User manual

485
Export Audio Mixdown
Introduction
The Export Audio Mixdown function in Cubase allows you
to mix down audio from the program to files on your hard
disk in a number of formats. In the Channel Selection sec-
tion, you can choose which channels (or busses) to export.
Cubase only: By activating the “Channel Batch Export”
option you can choose to mix down several channels in
one go. For each channel, an individual file will be created.
The following channel types are available:
• Output channels
For example, if you have set up a stereo mix with tracks routed to a stereo
output bus, mixing down that output bus will give you a mixdown file con
-
taining the whole mix. Similarly, you can mix down a complete surround
bus, either to a single multi-channel file or to one file per surround chan
-
nel (by activating the Split Channels option) (Cubase only).
• Audio track channels (Cubase only)
This will mix down the channels for the tracks, complete with insert ef-
fects, EQ, etc. This can be useful for turning a number of events into a
single file, or to convert tracks with insert effects into audio files (that are
less CPU-intensive). Simply export the track and re-import the file into
the project.
• Any kind of audio-related Mixer channel (Cubase only)
This includes VST instrument channels, instrument tracks, effect return
channels (FX channel tracks), group channels, and ReWire channels.
There are many uses for this – for example, you can mix down an effect
return track or turn individual ReWire channels into audio files.
Please note the following:
• The Export Audio Mixdown function mixes down the
area between the left and right locators.
• When you mix down, you get what you hear – mutes,
Mixer settings, record enable, and insert effects are taken
into account.
Note though that you will only include the sound of the channels you se-
lect for mixdown.
• MIDI tracks are not included in the mixdown!
To make a complete mixdown containing both MIDI and audio, you first
need to record all your MIDI music onto audio tracks (by connecting the
outputs of your MIDI instruments to your audio inputs and recording, as
with any other sound source).
Mixing down to audio files
1. Set up the left and right locators to encompass the
section you want to mix down.
2. Set up your tracks so that they play back the way you
want.
This includes muting unwanted tracks or parts, making manual Mixer set-
tings and/or activating the R (Read) automation buttons for some or all
Mixer channels.
3. Pull down the File menu and select “Audio Mixdown…”
from the Export submenu.
The Export Audio Mixdown dialog opens.
4. In the Channel Selection section to the left, select the
channels you want to mix down. The list contains all output
and audio-related channels available in the project (see
“About the Channel Selection section” on page 486).
Cubase only: Activate the Channel Batch Export option if you want to
mixdown several channels at once.
5. In the File Location section at the top, you can set up
the naming scheme for the exported files and select a path
for the mixdown files.
For details about the naming options, see “About the File Location sec-
tion” on page 486.
6. Select an entry from the File Format pop-up menu and
make additional settings for the file to be created.
This includes codec settings, meta data, sample rate, bit depth, etc. The
available options depend on the selected file format, see
“The available
file formats” on page 489.