Steinberg Cubase SX/SL 3 Getting Started Manual

CUBASE SX/SLTutorial 11: Customizing19 – 231
Setting up Key Commands
Next, we will set up some key commands. Key commands are short-
cuts for menu items and functions, meaning you can invoke an item or 
a function just by pressing a key or a combination of keys on your key-
board. Key commands can be customized any way you like, so if you 
use a particular function very often, you can assign a key command for 
it. Or if it already has a key command assigned to it by default, you can 
change this to one...

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4.In the list, select the item “Import Audio File”.
As you can see, this function has no key command assigned to it, as indicated by the 
empty “Keys” column and the “Keys” section in the top right corner.
Now, how do we know which key command we can use – that is, find 
a key command that isn’t already used for some other function? 
Here’s how to find out:
5.Click in the “Type in Key” field to the right.
There is now a flashing cursor in the field,...

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Setting up a macro
We will also try setting up a key commands macro. A macro is a stored 
combination of several functions or commands. By invoking the macro 
you can perform these functions and commands in one go, rather than 
manually performing them one at a time.
In this example, we’ll create a macro that will: 
• Select all events in the project window
• Position the left and right locator to encompass the selection. 
This is done by combining the...

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5.Now repeat this procedure to select the item “Locators to Selection” 
from the Transport folder and add it to the macro.
That’s it, we have now created a macro with two commands. The macro 
will be available for instant selection and execution on the macros sub-
menu at the bottom of the Edit menu in the program.
If you like, you could also assign a key command to the macro, by se-
lecting the macro in the Commands list and assigning a key command 
to it as...

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5.Select “Setup...” from the pop-up menu.
A dialog opens.
In this dialog you decide which elements should be shown and hidden, 
by selecting them and moving them from column to column using the 
arrow buttons. The left column displays the currently visible items, and 
the right column the currently hidden items on the toolbar. As you can 
see, several items are hidden by default (listed in the right column).
You can also configure the layout of the toolbar...

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Changing the appearance of the program
Not only can you hide or reorder individual elements and controls, you 
can also adjust the general appearance of the program to your liking:
1.Open the Preferences dialog from the File menu (Windows) or Cubase 
SX/SL menu (Mac OS X).
2.Select the Appearance page.
3.Try selecting another Basic Appearance Scheme from the pop-up at 
the top of the page.
4.Click Apply to apply the changes.
5.Try adjusting the intensity...

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Applying track colors
You can use color scheming for easier overview of certain tracks and 
events in the Project window. Applying colors is divided into two areas; 
track and event colors.
•A track color is reflected in the Inspector, Track list, in the correspond-
ing channel in the Mixer, and in all parts and events for the track in the 
event display.
Track colors can be switched on or off globally.
•Event colors are reflected in parts and events in the...

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In the Inspector, the track name bar at the top becomes light grey, and 
a field (light grey) to the left of the output activity meters in the Track 
list is added. A small arrow appears to the right in the track name bar.
3.Click the arrow to bring up the color palette.
This palette or color set can be edited in the Event Color dialog.
4.Pick a color to apply it to the selected track.
•As you can see, the chosen track color is reflected in the Inspector ti-...

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•If you open the Mixer, the track color is reflected in the field below the 
meter for the corresponding channel. 
You can also set the track color from the Mixer by clicking in this field.
Colorizing parts and events
There is a Color tool (the paint bucket icon) on the Project window 
toolbar that can be used to colorize parts and events.
The Color tool.
Just below the Color tool there is a small strip. Click this to bring up the 
standard color palette. If...

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•If you press [Alt]/[Option] the Color tool cursor becomes a pipette, 
which can be used to select a color by clicking on a part/event.
•An alternative way to colorize parts and events is by selecting them, 
and then picking a color from the Color selector on the toolbar.
Creating a template
If you often work with the same types of Projects, it might be a good 
idea to set up a track layout and save it as a template. That way, you can 
select the saved...