Deep Dive Into Cubase Chord Track

#Cubase #ChordTrack
From helping you to create a track to completely turning a track on it's head, Cubase' Chord track is a lot more versatile than most people give it credit for!
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Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:33 Chord Track Basics
04:02 Adding Tensions
05:26 Using MIDI Inserts
07:45 Live Input
09:32 Using the Chord Track with Chord Pads
12:00 Manipulating Audio
15:55 Chord Variations

[@HeadsetHistorian]

Jesus dude, this is blowing my mind. I have been using cubase for over a decade and feel like I've learned more in this video than I have in the last 2-3 years. I've been looking for plugins to do half this stuff and it was right under my nose the whole time. Seriously, thanks so much for this.

[@Tutorial_ism]

That’s awesome. Hearing this kind of thing is the only motivation I need to keep making these videos!

[@HeadsetHistorian]

@@Tutorial_ism Coming back to this video again, so underrrated man. You deserve a million subs! Thanks so much for the content. Amazing.

[@hahscake]

I totally agree with you, the knowledge I've gained in such a short space of time is amazing. So many cool tips that were right under my nose and didn't realise it!

[@homeofcreation]

My thoughts exactly!

[@dsphotos]

brilliant, the chord follow live function is a hiddem gem! thx :-)

[@stealth797]

Hands down the best most practical Chord Track tutorial on youtube... thank you!

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thanks mate!

[@larslippe6452]

I second that!

[@ErixSamson]

Your videos are always full of usable, dense and quality content. Thanks!

[@barlypop]

Thanks for another great video. As an ex technical trainer myself I can say this, you have a great relaxed way of teaching people my friend. There is some quite complex stuff in this video and the way you deliver it is very refreshing. Thanks again.

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thanks David. I spend way more time making these than I probably should 😅 but it’s always good to know they go appreciated!

[@homeofcreation]

This video is finally doing justice to the developers who created this awesome piece of software. Thanks a lot for this deep dive. It was so deep I had to put on my scuba gear!

[@martinroeeidhammer9108]

The best video I have seen on using Cubase chord track! Keep 'em coming.

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thanks Martin. The kind words are appreciated

[@troycarpenter4355]

agreed.

[@zofo264]

Definitely

[@alexandernkpl]

Wow this is incredible you are an excellent teacher Thank you so much for this tutorial is great

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thanks Alexander. Glad it helped!

[@McboyLopez]

Great tutorial! The chord track affecting the vocal audio is what I was looking for.....many thanks!

[@Tutorial_ism]

Hey, a fellow Lopez. Glad it helped man!

[@benshirleymusic]

Wonderful. Thank you!

[@SoulSheIS]

This was incredibly helpful, thank you!

[@adelly.s]

Awesome! Thank you

[@HeadsetHistorian]

This is absolutely fantastic, thank you so much! Subscribed.

[@devans83]

Amazing stuff!! Awesome tutorial Craig. Thank you for sharing.

[@Xserey]

Thank you for teaching us your ways. This is awesome.

[@in2gadgets]

Very good, Craig - thanks!!

[@sirdoufus]

Beautifully explained brother.

[@nibel13]

Thank you for great advice!!!

[@alexsande4804]

Thanks mate! Absolutely a great tutorial

[@Nassoud60]

Thank for this great video amazing job 👍👍thanks for sharing

[@limerot]

Stumbled over this video some time ago. After seeing this again, this was the beginning of a personal journey with chords in Cubase and beyond. Thank you so much for making this video!

[@progrob27]

Thanks great video

[@joenasgoldie7222]

Great tutorial thank you for the effort 👍🏻👌🏻🎼🎹

[@patrickarend8707]

Excellent very useful video! I subbed.

[@connelljacintorealestate4361]

Thank you for sharing. Excellent and very well communicated tutorial.

[@Tutorial_ism]

Glad it was useful Connell

[@Accentor100]

I use the chord track all the time and you showed me a few things I didn't know I could do with it. Thanks for this!

[@Tutorial_ism]

That’s the thing with Cubase - there is alway something new to discover!

[@woodprogrammer]

i get more out of these tutorials than the other big channels. need more!

