Menu
What's new
By:
Filters

Cubase 13: Cannot Overwrite Midi CC1 Data smoothly

SamTheAudiocrat

SamTheAudiocrat

Member
Hey guys, I am primarily a Studio One user but I do have Cubase that I use for certain projects. The issue I have is when I record in a midi part, and now I want to go over and redo some of the dynamics, so I have the midi record set to Merge, or Replace (tried both) and then record over the section I want, but the end result is distorted and glitchy. It's like Cubase is trying to merge the changes, but it instead combines the both weirdly.

Let me show you guys an example:
This is the original midi part that I record first:
1707778702853.png
Now from bars 2 to 6 instead of having one crescendo and diminuendo, I want to have 2, So instead of having 1 Hill from bars 2 to 6, I want 2 hills. This is the result when I try to re-record over it.
1707778769372.png
It's almost as if the resolution for the midi input is very low... it kind of smoothens the midi cc information. I have even got the Snapping turned off. This doesn't happen in Studio One so it definitely is not a problem with the midi controller. I know I am missing some sort of setting, but I cannot for the life of me figure out what.... Also, If I trun off Snap and try to draw in Midi with my mouse, the first pic is when I am in the process of drawing:
1707778983847.png
It looks very smooth.. But when I release the pen to complete the midi cc input, it smoothens/averages it up like below:, even if I got my Snap off.
1707779053690.png

This kinda makes me think it is not my controller and it is Cubase just approximating my CC and smoothening it, which also interferes with the overwriting of Midi CC data. I think the 2 issues are related.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Click to read more...
 
Change from Ramp to Step in Controller Lane Setup

EvDr6eqKQoy5Z4NvR2eeeQ.png
 
Semarus said:
Change from Ramp to Step in Controller Lane Setup

EvDr6eqKQoy5Z4NvR2eeeQ.png
Click to expand...
Thank you so much. This fixed the smoothing issue I had, but I still have trouble overwriting midi CC by recording over already existing Midi. I tried overwriting the first part here and I got this:
1707807956311.png

I tried setting it ot Replace as well for the Midi record setting, and that works, however it replaces even the midi notes and makes them blank:
1707808051217.png

How do I just overwite the cc only? I don't want this to be hardcoded to only update cc, but if I did not input any CC info and played notes, then it should amrtly add in only notes and leave the CC alone. Studio One does this automatically, but I just can't figure out how to do this in Cubase. Thanks.
 
SamTheAudiocrat said:
Thank you so much. This fixed the smoothing issue I had, but I still have trouble overwriting midi CC by recording over already existing Midi. I tried overwriting the first part here and I got this:
1707807956311.png

I tried setting it ot Replace as well for the Midi record setting, and that works, however it replaces even the midi notes and makes them blank:
1707808051217.png

How do I just overwite the cc only? I don't want this to be hardcoded to only update cc, but if I did not input any CC info and played notes, then it should amrtly add in only notes and leave the CC alone. Studio One does this automatically, but I just can't figure out how to do this in Cubase. Thanks.
Click to expand...
In Preferences, Record, MIDI under Replace Recording in Editors, choose Controller
 
Semarus said:
In Preferences, Record, MIDI under Replace Recording in Editors, choose Controller
Click to expand...
No luck. Still getting the same issue :( It is not helping. Any other suggestions? I really appreciate your help so far. You have helped me fix one of the issues. Please let me know if you have any other suggestion :)
 
SamTheAudiocrat said:
No luck. Still getting the same issue :( It is not helping. Any other suggestions? I really appreciate your help so far. You have helped me fix one of the issues. Please let me know if you have any other suggestion :)
Click to expand...
You know, I have used this method and there was a fair bit of manual editing involved afterwards so I stopped doing it and would just re-record, but after some consideration and fiddling with it I have concluded, the best way to overdub CC is by doing it as Automation. It just works the way you would expect it to, and there's no good reason that I can come up with as to why it's different.

Handling CC in the automation lanes is going to be a change to your workflow, since there's a step to convert it to the automation lane, as well as bringing it back to the CC lane, if you want but you don't have to. I don't know if it's more tedious in the long-term compared to manual editing/re-recording, but it's something to consider if overdubbing is a significant part of your writing process.

Edit: Yeah Replace mode kept getting reset to something else when I went back to check myself before replying and really threw me for a loop since I don't overwrite much anyway. Seems to work correctly, just double check the record mode.
 
