Steinberg Cubase SX/SL 3 Score Layout And Printing Manual

3
Transcribing MIDI recordings 

CUBASE SX3 – 42 Transcribing MIDI recordings
In this chapter you will learn:
• How to make initial staff settings to make a score as legible as possible.
• How to use the Display Quantize tool to handle “exceptions” in the score.
• How to resolve parts that contain mixed notes and triplets.
About transcription
This chapter assumes you have a MIDI recording that you want to 
transform into a printable score. However, if the parts are fairly compli-
cated, you will probably need to perform some manual...

CUBASE SXTranscribing MIDI recordings 3 – 43
Strategies: Preparing parts for score printout
Below follow a few tips that you might want to refer to when preparing 
a piece for printout:
• If a part is complex, you may have to do some “manual” editing of notes, like 
moving them or changing their lengths (see next chapter). This means that the 
recording will not play back exactly as it originally did. If this is a problem, we 
suggest you work on a copy of the recording. Use the Duplicate Track func-...

CUBASE SX3 – 44 Transcribing MIDI recordings
Staff settings
The first thing to do after opening the Score Editor is to make initial 
staff settings. There are three ways to open the Staff Settings dialog:
•Make the staff active, pull down the Scores menu and select “Setup” 
from the Staff Settings submenu.
•Double click to the left of the staff.
•Make the staff active and click the “i” button on the extended toolbar.
For this to work, make sure no notes or symbols are selected – otherwise, clicking the...

CUBASE SXTranscribing MIDI recordings 3 – 45
Applying settings and selecting other staves
The Staff Settings dialog is non-modal (see page 31). This means you 
click Apply to apply the settings you’ve made to the active staff.
To make settings for another staff, simply make it active in the score 
(by clicking anywhere in the staff or by using the up/down arrow keys 
on the computer keyboard). However, please note:
• Remember to click Apply before making another staff active – otherwise 
your settings...

CUBASE SX3 – 46 Transcribing MIDI recordings
Display quantize
The display quantize settings.
This is where you give the program basic information about how to in-
terpret your playing. There are “fixed” display quantize values plus an 
“Auto” option which should only be used when your music contains 
mixed straight notes and triplets. For background information about 
display quantize, see page 13.
If your music only contains “straight” notes or triplets:
1.Set the Notes display quantize value according...

CUBASE SXTranscribing MIDI recordings 3 – 47
If your music contains mixed straight notes and triplets
1.Examine the score and decide if it mainly contains triplets or mainly 
“straight” notes.
2.Set the Notes display quantize value accordingly.
If the score is mainly triplets, select the smallest triplet note position used in the score. 
If it is mainly straight notes, select the smallest “ordinary” note position.
3.Set the Rests display quantize value.
This is done according to the same rules as above....

CUBASE SX3 – 48 Transcribing MIDI recordings
A slightly short eighth note with Clean Lengths off and on.
If using Clean Lengths doesn’t help in a particular situation, you will 
have to manually resize the offending note(s) or use the Display Quan-
tize tool (see page 55).
No Overlap
When notes starting at the same position have different lengths, the 
program tends to add more ties than you may want. This can be 
avoided by using No Overlap.
This recording in the Key Editor…
…will be displayed like this...

CUBASE SXTranscribing MIDI recordings 3 – 49
Syncopation
When Syncopation is off, the program generally adds ties to long 
notes crossing beats. There are a few exceptions to this. For example, 
a half note starting at “2” in 4/4 is always displayed as a half note, 
never as two tied quarter notes.
For a “modern” notation of syncopated notes, activate Syncopation.
Syncopation off, and on.
Again, Syncopation off, and on.
Please note that you can insert “exceptions” to the Syncopation set-
ting in the...

CUBASE SX3 – 50 Transcribing MIDI recordings
Display transpose
This is used when preparing parts for instruments that are not scored 
at the actual concert key. For example, if you want the note C3 to be 
played by an alto sax, you have to score it as an A3 – nine semitones 
up. Luckily, the display transpose setting takes care of this for you:
• Use the pop-up menu to select the instrument for which you’re scoring.
• If the pop-up menu doesn’t list the needed instrument, you can set the desired...