[@hesammusic3750]

Thank you My Friend ❤

[@Aurosonic]

Thank you! Learned something new although i’m experienced Cubase user

[@josephjoeflamedavis132]

very nice I learned something today thank you

[@Tutorial_ism]

Most welcome my friend. Glad it helped!

[@scottharris7222]

Extremely helpful video. I'd like to see more adaptive examples, perhaps where you buld a chord track from a performance and then use that as a basis to get material to follow. Bravo.

[@stephenalcaide1778]

Dude, I'm glad I found you man! You did an excellent job on this. You managed to pretty much show 7 uses of the Chord Track in a short amount of time and did it in a way that's easy to follow. Now, I'm going to go wipe the dust off that Chord Track and put it to some good use! Thanks Craig!

[@Tutorial_ism]

Glad it was useful. Looking forward to making a lot more Cubase content to the channel!

[@dankokozar]

Eye opener. Subscribing!

[@vkindore]

Excellent tutorial on how the chords track of cubase can be used. Thank you !

[@Tutorial_ism]

You’re welcome Vikas!

[@user-ic9ov5ss4v]

Hi, this tutorial video is awesome. I've never seen the usages of this chord track tips ever before in youtube other channels. Thanks, I'll keep watching your tutorials.

[@Tutorial_ism]

Glad you found it useful my friend!

[@rasolzamini8678]

That was best tutorial i v seen on chord track .

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thanks for watching!

[@mauradass]

Excellent 🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thanks mate

[@canvoodoo]

Great lesson mate.

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thanks mate!

[@marcusdekker]

Subscribed!👍

[@juzziweee8649]

You are f*cking greate to explain!! Thanks 🙏🏻🤩

[@Tutorial_ism]

You’re welcome Juzzi!

[@bertonsierens861]

nice!

[@SoundPeaks]

Thanks!

[@Tutorial_ism]

Very welcome!

[@djedy23944]

fantastico bom trabalho

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thank you mate!

[@wimlasoenofficial]

This video serves as a perfect advocate for music theory education and illustrates clearly how one can never be a composer no matter the sophistication of the technology. Also, I’m having serious issues with the ethics of “producing” a song with bought lines of lyrics and voices. Still I want to thank you for the great way of displaying the possibilities. I’ve learned.

[@thebarrylurveshow5530]

Very good tutorial. One thing to make sure of when dragging the chords down to a MIDI/Instrument track... make certain that the track isn't in MUSICAL mode

[@mullewap6670]

Cool

[@philthepowa6011]

Hmmm....the chord track functionality is tempting me back into the world of Cubaz....very impressive indeed 👍

[@Tutorial_ism]

Wait til you see my video on drum programming 😜

[@7WARRIORSOFTHEHOLYTRINITY]

You Got a New Sub - Thanks a lot ! stay sound and safe ....dueces

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thanks for the sub Bam 🙏🏼

[@troycarpenter4355]

Studio One also has a chord track. I bought it because from Version 4, its audio followed the chord track also and Cubase didn't. The nearest was using Vari-audio which took time. I think I was on Cubase 9.5 back then. I am now on Cubase 11pro and did not know the audio could follow the Chord track. Great news. Time to play catch up and start learning what functionality all these updates added. :)

[@Tutorial_ism]

Yeah, so many hidden gems in Cubase once you start digging around!

[@orrinbynum5978]

Hi Greg. How are you today? I enjoy you sharing you knowledge with us very much. And I thank you for your generosity. I would also like form you to tell me where you got those sounds of the old DX7 sounds. I would like to find those sound to use in my DAW, Cubase Pro 12. If you could tell me what company that might be able to help me find these sound I would be ever so grateful. Again I wish you continued success with all of your music and financial success as well. Have a wonderful day.

[@Noldy__]

If you still need to get it, it's a plugin made by Arturia. They have some great synths that you should check out.

[@orrinbynum5978]

Hi Greg. How are you today? Great video. I wanted to know this : After you click on “Assigned the Pads to the Chord Track”, When you switched over to using the Chord Pads how did you get the new keyboard sounds to follow the Chord Pads? How did you do to select the Chord Pads sounds, the Jupiter 8 sounds? I missed that step? Please tell me how you did that step. I got totally lost. I like to try to repeat things that I have learned from watching your video. Sometimes you move so fast that I miss steps. Thank you in advance. This is a wonderful video by the way. I am watching it for my third time.

