4.0

7
Remote controlling Cubase Essential
5. Click OK to close the dialog.
You can now use the MIDI control device to move faders and knobs, ac-
tivate Mute and Solo, etc. The exact parameter configuration depends on
which external MIDI control device you are using.
Operations
Writing automation using remote controls
Automating the mixer using a remote control device is done
in the same way as when you operate on-screen controls in
Write mode. However, when it comes to replacing existing
automation data, there is one important difference:
• If you activate Write mode and move a control on the re-
mote control device, all data for the corresponding para-
meter is replaced from the position where you moved the
control, up until the position where playback is stopped!
In other words, as soon as you move a control in Write mode, it remains
“active” until you stop playback. The reason for this is explained below.
As a consequence, an additional precaution must be taken:
• Make sure you move only the controller you want to re-
place!
In order to replace existing automation data for a control,
the computer needs to know how long the user actually
“grabbed” or used the control. When doing this “on
screen”, the program simply detects when the mouse but-
ton is pressed and released. When you are using an exter-
nal remote control device, however, there is no mouse
button involved, and Cubase Essential cannot tell whether
you “grab and hold” a fader, or simply move it and release
it. Instead, you have to indicate that you have “released”
the control by stopping playback.
Assigning remote key commands
For some of the supported remote devices, you can as-
sign any Cubase Essential function (to which a key com-
mand can be assigned) to generic buttons, wheels or
other controls. As of this writing, these devices are:
•Tascam US-428
• Yamaha 01x
• Yamaha DM 2000v2
• Yamaha DM 1000v2
•Steinberg Houston
Proceed as follows:
1. Open the Device Setup dialog and select one of the
remote devices that support this feature.
On the right side of the window you will find a three column table. This is
where you assign commands.
2. Use the “Button” column to locate a remote device con-
trol or button to which you wish to assign a Cubase Essen-
tial function.
3. Click in the “Category” column for the control, and se-
lect one of the Cubase Essential function categories from
the pop-up menu that appears.
4. Click in the “Command” column, and select the desired
Cubase Essential function from the pop-up menu that ap-
pears.
The available items on the pop-up menu depend on the selected category.
5. Click “Apply” when you are done.
The selected function is now assigned to the button or
control on the remote device.
A note about remote controlling MIDI tracks
While most remote control devices will be able to control
both MIDI and audio channels in Cubase Essential, the
parameter setup may be different. For example, audio-
specific controls (such as EQ) will be disregarded when
controlling MIDI channels.
!
Sometimes communication between Cubase Essen-
tial and a remote device is interrupted or the hand-
shaking protocol fails to create a connection. To re-
establish communication with any device in the De-
vices list, select it and click the Reset button in the
Device Setup dialog. Also, the “Send Reset Message
to all Devices” button at the top of the dialog will reset
every device in the Devices list.
!
The above does not apply to the Mackie Control or
any other remote control device with touch sensitive
controls. These devices will stop writing as they have
touch sensitive faders, which means that they stop
writing as soon as you release the fader.
!
This is only relevant when you are using a remote
control device and Write mode is activated in the
mixer.