Cubase tips and tricks...

[Patrick DSP]

i'm trying to put ze out of a job ;)

taken from the cubase.net forum,
http://forum.cubase.net/forum/Forum2/HTML/064445.html
=======================================
Tips Index:

Arpeggiate Drums!---TIP #58---
Audio Comping Takes---TIP #13---
Audio, Dragging---TIP #79---
Automation Tip---TIP #76---
Auto Select Events under Cursor---TIP #46---
Backwards Movie---TIP #7---
Colour Naming, Part---TIP #41---
Comping Takes, Audio---TIP #13---
Controller Lane Presets---TIP #34---
Cutting, Quick---TIP #68---
Dissolve Audio Parts---TIP #18---
Divide Track List---TIP #83---
Dragging Audio---TIP #79---
Drums!, Arpeggiate---TIP #58---
Drum Maps---TIP #56---
Editor Zooming---TIP #6---
Effect Parameter Display, Basic---TIP #73---
EQ, Graphic---TIP #77---
Explosive P's---TIP #32---
Fine Value Editing---TIP #81---
Folder Track Tips Part 1---TIP #39---
Folder Track Tips Part 2---TIP #40---
Follow Cursor---TIP #88---
FX Processor, Multiple Input Channels: Mega---TIP #80---
Hitpoint Tool---TIP #87---
Images, Create---TIP #43---
Input Channels: Mega FX Processor, Multiple---TIP #80---
Input Transformer---TIP #11---
Inspector Views, Expanded---TIP #84---
Inspector Tabs---TIP #14---
Key Commands---TIP #86---
Key Commands, Region---TIP #89---
Key Editor Keyboard Fun---TIP #75---
Keystroke, Restart Song---TIP #26---
Locators to Selection---TIP #25---
Locator Setting, Wheel Mouse---TIP #35---
Logical Editor-Selecting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Beat Notes---TIP #24---
Loops, MIDI---TIP #61---
Macros, Nested---TIP #74---
Macro, 'Record Pre On'---TIP #57---
Macro, Shrinking---TIP #16---
Macro, Slice Audio Loop---TIP #50---
Macros, Remember---TIP #15---
Markers---TIP #12---
MIDI Loops---TIP #61---
MIDI Randomizing Tricks---TIP #1---
MIDI Stacking Tricks Part 1---TIP #2---
MIDI Stacking Tricks Part 2---TIP #3---
MIDI Stacking Tricks Part 3---TIP #4---
Movie, Backwards---TIP #7---
Moving Small Notes Part 1---TIP #29---
Moving Small Notes Part 2---TIP #30---
Mixer Windows On/Off, Toggle Transport+---TIP #33---
Mixing Settings, Power---TIP #22---
Multiple Input Channels: Mega FX Processor---TIP #80---
Multiple Outputs Simultaneously, Changing---TIP #82---
Nested Macros---TIP #74---
Notes Part 1, Moving Small---TIP #29---
Notes Part 2, Moving Small---TIP #30---
Outputs Simultaneously, Changing Multiple---TIP #82---
Output From VST Without A Dry/Wet Slider, Wet Only---TIP #23---
Overview, Project---TIP #63---
Panel Tips, Common---TIP #28---
Parts, Dissolve Audio---TIP #18---
Project Cursor, Set---TIP #49---
Project Cursor to Start---TIP #78---
Project Overview---TIP #63---
Project Window, Toggle Parts of---TIP #48---
Quantize (MIDI), Realtime Scale---TIP #72---
Quantizing, Fast---TIP #85---
Quantizing---TIP #21---
Randomizing tricks, MIDI---TIP #1---
Record, Retrospective---TIP #60---
Repeat Object---TIP #31---
Restart Song Keystroke---TIP #26---
Retrospective Record---TIP #60---
Routing Tips Part 1---TIP #51---
Routing Tips Part 2---TIP #52---
Region Key Commands---TIP #89---
RTFM---TIP #9---
Ruler Zooming---TIP #45---
Sample Editor---TIP #10---
Sample Editor Selecting---TIP #19---
Save New Version---TIP #20---
Scale Quantise (MIDI), Realtime---TIP #72---
Scrolling---TIP #64---
Scrolling, Wheelie Mouse---TIP #27---
Selecting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Beat Notes, Logical Editor---TIP #24---
Selection, Locators to---TIP #25---
Selecting, Sample Editor---TIP #19---
Slice Audio Loop Macro---TIP #50---
Stacking Tricks Part 1, MIDI---TIP #2---
Stacking Tricks Part 2, MIDI---TIP #3---
Stacking Tricks Part 3, MIDI---TIP #4---
Start, Project Cursor to---TIP #78---
Tabs, Inspector---TIP #14---
Template Tip---TIP #5---
Time Warp Trick---TIP #37---
Timestretching, Quick---TIP #69---
Tips Tip---TIP #53---
Toggle Transport+Mixer Windows On/Off---TIP #33---
Toolbar Options, Hidden---TIP #71---
Tool Box---TIP #62---
Tool Selection---TIP #44---
Tool Switching---TIP #8---
Track Heights Part 1, Same---TIP #54---
Track Heights Part 2, Same---TIP #55---
Track List, Divide---TIP #83---
Transport+Mixer Windows On/Off, Toggle---TIP #33---
Transport Panel Editing---TIP #47---
Transport Preferences---TIP #42---
Values, Toggle---TIP #36---
Velocity Shift---TIP #17---
Waveform Phase---TIP #59---
Wet Only Output From VST Without A Dry/Wet Slider---TIP #23---
Wheelie Mouse Scrolling---TIP #27---
Wheel Mouse Locator Setting---TIP #35---
Wheel Mouse Tricks---TIP #38---
Zooming, Editor---TIP #6---
Zooming Part 1---TIP #65---
Zooming Part 2---TIP #66---
Zooming Part 3---TIP #67---
Zooming, Quick---TIP #70---
Zooming, Ruler---TIP #45---
Zooming:Same Track Heights Part 1---TIP #54---
Zooming:Same Track Heights Part 2---TIP #55---


---TIP #1---

MIDI: Randomizing tricks:

1. Create a MIDI track
2. Put a synth on it which the filter responsed to velocity.
3. On the left pick the Track Parameters Tab
4. Under Random select Velocity and make the numbers to the right of it say: -100 and 100

Now put an 8th note pattern in a loop (like normal in the arrange side) and listen... random velolcities!! Great for emulating say an old modular synth.