[@makhonhappy]

Wow

[@dkkrecords]

defintely made it ''this far in the video''....i think i wrote the other day on your learning cubase in an hour vid...since i'm trying to get cubase up to the level i operate in studio one and ableton....(i've dabbled in cubase a long long time...but never pushed).....but i wrote the other day how good that was for someone either learning or refreshing skills.....and this vid is a modern day classic....it's not that you are only covering one skill you're marrying that with multiple others in a way few others do...i'm sure e'one who's dropped in here would get a similar vibe...

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thanks mate. Using multiple DAWs isn’t for everyone, but I do like to dabble in others from time to time too. Appreciate the kind words and good luck with Cubase!

[@dkkrecords]

@@Tutorial_ism muchos gracias....the journey in cubase is built around vst connect and preferring to record in that way so that's driving the need to 'get a little better in cubase'....it's been great to have found yer work....dope...

[@-______-______-]

I love the background. Spain?

[@NeuroticNexus]

Funny, I really did not know that I could use the chord track to alter an audio track in the harmonics! Wondering if it sounded better if it was on mono? Nice video, thanks for sharing

[@Tutorial_ism]

You’re very welcome. Glad it helped!

[@benhughes2355]

Chord Track is a godsend for me, especially with the new Scale Assistant. What I don’t get is, the auto scales in the Chord Track are often not what’s expected.

[@Tutorial_ism]

Having very little music theory under my belt, I have to admit that I find that a bit confusing myself

[@prezivetinaselu]

Hi, great tutorial! I have a question. I have a Cubase 12 elements trial. And I am planning to upgrade to a full version. But , I don't have a chord option for audio trackin inspektor. For all other tracks it's there. So I can't manipulate audio to follow the chords. Is that a part of ARTIST or PRO version? Or I am doing somethin wrong. Please reply, because now Cubase in on sale and it will determine which version to buy. I read the complete comparison chart but I still can't understand if this function of manipulating audio to follow the chord track is part of higher versions of Cubase.Thanks in advance...

[@jean-paulvanaerle3567]

Hi, is the samples with vocals integrated in cubase artist ? Good stuff.

[@Tutorial_ism]

I’m not 100% sure, but I think so

[@troypointerphotography]

Hi can you tell me what version is this is it Cubase Elements 12 or the Full program ? Thanks Troy

[@njm20music]

Hi Craig, I hope you can answer this anomaly, I record a chord on my midi keyboard G2, A2, C3, E3, I drag up into the chord track, in the create chord events , I have include bass notes, include tensions, checked, the chord displayed Amin/G, I now drag the chord box down to a Halion SonicSe midi track, the print is G2, E2,A2,C3 Up in the Voicing in the info line its showing second inversion, which is exactly what it printed, Why?and how can I get it to print exactly what I played, I can choose from the drop down voicing box root position, then reprint the midi event again it correctly, it prints what I played, it seems double work, my work around, record the chord, drag it into the chord track then from the voicing, choose the voicing, then print the midi track,

[@yams900]

Love your stuff ! I made a chord track, but changing tempo all chords out of whack, not according the bars & beats where I placed them. Any ideas ? Something to do with musical mode ?

[@Tutorial_ism]

Not too sure. Maybe try toggling the Time Warp tool?

[@yams900]

@@Tutorial_ismThx for quick reply. Problem solved, after playing around with Musical/Linear modes, all works fine !

[@MrAnthonyHarvey19]

I have the Impulse 49 like you. Can you explain to me the correct way to get cubase 11 on your keyboard to say cubase 11. The function that I have to use to get the keyboard to work is the “GM Mixer 3”. I see on your keyboard it’s channel channel 1 that says Cubase 11 at 8:23. Please send me a video on how to update mine to Cubase please.

