Project Setup Dialog

You can perform general settings for your project in the Project Setup dialog.

  • To open the Project Setup dialog, select Project > Project Setup.

  • To open the Project Setup dialog automatically when you create a new project, open the Preferences dialog, select General, and activate the Run Setup on Create New Project option.



Important

While most Project Setup settings can be changed at any time, you must set the sample rate directly after creating a new project. If you change the sample rate at a later stage, you must convert all audio files in the project to the new sample rate to make them play back properly.

The following options are available:

Author

Allows you to specify a project author that is written into the file, when you export audio files and activate the Insert iXML chunk option. You can specify a default author in the Default Author Name field. To access this, open the Preferences dialog and select General > Personalization.

Company

Allows you to specify a company name that is written into the file, when you export audio files and activate the Insert iXML chunk option. You can specify a default company in the Default Company Name field. To access this, open the Preferences dialog and select General > Personalization.

Start

Allows you to specify the start time of the project in timecode format. This also determines the sync start position when synchronizing to external devices.

Length

Allows you to specify the length of the project.

Frame Rate

Allows you to specify the timecode standard and frame rate for the project. When synchronizing to an external device, this setting must correspond to the frame rate of any incoming timecode.

Get From Video

Allows you to set the project frame rate to the frame rate of an imported video file.

Display Format

Allows you to specify the global display format that is used for all rulers and position displays in the program, except the ruler tracks. However, you can make independent display format selections for the individual rulers and displays.

Display Offset

Allows you to specify an offset for the time positions that are displayed in the rulers and position displays to compensate for the Start position setting.

Bar Offset

This setting is only used, when you select the Bars+Beats display format. Allows you to specify an offset for the time positions that are displayed in the rulers and position displays to compensate for the Start position setting.

Sample Rate

Allows you to specify the sample rate at which records and plays back audio.

  • If your audio hardware generates the sample rate internally and you select a non-supported sample rate, this is indicated by a different color. In this case, you must set a different sample rate to make your audio files play back properly.

  • If you select a sample rate that your audio hardware supports, but that differs from its current sample rate setting, it is automatically changed to the project sample rate.

  • If your audio hardware is externally clocked and receives external clock signals, sample rate mismatches are accepted.

Bit Resolution

Allows you to specify the resolution of the audio files that you record in Cubase. Select the record format according to the bit resolution that is delivered by your audio hardware. The available options are 16 Bit, 24 Bit, and 32 Bit float.

Note
  • When you record with effects, consider setting the bit resolution to 32 Bit Float. This prevents from clipping (digital distortion) in the recorded files and keeps the audio quality absolutely pristine. Effect processing and level or EQ changes in the input channel are done in 32 Bit Float format. If you record at 16 or 24 Bit, the audio will be converted to this lower resolution when it is written to a file. As a result, the signal may degrade. This is independent of the actual resolution of your audio hardware. Even if the signal from the audio hardware has a resolution of 16 Bit, the signal will be 32 Bit Float after the effects are added to the input channel.

  • The higher the bit resolution, the larger the files and the more strain is put on the disk system. If this is an issue, you can lower the record format setting.

Record File Type

Allows you to specify the file type of the audio files that you record in Cubase. The following file types are available:

  • Wave files are a common file format on the PC platform. For recordings larger than 4 GB, the EBU RIFF standard is used. If a FAT 32 disk is used (not recommended), audio files are split automatically.

  • Wave 64 is a proprietary format developed by Sonic Foundry Inc. Audio-wise it is identical to the Wave format, but the internal file structure allows for much larger file sizes as required by long live recordings.

  • Broadcast Wave Files are, in terms of audio content, identical with regular Wave files, but with embedded text strings for supplying additional information about the file. To set these up, open the Preferences dialog and select Record > Audio > Broadcast Wave.

  • AIFF Files, Audio Interchange File Format, is a defined standard by Apple Inc. and can be used on most computer platforms. AIFF files can contain embedded text strings. To set these up, open the Preferences dialog and select Record > Audio > Broadcast Wave.

  • FLAC Files, Free Lossless Audio Codec, is an open source format. Audio files recorded in this format are typically 50 % to 60 % smaller than regular Wave files.

Note

If your recorded Wave file is larger than 4 GB you can save it as an RF64 file. Open the Preferences dialog, select Record > Audio, open the When Recording Wave Files larger than 4 GB pop-up menu, and activate Use RF64 Format. This way, you do not have to worry about the file size during recording. However, keep in mind that this format is not supported by all applications.

Stereo Pan Law

If you pan a channel left or right, the sum of the left and right side is higher (louder), than if this channel is panned center. These modes allow you to attenuate signals panned center. 0 dB turns off constant-power panning. Equal Power means that the power of the signal remains the same regardless of the pan setting.

Volume Max

Allows you to specify the maximum fader level. By default, this is set to +12 dB. If you load projects that were created with Cubase versions older than 5.5, this value is set to the old default value of +6 dB.

HMT Type (MIDI only)

Allows you to specify a mode for Hermode tuning of MIDI notes.

HMT Depth (MIDI only)

Allows you to specify the overall degree of retuning.