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Recording
System Exclusive messages
System Exclusive (SysEx) is a special type of MIDI mes-
sage used to send data that only makes sense to a unit of
a certain make and type. SysEx can be used to transmit a
list of the numbers that make up the settings of one or
more sounds in a synth. For details about viewing and ed
-
iting SysEx messages, see the section “Working with
SysEx messages” on page 279.
The Reset function
The Reset function on the MIDI menu sends out note-off
messages and resets controllers on all MIDI channels.
This is sometimes necessary if you experience hanging
notes, constant vibrato, etc. when punching in and out on
MIDI recordings with pitchbend or controller data.
There are two other options to perform a reset:
• Cubase can automatically perform a MIDI reset on stop.
You can turn this function on or off in the Preferences dialog (MIDI page).
• Cubase can automatically insert a reset event at the end
of a recorded part.
Open the Preferences dialog (MIDI page) and activate the “Insert Reset
Events after Record” option. The inserted Reset event will reset controller
data such as Sustain, Aftertouch, Pitchbend, Modulation, Breath Control,
etc. This is useful if a MIDI part is recorded and the Sustain pedal is still
held after stopping recording. Usually, this would cause all following parts
to be played with Sustain, as the Pedal Off command was not recorded.
This can be prevented by activating “Insert Reset Events after Record”.
Retrospective Record
This feature allows you to capture any MIDI notes you play
in Stop mode or during playback and turn them into a MIDI
part “after the fact”. This is possible due to the fact that
Cubase can capture MIDI input in buffer memory, even
when not recording.
Proceed as follows:
1. Enable the Retrospective Record option in the Prefer-
ences dialog (Record–MIDI page).
This activates the buffering of MIDI input, making Retrospective Record
possible.
2. Make sure a MIDI track is record-enabled.
3. When you have played some MIDI material you want
to capture (either in Stop mode or during playback), select
Retrospective Record from the Transport menu (or use
the key command, by default [Shift]-Num[*]).
The content of the MIDI buffer (i. e. what you just played) is
turned into a MIDI part on the record enabled track. The
part will appear where the project cursor was when you
started playing – this means that if you played along dur
-
ing playback, the captured notes will end up exactly where
you played them in relation to the project.
• The Retrospective Record Buffer Size setting in the
Preferences dialog (Record–MIDI page) determines how
much data can be captured.
MIDI Preferences
There are several other options and settings in the Prefer-
ences that affect MIDI recording and playback:
MIDI page
• Length Adjustment
Adjusts the length of notes so that there is always a short time between
the end of one note and the start of another (of the same pitch and on the
same MIDI channel). The time is set in ticks. By default there are 120
ticks per 1/16 note, but you can adjust this with the MIDI Display Reso
-
lution setting on the same page.
Record–MIDI page
• Snap MIDI Parts to Bars
When this is activated, recorded MIDI parts will automatically be length-
ened to start and end at whole bar positions. If you are working in a
Bars+Beats-based context, this can make editing (moving, duplicating,
repeating, etc.) easier.
• Solo Record in MIDI Editors
If this is activated and you open a part for editing in a MIDI editor, its track
is automatically record-enabled. Furthermore, Record Enable is deacti
-
vated for all other MIDI tracks until you close the editor again.
This makes it easier to record MIDI data when you are editing a part – you
will always be sure the recorded data ends up in the edited part and not on
any other track.
• MIDI Record Catch Range in ms
When you record starting at the left locator, this setting helps you make
sure that the very start of the recording is included. A very annoying
scenario is when you have recorded a perfect MIDI take, only to find out
that the very first note was not included – because you started playing a lit
-
tle bit too early! If you raise the Record Catch Range, Cubase will catch
the events played just before the recording start point, eliminating this
problem.
For a description of the other options, click the Help but-
ton in the Preferences dialog.