Last edited:
What version of Cubase and OS are you on? it works fine here on MacOs Ventura and Cubase 13.
Have you tried restarting Cubase after changing your preferences?
Also make sure you have "Record in editor" checked on(red) on top screen left of midi editor, and as said before you need to be in replace mode, cause merge will jumble your cc curves for sure
 
ravez said:
What version of Cubase and OS are you on? it works fine here on MacOs Ventura and Cubase 13.
Have you tried restarting Cubase after changing your preferences?
Also make sure you have "Record in editor" checked on(red) on top screen left of midi editor, and as said before you need to be in replace mode, cause merge will jumble your cc curves for sure
Click to expand...
I can confirm that it works fine this way. I'm on Windows 10, Cubase 13.
 
ravez said:
What version of Cubase and OS are you on? it works fine here on MacOs Ventura and Cubase 13.
Have you tried restarting Cubase after changing your preferences?
Also make sure you have "Record in editor" checked on(red) on top screen left of midi editor, and as said before you need to be in replace mode, cause merge will jumble your cc curves for sure
Click to expand...
I am on Windows 11 and Cubase 13.0.21. I made sure to have the Record in Editor option selected, and it works... sorta... Still as @Semarus mentioned, you need to go in and adjust it manually witht he mouse. Here are some pictures form Cubase when I tried to overdub it:
1707956036269.png

Here's an example of Studio One below:
Before:
1707956287845.png
After:
1707956369616.png

It is certainly not a make or break thing for me and I can make do with Cubase when I need to.
 
Semarus said:
You know, I have used this method and there was a fair bit of manual editing involved afterwards so I stopped doing it and would just re-record, but after some consideration and fiddling with it I have concluded, the best way to overdub CC is by doing it as Automation. It just works the way you would expect it to, and there's no good reason that I can come up with as to why it's different.

Handling CC in the automation lanes is going to be a change to your workflow, since there's a step to convert it to the automation lane, as well as bringing it back to the CC lane, if you want but you don't have to. I don't know if it's more tedious in the long-term compared to manual editing/re-recording, but it's something to consider if overdubbing is a significant part of your writing process.

Edit: Yeah Replace mode kept getting reset to something else when I went back to check myself before replying and really threw me for a loop since I don't overwrite much anyway. Seems to work correctly, just double check the record mode.
Click to expand...
I have been thinking of my use of this overdubbing, and I think where it really hurts my workflow is when I want to overdub the entire midi clip. Let's say I record a solo line but I am not happy with the dynamics. So, I want to re-record the mod wheel for the entire clip. So I just go over the entire clip moving my mod wheel to overwrite the dynamics. This causes those spikes in midi cc data that you see in my pictures and I need to go in and smooth those out.. Also the playback as I overdub the mod wheel is bad, because of these spikes in mod wheel... The best solution is to select all the mod wheel data and delete it and then go over it again... which is an extra step.

Whereas in Studio One, it just replaces everything nice and easy and I don't need to go into the editor at all.
 
SamTheAudiocrat said:
I am on Windows 11 and Cubase 13.0.21. I made sure to have the Record in Editor option selected, and it works... sorta... Still as @Semarus mentioned, you need to go in and adjust it manually witht he mouse. Here are some pictures form Cubase when I tried to overdub it:
1707956036269.png

Here's an example of Studio One below:
Before:
1707956287845.png
After:
1707956369616.png

It is certainly not a make or break thing for me and I can make do with Cubase when I need to.
Click to expand...
In cubase what i do is delete the old dynamics so when i write the new ones they don't get merged with the older ones so i can write the curves as i want, (i'm sure there should be a better metod) but if you are in a hurry this is a fast way of doing it.
 
Xabierus Music said:
In cubase what i do is delete the old dynamics so when i write the new ones they don't get merged with the older ones so i can write the curves as i want, (i'm sure there should be a better metod) but if you are in a hurry this is a fast way of doing it.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that. Yeah that's what I am doing too. Just used to doing it the Studio One way and I guess that small extra step is just annoying me in Cubase lol. Will get used to it over time. Just different DAWS have different ways to deal with stuff and it takes time to get used to it when jumping from DAW to DAW. I use Studio One primarily and I am more than happy with it. It is only on occasion that I use Cubase for the sake of making Collaboration easy :)
 
Xabierus Music said:
In cubase what i do is delete the old dynamics so when i write the new ones they don't get merged with the older ones so i can write the curves as i want, (i'm sure there should be a better metod) but if you are in a hurry this is a fast way of doing it.
Click to expand...
This is what I do. I assigned CMD+Shift+Numpad 1/2/3 to CC1, CC11, CC21 respectively. Just hit that keystroke and then delete.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom