Steinberg Cubase Studio 4 Operation Manual Studio Manual

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Creating tablature
1.Many guitar synthesizers are able to transmit each string 
on a different MIDI channel. If you have such an instrument, 
set it up so that the high E string transmits on MIDI channel 
1, the B string transmits on MIDI channel 2 etc.
This feature can be used for MIDI string instruments with up to six strings.
2.Record the project. Quantize and edit it as desired.
3.Make sure the option “MIDI Channel 1
–6” is activated 
and convert the notes into tablature, as described above.
4.The notes will automatically be placed on the right 
strings. 
For example if you played a “B” on the low E-string, it will appear as a “7” 
on that string, not as a “2” on the A-string.
Creating tablature manually
To set up an empty system for inputting tablature, proceed 
as follows:
1.Change the clef to the tablature symbol.
The tablature clef.
2.Open the Score Settings–Staff page and select the 
Options tab.
3.Set the “System Lines” to as many strings as the in-
strument you are scoring for has.
4.Raise the Add Space value to 1 or 2.
You will need a little extra space between note lines to make room for the 
numbered note heads.
Suggested system line settings for guitar tablature.
5.On the Tablature tab, activate “Tablature Mode”.
Tablature Mode activated.
6.Set up whatever other parameters you need in the 
dialog, and click Apply.
7.Select the Insert Note tool and move the pointer over 
the score.
8.Press the mouse button (without releasing it) and drag 
up and down until the note appears on the desired string 
with the correct fret number (you can also verify the actual 
pitch on the toolbar, as usual).
When you drag up and down, the program automatically selects the low-
est possible string. If you want a fret number higher than 4 on a guitar ta-
blature, for example, you have to use “Move To String”, see below.
Setting the correct pitch. Use the mouse position box on the toolbar as 
an additional guide.
9.Release the mouse button.
The note is displayed.
Tablature number appearance
On the Score Settings–Project page (Text Settings sub-
page), you will find text settings for the tablature numbers. 
Select “Tablature” in the “Font For” pop-up menu and se-
lect the desired font, size and style for the number note 
heads. 
						

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Creating tablature
Editing
Tablature can be edited like any other score. You can 
move notes, handle beaming, stem direction, etc.
Moving notes to another string
If you want for example a “C” to appear as a “8” on the low 
E-string rather than a “3” on the A-string on a guitar, pro-
ceed as follows:
1.Select one note or a number of notes that you want to 
move to a new string.
2.Right-click on one of the selected notes and, from the 
“Move to String” submenu, select the desired string.
The Fret number is automatically adjusted according to the tuning of the 
instrument (as set up on the Tablature tab on the Score Settings–Staff 
page).
Moving notes
Moving notes in pitch in a tablature score is working the 
same way as entering notes manually, see above.
Editing on the info line
Using the info line you can change the pitch of notes as 
usual. The string and fret number will be updated automat-
ically in the score.
Note head shape
If you only want to enter a fret number for your notes (Tab-
lature mode off), you can use the Set Note Info dialog on 
regular notes.
1.Double-click on the head of a note.
The Set Note Info dialog appears.
2.Activate the Tablature option and set a fret number in 
the value field to the right.
The tablature settings in the Set Note Info dialog.
3.Click Apply. 
						

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The score and MIDI playback 
						

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The score and MIDI playback
About this chapter
In this chapter you will learn:
 How you can have the playback follow the structure of the 
score.
 How you can make the score affect how the MIDI notes play 
back.
 How to use the MIDI Meaning function.
 How to use crescendo/diminuendo symbols with integrated 
dynamics.
Scores and the Arranger mode
Repeats (bar lines) will appear in all layouts, as will Project 
symbols like Segnos, Codas, Da Capo, endings, etc. To 
have the playback in Cubase follow these directions, pro-
ceed as follows:
1.Add the desired repeats and Project symbols to the 
score.
2.Right-click the toolbar in the Score editor and make 
sure “Arranger” is ticked.
This adds the Arranger buttons to the toolbar.
3.Click the “Activate Arranger Mode” button on the tool-
bar and start playback.
Playback will follow the repeats and Project symbols in the score – sec-
tions within repeat symbols will be repeated, the playback position will 
jump to the beginning when encountering a Da Capo symbol, and so on.
The MIDI Meaning function
The MIDI Meaning function interprets note symbols and 
dynamics, affecting the length and velocity of notes during 
playback. This means you can play back your score and 
hear all accents and dynamics you have added.
ÖThis is done in real time during playback – the actual 
notes are not affected!
Setting up
1.On the Score Settings–Project page, open the MIDI 
Meaning subpage.
As you can see, the dialog lists all note symbols and static 
dynamic symbols to the left. To the right are two columns, 
allowing you to specify in which way each symbol should 
affect the length and velocity of the notes as they are 
played back.
2.Set up the note symbols (at the top of the list) to your 
liking.
The Length and Velocity settings are expressed as percentages, with 
100 % meaning no change from the actual note lengths and velocities on 
playback. For example, if you set up a short accent symbol (^) to mean 
Length=50 %, Velocity=130 %, notes with this accent would be played 
back with half their actual length and 1.3 times their actual velocity.
3.Set up the dynamic symbols (at the bottom of the list).
These can only affect note velocity. If you set the fortissimo symbol (ff) to 
mean Velocity=150 % and insert a fortissimo symbol in the score, all 
notes will be played back with 1.5 their actual velocity, from that point in 
the score until the next dynamic symbol.
4.To activate MIDI Meaning, click the Active checkbox.
5.Click Apply and close the dialog.
Now, note symbols and dynamics will affect the notes on playback.
ÖFor dynamic changes to take effect, the MIDI sound 
source must respond to velocity.
Also, note that the maximum note velocity is always 127. If all notes were 
recorded or entered with maximum velocity, Velocity settings over 100 % 
will not have any effect. 
						

