23 replies to this topic

[Jude May]

heya y'all.

im using cubase as my sequencer, just thought id share a few key commands for those that dont know them already.

F1 = help (we all need a bit from time to time)
F2 = transport bar (set your projects tempo hete as well as viewing time display and i/o status
F3 = Mixer.
F4 = VST i/o setup. if you have a multi in/out sound card and/or an externan mixer you will find yourself here quite abit
F5 =
F6 =
F7 =
F8 = video player. if you are writing music to video this will come in very handy. you
have the option of selecting alternate video output (eg, external monitor) in device setup menu.
F9
F11 = this is where you select VST instruments. create a midi track and assign the output of the track to your synth of choice
F12 = displays CPU and disk usage.

this is just a quick run down of some of the more basic shortcuts in cubase. if you have any more please feel free to post them. same goes for logic, protools, sonar etc

Jude

[Cheyne]

Good point d00d ...

I use SX3 aswell ...

A few more to add

H - Zoom Sequencer In
G - Zoom Sequencer Out
, - First Cue Point
. - Next Marker
W - Workspace Select


I use these religiously ...  Its like playing FPS games ..  I open cubase and my hands automatically move to these keys ..

[Jester_Fu]

I love using markers to jump around the track as i'm making changes. All you do is press "ctrl" and one of the numbers from 1-9 on the top of the keyboard to set the marker. When you want to jump back to that marker, press "shift" and the number. With my workflow, it allows me to jump around the track and drop/paste/copy things or work on just sections of the track to tweak it or layer another effect.

Also, if you switch numlock on, or use a numeric keypad like this geek... you'll find the following make it very fast to skip around cubase:

Enter = play.
0/Ins = stop
./Del = Home (back to the start!)
1/End = start of loop
2/Arrow Dwn = end of loop.
* = Record
/ = toggle loop (i.e. turn it on or off)
+ = scroll forward
- = scroll backward.

All of the above do basically everything you can from the transport bar... allowing you to close it, but it's 100 times faster than the mouse for skipping around the project! I use a numeric kepad (a Beldin one) so my right hand is on the mouse, and the left drives the transport functions.

Use the following to change between the mouse operated pointer tools. By pressing any of the numbers multiple times, you change between that tools mode:
1 = pointer
2 = selection tool
3 = scissors/cut
4 = glue
5= eraser
6 = zoom
7 = mute
etc. etc.

The above work only if you don't have the shift or cntrl key pressed, and only on the numbered part above the qwerty keyboard.

Punching in and out is also cool - I for in and O for out. If you set up the loop markers, and turn loop off, you can automatically start recording when punch in is enabled. You start recording at the beginning of the loop. If you've got punch out selected, you stop recording at the end of the loop. Great for redubbing just a section when everything else is sweet - especially with live muso's.

Another good one is 'F' for FOLLOW. If you turn follow off, then your cursor scrolls throught the project, but the page doesn't scroll with it. This is good for doing edits within a loop. To turn it back on, press F again.

If you want to define your own key shortcuts, you go File->Key Commands. Just select the command you want, and then enter the key strokes. You may find Enter isn't defaulted as play in Cubase 3+. It was sub version 2, but they changed it for some reason in the versions i have, and you need to set it up yourself.

Now, i've showed you some of mine... show me some more of yours!
8)

[Cheyne]

yea the markers are awsome cept im such an idiot and never use them ,  I waste like so much time by not using a lot of the features, I know exist and i know how to use  ...

lol ..

[Jester_Fu]

It was a forced habbit when i started using Cubase. I've been using since version 3.1 (not SX... '96 Cubase Stylee...), and a lot of those features weren't available back then by mouse. Cubase shipped with a big bound manual and a parallel port dongle (both of which i still have ). The manual made a point of getting into that stuff and explaining it very early on. It's all in help now, so no excuse for you, Cheyne  >

So, that little rant aside, the point i got distracted from making is if you learn the key shortcuts for that stuff, and force yourself to use it over one or two projects, you'll "click" just how damn easy it is and start doing it by habbit. Same goes with the "num lock" transport bar. Every modern keyboard has one. Force yourself to stop looking at the transport bar for one or two projects, and BAM! Instant HUI type speed with a $20 interface

[Cheyne]

Yea for sure ...  I read part of the manual when i started using SX2  , but then as i began to be able to navigate my way around and do what i needed i just stopped reading it :S ...  pretty dumb ...    Im a sucker for shortcuts ,  the ironic thing is the shortcut eventually causes things to take longer ...

My finished tracks quite often look like a mess of clips and snips with automation lines all over the shop , lol ...

[SilverStreak]

I use SE atm and am upgrading to SE3 shortly.........yay for me lol.

Nice thread, I gotta use more shortcuts.

The only ones I use are f2 transport hide/show and spacebar start/stop lol  :-

[Cheyne]

Teach your self the shortcuts for sure man ... it cuts down your times dramatically ...

I just dont use enough of them     *slaps self on back of head*

[malky boy]

i have the cubase stickers on my keyboard which is quite handy does make me work faster

[hps909]

macro's are your friend  assign multiple key commands to one saves a shed load of time

[Cheyne]

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macro's are your friend  assign multiple key commands to one saves a shed load of time

^^^  agreed

[BOB-SNARE]

When I started using SX, SB removed the shortcut to
zoom to markers. Or does anybody know what it is?

Cheers

[Cheyne]

Zoom to markers ?? ... or jump to markers ?? ...  I know jump is  , and .   (i think)


p.s .. hey mate , welcome to soundpunk

[BOB-SNARE]

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Zoom to markers ?? ... or jump to markers ?? ...  I know jump is  , and .   (i think)

Sorry, "Zoom to locators" is the proper title.
And I discovered under key commands there is no default keystroke, so I had to assign one.

Quote

p.s .. hey mate , welcome to soundpunk

Cheers, Glad to join, hope I can learn and offer some knowledge too.

[Synaecide]

yay for this thread!  :-*

i've been using cubase for about 6 months now after many years of reason and before that trackers, and i still know bugger all shortcuts. definatly gonna get into using the markers and the transport bar over on the numpad.. cheers guys.

[jude]

can i suggest buying a white keyboard and a black sharpie to lable all the keys, it works a treat

[Synaecide]

hehe.. or if you have shite loads of money: http://www.artlebede...ything/optimus/

..each key has a 48x48 OLED display - completly customizable perfect for learning shortcuts for programs.. can't wait till this thing takes off.. this baby's gonna revolutionize the way we work i'm thinkin

[Spectrum]

Hi all,

Just a heads up, I've split the posts that followed here regarding "sequencer workflow" and moved it to here.

I wish to reserve this thread as an excellent resource to "Cubase Shortcuts".

Cheers.

[spazmatron]

i just discovered the Edit In Place button. woooop!

(it's in the track controls for midi tracks, note & midi control editing on the arrange page! hurrah)

i've misplaced my manual and only have the "getting started" guide. sometimes i read it on the toilet, it helps me make.

[Synaecide]

Quote

i've misplaced my manual and only have the "getting started" guide. sometimes i read it on the toilet, it helps me make.

it helps you make?