And try this... instead of Velocity try choosing Pitch.
GREAT!

Author: CUBASENYFOREVER, as taught to him by Ted Rackley Date: 16 February 2003

ADDENDUM by Scared:
...to add to your tip, instead of setting up a midi loop, use the step designer midi plugin.


---TIP #2---

MIDI Stacking Tricks Part 1:

STACKING VSTi INTO A SINGLE TRACK, using the track Sends. (You can "quick-n-dirty" stack up to four additional VSTi this way, for playback and record... Also great for playing live!)

- Load two or three VST Instruments into the VSTi rack. (For this example, I'm using one instance each of Plex and PPG Wave.)

- Create a MIDI Track, and assign the Out to Plex.

- In the Inspector, flip to the Sends Panel.

- In the first Send, Select an Effect, and route (connect) the Send to the PPG Wave.

- PLAY! The audio from both VSTi will play together... If you record events to that track, playback will also sound both instruments...

(INSIDE TIP: if you don't want to "effect" the PPG, just stack it "dry" with the Plex, select something like "Auto Pan" as the effect, and don't assign any presets. However, applying various effects to the Sends makes for an interesting stack!)

Author: CUBASENYCFOREVER Date: 16 February 2003


---TIP #3---

MIDI Stacking Tricks Part 2:

STACKING MIDI/VSTi AND REWIRE INSTRUMENTS IN MULTIPLE TRACKS, using "multi-track select".

With this method, you can also build a "quick-n-dirty" stack with as many tracks as you like, for playback and record... Also great for playing live! In this case, however, you can also record identical event data to multiple tracks (instead of only one) for later tweaking...
As well, you can tweak parameters (like transpose, etc.) seperately in each track to "fatten up" the resulting stack.


For this example I'm using one instance of Plex, one instance of PPG WAVE, and running Rewired to Reason, with one instance of Subtractor loaded.

- Create three MIDI Tracks. Assign the first to Plex, the second to PPG WAVE, and the third to the Reason Subtractor.

- Shift-select the three tracks.

- PLAY! The audio from all three instruments will play together... If you record, identical events will be recorded to all three tracks.

(Note there is no need to specifically turn on "multi-record"...!)

Author: Tribalogical Date: 16 February 2003


---TIP #4---

MIDI Stacking Tricks Part 3:

KEY SPLITS

To set up a MIDI keyboard split to 2 different instruments:-
1. Set up the first instrument as normal
2. Use Sends to output to a second MIDI instrument
3. Load the MIDI effect "Track FX"
4. Active the Pre button
5. Set up keyrange, transposition etc., independently for each instrument.

[Edited by Mobius for clarity]

Author: Vic_France Date: 18 April 2004


---TIP #5---

Template Tip:

Open SX, make everything the way you want it.
I like to make 3 folders: Drums, Synths and Vocals
Then SAVE AS TEMPLATE - name it.

Next time you start up your TEMPLATE/settings will be in the list to choose from... nice!

More choices than the old AUTOLOAD.

Author: CUBASENYCFOREVER Date: 16 February 2003


---TIP #6---

Editor Zooming:

Most people know that you can go to the song position line with the arrow tool selected and hold and drag up and down to ZOOM in and out... this is GREAT and fast...
But did you know it also works in the Drum and Midi Editor? COOL!

Author: CUBASENYCFOREVER Date: 16 February 2003


---TIP #7---

Backwards Movie:

This is nice too... do a bunch of stuff... then just hold down [Command] Z (Windows [Control] Z) and watch the show... Like a movie everything runs backwords... FUN

Author: CUBASENYCFOREVER Date: 16 February 2003


---TIP #8---

Tool Switching:

Use the number keys above the letters to switch tools... once you get used to it... it's FASTER [or just right click-Ed.]

Author: CUBASENYCFOREVER Date: 16 February 2003


---TIP #9---

RTFM

Read every page of the Cubase instruction manual. You'll be blown away by what you didn't know the software did. This is how I learned everything I know.

Author: TedRackley Date: 16 February 2003


---TIP #10---

Sample Editor

3 tips in 1:
1. [Option]+[Spacebar] plays the selected area once

2. [Shift]+G plays the selected area in a loop

3. Pressing [Shift]+G again will stop loop playback

It was killing me to use the sample editor until i found these useful key commands...

Author: Scared Date: 18 February 2003


---TIP #11---

Input Transformer:

Using the input Transformer is a way to delete MIDI information as it is recording. Set up each tracks filter to accept data on its own channel only when doing a multi record in order to keep things simple.
Input Transformer works exactly like the transformer, except there is no undo. You get only what you've set up and everything you filter out is lost.

Author: RickYackel Date: 18 February 2003


---TIP #12---

Markers:

Setup markers the same for every song. Go to position, press [Command]+(# on keypad) (Windows [Control]+# on keypad) and everytime you hit the key you go there. I use 3 for start, 4 1st verse, 5 1st chr, 6 2nd verse, and so on. Then you can fly around the songs at light speed.

