PC Publishing Cubase 4 Tips and Tricks

Cubase 4 is undoubtedly one of the most powerful MIDI and audio production suites around - but are you realising its full potential? This highly readable book is crammed with practical ‘insider’ tips and tricks on using the program creatively.

Keep it by you as you work. You’ll find it not only a great companion for troubleshooting and advice but also a source of inspiration.

Discover the art of recording, arranging, editing, using plug-ins and VST instruments, processing audio, mixing and much more - all within the realms of Cubase 4.

Keith Gemmell is a composer/arranger and music technology author who uses Cubase 4 professionally on a regular basis.

• For Cubase 4 and Cubase Studio 4
• Recording, editing, mixing and mastering
• Time saving shortcuts
• Discover Cubase 4's hidden secrets
• Become a power user
• Improve your workflow

Contents

1. Setup tips

• First and foremost. Speed matters. Who’s driving? Setting buffer size. Become an expert.

  2. Working methods

  • Manual work. Conduct a search. Suits you. Looking good. Start it up. Working templates. Tool up. First things first. Your own devices. Renaming MIDI ports. MIDI Thru. Remote control. Workspace layouts. Window box. Just browsing. Different strokes. Enter to exit! Switch keys. Macro. Plug watch. Regular savings. Crossing platforms. Backing up. Archive back up. Opening files. Importing audio. Cleaning up. Slide control. History lesson. Handy Edit menu key commands. Join the Library. The main frame. Bay Watch. Suits you. Track exchange. Data dump. Jot it down. Choice editing.

  3. Project window tips

  Open windows. Take a shortcut. Make it snappy. Stay Informed. Oversee events. Breaking the rules. Making the rules. New Order. Zooming about. Show for me. Keeping track. Lock up. Folde-ro-do. Auto fades. Shuffle along. It’s a drag. Under the Cursor. Share and share alike. What a drag. Use drag and drop. A Range of options. Silence please. Fast moves. Follow me. Personal transport. Jogging along. Edit on the move. Marking time. Recycling. Jumping locators. Colouring in. Importing MIDI files. What no project? Renaming parts. Renaming events. Split screen. Making tracks.

  4. Mixer tips

  Less is more. Why so many mixers? Missing extension. Quick mix. Changing channels. Save that mix. D’You Wanna be in My Gang. Copy and paste settings. Your own views. Start from scratch. Reading and writing. Group channels. Tweak tweak. 2 in 1. What no VST Send Effects? Simultaneous reading and writing. One-way route. Insert Switch.

  5. Audio recording tips

  Start right. Chase up. Cycle tracks. Dangerous doubles. A pile up. What’s the catch? Retro record. The hidden Sound Module (well not exactly). Get real. Mind the gap. Multiple notes. Pitch bend and modulation. Smooth things over. Weeding. Avoid dropout. Just velocity. Smoother playing. Human touch. Plug-in fun. Step by step. Shut the gate. Transposing parts. Hidden data.

  6. MIDI recording tips

  Start right. Chase up. Cycle tracks. Dangerous doubles. A pile up. What’s the catch? Retro record. The hidden Sound Module (well not exactly). Get real. Mind the gap. Multiple notes. Pitch bend and modulation. Smooth things over. Weeding. Avoid dropout. Just velocity. Smoother playing. Human touch. Plug-in fun. Step by step. Shut the gate. Transposing parts. Hidden data.

  7. Time and tempo tips

  Take your pick. Change your signature. Slow down. The right clicks. Count base settings. Musical or Linear time based tracks? Frozen in time. Stretch to fit. Crossed time. On the beat. On tap. Tapping and mapping. Tempo mapping with the Time Warp tool. Transfers. As time slides by.

  8. Inspector tips

  Multi change. Show for me. Alternative mixer. Also under inspection. Auditioning MIDI instruments. Sound choice. Create your own Track Presets. Transform your playing. Hidden extras. The long and the short. Decisions, decisions.

  9. Key Editor tips

  Colouring in. Velocity values. Getting around. Get the habit. Tonic Sol-Fa. Easy piano. Easy note editing. Do the splits. Sweeping changes. Express yourself. Changing lanes. Hidden controllers. What’s the chord? Loop back. All together now. Defining borders.

  10. List Editor tips

  F is for Filter. Behind the mask. Set-up bars. Move on up. The hidden editor.

  11. Score Editor tips

  Page or Edit mode. Destructive behaviour. The special relationship. Quick cleanup. Jazz quavers. Using force. The last resort. No notes. Garbled score. Jumpin’ and scrollin’. All together now. Quick clicks. A touch of style. Do the splits. Transposing instruments. Fast entry. Keeping tabs.

  12. Drum track tips

  Drum Editor v Key Editor. No drum tracks? Map reading. Map making. Exporting MIDI drum tracks. Spread the load. Different optimize. The rubber pencil. Diamonds aren’t forever. Getting around. Drum solos. Speedy entry. The virtual drummer. Spread the kit.

  13. Logical Editor tips

  Examine the presets. Preset functions and tips on use. Share your knowledge. Bass notes to kick drum. No comment?

  14. Audio tips

  Stretch fit. Regions. Instant harmonies. It isn’t normal. Detect Silence. Creative silence. Reinventing history. Cut and paste. Use the blue box. Zero Crossings. Inserting audio clips into a Project. Crowded Pool. Pool cleaning. Missing files. Reconstruction work.

  15. Quantize tips

  Which Quantize value? Homegrown grooves. ‘A’ levels. Grooves to go. Quantizer – the plug-in. Automating the Quantizer. Automatic Quantize.

  16. Loops and hitpoints

  • Creating Hitpoints. Slicing and dicing. Mind the gap. Seven ways to edit hitpoints. Try these. Looping and grooving. Feeling groovy.

  Appendix 1: Key commands

  Appendix 2: Tools summary

  Appendix 3: Useful contacts