User manual

72
Recording
Cubase Studio
In Cubase Studio, the input channels are not shown in the
mixer. Instead, you need to check the level at the channel
strip for the track on which you are recording:
1. Locate the channel strip for the track you’re about to
record on.
2. Activate monitoring for the channel by clicking the
speaker button next to the fader.
When monitoring is activated, the meter shows the level of the incoming
audio signal.
3. Play the audio source that you want to record and
check the level meter for the channel.
4. Adjust the output level of your audio source so that the
meters go reasonably high without reaching 0.0 dB.
Check the numerical peak level indicator below the meter in the bus
channel strip. To reset the peak level indicator, click on it.
Ö You must adjust the output level of the audio source –
you cannot use the faders in Cubase Studio to adjust the
input level!
Ö An alternative way of checking the input levels would
be to use the control panel for your audio hardware (if it
features input level meters). It may also be possible to ad-
just the input level in the control panel.
See the documentation of your audio hardware for details.
Monitoring
In this context, “monitoring” means listening to the input
signal during recording. There are three fundamentally dif-
ferent ways to do this: via Cubase, externally (by listening
to the signal before it reaches Cubase), or by using ASIO
Direct Monitoring (which is a combination of both other
methods – see below).
Monitoring via Cubase
If you monitor via Cubase, the input signal is mixed in with
the audio playback. The advantage of this is that you can
adjust the monitoring level and panning in the mixer, and
add effects and EQ to the monitor signal just as during
playback (using the track’s channel strip – not the input
bus!).
The disadvantage of monitoring via Cubase is that the mon-
itored signal will be delayed according to the latency value
(which depends on your audio hardware and drivers).
Therefore, monitoring via Cubase requires an audio hard-
ware configuration with a low latency value. You can check
the latency of your hardware in the Device Setup dialog
(VST Audio System page).
Ö If you are using plug-in effects with large inherent de-
lays, the automatic delay compensation function in Cubase
will increase the latency.
If this is a problem, you can use the Constrain Delay Compensation func-
tion while recording, see “VST Instruments and Instrument tracks” on
page 182.
When monitoring via Cubase, you can select one of four
Auto Monitoring modes in the Preferences (VST page):
• Manual.
This option allows you to turn input monitoring on or off by clicking the
Monitor button in the Inspector, the Track list or in the mixer.
• While Record Enabled.
With this option, you will hear the audio source connected to the channel
input whenever the track is record enabled.
• While Record Running.
This option switches to input monitoring only during recording.