Author: Goldi Date: 18 February 2003


---TIP #13---

Audio Comping Takes:

There are several ways to do it:

All takes on one track
- just record multiple takes on the same track
- glue them together or select them all
- select Events to Parts from the Audio menu
- double click the part
- if the takes are all stacked on top of each other just command drag the part on the top to another "lane"

Multiple takes to multiple tracks
- record the takes you want
- select them all
- Events to Parts again
- select all the tracks and double click - all tracks appear in the editor
- when you've finished your assemble edit, drag the tracks all to one track and glue them together

Author: CPManuel Date: 20 February 2003


---TIP #14---

Inspector Tabs:

In the Inspector there are tabs for inserts, sends, etc. Clicking a tab's icon will expand that tab and collapse any others.

-To expand multiple tabs, Command-click the tabs.

-To expand/collapse all the tabs at once, Option-click a tab.

Author: Tribalogical Date: 21 February 2003


---TIP #15---

Remember Macros:

Don't forget about macros.[Ted's 'Macro Video' seems to have gone so I removed the link (put me right Ted if this is incorrect!)]

Author: TedRackley Date: 21 February 2003


---TIP #16---

Shrinking Macro:

I set up a macro to shrink the arrangment up at a flick of a key on the shuttle pro.

Author: Lux Date: 22 February 2003


---TIP #17---

Velocity Shift:

If you want to do some general editing on MIDI velocities, you can pull down a control lane called Velocity Shift. You'll find it when you click on the 'Show/Hide Automation' button (the plus sign) in the Track list for the channel, select 'More....' from the pull down menu and open the folder called 'Track FX' . This allows you to adjust the velocities in a general way while still maintaining the relative velocities of the individual notes. Nice for adding dynamics to a track that you've played well.

[Note for Newbies: The general Track setting for Velocity Shift can also be found in Track Parameters in the Inspector. You can also adjust the velocity of events in individual MIDI parts using the Velocity field in the info line. The velocity shift in the info line (for the individual part) is added to the velocity shift you have set up for the whole track in the Inspector.]

Author: RickYackel Date: 04 March 2003


---TIP #18---

Dissolve Audio Parts:

If you check out pages [394-395] in the manual it shows how to assemble multiple take. It's not great, but its not bad. Something I just discovered is that you can do a dissolve part, record another take and do an events to part again to assemble parts from completely separate takes, not just the ones done in cycle mode at one time. This seems to be the biggest concern on the forum with the current method, so be sure to check it out.
The procedure to be clear.
1) Do multiple takes on on a track.
2) Do events to part to check out what you've done or see if you can assemble a good take.
3) Dissolve part and give instruction/advice to singer (i.e. Put more emphasis on "throbbing")
4) Record new event(s) on top of first takes
5) Select parts in area so that you have the old takes selected as well as the new ones
6) Repeat 2) to 5) as necessary

[N.B. “Stacked” Cycle Record Mode needs to have been selected in the Transport panel for this to function.]

Author: RickYackel Date: 10 March 2003


---TIP #19---

Sample Editor Selecting:

If you spend much time at all in the Sample Editor, assign a kybd equivalent to the Edit menu's "Select Event" command (I use [Command]-[Option] "E"). That, in combination with the previously-mentioned Option-spacebar shortcut for Play Selection, saves a lot of time.
Also, while you're there, consider assigning Command-Option "M" to Export Audio Mixdown!

Author: SoundWrangler Date: 23 March 2003


---TIP #20---

Save New Version ("Hidden" Feature):

This is not in the File menu, nor is it easily found in the manual.

To save a project incrementally as you go along, with version #'s auto-appended to the project name:

Keys: [Command]+[Option]+S (Windows [Control]+[Alt]+S)


If the key-combo doesn't work, edit the key commands:

File/Key Commands...

In the left column select "File", in the right column select "Save New Version" and assign the above Key combo...

Author: Tribalogical Date: 17 June 2003


---TIP #21---

Quantizing:

I like to Auto Quantize, so I assigned shift-Q to toggle this transport setting.
For quantize incriments, [command]+[F16] for 16th note MIDI quantize, [Command]+[F8] for eighth notes, [Command]+[F4] for quarter notes, etc..
[Command]+[F3] then toggles triplets for any of these selections.

Author: Belton Date: 29 August 2003


---TIP #22---

Power Mixing Settings:

Always try to mix with a fat buffer. 1024 setting or better if available. You will hear a huge difference in your verb tails, all your frequencies and overall DSP processing quality. Trust me it will make a WORLD of a difference!
Ah... you didn't know it but if you kick up your audio pre-load setting in the experts section to 6 seconds you'll hear SX put a cherry on top of that already burning mix!
Yea! Now it's sounding real sweet.

You should have a kicking cpu and definitely a full tank of ram for all of this buddy, but you already knew that tip.

[N.B. This tip is a possible bone of contention and may or may not be useful. Please take the debate elsewhere]

Author: Codee Date: 16 March 2004


---TIP #23---

Wet Only Output From VST Without A Dry/Wet Slider:

Say you have a plugin, such as sx 2's Q, that does not have a wet/dry slider, and you hear the sound you are looking for, but it is coming purely from the effect... you don't want any of the original material. Here's how to get only the effected part of the sound.

Start with an audio track. If you already have the effect on it you want to be working with, turn it off for now. Dupe the track and make sure the duplicate track has a real copy of the audio so you don't change the original track. Phase invert the second track. when playing back now, you should get silence. Now turn on your effect on the first track and you will hear only the sound that your vst is adding/changing to the audio.

In conjunction with the Q vst, it's a great way to get really amazing resonance only sounds.

I've only used this on audio tracks. for vsti tracks, i've made an audio mixdown and worked on the audio track. Still looking to find a vst to do this with a pure vsti track...

