Steinberg Cubase Studio 4 Operation Manual Studio Manual

71
Recording
The procedure for checking the signal level coming into 
the audio hardware is slightly different depending on 
whether you are using Cubase or Cubase Studio:
Cubase
In Cubase, you check the input level at the input channel.
To check the level of the “unprocessed” signal coming into 
the audio hardware, you need to switch the level meters to 
“Meter Input”. In this mode, the input channel level meters 
will show the level of the signal at the input of the bus, be-
fore any adjustments such...

72
Recording
Cubase Studio
In Cubase Studio, the input channels are not shown in the 
mixer. Instead, you need to check the level at the channel 
strip for the track on which you are recording:
1.Locate the channel strip for the track you’re about to 
record on.
2.Activate monitoring for the channel by clicking the 
speaker button next to the fader.
When monitoring is activated, the meter shows the level of the incoming 
audio signal.
3.Play the audio source that you want to record and 
check the level...

73
Recording
 Tapemachine Style.
This option emulates standard tapemachine behavior: input monitoring in 
Stop mode and during recording, but not during playback.
Cubase only: In the Preferences (VST–Metering page) 
you can find the option “Map Input Bus Metering to Audio 
Track (in Direct Monitoring)”.
When Direct Monitoring is activated in the Device Setup dialog, this op-
tion allows you to map the input bus metering to monitor-enabled audio 
tracks. This gives you the opportunity to watch the input...

74
Recording
Recording
Recording is done using any of the general recording 
methods (see “Basic recording methods” on page 66). 
When you finish recording, an audio file is created in the 
Audio folder within the project folder. In the Pool, an audio 
clip is created for the audio file, and an audio event that 
plays the whole clip appears on the recording track. Fi-
nally, a waveform image is calculated for the audio event. If 
the recording was very long, this may take a while.
ÖIf the option “Create...

75
Recording
Recording audio in cycle mode
If you are recording audio in cycle mode, the result depends 
on two factors:
The “Cycle Record Mode” setting on the Transport panel.
The “Audio Cycle Record Mode” setting in the Prefer-
ences (Record-Audio page).
Cycle Record Modes on the Transport panel
There are five different modes on the Transport panel, but 
the first two modes only apply to MIDI recording. For au-
dio cycle recording, the following applies:
If “Keep Last” is selected, the last complete...

76
Recording
This method allows you to quickly combine the best parts 
of each take, in the following way:
1.Use the Scissors tool to split the events in several sec-
tions, one for each part of the take.
For example, if you recorded four lines of vocals (in each take), you can 
split the events so that each line gets a separate event.
The events after splitting. Note that since the original take events overlap 
each other, clicking with the Scissors tool will split all takes at the same 
position.
2.For...

77
Recording
Recording audio in Stacked mode
When you record audio in cycle mode and the “Stacked” 
Cycle Record Mode is selected on the Transport panel, 
the following happens: 
 Each complete recorded cycle lap is turned into a separate 
audio event.
 The track is divided into “lanes”, one for each cycle lap.
 The events are stacked above each other, each on a different 
lane.
This makes it easy to create a “perfect take” by combining 
the best parts from the different cycle laps:
1.Zoom in so you can...

78
Recording
However, there are two advantages to 32 Bit Float format:
With 32 Bit Float recording, you don’t risk clipping (dig-
ital distortion) in the recorded files.
This can of course be avoided with 24 or 16 Bit recording as well, but re-
quires more care with the levels.
Cubase processes audio internally in 32 Bit Float for-
mat – recording in the same format means the audio qual-
ity will be kept absolutely pristine.
The reason is that the effect processing in the input channel (as well as 
any...

79
Recording
MIDI recording specifics
Activating MIDI Thru
Normally, when working with MIDI, you will have MIDI Thru 
activated in Cubase, and Local Off selected in your MIDI 
Instrument(s). In this mode, everything you play during re-
cording will be “echoed” back out again on the MIDI out-
put and channel selected for the recording track.
1.Make sure the option “MIDI Thru Active” is activated in 
the Preferences (MIDI page).
2.Record enable the track(s) on which you want to 
record.
Now, incoming MIDI...

80
Recording
4.Pull down the Input Routing pop-up menu and select 
an input.
The available MIDI inputs are shown. The items on the menu depend on 
the type of MIDI interface you are using, etc. 
 If you select the “All MIDI Inputs” option, the track will receive 
MIDI data from all available MIDI inputs.
 If you hold down [Alt]/[Option] and select a MIDI input, this is 
selected for all selected MIDI tracks.
Setting the MIDI channel and output
The MIDI channel and output settings determine where 
the...