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The score and MIDI playback
Dynamic crescendo symbols
In the Symbol inspector – Dynamics tab, you will find a 
special crescendo symbol:
This allows you to enter a crescendo or diminuendo in the 
score and have the note velocity adjusted accordingly dur-
ing playback. The same rules apply as for MIDI Meaning:
 The actual notes are not affected – the settings affect play-
back only.
 For the crescendo/diminuendo to be heard, the MIDI sound 
source must respond to velocity.
 The maximum note velocity is always 127. If the notes are re-
corded or entered with high velocity values, you may not hear 
any difference between e.g. forte and fortissimo.
Proceed as follows:
1.Select the dynamic crescendo symbol and make sure 
the Pencil tool is selected (see “Adding symbols to the 
score” on page 567).
2.Click where you want the crescendo or diminuendo to 
start, drag to its end position and release the mouse button.
By default this inserts a crescendo from piano (p) to forte (f).
3.To adjust the dynamics at either end of the crescendo, 
right-click to bring up a palette from which to select the 
desired dynamic symbol.
If you select a dynamic symbol at the start that is “louder” than the one at 
the end, the crescendo symbol is automatically changed to a diminuendo 
symbol.
In the palette for the start symbol you will find three ad-
ditional options: “cresc”, “dim” and “None” (no symbol is 
shown).
If any of these is selected, the crescendo or diminuendo will start from 
the “current dynamic”, i.e. with the level according to the previous dy-
namics symbol in the staff.
4.On the Score Settings–Project page, select the MIDI 
Meaning subpage and make sure the Active checkbox is 
ticked.
The dynamic crescendo/diminuendo makes use of the MIDI Meaning 
function and uses the velocity scaling you have set up for the dynamics 
symbols in this dialog.
5.Start playback.
You should now hear the crescendo or diminuendo affect the note veloc-
ities. 
						

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Printing and exporting pages 
						

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Printing and exporting pages
Printing
Printing from the Score Editor
1.On the Scores menu, activate “Page Mode”.
Printing is only possible from within Page Mode.
2.Select Page Setup from the File menu and make sure 
all your printer settings are correct. Close the dialog.
3.Select Print from the File menu.
4.The standard Print dialog appears. Fill out the options 
as desired.
5.Click Print.
Exporting pages as image files
You can export a section of a page or a complete page in 
various file formats. This allows you to import your scores 
into desktop publishing and drawing applications.
Selecting a section of a page for exporting
If you only want to export a part of a certain page, proceed 
as follows:
1.Make sure you are in Page Mode.
2.Select the Export tool (“Select Export Range”).
The pointer turns into a crosshair.
3.Drag over the section of the score you want to include.
The area is indicated by a black rectangle.
 You can adjust the size of the rectangle by clicking and drag-
ging its handles with the Object Selection tool.
 You can move the rectangle to another position in the score 
by clicking and dragging.
To export the selected range, you have two possibilities:
Double-click inside the rectangle while it is selected.
This opens the Export Scores dialog, where you can make settings for 
the file to be created (see below).
Use the Export Scores function, see below.
Exporting
To export the score, proceed as follows:
1.Make sure you are in Page Mode.
2.If your score contains several pages, select the de-
sired page.
3.Pull down the File menu and on the Export submenu, 
select “Export Scores…”.
The Export Scores dialog appears.
4.Select a picture format.
5.Specify a resolution for the file.
This determines the accuracy with which the image will be created. 
300dpi, for example, is the resolution many laser printers use for printing. 
If the image file will only be displayed on screen in other programs, select 
72 or 96 (depending on screen resolution) and it will have the same size 
as it had in Cubase.
6.Specify a name and a location for the file and click 
“Save”.
The page of the score is exported and saved as a file. It can now be im-
ported into any program supporting the selected file format.
!If you change your setting for paper size, scale and 
margins now, the score may change its look.  
						