Author: Scared Date: 17 March 2004


---TIP #24---

Logical Editor-Selecting 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Beat Notes:

In todays lesson children you will learn how to exclusively select notes that lie on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th beats of the bar using the Logical Editor. Proceed as follows:-

1st Beat Note Selection:
1. Open the Logical Editor (you may need to create a dummy MIDI part first).
2. Select 'Select' from the drop down Function menu in the top left hand corner.
3. Click on 'Add Line' to the right of the Filter section if a filter command is not already present.
4. Select 1 left bracket from the Left Bracket column menu.
5. Select 'Type' from the Filter Target column menu.
6. Select 'Equal' from the Condition column menu.
7. Select 'Note' from the Parameter 1 column menu.
8. Select 'And' from the Boo (Boolean) column menu.
9. Click on 'Add Line' to add a second command line.
10. Select 'Position' from the Filter Target column menu.
11. Select 'Outside Bar Range' from the Condition column menu.
12. Enter value 4 in the Parameter 1 column.
13. Enter value 1915 in the Parameter 2 column (the bar range should now look mostly blue).
14. Select 1 right bracket from the Right Bracket column.
15. *Optional* Type in the Comment field 'Select 1st Beat Notes'.
16. Click on 'Store' and enter 'Select 1st Beat Notes' (or something equally descriptive).

2nd Beat Note Selection:
1. Follow steps 1-10 above.
2. Select 'Inside Bar Range' from the Condition column menu.
3. Enter value 476 in the Parameter 1 column.
4. Enter value 484 in the Parameter 2 column.
5. Select 1 right bracket from the Right Bracket column.
6. *Optional* Type in the Comment field 'Select 2nd Beat Notes'.
7. Click on 'Store' and enter 'Select 2nd Beat Notes'.

3rd Beat Note Selection:
1. Follow steps 1-10 from the '1st Beat Note Selection' procedure.
2. Select 'Inside Bar Range' from the Condition column menu.
3. Enter value 956 in the Parameter 1 column.
4. Enter value 964 in the Parameter 2 column.
5. Select 1 right bracket from the Right Bracket column.
6. *Optional* Type in the Comment field 'Select 3rd Beat Notes'.
7. Click on 'Store' and enter 'Select 3rd Beat Notes'.

4th Beat Note Selection:
1. Follow steps 1-10 from the '1st Beat Note Selection' procedure.
2. Select 'Inside Bar Range' from the Condition column menu.
3. Enter value 1436 in the Parameter 1 column.
4. Enter value 1440 in the Parameter 2 column.
5. Select 1 right bracket from the Right Bracket column.
6. *Optional* Type in the Comment field 'Select 4th Beat Notes'.
7. Click on 'Store' and enter 'Select 4th Beat Notes'.


The first 3 selection commands should work in 3/4 time too. Any further unusual time signatures may need additional commands to work. The values used above are by no means proven to work in all circumstances so please check that it's selected the desired notes before editing them further. Feel free to tweak them if you believe they could be improved on (and let me know). Of course, the selection could be widened to include all events, or just controller events. Experiment! I've created my own User folder within the Logical Editor presets folder.

Author: Mobius Date: 17 March 2004


---TIP #25---

Locators to Selection:

Pressing P with a part selected sets the right and left locators at the beginning and end of that part (we all know that.)
The cool part, that I didn't know, is it works the same if you select a single or multiple midi notes or audio clips. I find this very handy for cutting and pasting parts, that don't fall on a beat, between tracks. (Don’t forget to press 1 and put the cursor at the left locator when you paste)

Author: mracorands Date: 18 March 2004


---TIP #26---

Restart Song Keystroke:

I set up an open key in the keycomands to "re-start".
I use this SOOOOO much now.

In one stroke I do 3 moves with this..
1. stop...
2. jump back to the last "starting point...
3. and start play again.

For working on and adjusting really anything, this is a must. Just keep hitting one key over and over while editing or moving a part start etc.

Author: Deepswing Date: 18 March 2004


---TIP #27---

Wheelie Mouse Scrolling:

With a wheelie mouse you can scroll left/right by holding down the shift key.

Author: CPManuel Date: 19 March 2004


---TIP #28---

Common Panel Tips:

It has always slightly irritated me that the common panel in the extended mixer doesn't affect input and ouput channels. IE: Clicking inserts will set all other channels to inserts in the extended section, but input/output channels stay where they were. I can see the benefit as settings in those channels are typically not all that likely to change, but still.

Today I figured out that if you hold down option and click on a button in the common panel, it will affect everything. handy, I say. (Btw, this is in the ops manual, just has never irritated me quite enough to hunt through the manual for it)

This also applies to making a channels wide/narrow.

Author: Scared Date: 1 April 2004


---TIP #29---

Moving Small Notes Part 1:

In key edit :

Sometimes, I find it difficult to MOVE a short note in the note display. The note is so short that I can only RESIZE it with the mouse.

But, when this happens, it is still possible to move the note by dragging its VELOCITY VALUE in the controller lane.

Author: Marc D Date: 8 April 2004


---TIP #30---

Moving Small Notes Part 2:

When moving short notes around in the editor, you are constantly annoyed by the appearance of the size tool when all you really want to do is select or move your note.
What I've found here is that zooming in vertically to about 3 octaves(I can do it at 4 octaves at 1280x1024)really helps. Then you just slide the arrow up the note until it changes from sizing back to the arrow and then select or grab and move it as you please. I can select a 16th note zoomed out to 200 bars using this technique and it has saved me a lot of frustration.

Author: RickYackel Date: 21 April 2004


---TIP #31---

Repeat Object:

If you use [Command]+K you get a repeat tool. This will repeat the selected area X number of times.

Author: Electrotech Date: 10 April 2004


---TIP #32---

Explosive P's:

Get rid of those nasty PPPlosives by creating a region starting at the 'PPP' and drag the little blue fade marker slightly to soften to taste.

