There are other ways to open individual windows, of course. It's also worth noting that individual workspaces can be 'locked', so even if you then make some temporary changes to it (perhaps opening a further window or resizing a window) while working, the original configuration of the workspace is recalled the next time you open it. The two obvious workspaces you might set up are a full-screen Project window and a full-screen Mixer window, although there are plenty of other possibilities. Once your workspaces are configured, the first nine can be recalled by pressing the Option (Mac) or Alt (PC) key and the assigned number key (1-9, but not zero, which is reserved for locking and unlocking the active workspace).
#Mac keyboard shortcuts square windows
The Cubase 'workspace' system - with which you can define a window layout containing any combination of windows and then save them as a workspace - streamlines this process and is accessed via the Window menu. Unless you're fortunate enough to use a multi-screen system (and often even then), you'll probably find that you're always switching between a number of the main Cubase windows. Key commands can be saved as presets to accommodate different needs or facilitate [moving between systems. Providing you can find the file (search for it based on the preset name you used), it is also possible to move presets between computers, so you can take your key commands with you if you need to work away from your own system. This is great if multiple users share the same host system and have different key command preferences. Usefully, all the key command assignments that you make on your system can be saved as a preset. Key commands defined here are 'global', which means that they will be available in any Cubase project on the host system. Otherwise, pressing the Assign button links the key combination with the command and, once the Key Command window is closed, the key combination becomes available for use. Usefully, if the key combination you try is already assigned to another command, Cubase politely tells you, and you can choose whether to overwrite the existing assignment or not. If you select an unassigned command, you can then enter a key combination in the 'Type in Key' box. Where an item has a key command already defined, this is shown in the panel on the left side. In the first screenshot example, searching for 'key commands' found an entry under the 'File' section.
#Mac keyboard shortcuts square how to
By default, access to this window does not have a keyboard shortcut assigned (existing key commands are shown to the right of an item within a menu), so I'll use this as a basic illustration of how to define your own key commands.Īt the top of the window, the search box allows you to find specific Cubase commands in the (very!) extensive list of possibilities. While there are a lot of useful default key commands in the standard Cubase installation, there are also plenty of additional functions that can be assigned a shortcut via the Key Commands window, which is accessible via the File/Key Commands menu option. As an example of what key commands can offer, then, let's learn how to 'navigate' using just the keys, and get there quicker. Right On Keyįrequently performed tasks such as project navigation - moving between windows or events, moving the playhead along the timeline, zooming in and out, or something more complex - can be made more efficient using Cubase's key commands, providing you're prepared to invest a little time in setting them up and practising using them. While I'm the first to admit that defining and learning key commands doesn't sound as exciting as, for example, getting to grips with a new soft synth (or even staying in on a Saturday night to wash your hair!), it's something that will both make Cubase easier and quicker to use and help you to avoid suffering from mouse-related physical problems. The Key Commands window allows you to define key combinations for your favourite Cubase commands.ĭespite the well-designed user interfaces of modern DAWs, the repetitive moving, scrolling and clicking with a mouse can often feel clunky and sluggish, and in the long run can also cause problems with fingers, wrists, elbows and so on. Mastering keyboard shortcuts makes Cubase easier to use and is good for your health!