User manual

497
The basics
6. Open the Time Sign tab of the Inspector and click on
the symbol for the time signature value that you wish to use.
If you cannot find the desired time signature, you can use the Edit Time
Signature dialog (see below).
The settings you have made so far are valid for the entire
track. If you wish to further edit these settings, or if you
need different settings for different bars of your track, pro-
ceed as described in the next section.
Editing the time signature
1. Double-click on the time signature symbol at the be-
ginning of the staff.
A dialog opens.
The Edit Time Signature dialog with a 4/4 signature.
2. If the project is in 4/4 or 2/2, you can select common
time/cut time directly by clicking one of the two symbols
on the right.
This will set the time signature to 4/4 or 2/2, respectively and will also in-
sert a common/cut time symbol on the staff.
3. If the project 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 signa-
tures. However, if the project 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 in the section “By
using the Pickup Bar feature” on page 607.
4. Click OK or press [Return].
If you need to enter half a bar somewhere (for example)
you have to make a time signature change (e.g. from 4/4
to 2/4 and back again). See “Inserting and editing clefs,
keys or time signatures” on page 524 to find out how to
enter time signature changes.
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 num-
bers is to get beaming and tied notes displayed correctly
automatically. This does not affect the metronome or any-
thing else, only beams and ties. For more information on
beaming, see “Handling beaming” on page 547.
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 tries to preserve the denominator when
you insert a composite signature with “For Grouping Only”
activated. This means that if you have a 4/4 time signature,
and change it to a composite value (3+3+2 eighths for ex-
ample), the time signature will still be displayed as 4/4 in-
stead of 8/8.
Setting the time signature from the Transport panel
You can also set the time signature directly on the Trans-
port panel. Please note the following:
• The time signature section of the Transport panel always dis-
plays the first time signature event on the tempo track. When
you change this value you are in fact editing the first time sig-
nature event on the tempo track.
• You cannot create composite time signatures from the Trans-
port panel.
Setting the time signature by using the tempo track
You can also add, edit and delete time signatures using
the tempo track (see the chapter “Working with the
Tempo track” on page 394). Please note:
!
All tracks share the time signature! In other words,
when you set the time signature, you do this for all
tracks in the project.
The time signature on the Transport panel.