Author: RokGeetar Date: 10 December 2003


---TIP #33---

Toggle Transport+Mixer Windows On/Off:

If you have crowded screen space, tuck your transport and mixer away when you don't need them by using F2 (transport) and F3 (mixer). They toggle these windows on and off. I'd like to see Steinberg to make more toggling available for the pool, tempo and marker windows and device panel. You can't set this up in Key Commands right now. You can only open, but not close. No toggling for the keys you assign for these other windows right now.

Author: Tim05 Date: 12 April 2004


---TIP #34---

Controller Lane Presets:

Even with just one controller lane open (e.g. Velocity), save the Lanes View as a preset (the little vertical arrow
to the left of the scroll arrow at the bottom left of the Edit window...select "Add" and name the preset). So now when all controller lanes are closed, you can simply open the Lanes View preset from that same vertical arrow (which is always visible). Furthermore, these Lanes Views are saved in the Preferences folder, so they are available to all Projects.

Author: Vic_France Date: 12 April 2004


---TIP #35---

Wheel Mouse Locator Setting:

Toggle the wheel mouse on the locator values of the transport panel.
It allows you to use the blue highlighted section on the project window to place the locators more precisely in the project.

Author: Marc D Date: 12 April 2004


---TIP #36---

Toggle Values:

Use keyboard arrows to toggle numbers (in the transport panel or in the inspector, for example)

Author: Marc D Date: 12 April 2004


---TIP #37---

Time Warp Trick:

1) Play a piece of music (improvising), and keep the tempo ad lib. (without metronome)
2) Timewarp the piece to score it properly, or to make new tracks follow perfectly. (Eg Groove agent or Virtual guitarist)
If you for some reason want to make the piece more in straigh tempo again:
3) Shiftclick on the tempo signatures in the timeline, and delete the tempi flags : - then you can have it play back in steady tempo, but still straightened up in terms of score layout.

For me this is useful when I improvise, and happen to find something useful I want to refine for later use.

Author: Jan Helge Date: 14 April 2004


---TIP #38---

Wheel Mouse Tricks:

Many values in Cubase SX can be changed by hovering over them and rolling the wheel. Holding down the shift key gives a fine grain control. Here's some examples contributed by members of this forum:

- Tempo (all numbers in the Transport Panel)
- Scrolling the Project window up and down
- Zoom Settings
- Moving Faders
- Inspector Values
- Drop Down list choices
- Some VSTi Parameters

Try it everywhere, it can be a happy surprise!

Author: KHC ('Tempo tip' attributed to JanD; 'faders tip' attributed to Thanos and Tribalogical) Date: 16 February 2003


---TIP #39---

Folder Track Tips Part 1:

Apart from reducing clutter, folder tracks when collapsed can be edited as complete entities on the Project Window. In other words, they provide a means to perform actions across multiple tracks simultaneously (e.g. cutting and pasting, arming many audio tracks for recording simultaneously, muting all tracks in a folder with a single mute button).

Author: Jasefos Date: 4 January 2004


---TIP #40---

Folder Track Tips Part 2:

I've been really getting into folder tracks especially for orchestral work. My orchestral template has two main folders, one for audio and one for midi. Under each of those I have subfolders for woodwinds, brass, percussion and strings (I can add additional if I need one for sound effects, chior, keyboards, etc.). Then in the midi section under their respective subfolders I have midi tracks set up for each instrument group (violin 1, violin 2, viola 1, viola2, etc). These get modified as I go along, but they offer a good starting point. In the Audio or Working Tracks folder I also have a subfolder for FX Tracks and I keep all my FX tracks in there.

This takes a minute to set up as a template and requires that you continue to reorganize/place your tracks as you work (I also like to color code them) but I find the benefits to be great. I can work faster because I can easily find everything, which with a full orchestra, handling both midi and audio, is sometimes confusing. Also, I can easily mute or solo a section, for example woodwinds, just by muting or soloing its respective folder. I've also been experimenting with adding a group track for each audio section in its respective folder for final mix downs. But maybe this is overkill some.

Author: Buster Cherry Date: 9 April 2004


---TIP #41---

Part Colour Naming:

Define your own set of Part Colours for different instrument types, and give them meaningful names like Bass, Guitar, Synth, Drums, Woodwind, Voices, Brass, and so on. Then if you get in the habit of using this colour set in all of your songs you can tell exactly what parts are about to come in, even from the other side of the studio, as well as being able to visualise the arrangement much more clearly.

Author: Martin Walker (SOS) Date: June 2002


---TIP #42---

Transport Preferences:

Although you can't double-click the Click, Master and Sync buttons on the Transport Panel to open related windows in SX, you can instead [Control]/[Apple]+Click these buttons to open the Metronome Setup, Tempo Track and Synchronisation Setup windows respectively.

Author: Mark Wherry (SOS) Date: November 2002


---TIP #43---

Create Images:

If you have a reasonably fast system, try enabling Create Images during Record in the Audio panel of the Preferences window. This does exactly what it says on the tin, meaning that the waveform image for an audio file will be created as the audio file itself is being recorded. This saves waiting around for images to be constructed after recording, which is particularly handy if you've recorded for several minutes on many Audio Tracks.

Author: Mark Wherry (SOS) Date: November 2002


---TIP #44---

Tool Selection:

Cycle forwards and backwards through the available tools by pressing the F10 and F9 keys respectively. [N.B. This could be a problem in Mac OS X if these keys are still assigned to Exposé. Reassign Cubase's or Exposé's key commands to solve the problem.]

Author: Mark Wherry (SOS) Date: November 2002


---TIP #45---

Ruler Zooming:

Place the mouse cursor on the bottom half of the 'ruler' and click and hold. Then drag up/down to zoom in/out on your current position.

You can toggle this feature with the 'Zoom while Locating in Time Scale' option in the Transport panel of the Preferences window.

