Steinberg Cubase SX/SL 3 Score Layout And Printing Manual

							CUBASE SXThe basics 2 – 31
About dialogs in the Score Editor
There are two basic types of dialogs available in the Score Editor:
• Non-modal dialogs can remain open while you continue working in the score.
In a non-modal dialog, you click the Apply button to apply the settings in the dialog to 
the selected objects in the score. This means you can select different elements in the 
score and change their settings, without having to close the dialog in between.
The dialog is closed by clicking the standard close button in the window title bar. The 
Staff Settings dialog is an example for a non-modal dialog.
• Regular dialogs have an OK button instead of an Apply button.
Clicking OK applies the settings you’ve made and closes the dialog. You cannot con-
tinue working in the score (or select other objects) until you close the dialog.
• If the option “Apply closes Property Windows” is activated in the Prefer-
ences (Scores page), clicking the Apply button in a non-modal dialog 
closes the dialog.
In other words, this makes a non-modal dialog work a bit more like a regular dialog.
Setting key, clef and time signature
When preparing for entering notes into a score, you will probably 
want to start out by setting the desired key, clef and time signature for 
the staff. The text below assumes you are working on one track only. If 
you have multiple staves, you either make this setting independently 
for each staff or for all staves at once. See page 44 for details.
Normally, all these symbols appear at the beginning of each staff. 
However, you can control this by using the Real Book option (see 
page 247) and by hiding (see page 250). 
						

							CUBASE SX2 – 32 The basics
Setting the initial time signature
From within the score
1.Double click on the time signature symbol at the beginning of the staff.
A dialog opens.
The time signature dialog with a 4/4 signature.
2.If the piece is in 4/4 or 2/2, you can select common time/cut time di-
rectly by clicking one of the two symbols on the right.
This will set the time signature to 4/4 or 2/2, respectively, but also give you a common/
cut time symbol on the staff.
3.If the piece is in any other time, set the numerator and denominator 
above and below the line, respectively.
The numerator can consist of several numbers for composite time signatures. How-
ever, if the piece is in a simple time signature you only need to fill in the first number 
above the line. The more advanced options are described below.
•The “Pickup Bar” option is described on page 256.
4.Click OK or press [Return].
❐All tracks share the time signature! In other words, when you set the time 
signature, you do this for all tracks in the project.
If you need to enter half a bar somewhere (for example) you have to make 
a time signature change (for example from 4/4 to 2/4 and back again). 
On page 88 you will find out how to input time signature changes. 
						

							CUBASE SXThe basics 2 – 33
Composite time signatures and the For Grouping Only option
For composite signatures, the numerator can be made up of up to four 
groups. For example, ”4+4+3+/” on the upper line and 8 on the lower 
means the time signature is 11/8.
The reason for dividing the numerator into several numbers is to get 
beaming and tied notes displayed correctly automatically. This does 
not affect the metronome or anything else, only beams and ties. For 
more information on beaming, see page 134.
If “For Grouping Only” is not activated, the numerator will show all the 
numbers entered. If it is activated, it will show the sum of the numbers 
entered, as for “simple” time signatures.
“For Grouping Only” off and on.
Note that Cubase SX tries to preserve the denominator when you in-
sert a composite signature with “For Grouping Only” activated. This 
means that if you have a 4/4 time signature, and change it to a com-
posite value (3+3+2 eighths for example), the time signature will still 
be displayed as 4/4 instead of 8/8.
Setting the time signature from the Transport panel
You can also set the time signature directly on the Transport panel, as 
described in the Operation Manual. Please note the following:
• The time signature box on the Transport panel always displays the first time 
signature event on the tempo track. When you change this value you are in 
fact editing the first time signature event on the tempo track.
• You can not create composite time signatures from the Transport panel.
The time signature on the Transport panel. 
						

							CUBASE SX2 – 34 The basics
Setting the time signature by editing the tempo track
You can also add, edit and delete time signatures by editing the tempo 
track (this is described in the Operation Manual). Please note:
• The score always shows the time signature events on the tempo track, regard-
less of whether or not the Master button is activated. Likewise, any time signa-
tures you create in the Score Editor will be shown in the tempo track.
• You can not create composite time signatures from the tempo track.
Setting the initial clef
Directly in the score
1.Double click on the current clef.
A dialog appears.
Double clicking on a clef brings up the clef dialog.
2.Use the scroll bar to select one clef.
❐This does not work if Auto Clef is activated in the Staff Settings dialog, 
see below.
3.Repeat the steps above for all staves in the system. 
						

							CUBASE SXThe basics 2 – 35
In the Staff Settings dialog
1.Click in the staff to make it the active staff.
2.Double click just to the left of the staff, or select Setup from the Staff 
Settings submenu on the Scores menu.
The Staff Settings dialog appears, showing the current settings for the active staff.
3.Locate the Key/Clef section.
4.Use the left scroll bar to select one of the available clefs.
You will find out how to insert clef changes on page 88.
5.Click Apply.
•You can select another staff in the score and make settings for it with-
out having to close the Staff Settings dialog first.
In a split system
If you have a split system (see page 85 and page 109) you can of 
course set different clefs for the upper and lower staff.
1.Open the Staff Settings dialog.
2.Select a clef for the upper staff.
3.Activate the “Lower Staff” check box.
4.Set a clef for the lower staff. 
						

