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This is the Operation Manual for Steinberg’s Nuendo Live, a quick and easy-to-use solution for live-recording engineers. Here you will find detailed information about all the features and functions in the application.
Platform-Independent Documentation
The documentation applies to the operating systems Windows and macOS.
Documentation Structure
In our documentation, we divide information into three different types of topics, according to their content.
Typographical Conventions
In our documentation, we use structural and markup elements to present information according to its purpose.
Key Commands
Many of the default key commands, also known as keyboard shortcuts, use modifier keys, some of which are specific to each operating system.
How You Can Reach Us
On the Help menu, you find items linking to additional information.
Before you can record and play back a performance, you must set up your system by establishing a connection between Nuendo Live and other components, such as your audio interface, and by choosing a playback output mode.
Setting Up Nuendo Live for Recording
Before you can start recording, you must connect Nuendo Live to your audio interface by selecting its ASIO driver in the Settings dialog.
Setting Up Nuendo Live for Playback
You can define the playback of your recording via the Output Mode section of the Settings dialog.
Settings Dialog
In the Settings dialog, you can establish the connections between Nuendo Live and the audio device of your computer, and select an output mode for your recording. If a project is open, you can also make project-specific settings.
Switching the Language of the User Interface
You can change the language of the user interface via the File menu.
Key Commands
You can control many of the functions in Nuendo Live via key commands. The available commands are listed in the Key Commands dialog.
Your Nuendo Live recordings are saved as projects.
Project Files
Project files contain the data that is created during a recording.
Projects Dialog
The Projects dialog is displayed when you open Nuendo Live or close a project. It allows you to open an existing project, to create a new project, or to create a new project using an existing project as template.
Creating a New Empty Project
You can create new empty projects via the Projects dialog.
Project-Related Information
Nuendo Live offers two ways of saving project-related information.
The Project window provides an overview of the project. It allows you to navigate to specific positions, to monitor the level of your input channels, and to perform editing operations.
Toolbar
The toolbar provides access to the main dialogs, menus, editing tools and options, and transport controls.
Info Line
The info line displays project-related information. You can change some of the parameters in the Settings dialog.
Track View
Selecting the Track View tab shows the track list and the event display. The Meter Bridge allows you to monitor the levels of your channels.
Meter View
Selecting the Meter View tab shows the meters for all tracks of your project, allowing you to monitor the levels of the input channels. The panel on the left combines all parameters and controls related to recording.
In Nuendo Live, you can instantly start the recording on all tracks. If needed, you can also make detailed settings, such as specifying the file format, the record location, and the pre-record buffer length, excluding tracks from recording, or saving metadata and timecode information in the files.
Recording in a Few Simple Steps
It only takes a few simple steps for you to start recording in Nuendo Live.
Easy Recording
Nuendo Live allows you to start recording immediately by clicking Easy Record or using key commands. This can be helpful in live situations where the artists start performing without waiting the recording preparations to be completed.
Performing a More Complex Recording
Nuendo Live offers various options for individual settings to customize your audio recordings. For example, you can specify metadata, such as Artist or Engineer, to be saved automatically in conjunction with the recorded files, you can exclude particular tracks from the recording, and you can define the file name and target location for your recording.
Recording with the Record Panel
On the Record panel, you can set the relevant parameters and start recording.
Changing the Target Location of Your Recording
You can change the location of the record folder at any time. This is useful if the current target location is running out of disk space, for example.
Consecutive File Numbering
The audio files of a project are numbered consecutively, even if you change the record location. This is useful to transfer files from different folders to one single folder at a later stage.
Pre-Record Buffer
When you record-enable a track, all incoming audio is automatically recorded to a buffer. This allows you to recover the beginning of a performance, in case you have started recording too late.
MIDI Timecode
Productions that contain video usually contain timecode information. Nuendo Live allows you to save MIDI timecode (MTC) in your recordings, to facilitate aligning the audio timeline with the video timeline during postproduction.
Exporting Your Recording
Nuendo Live allows you to export your recordings as an audio mixdown or as an AAF file.
Markers identify specific positions within your project. You can add markers to determine the start and end of a passage in a longer recording or mark a position for editing, for example.
Showing/Hiding the Marker Track
You can choose to show or hide the marker track in the Track View. Its visibility status does not have any impact on the marker functions. Existing markers can be used, even if you cannot see them in the Project window.
Adding Markers
You can add markers using the Record panel or the marker track.
Naming Markers
You can name and rename markers using the Record panel.
Moving Markers
You can move markers using the Record panel or the marker track.
Deleting Markers
You can delete markers using the Record panel or the marker track.
Moving the Project Cursor to Markers
Nuendo Live offers several methods to move the project cursor to a marker position.
Tracks allow you to record and edit audio. They are listed from top to bottom in the track list and extend horizontally across the Track View tab.
Selecting Tracks
At least one track is always selected in the Project window. You can use several methods to select tracks.
Renaming Tracks
You can rename tracks according to the instruments that you record, for example. This helps you to keep an overview of your project.
Coloring Tracks and Events
Colors make it easier to identify tracks and events that belong together.
Adding Tracks
In a single step, you can add a single track or multiple tracks to your Nuendo Live project.
Changing the Track Routing
In Nuendo Live, tracks are routed to the available inputs from top to bottom. You can change the routing by dragging tracks to another position in the track list. This can become necessary if an instrument is connected to another input on the console, for example.
Nuendo Live provides editing options and tools that allow you to make your project more manageable. This makes it easier to perform subsequent editing in a DAW of your choice.
Global Editing
You can choose whether to apply your editing operations to one track or to all tracks.
Selecting Events
With the Object Selection tool activated on the toolbar, you can select audio events for editing from the event display.
Splitting Events
You can split either a single audio event or all audio events at once.
Trimming the Event Start and End
You can drag event borders to hide sections of a recording or to recover audio from the pre-record buffer, for example.
Selecting Ranges
You can select ranges in your project for editing. A range can span multiple tracks.
Moving Events and Range Selections
You can move events and range selections by dragging.
Duplicating Events and Range Selections
You can duplicate events or ranges to use the same recordings in several places.