Steinberg Cubase SE 3 Operation Manual

22
Working with the Tempo track 

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Background
For each audio or MIDI track in Cubase SE, the tempo can either be 
fixed through the whole project (this is called “Fixed tempo mode”) or 
follow the Tempo track (this is called “Tempo track mode”), which may 
contain tempo changes.
•To switch between Fixed tempo mode and Tempo track mode, use 
the Tempo button on the Transport panel:
When the Tempo button is lit (and the text “Track” is shown), the tempo follows the 
Tempo track, when it is...

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The Tempo Track Editor – overview
To make changes to the actual Tempo track you need to open the 
Tempo Track Editor, by selecting “Tempo Track” on the Project menu.
The toolbar
The toolbar contains various tools and settings. The tempo and time 
signature displays to the right allow you to view and edit the value of 
the selected tempo curve point or time signature event, much like the 
info line in other editors.
Tools
Tempo track on/off AutoscrollSnap...

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The ruler
The ruler in the Tempo Track Editor shows the timeline. As in other 
windows, you can select a display format by clicking on the arrow but-
ton to the right of the ruler, and selecting an option from the pop-up 
menu that appears.
The two additional items at the bottom of the menu have the following 
functionality:
•If “Time Linear” is selected, the ruler, time signature area and tempo 
curve display will be linear in relation to the timeline....

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•If “Bars+Beats Linear” is selected, the ruler, time signature area and 
tempo curve display will be linear in relation to beats.
If the ruler shows bars and beats, the distance between beats will be constant.
The time signature area
The area below the ruler contains time signature events. 
The tempo curve display
The main display shows the tempo curve (or, if Fixed tempo mode is 
selected, the Fixed tempo – see page 479). To the left of the display 
is a...

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Operations
Zooming
Changing the magnification is done using any of the following methods:
•By using the zoom sliders in the lower right corner of the window.
•By using the Magnifying Glass tool.
This works according to the standard procedures.
•By using the Zoom submenu on the Edit menu.
The options on the menu work as in other windows.
Editing the tempo curve
This section assumes that you are working in Tempo track mode, i.e. the 
Tempo button is lit on...

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4.Drag the curve point to the desired tempo value (indicated in the 
tempo display), and release the mouse button.
The tempo curve point is inserted. The result depends on whether you selected 
“Ramp” or “Jump” in step 1 above:
•You can also just click and draw a tempo curve with the Pencil tool, 
having curve points automatically inserted as you draw.
You would probably want to select the “Ramp” Insert Curve mode when doing this.
•Instead of using the...

CUBASE SE
22 – 478 Working with the Tempo track
•You can also use the left and right arrow keys on the computer key-
board, to go from one curve point to the next.
If you press [Shift] and use the arrow keys, the current selection will be kept, allowing 
you to select several points.
Editing tempo curve points
Curve points can be edited in the following ways:
•By clicking and dragging horizontally and/or vertically.
If several points are selected, all of them are moved. If Snap is activated on the...

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Adjusting the curve type
You can change the curve type of a tempo curve segment at any time, 
using the following method:
1.Select all curve points within the segment you want to edit.
2.Pull down the Curve pop-up menu on the toolbar and select “Jump” or 
“Ramp”.
The curve sections between the selected points are adjusted.
Removing tempo curve points
To remove a curve point, either click on it with the Eraser tool or select 
it and press [Backspace]. The...

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There are two ways to set the tempo in Fixed mode:
•Drag the tempo line up or down with the Arrow tool.
•Adjust the value numerically in the tempo display on the toolbar.
Adding and editing time signature events
•To add a time signature event, click in the time signature area with the 
Pencil tool. 
This adds a default 4/4 time signature event at the closest bar position. You can also 
do this by pressing [Alt]/[Option] and clicking with the Arrow tool.
•To...