[@FreshnessStudio1]

hi man, could you tell me , what are the other chord symbols representing directly under the chords on chord track? when you create a chord other chord symbols appear under the top chord symbol lol sorry if my question is funny, hope you understand me. great tut dude tnx a lot

[@Tutorial_ism]

That is what key Cubase thinks the chords are in. I don’t know enough about music theory to know if it was right though

[@FreshnessStudio1]

@@Tutorial_ism Thanks, I was thinking same. I got scaler 2.2.. I also have cubase 10. Scaler is super, it detects what notes you play and offers scale and chords - cool. I use cubase too, the midi engine only for now and pipe into ableton using the IAC driver. Tnx Craig stay safe and keep shinning

[@orrinbynum5978]

Also how did you get the chord Pads to switch to 16 different individual slots?

[@RD-jr8nv]

You are the f'n man! Keep it up, if you have any premium content, let me know, would defo be interested in!

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thanks mate… but, no - no premium content other than Patreon

[@tarleorama]

Set a up voicing on voice track after altered jazz. Choose a second inversion. Vocal sounds much better.

[@davejones4740]

What sound libs do you recomend?

[@Tutorial_ism]

What kind of sounds are you looking for?

[@wmichaelf]

I was not aware you could use the arpeggiator and merge the track that way. I've been pulling the chords into midi and using the flex phrasor functionality. I might get some more happy accidents with the arpeggiator. I was disappointed the the vocal stuff ... put everything pretty much on one note and sounded pitch shifted. The other stuff was very nice.

[@Tutorial_ism]

I still feel like every time I use Cubase I learn some new little trick!

[@edwardnwaitersjr1964]

is this for cubase pro or for all versions?????

[@darrylward3237]

Great tutorial, I just have one question... When I am in chord editor I can choose major and minor options for chords as well as the bass note, but I cannot choose 7 or 9, etc under tensions. Any advice. Thanks in advance.

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thank you mate. Which version of Cubase are you using?

[@darrylward3237]

@@Tutorial_ism Cubase 11 Pro. I do not have all the content downloaded, do you think this would make a difference? Please forgive my ignorance, I'm a guitar player... Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[@Tutorial_ism]

I’m not sure to be honest. I just opened up the chord editor and am not able to reproduce your problem. The tensions are just always there for me. I think Steinberg tech support would be your best bet for this one

[@darrylward3237]

@@Tutorial_ism Just for future reference, I found numerous people with a similar issue to mine. The workaround is to type the chord in the dialogue box and it will accept it. Bit of a pain, but for me it's ok as I a novice.

[@wolfhard2420]

The title deep dive made me curious t expect something more complex just to find the ordinary stuff with the boring voicings only holding chords or using arpeggios that make the rest of it more robotic

[@sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Would you please clarify what happened with the "live" playing at @8:55? You keep inferring that you played something in and something happened, but aren't being clear/direct about specifically what took place so that we (those of us who are unable to comprehend/understand from experience are able to recognize and utilize it).

[@boyfrommars68]

Can somebody tell me please how to change cord length? Even when i drag it to a midi instrument it keeps its original length...THX

[@hugostiggz6460]

Hey can you show how you get your meter to look like that on the right hand side if possible?

[@Tutorial_ism]

Do you mean the colours or the placement?

[@hugostiggz6460]

@@Tutorial_ism hey thanks for the response.. I mean it look s like you have the control room at the bottom and then the meter on top.. i cant figure out how to set mine up like that

[@Tutorial_ism]

In the Meter tab in the right hand column there is a button at the top that says CR. Just press that 😎

[@hugostiggz6460]

@@Tutorial_ism ok will try now. Thank bro

[@jesussaddle]

At 10:24 why did you then decide to switch to playing the 4th Chord Pad? I mean if "Chords" is the source for the Jupiter 8, it would have arpeggiated an appropriate pattern even if you continued holding down the 1st Chord Pad, no? BTW some other DAWs have Chord Tracks, like Studio One & Tracktion Waveform (since version 9). Maybe Cubase was the first? Not sure how they compare because the only one I have is Tracktion Waveform (which also has Chord Pads at this point) - Tracktion, like Studio One, tries to implement Chord Track audio and Chord Track MIDI - they're small companies and can't seem to master this - Waveform got a good start but lost focus, and now the vsts like Captain Chords & Scaler 2 are vying to be most popular at doing this kind of thing, and I'm surprised that FL Studio & Reaper haven't done a direct implementation. I came to see how Cubase is stacking up. I'm really glad Cubase 12 is available without a dongle!