							CUBASE SX2 – 36 The basics
Using Auto Clef
Auto Clef activated in the Staff Settings dialog.
In the Staff Settings dialog you will also find an option called Auto 
Clef. If this is activated, the program will automatically select a treble 
clef or a bass clef for the staff, depending on in which range the notes 
in the part fall.
Setting the initial key
In the Staff Settings dialog
1.Make sure the desired staff is the active staff and bring up the Staff 
Settings dialog from the Scores menu.
Or, you can double click just to the left of the staff – this makes the staff active and 
brings up the Staff Settings dialog in one go.
The Key/Clef section of the Staff Settings dialog.
2.Use the right scroll bar in the Key/Clef section of the dialog to select 
one of the keys.
3.Click Apply.
•You can select other staves in the score and make settings for these, 
without having to close the Staff Settings dialog first. 
						

							CUBASE SXThe basics 2 – 37
Setting the key for a split system
You might have a split system (see page 85 and page 109) with two 
staves.
1.Click in the system to make one of its staves the active staff.
2.Open the Staff Settings dialog.
3.Set a key for the upper staff.
This will automatically set the lower staff to the same key.
4.If you need to set a different key for the lower staff, activate the “Lower 
Staff” check box and set a key for this.
The Lower Staff check box
Directly in the score
If the current key is anything but C major/A minor (no accidentals) you 
can set the key directly in the score:
1.Double click on the accidentals at the beginning of a staff.
A dialog appears
2.Use the scroll bar to select a key and click OK.
•If you wish, you can set a display transpose value in the Staff Settings 
dialog.
3.Repeat for all staves.
You will find out how to insert key changes on page 88.
Double click in this area 
						

							CUBASE SX2 – 38 The basics
Working with transposing instruments
Scores for some instruments, for example a lot of brass instruments, 
are written transposed. Therefore, the Score Editor provides a “display 
transpose” function. With this function notes are transposed in the 
score, without affecting the way they are played back. This allows you 
to record and play back a multi staff arrangement, and still score each 
instrument according to its own transposition.
Setting display transpose
1.Make the desired staff active and open the Staff Settings dialog.
2.Select your instrument from the transpose pop-up or adjust the value 
directly in the Semitones field.
The Display Transpose section in the Staff Settings dialog.
3.Click Apply.
❐Display transpose does not affect MIDI playback!
Display transpose in the Edit Key/Clef dialog
If you want to change the display transpose setting in the middle of 
the score, you can do this by inserting a key change (see page 88). In 
the Edit Key/Clef dialog you will find a Transpose field, in which you 
can enter a transposition value in semitones. This is useful if you are 
writing a saxophone part and want the player to switch from alto to 
tenor saxophone, for example. 
• Note that you should enter the absolute display transpose value that 
should be used from this point on.
In other words, this setting is not relative to any display transpose settings you made in 
the Staff Settings dialog. 
						

							CUBASE SXThe basics 2 – 39
Working order
When you prepare a score we suggest you do things in the following 
order, since this will minimize the time needed if you make a mistake 
somewhere and need to redo a step. Try our suggestion first, and if 
you think another method suits your particular working situation bet-
ter, go ahead and do it!
• Preferably work on copies of recorded tracks.
If the parts are fairly complex you might have to change them permanently after which 
they don’t play back as they originally did.
• If memory is short, break the score up into segments.
You might for example use Split Loop to split the parts across all tracks.
• Put the tracks in the project window in the order you want them in the score.
You can not rearrange the order of systems in the Score Editor. However, you can go 
back and change the order in the project window at any time.
• When opening the Score Editor, begin with the adjustments described above.
You should always begin by setting page margins, etc.
• If you have recorded music into tracks already, try adjusting the score “picture” 
as much as possible without permanently editing the notes.
Use the staff settings, display quantize, grouping etc.
• If the tracks are empty, make basic staff settings, enter the notes and then 
make detailed adjustments, add display quantize etc.
• If needed, use polyphonic voicing to resolve overlapping notes, to create pi-
ano systems, to handle crossing voices etc.
• When all this is done, decide if you need to perform “destructive” editing.
You might for example have to permanently alter the length or position of some of the 
recorded notes.
• Hide unwanted objects and add note dependant and note related symbols.
This includes accents, dynamic symbols, crescendo, slurs, lyrics, “graphic rests” etc.
• Work through the score and adjust the number of bars across the page.
• Adjust the vertical spacing between staves and grand staves.
The last two steps can be performed automatically by the program using the Auto Lay-
out features.
• Add layout symbols like endings, page text, etc.
• Print.
• Go back and create alternative layouts to extract voices etc. 
						

							CUBASE SX2 – 40 The basics
Force update
If for some reason the screen isn’t redrawn properly (as a result of the 
computer’s recalculation of the page’s appearance), you can select 
“Force Update” from the Global Functions submenu on the Scores 
menu or click the Update button on the toolbar. This forces a total re-
draw of the whole page.
The Update button