Author: RockGeetar Date: 10 December 2003


---TIP #46---

Auto Select Events under Cursor:

Here's another interesting Preferences option you might like to try at home: 'Auto Select Events under Cursor' in the Editing panel of the Preferences window. When this option's enabled, the Event or Part that falls under the Project Cursor on the currently selected Track on the Project window is automatically selected, and this works both when the Project's playing and when it's stationary.

Author: Mark Wherry (SOS) Date: December 2002


---TIP #47---

Transport Panel Editing:

Pressing [Shift]+P, [Shift]+L or [Shift]+R opens a text field on the Transport Panel so you can edit the location of either the Project Cursor or the Left or Right Locators numerically — just like pressing P, L or R in Cubase VST. Unlike Cubase VST, however, once highlighted, only one of the four parts of the numerical location can be edited at a time — you need to press the left and right cursor keys to switch to other parts. If the Transport Panel is closed when you press one of these shortcuts, it will be automatically opened for you, although, unfortunately, it also remains open after you press Return.

Author: Mark Wherry (SOS) Date: May 2003


---TIP #48---

Toggle Parts of Project Window:

Staying with the theme of handy keyboard shortcuts, you can toggle the display of certain parts of the Project window via Key Commands. Press [Control]/[Apple]+I for the Event Infoline, [Alt]/[Option]+I for the Inspector, and [Alt]/[Option]+O for the Overview.

Author: Mark Wherry (SOS) Date: May 2003


---TIP #49---

Set Project Cursor:

You can set the Project Cursor to the next or previous Marker from its current position, regardless of which Track is selected in the Track List, by pressing Shift+N or Shift+B, or selecting Transport / Locate Next Marker or Transport / Locate Previous Marker, and these commands work whether a Project is being played back or not.

Author: Mark Wherry (SOS) Date: June 2003


---TIP #50---

Slice Audio Loop Macro:

Add the following commands to a new Macro in this order: Edit-Open/Close Editor, Hitpoints-Calculate, Hitpoints-Create Audio Slices, and assign it to, say, Alt/Option+Shift+L. Now, when you have an imported Audio Event you want to play in time with the current Project's tempo, select it and use the Slice Audio Loop Macro — and nine times out of 10, the default settings will work their magic.

Author: Mark Wherry (SOS) Date: July 2003


---TIP #51---

Routing Tips Part 1:

When you're using pre-fader sends, there's an interesting Preference in the VST page, called 'Mute Pre-Send When Mute', that's enabled by default, meaning that pre-fader sends will also be muted when a given channel is muted. This option is necessary, since the pre-fade send is made before the signal reaches the main Channel controls, including the Mute button.

Author: Mark Wherry (SOS) Date: March 2004


---TIP #52---

Routing Tips Part 2:

While you can have multiple output busses that share the same physical outputs, it makes less sense to create multiple output busses for different mastering combinations, since each channel's output would have to be manually reassigned to the appropriate output buss. Still, should you want to do this, a workaround would be to route all your audio-based channels to a group channel, so that you only have to change the output on the group channel to toggle between different output channels.

Author: Mark Wherry (SOS) Date: March 2004


---TIP #53---

Tips Tip

Most, if not all, of these tips are invaluable. So print 'em, learn 'em and use 'em!

Author: Mobius Date: 20 April 2004


---TIP #54---

Same Track Heights Part 1:

When you have a lot of your tracks sized to many different heights and you want to bring everything back to the same height: simply zoom all the way out, all the way in and then to the appropriate setting. All tracks that are displayed will be resized to the same hieght. All tracks in closed folders will remain their original size (in my case I like to keep them on max zoom). All tracks in open folder tracks will be re-sized.

Seems like a silly tip but when doing a lot of editing or automations it can save a lot of time and help clean up the project veiw.

Author: PookyNR Date: 20 April 2004


---TIP #55---

Same Track Heights Part 2:

If you'd like to make all your tracks the same height but zoom in on the track you're on, use Control Down arrow. Your working track is expanded to max and the rest are minimized. Control Up Arrow shrinks the selected track one step at a time.

Author: RickYackel Date: 24 April 2004


---TIP #56---

Drum Maps:

Use Drum Maps to assign any drum to any note of any MIDI channel of any MIDI output port!

Author: Vic_France Date: 19 April 2004


---TIP #57---

'Record Pre On' Macro:

Would you like to record with a preroll but not have preroll on when you hit play. Write this Macro and name it Record Pre On:
Transport - Use PreRoll
Transport - Record
Transport - Use PreRoll

Then go to Macro folder in the keycommands and assign Record Pre On to Pad *. When you hit record you get your preroll but it will be turned off afterwards. You can make a play with preroll in a similar manner. This assumes that you don't have preroll on already. If you do macro will act in the opposite way in that you'll record without preroll.

Author: RickYackel Date: 21 April 2004


---TIP #58---

Arpeggiate Drums!:

Want some experimental drum loops? Put a drum VSTi on a channel then use the built-in Midi arp... get crazy.

Author: CUBASENYCFOREVER Date: 22 April 2004


---TIP #59---

Waveform Phase:

When making audio edits / cuts / pastes / nudges /crossfades etc, make sure that you line up the waveforms so that they are still in phase!

Author: PookyNR Date: 23 April 2004


---TIP #60---

Retrospective Record:

This just about blew my mind when i discovered this method of recording midi without even having to press the rec button.
Select the midi track (you may have to rec enable or hit the moniter button) play away as long as you please, hit [Shift]-[Pad*]. Hey presto up appears all the midi data you`ve just captured in the buffers!

[N.B. The amount of MIDI data captured is determined by the Retrospective Record Buffer Size setting in the Preferences dialog
(Record page). You must enable the Retrospective Record function (also in the Preferences dialog) and record enable the track for this to function.]

