User manual

402
Editing tempo and signature
Background
Whenever you create a new project, Cubase will automat-
ically set the tempo and time signature for this project. The
tempo and signature settings can be displayed in two
ways: either on dedicated tracks in the Project window, or
in the Tempo Track Editor.
Tempo modes
Before we go into detail about tempo and signature set-
tings, you should understand the different tempo modes.
For each track in Cubase that can make use of this func-
tion, you can specify whether it should be time-based or
tempo-based (see “Switching between musical and linear
time base” on page 40). For tempo-based tracks, the
tempo can either be fixed throughout the entire project
(this is called “fixed tempo mode”) or follow the tempo
track (this is called “tempo track mode”), which may con-
tain tempo changes.
• To switch between fixed tempo mode and tempo track
mode, use the Tempo button on the Transport panel:
When the Tempo button is lit (and the text “Track” is
shown), the tempo follows the tempo track; when it is de-
activated (and the text “Fixed” is shown), a fixed tempo is
used (see “Setting the fixed tempo” on page 405). You
can also switch the tempo mode with the Activate Tempo
Track button on the Tempo Track Editor toolbar.
In tempo track mode, the tempo cannot be changed on
the Transport panel, i.e. the tempo information here is for
display purposes only.
Signature events are always active, regardless of whether
fixed tempo mode or tempo track mode is selected.
A note about tempo-based audio tracks
For tempo-based tracks, the start position of audio events
on the timeline depends on the current tempo setting. How-
ever, it is important to realize that the actual audio (“within”
the events) will play back as recorded, regardless of any
tempo changes you make. Therefore, it is good practice to
make the proper tempo and time signature settings before
you start recording tempo-based audio.
Ö To make an already recorded audio track follow the
tempo changes, you can use the Sample Editor, see the
chapter “The Sample Editor” on page 219.
How well this works depends on the character of the audio recordings,
since the hitpoint detection feature works best with fairly rhythmical
material.
Ö To adapt the tempo track to time-based material, you
can use the Time Warp tool, see “The Time Warp tool” on
page 408.
This allows you to adjust the tempo track so that tempo-based material
(e.g. positions in music) coincides with time-based material (e.g. positions
in narration, video, etc.).
Tempo and signature display
You can view the current tempo and signature settings of
your project in a number of ways:
• On the Transport panel.
See above, and the section “The Transport panel” on page 60.
• By displaying the tempo track and the signature track in
the Project window.
Open the Project menu, select Add Track and the Signature and/or
Tempo options.
• In the Tempo Track Editor.
Open the Project menu and select Tempo Track Editor, or [Ctrl]/[Com-
mand]-click the Tempo button on the Transport panel.