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 that suits you better.
•The default key commands in Cubase SX/SL are listed on page 247.
Let’s say that you often use the “Audio File” command from the Import 
submenu, and want to assign a key command for it:
1.From the File menu, select “Key Commands…”.
The Key Commands dialog opens. In the left part of this dialog, all main menu items and 
a large number of other functions are arranged in a list of different categories, displayed 
as folders. Each category folder in turn contains a number of commands – menu items 
and functions.
2.Since we want to assign a key command for the “Audio File” command 
from the Import submenu, and we know that menu item is located on 
the File menu, navigate to the folder called “File”.
3.Click the “+” button to the left of the folder to open it.
You can now see a list of items and functions it contains.  
						

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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, indicating that you can type in it.
6.Let’s try [A], by pressing the A-key.
No luck. As you can see by the text that appears under the field, the A-key is already 
assigned to the function “Adjust Fades to Range”.
7.OK, then let’s try a combination – how about [Shift]-[A]?
Success! Since no text appears under the text field, that key command is not assigned 
to any function. Now we can proceed to assign that particular key command to the 
“Import Audio File” function.
8.Again, make sure “Import Audio File” is selected in the list to the left.
9.Now, click the “Assign” button above the text field.
The key command Shift+A appears in the Keys section.
We have now set up a key command that will be available in the pro-
gram after we close the Key Commands dialog.
However, we’re not quite done here yet so don’t close the dialog.   
						

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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 commands “Select All” from the Edit 
menu and the command “Locators to Selection” from the Transport 
menu:
1.In the Key Commands dialog, click the “Show Macros” button in the 
lower part of the dialog.
The macro settings are now shown in the lower part of the dialog and the Show Macros 
button is renamed Hide Macros, indicating that you can close the macros section by 
clicking the button again.
2.Click the button “New Macro”.
A new, unnamed macro appears in the macros list to the left. Name it by typing in the 
desired name.
Now, we need to select the first command that should be executed in 
the macro – the “Select All” command:
3.Since we know the “Select All” command is located on the Edit menu, 
open the Edit folder in the Commands list, navigate to the item “Select 
All” and click on it to select it.
4.Click on the “Add Command” button in the macros section.
As you can see, the “Select All” command is added to the macro in the macros list.  
						

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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 described above. We will not do that now, however. What we 
will do is save the key commands settings we have made, including 
the macro settings, as a preset for instant recall later.
Changing the look of the toolbar
In Cubase SX/SL you can change the contents and look of several 
sections and panels, including the Transport panel, the toolbars in the 
Project window and the editors, and the track controls in the Track list. 
The changes you can make include hiding unwanted controls and set-
tings from view and reordering items on the panels.
Below we will try customizing the toolbar in the Project window. As you 
will see, this can show a number of settings and controls – you may not 
need all items that are shown by default, or you may need items that 
are hidden by default. We will also try changing the positions of items 
on the toolbar.
1.Make sure the Project window is visible – you may want to maximize 
the window so that all items on the toolbar can be seen.
2.Right-click (Win) or [Ctrl]-click (Mac) anywhere on the toolbar.
A pop-up menu appears. The upper half of the menu lists all the elements that can be 
shown or hidden on the toolbar.
3.Try activating the “Performance Meter” item.
A checkmark next to an element means it is visible on the toolbar. As you can see, the 
menu closes and a miniature performance meter appears to the left on the toolbar.
4.Bring up the pop-up menu again.
The items on the lower half of the menu are presets, allowing you to quickly select al-
ternative toolbar setups. It’s also possible to store your own presets, for instant recall: 
						

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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 here, by moving ele-
ments with the Move Up and Move Down buttons. Let’s try moving the 
tool buttons to the left on the toolbar:
6.Click the Tool Buttons item to select it in the left list.
7.Click the Move Up button.
The Tool Buttons item is moved up in the list and the tool buttons are moved to the left 
on the toolbar. They now appear to the left of the transport buttons.
Let’s store this setup as a preset:
8.Click the disk button by the Presets pop-up menu.
A text field appears, allowing you to name the current configuration.
9.Type in a name and click OK.
The saved preset appears in the Presets field. You can now select this saved configu-
ration any time from the Presets pop-up menu in this dialog, or directly from the pop-up 
menu brought up by right-clicking or [Ctrl]-clicking the toolbar.
•You can customize the toolbars in the editors as well as the Transport 
panel and the Track list in much the same way.
Read more about this in the Operation Manual.
We’re done here, so close the dialog and let’s move on.  
						

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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 sliders.
They determine the brightness and grid contrast in the Project window and editors. 
Again, you need to click Apply to apply your settings.
6.When you’ve found an appearance you like, click OK to close the dia-
log and apply all changes.  
						

							CUBASE SX/SLTutorial 11: Customizing19 – 237
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 event display and 
are independent from the track colors.
An applied event color “overrides” the track color, if both are used.
To apply a color for a track, proceed as follows:
1.Make sure that the Inspector is visible to the left of the Track list.
Click here to show the Inspector.
2.You activate track colors by clicking the color strip at the top of the 
Track list.   
						

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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-
tle bar, in the field by the output activity meter in the Track list, and in 
any parts or events on the selected track.
Click here to bring up the color palette.    
						

							CUBASE SX/SLTutorial 11: Customizing19 – 239
•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 you double-click this strip the Event Color di-
alog opens, where you can define new colors for the standard palette, 
add more colors etc.
•To colorize one or several selected events, select the Color tool, 
choose a color from the palette, and click on an event.
The color is applied to all selected events and overrides the track color (if used).    
						

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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 template from the New Project dialog each time you 
create a new project, and start with your preferred layout and settings.
Let’s say for example that you usually want 16 audio tracks and 16 
MIDI tracks at your disposal, and that you are using an audio interface 
with 4 inputs and 4 outputs, which you use as stereo input/output 
pairs. You could set things up as follows:
Creating a new, empty project
1.Select New Project from the File menu.
It doesn’t matter which Project folder you select.
2.Pull down the Project menu and select “Project Setup…”.
The Project Setup dialog appears.
3.Make settings according to your needs and click OK.
The settings here include sample rate, record format (resolution), display format, frame 
rate, etc.