Author: Stteevveen Date: 23 April 2004


---TIP #61---

MIDI Loops:

For quick setup of a Midi loop (drums for example) create some parts on a few tracks at the start of the project, before the main music starts. Program the independant track loops in these parts, and don't close the editors, but minimise them, and they will play their loops when the project plays.

If you want the loops to have some varaiation, then program one part to loop over 3 bars, another over 2 bars and another over 4 bars. The resulant pattern will converge after 12 bars.

Author: Bas Date: 24 April 2004


---TIP #62---

Tool Box:

Right click in the Arrange page (accessing the Tool box e.t.c.), hit [Alt]+[Shift] (Mac [Option]+[Shift]) to show the 'old' Tool box.

Author: Rookieman Date: 10 December 2003


---TIP #63---

Project Overview:

In the Project Overview line (click on the Show Overview button if this is not visible) left click and hold within the blue box to drag the whole project around.

[N.B. The manual states that you should click in the upper part of the Project Overview. However, my current version (2.0.2.31 for Mac) would only show the 'hand' and allow me to drag if I hovered the mouse in the lower part and clicked and dragged from there.]

Author: RokGeetar Date: 10 December 2003


---TIP #64---

Scrolling:

Hold the mouse cursor over the scroll bars and turn the mousewheel to scroll.

Author: RokGeetar Date: 10 December 2003


---TIP #65---

Zooming Part 1:

Use the G and H keys to horizontally contract and expand (compress and stretch) your project window, part editor or sample editor. Especially handy with the sample editor for loooong samples. Place your cursor near the start (left ide) of your region. Zoom in using the H key. Nail the left side of your region precisely while zoomed in. Now press G a few times to zoom out, scrub the cursor to get the cursor near your region end and click the range tool where you want the right end to be.

Author: Tim05 Date: 12 April 2004


---TIP #66---

Zooming Part 2:

Hold the mouse cursor over the small zoom bars to zoom in/out.

Author: RokGeetar Date: 10 December 2003


---TIP #66---

Zooming Part 3:

[Alt]+Double Click (Mac [Option]+Double Click) on a cycle marker works just like 'Zoom To Selection' ([Alt]+S (Mac [Option]+S)) horizontally, without the vertical zoom.

Author: Br0d Date: 11 December 2003


---TIP #68---

Quick Cutting:

While using the pointer tool, if you hold down [Alt] (mac [Option]) and click anywhere on a part, it will act as the scissors tool.

Author: Headlands Date: 10 December 2003


---TIP #69---

Quick Timestretching:

From the mouse pointer drop down menu select "sizing applies timestretch". Then drag the end of any part (audio or MIDI) in the project window to lengthen or shorten the part and it will be timestretched to fit with the project tempo.

If "snap on grid" is on - the streched Midi parts are still quantized.

Author: Drummist and Escalation Date: 10 December 2003


---TIP #70---

Quick Zooming:

First - set up a KB shortcut for [CTRL]+F (Mac [Command]+F), to do a "Zoom Tracks Full", (vertically that is).

Select the part, then [ALT]+S (Mac [Option]+S) to make it fill the arrange page. Do your fine tuning, cuts, fades and edits using all your screen real estate and no squinting.

Then [CTRL]+F (Mac [Command]+F) followed by [SHIFT]+F to zoom back to the full arrangement.

Author: NickRedman Date: 10 December 2003


---TIP #71---

Hidden Toolbar Options:

Right click the Arrange Window Toolbar for hidden tools, including Nuendo style Nudge Palette, a performance meter, and another set of transport buttons.

Author: Rozzer Date: 11 December 2003


---TIP #72---

Realtime Scale Quantize (MIDI):

Just use the Track FX insert plug automatically force your midi track (or incoming midi) to a certain scale. No more bum notes!!!

Author: Rozzer Date: 11 December 2003


---TIP #73---

Basic Effect Parameter Display:

Point your mouse at the 'e' for any VST effect in the Insert rack and [Ctr]l+[Shift]+Click (Mac [Command]+[Shift]+Click). A 'non-GUI' interface will appear which is often MUCH easier for typing in values for various FX parameters.

Author: Suntower Date: 11 December 2003


---TIP #74---

Nested Macros:

Macros can be nested within macros. You can actually nest self-referential macros within macros and create macro loops, and thus crash the application!!

Author: Br0d Date: 11 December 2003


---TIP #75---

Key Editor Keyboard Fun:

In the key editor, control clicking on the keyboard to the left selects all notes for that key. Regular clicking a keyboard note when the MIDI button above is engaged inserts a note of that value at the cursor position.

Author: Br0d Date: 11 December 2003


---TIP #76---

Automation Tip:

When creating automation with one of the shapes from the draw tool, holding down shift allows you to control the period of the automation waveform.

Author: Br0d Date: 11 December 2003


---TIP #77---

Graphic EQ:

Click on the graphic EQ curve to enter a point. Drag it for frequncy and gain. Use [Shift]+Drag up and down to change the Q factor.

Author: Bas Date: 11 December 2003


---TIP #78---

Project Cursor to Start:

Hit number pad '.' to go back to the beginning of the song.

Author: RokGeetar Date: 10 December 2003


---TIP #79---

Dragging Audio:

You can hold [Ctrl]+[Alt] (Mac [Command]+[Option]) and drag audio around inside an event without the event moving.

Author: Macc Date: 12 December 2003


---TIP #80---

Multiple Input Channels: Mega FX Processor:

Set up multiple input channels to record the same thing, then record the different inputs to seperate tracks. Practical example ...

When recording vocals, I sometimes set up three input busses, all connected to the same input on my Delta 1010.

One is just the plain signal, no FX, one has Autotune inserted and the other has a de-esser (and sometimes Autotune as well). I generally low cut these channels too. I can then record the three channels at once. I usually monitor the Autotuned signal in the control room and send the raw signal to the singers headphones. If everything sounds fine, I use the tuned take. If it sounds good but too 'tuney', I'll refer to the untuned version and probably use that. If it's a little to sibilant but a good take, I'll check out the de-essed track.

