Steinberg Cubase SX/SL 3 Operation Manual

22
MIDI realtime parameters and
effects 

CUBASE SX/SL22 – 492 MIDI realtime parameters and effects
Introduction
For each MIDI track, you can set up a number of track parameters and 
MIDI effects. These affect how the MIDI data is played back, “transform-
ing” MIDI events in real time before they are sent to the MIDI outputs.
On the following pages, the available parameters and effects are de-
scribed. Keep in mind:
• The actual MIDI events will not be affected – the changes happen “on the fly”.
• Since the track parameter settings don’t...

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The Inspector – General handling
The track parameters and effects are set up in the Inspector (although 
some settings are available in the mixer as well). Here’s a brief rundown 
on how to handle the Inspector:
•To show or hide the Inspector, click the Inspector icon on the Project 
window’s toolbar.
•The Inspector for a MIDI track is divided into seven sections (six in 
Cubase SL). You can fold or unfold the sections individually by click-
ing...

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Basic track settings
The topmost Inspector section contains the basic settings for the se-
lected MIDI track. These are settings that either affect the basic func-
tionality for the track (mute, solo, enable record, etc.) or send out 
additional MIDI data to the connected devices (program change, vol-
ume, etc.). The section contains all settings in the Track list (see page 
91), with a few additional parameters:
Parameter Description
Track name...

CUBASE SX/SLMIDI realtime parameters and effects 22 – 495
• Note that the functionality of the “Programs” settings (used for selecting 
sounds in the connected MIDI instrument) depends on to which instru-
ment the MIDI output is routed, and how you have set up this in the MIDI 
Device Manager.
The MIDI Device Manager allows you to specify which MIDI instruments and other de-
vices are connected to the various MIDI outputs, thus making it possible to select 
patches by name. See the MIDI Devices and...

CUBASE SX/SL22 – 496 MIDI realtime parameters and effects
Other Inspector sections
Apart from the basic track settings (above), the Track Parameters and 
the effect sections (both described on the following pages), the Inspec-
tor for a MIDI track also contains the following:
The Channel section
This contains a single channel strip, allowing you to set volume, pan, 
mute/solo and other parameters for the track. This is a “mirror” of the 
track’s channel strip in the Cubase SX/SL mixer – see page 214.
The...

CUBASE SX/SLMIDI realtime parameters and effects 22 – 497
User Panel section
This allows you to display device panels, e.g. control panels for exter-
nal hardware. This is described in the separate pdf document “MIDI 
Devices and Features”.
Track parameters
The following settings will affect the MIDI events on the track in real 
time during playback. They will also be in effect if you play “live” with 
the track selected and record enabled (provided that “MIDI Thru Ac-
tive” is activated on the...

CUBASE SX/SL22 – 498 MIDI realtime parameters and effects
• If you want to compare the result of your track parameters with the “un-
processed” MIDI, you can use the Bypass button in the Track Parameters 
section.
When this is activated, the Track Parameter settings will be temporarily disabled. A by-
passed section is indicated by a yellow Bypass button.
Transpose
This allows you to transpose all notes on the track in semitones. The 
available range is -127 to +127 semitones, but remember that the to-...

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Velocity Compression
This function multiplies the velocity values with the factor you specify. 
This factor is set using a numerator (left value) and a denominator (right 
value), resulting in a fractional number (1/2, 3/4, 3/2 etc.). For example, 
if you set the factor to 3/4, the velocities will be three quarters of their 
original values. The point is, that this will also affect the difference in ve-
locity between the notes, thereby...

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Random
The Random settings let you introduce random variations to various 
properties of MIDI notes. Anything from very subtle variations to dra-
matic changes can be applied. There are two separate “Random gen-
erators”, each of which are set up in the following way:
1.Pull down the Random pop-up menu and select which note property 
should be randomized.
The options are position, pitch, velocity and length. 
• Keep in mind that depending on the...