User manual

739
The basics
Setting clef, key, and time signature
2. If the project is in 4/4 or 2/2, you can select common time/cut time directly by
clicking one of the two symbols on the right.
This sets the time signature to 4/4 or 2/2, respectively and also inserts a
common/cut time symbol on the staff.
3. If the project is in any other time, set the numerator and denominator above and
below the line, respectively.
The numerator can consist of several numbers for composite time signatures.
However, if the project is in a simple time signature you only need to fill in the first
number above the line. The more advanced options are described below.
• The “Pickup Bar” option is described in the section “By using the Pickup Bar
feature” on page 872.
4. Click OK or press [Return].
If you need to enter half a bar somewhere (for example) you have to make a time
signature change (e.g. from 4/4 to 2/4 and back again). See
“Inserting and editing
clefs, keys, or time signatures” on page 768 to find out how to enter time signature
changes.
Composite time signatures and the For Grouping Only option
For composite signatures, the numerator can be made up of up to four groups. For
example, “4+4+3+/” on the upper line and 8 on the lower means the time signature is
11/8.
The reason for dividing the numerator into several numbers is to get beaming and tied
notes displayed correctly automatically. This does not affect the metronome or
anything else, only beams and ties. For more information on beaming, see
“Handling
beaming” on page 797.
If “For Grouping Only” is not activated, the numerator shows all the numbers entered.
If it is activated, it shows the sum of the numbers entered, as for “simple” time
signatures.
“For Grouping Only” off and on
Note that Cubase tries to preserve the denominator when you insert a composite
signature with “For Grouping Only” activated. This means that if you have a 4/4 time
signature, and change it to a composite value (3+3+2 eighths for example), the time
signature still is displayed as 4/4 instead of 8/8.
Setting the time signature on the Transport panel
You can also set the time signature directly on the Transport panel. Please note that
you cannot create composite time signatures from the Transport panel.
!
All tracks share the time signature! In other words, when you set the time signature,
you do this for all tracks in the project.