Of course, all this could be done post record, but the ability to hear everything immediately, and comp them together straight away is awesome. You end up with a vocal track that is sometimes tuned, sometimes de-essed, but not always.

You can also apply this to guitar tracks. If you've got the UAD-1 Nigel and say, Amplitube, you can record both and monitor both, panning the two tracks left and right. There are unlimited options.

Although I initially thought input channels were a waste of time, I'm now really incorporating them into my working method, using them like another piece of outboard gear (with virtually unlimited capabilities).

The ability to use SX as a mega FX processor and record those FX directly into the audio file is actually much more useful than it sounds.

Author: Mr Stuart Date: 12 December 2003


---TIP #81---

Fine Value Editing:

Holding shift key while using faders and pans allows for smaller increments.

Author: Knob Twister Date: 12 December 2003


---TIP #82---

Changing Multiple Outputs Simultaneously:

-Select a MIDI track, press [Control] (Mac [Command]) and change the output device with the mouse. All tracks on the same level (i.e in the same folder, or all tracks not in a folder) change to use that output.

-Select a track. Press the [Alt] (Mac [Option]) key and change the output with the mouse. All MIDI tracks take on that output (even if some are in folders).

-Select various tracks (by [Shift] clicking), press [Shift] and change the output of one of the selected MIDI tracks in the Inspector, and only the selected tracks change output, regardless of their placement in folders etc.

Author: Bas Date: 12 December 2003


---TIP #83---

Divide Track List:

This innocuous-looking button above the track list in the project window, lets you split the track list into an upper and lower window.

This is ideal for stopping the marker track (or any other track for that matter) from scrolling off the top of the screen when working with lots of tracks.

To move a track between the split, right-click on it, and choose "Toggle Track List".

Author: Jezar Date: 12 December 2003


---TIP #84---

Expanded Inspector Views:

[Ctrl]+Click (Mac [Command]+Click) the "+" in the inspector pane(for inserts/sends/EQ/channel/etc..) to expand and KEEP that Inspector window open. You can now expand as many inspector parameter windows as you have vertical screen real estate (now, if Steinberg would only allow me to mouse-scroll up/down the inspector pane).

Author: Tegaor Date: 13 December 2003


---TIP #85---

Fast Quantizing:

[Shift]+Q to quantize note ends...

Play, Q, [Shift]+Q, done.

Author: Macc Date: 19 April 2004


---TIP #86---

Key Commands:

For virtually every operation that you do! Even opening the Key Command window! Click the +ALL sign in the key command window and look at what's on offer... quite tempting, even if it does miss one or two crucial operations, like Master Solo Clear. It might seem daunting, remembering dozens of key commands, but if you organise and assign them sensibly, its not so bad. Also, take advantage, as some of you have said, of all vast array of screen sets' presets and assign key commands to them too.

Here's some examples:
-I use [Alt] (Mac [Option]) and either cursor keys or main no. 1-5 keys for zoom presets and zooming. Also, Alt and pad no. keys recall window layouts, so Alt is mainly used for changing display sets.

-I use Shift and main no. 1-5 keys for Preset velocity levels in the editors and with letter keys for various transport commands, so that's easy enough to remeber too.

-[Ctrl] (Mac [Command]) and Main no. keys place respective markers, with pad no. keys locating them. As set up by default in SX, I have kept Ctrl and letter keys for opening windows, ie. marker, history, editors, etc. Again, kept simple.

It makes sense to assign the keys (used without any additional modifier keys) to your most used commands (preferably using the letter that the command begins with). Try to arrange it in a way that you will find easier to remember, and don't forget that you can use any combination of modifier keys with the letter keys - that gives you control of up to 8 operations that start with the same letter using one or more modifier keys with the letter!

Also, I'm no expert, but even I have been able to come up with a few macros that have helped, when assigned to a key command. And finally, think of actions that you regularly carry out, maybe transposing an octave, or deleting unwanted aftertouch, or whatever, and then make a few simple presets in the logical editor... I know it seems daunting, but just experiment with it (obviously on a part that you don't mind killing by accident) - its a real time saver and presets (including some useful defaults) can be accesed directly in the editors (without opening the Logical eiditor), via the MIDI menu!
Its well worth the effort, I can assure you

Author: Sheridan1uk Date: 20 April 2004


---TIP #87---

Hitpoint Tool:

If you don't use the mute tool much, but you do use hitpoints often, change the key command for the hitpoint tool to 7 on the alpha keyboard (7 is mute tool by default).

Then, you have:
7 - hitpoint tool
8 - pencil tool
9 - scrub tool

these are all the tools you need for working with hitpoints, and they're all next to each other. works like a charm.

Author: Bedroom Studio Date: 20 April 2004


---TIP #88---

Follow Cursor:

Hit 'F', to follow cursor.

Author: rEalm Date: 20 April 2004


---TIP #89---

Region Key Commands:

Hit 'N' to jump to Next region boundary and 'B' to go Back to previous region boundary.

Author: Bedroom Studio Date: 20 April 2004
===================
and this is for MAC TIPS and Stuff..
http://forum.cubase.net/forum/Forum1/HTML/013390.html

[John Vella]

I got some reading to do now! :clap:

Thanks Pat!
:love:
-j

[Antinoise]

where is the summarized version for dummies?

[DJZeMig_L]

Mind buffer full.... please reboot! Jesuuuuusss m8!!

I think I'm gonna buy a new printer cartridge and a block of printer sheets! b right back! ;)


Z

PS - (in the words of Avid M.) : Thank u please!

[dan the acid man]

nice one pat :clap:
im going for the cheaper northern england way, im off to get a pen and paper :lol: :lol:

[detfella]

thats a list!! nice one

[Toex]

:clap: