tracks, allowing you to edit 
several tracks at the same time amongst other things. See page 95.
Group 
ChannelGroup channels function as subgroups: by routing several audio chan-
nels to a Group channel, you can mix them with a single set of controls, 
apply the same effects to them, etc. (see page 154).
A Group channel track contains no events as such, but displays settings 
and automation curves for the corresponding Group channel. Each 
Group channel track has a corresponding channel strip in the Mixer.
You can have up to four group channels in a project.
MIDI For recording and playing back MIDI parts. Each MIDI track has a corre-
sponding MIDI channel strip in the Mixer. You can use up to 64 MIDI 
tracks in a project. A MIDI track can have one automation “subtrack” for 
automating mixer channel parameters, etc.
Marker The Marker track displays markers, and allows you to move and rename 
them directly in the Project window (see page 108). There can only be 
one Marker track in the project.
Master 
AutomationContains an automation curve for master volume or global effect input 
levels. There can only be one Master Automation track in the project.
Plug-in 
AutomationEach send effect, master effect or VST Instrument can have its own indi-
vidual Plug-in Automation track, allowing for automation of all plug-in pa-
rameters. An automation track for a plug-in is automatically created the 
first time you automate any of its parameters. See page 198.
Video For playing back video events. A project can only have one Video track. 
						

							CUBASE LEThe Project Window 3 – 49
About parts and events
Events are the basic building blocks in Cubase LE. Different event 
types are handled differently in the Project window:
• Video events and automation events (curve points) are always viewed and re-
arranged directly in the Project window.
• MIDI events are always gathered in MIDI parts, containers for one or more 
MIDI events. MIDI parts are rearranged and manipulated in the Project win-
dow. To edit the individual MIDI events in a part, you have to open the part in 
a MIDI Editor (see page 352). 
• Audio events can be displayed and edited directly in the Project window, but 
you can also work with audio parts containing several events. This is useful if 
you have a number of events which you want to treat as one unit in the project.
An audio event and an audio part. 
						

							CUBASE LE3 – 50 The Project Window
Window Overview
The toolbar The info lineOverview line The ruler
Track list with various 
track types.The event display, showing 
audio parts and events, MIDI 
parts, automation, markers, etc. The Inspector