5.0

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File handling
Importing audio
In Cubase AI audio can be imported in a variety of differ-
ent formats. For example, you can import audio files saved
in different formats (compressed and uncompressed).
For information on audio file import preferences, see “Audio
file import options” on page 27. For information on how to
import audio files into the Pool and import options, see
“About the Import Medium dialog” on page 151.
Importing ReCycle files
ReCycle by Propellerhead Software is a program designed
especially for working with sampled loops. By “slicing” a
loop and making separate samples of each beat, ReCycle
makes it possible to match the tempo of a loop and edit the
loop as if it was built of individual sounds. Cubase AI can
import two file types created by ReCycle:
• REX files (export file format of the first versions of ReCycle,
extension “.rex”).
• REX 2 files (file format of ReCycle 2.0 and later, extension
“.rx2”).
Proceed as follows:
1. Select an audio track and move the project cursor to
where you want the imported file to start.
You probably want to import REX files to tempo based audio tracks, since
this will allow you to change the tempo later on (having the imported REX
file automatically adjust).
2. Select “Audio File…” from the Import submenu on the
File menu.
3. On the file type pop-up menu in the file dialog, select
REX File or REX 2 File.
4. Locate and select the file you want to import, and click
Open.
The file is imported and automatically adjusted to the current Cubase AI
tempo.
Unlike a regular audio file, the imported REX file will con-
sist of several events, one for each “slice” in the loop. The
events will automatically be placed in an audio part on the
selected track and positioned so that the original internal
timing of the loop is preserved.
5. If you now open the part in the Audio Part Editor, you
can edit each slice separately by muting, moving and re-
sizing events, adding effects and processing, etc.
You can also adjust the tempo and have the REX file automatically follow
(provided that its track is tempo based).
Ö You can achieve similar results by using Cubase AI’s
own loop slicing features, see “Working with hitpoints and
slices” on page 134.
Importing compressed audio files
Cubase AI can import (and export, see “Mixing down to
audio files” on page 227) several common audio com-
pression formats. The procedure is the same as when im-
porting any non-compressed audio file, with one important
thing to note:
• When you import a compressed audio file, Cubase AI
creates a copy of the file and converts this to Wave format
(Windows) or AIFF format (Mac OS X) before importing it.
The original compressed file will not be used in the project.
The imported file is placed in the designated project Audio folder.
The following file types are supported:
MPEG audio files
MPEG, which stands for Moving Picture Experts Group, is
the name of a family of standards used for encoding audio-
visual information (e.g. movies, video, music) in a digital
compressed format.
Cubase AI can read MPEG Layer 3 (*.mp3) files.
Windows Media Audio files (Windows only)
Windows Media Audio is an audio format developed by
Microsoft, Inc. Due to advanced audio compression algo-
rithms, Windows Media Audio files can be made very
small, maintaining good audio quality. The files have the
extension “.wma”.
Ö For exporting Audio, see the chapter “Export Audio
Mixdown” on page 226.
!
For this to work, the REX Shared Library needs to be
installed on your system. If this is not the case, you will
find the corresponding installer on the installation DVD
(in the “Additional Content\Installer Data” folder).
!
The resulting Wave/AIFF file will be several times
larger than the original compressed file.