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Frequently asked questions 
						

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Frequently asked questions
How to use this chapter
This chapter answers to a number of questions that might 
arise when you use the Score Editor. For more information 
about the functions referred to below, please check the 
previous chapters. If you don’t know where to look, use 
the index.
Adding and editing notes
I enter a note with one value and it is shown as a note 
with another value.
Change the Rests display quantize to a smaller note value. 
Try deactivating Auto Quantize, especially if you don’t 
have any triplets or triplets only.
Notes are not displayed at the correct positions.
Try changing the Notes display quantize value.
There are a number of short rests after my notes.
Your Rests display quantize value might be set to too 
small a note value. Raise it. Also check the “Clean 
Lengths” setting.
When I change the length of a note, nothing happens.
This is because the display quantize value puts a restric-
tion on what note values can be displayed. Check that dis-
play quantize is set to the smallest note value you have in 
your project.
I have adjusted display quantize and the other staff 
settings best I can. The notes are still shown with the 
wrong values.
You might need to use one of these three features: insert-
ing display quantize events, using polyphonic voicing, or 
applying “Scores Notes To MIDI”.
I change the display quantize settings on the Score 
Settings–Staff page (Main subpage) and nothing 
happens.
Did you remember to click Apply? Maybe you have already 
inserted display quantize events in the score? These over-
ride the staff settings.
Suddenly many display quantize events appear in the 
score.
This is not a malfunction. If you had Auto Quantize on and 
start inserting display quantize events, the auto quantizing 
is automatically transformed into display quantize events.
One long note is shown as many tied notes.
Do other notes occur at the same positions but with differ-
ent lengths? Then you need to use polyphonic voicing. 
Are the note(s) syncopated? Then you should try the syn-
copation feature.
Even though I’ve tried the above, notes are not tied as I 
want them.
The way notes are tied in Cubase follows basic notation 
rules. You may need to make exceptions to these rules, by 
using the Cut Notes tool.
I have an unnecessarily large amount of rests.
Especially with polyphonic voicing, superfluous rests may 
be created. Try deactivating rests for one or more voices. 
You might also leave the rests activated on the Score Set-
tings–Staff page (Polyphonic tab) and then hide the rests 
you don’t need, one by one.
When using polyphonic voices, a number of rests are 
drawn on top of each other.
As above, you should try hiding rests on the Score Set-
tings–Staff page (Polyphonic tab), center rests and possi-
bly manually moving or hiding rests.
In polyphonic voices, notes that are on the same musical 
position are not displayed exactly vertically above each 
other.
This is not a malfunction. Cubase has built-in automatic al-
gorithms for making the score as legible as possible. Some-
times this will include adjustments of the “graphic” position 
of notes, especially with small intervals like seconds. You 
can always move the notes using the Layout tool.
When using polyphonic voices, notes with small intervals 
“collide”.
As described above, Cubase tries to avoid this, but only 
for voices 1 and 2 in the upper staff and voices 5 and 6 in 
the lower. For other voices, please use the Layout tool to 
manually move the notes. 
						

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Frequently asked questions
When I select a note, nothing is shown on the info line.
The note is probably tied to another note. This means that 
the second note doesn’t really exist, it is just a graphic in-
dication that the main note is long. Try selecting the main 
note instead.
Symbols and layout
Symbols from the Layout Symbols tab are sometimes 
invisible when I open the score.
This is not a malfunction. Those symbols are part of a lay-
out. If you open the score with another layout, for example 
because you open another combination of tracks, you will 
see another layout which might not contain any Symbols at 
all. See the chapter “Working with layouts” on page 599.
I can’t select an object on the screen, or I can’t select an 
object without selecting another object.
Use the selection rectangle to drag up (or down) and 
around the objects. Then hold down [Shift] and deselect 
all the objects you don’t want included, by clicking on 
them. You should also check out the lock layer function.
Symbols have disappeared.
Are they layout symbols? Then maybe they belong to an-
other layout than the one you are editing now.
If that is not the reason, maybe you have inserted the sym-
bol into the wrong staff, see “Important! – Symbols, staves 
and voices” on page 567.
A symbol doesn’t move with its staff. Auto Layout 
produces far too wide spacing.
Maybe you have inserted the symbol into the wrong staff. 
Please observe the warning in the section “Important! – 
Symbols, staves and voices” on page 567.
A note symbol appears too far from the note I wanted it 
inserted on.
Do you have activated the correct voice? Note symbols 
are inserted into voices, just like notes.