[@pee102]

…we need that very badly for Logic Pro X…😊

[@rogerrose8286]

I have Cubase 11.5 pro and Cubase 12 pro I first make a Chord track then add chords but When I try to use Live input, my follow chord track, this track's voicing and live input are just set to off when I try to click on then to change nothing happens What am I doing wrong ... help? (great video btw)

[@Tutorial_ism]

Sorry mate, I don’t fully understand what you mean

[@connelljacintorealestate4361]

I'm fairly a newbie.When I add a drum track after the initial instrument tracks it get's triggered by the chord track.How do I stop the drum track from being triggered ? Thank you again.

[@Tutorial_ism]

Hi Connell. The chord track is by default routed to ‘Use Monitored Tracks’ which means it will trigger whichever track you have highlighted. You can either mute the chord track by pressing the ‘M’ button or click the box which says Use Monitored Tracks and change that to a specific track

[@connelljacintorealestate4361]

@@Tutorial_ism Thank you 🙏.

[@asmundma]

I believe using Melodyne on the audio will get better results. That’s what I use.

[@Tutorial_ism]

I recently put out a video using Melodyne in Cubase: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nZywkJRqpqp2ors

[@Noldy__]

My Live input is recording the wrong notes I'm hitting and I followed the tutorial correctly, anyone know why?

[@earlsfield]

Ah so you have P1. I love Nektar controllers, I have P4, nothing better integrates with Cubase specifically.

[@Decypher]

I love this video!.. Learned a lot from this.. However when you say: "you can get this chord track as midi on your instrument track by selecting it with the arrow and dragging it to your instrument track.. "that doesnt work.. AAAH :-) (I still have a long way to go to master all the secrets of cubase)

[@Tutorial_ism]

Hmmm, I am not able to re-create your problem. You should be able to record on straight on to the track from the chord track though - just make sure you route the chord track to the midi track first

[@Decypher]

@@Tutorial_ism Yes I did something wrong.. it worked now!.. loving it!.. thank you very much.

[@robertmazurowski5974]

Do you live in Hong Kong?

[@Tutorial_ism]

Yes I do

[@user-Strage]

подсказка: дешевле покупать бандлом Артурию (так месяц назад было)

[@tebqzik_music]

I can select the 7th on the chord Track it only give me triads, when i click on the 7th ,i only heard triads...

[@Tutorial_ism]

I’m not sure what that could be. Maybe the polyphony on the synth you are using?

[@tebqzik_music]

But im using it with a Regular Piano, Like Ez Keys, Addictive Keys, True Piano Ect

[@lelcecc4793]

it doesn’t bother u that the vox is mostly staying on the same note?

[@Tutorial_ism]

You can dive in deeper and alter the vocal manually, which is what I usually do, but I will be showing that in another video. On this one I just wanted to focus on the chord track

[@atashbeats8055]

Man, what a depressing background. I wouldn't want to live in Hong Kong for many reasons. But thanks for the video as always your channel is amazing. Respect.

[@Tutorial_ism]

Thanks man... Hong Kong is definitely not for everyone, but I’ve lived all around the world and HK is still my favourite spot even after all this time being here!

[@atashbeats8055]

@@Tutorial_ism Awesome. I just hope with the current political situation over there you'll have access to Utube in the future. I hate losing you. Best of luck brother. ✌︎

[@lipstickspeedball]

Why don't you tell how you got to where you started from. Like how you opened the cord track and how you got your notes in place. Why do peole start from half done

[@Tutorial_ism]

I started from a blank project in this video and did show those things though 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@lipstickspeedball]

How did you get it set on your keyboard Stage 73

[@Tutorial_ism]

I show that in the video too. Don’t mention it, you are welcome!

[@FluidITGuy]

I'm a New York Rican tell me you're not a UK Rican please cuz that's freaking me out.

[@Tutorial_ism]

I’m a British Filipino in Hong Kong. Same same but different 😅

[@FluidITGuy]

@@Tutorial_ism I gotta hear Tagalog with a British accent then.

[@yvess3010]

It sound like the progression is out of tune

[@user-Strage]

блин! мужик! учи свой язык!)))))) а видео познавательное (прости) для новичков... и ту же Артурию не каждый же может потянуть в денежном плане из твоих подписчиков....