How do I load a saved Preference file and Key Command into Cubase 14 Pro?

[alexis]

Hi - For some reason neither my customized Preferences nor Key Commands are active when I start C14, and their Preset drop-down menus are unpopulated (even though I’m almost certain I made presets of each about an hour or two ago).

I have a feeling something very similar if not identical happened a week or so ago.

In any case, I did save a copy of the Preference File and the Key Command File. about an hour or two ago, and I’m looking at them staring at me (an .srf Preference File, and Profiles Folder)

How do I load my Preference File and Key Command File (both currently stored in another folder) into Cubase 14?

Thank you!

[Reco29]

Hi Alexis,

some changes are stored when quitting Cubase, so this might as well be the culprit. You’ve been referring to key commands and *srf files. Profiles are stored as *srf files and contain key commands as well.
Please, have a look at this post - it explains how to make sure your changes are saved and how to activate them:

How to Save Profiles, Key Commands, Preferences, Inputs/Outputs, CR Presets, Plugin Collections

It takes a lot of time and energy to set up all these presets in the title and it is very cumbersome to rebuild them once they are lost. So it might be a good idea to secure them. Not only for security reasons but also if you want to update another system or copy them to a brandnew system. The file system can be confusing and sometimes presets are saved in more than one location. Moreover, there are some pitfalls that one should be aware of. At first, this might sound like a complicated and nerv…

[st10ss]

Profile?
Did you change something in the profile manager?

[alexis]

Hi, @Reco29 ,

Yes, I’m one of the 11 posters who 'd that excellent post of yours a while back, and having bookmarked it back then, I followed it to the letter last night ( I hope!).

I’m glad I did, because of the problems I noted in my OP in this thread: when I closed and reopened Cubase, all the key commands and preferences I built last night were gone (and even though I’m almost positive I made presets before shutting Cubase down - no presets appeared in the drop down menus).

I saved all my new Cubase files (with Preference and Key Command data, presumably?) to a separate folder as you suggested in your linked-to post …

Now need to load them up so they are active when I start Cubase again.

Any suggestions on how to do that would be much appreciated!

[alexis]

After creating new Key Commands and new Preferences, I created a new profile.

[Reco29]

Hi Alexis,

thank you for your kind words, much appreciated!

I think you have overlooked this important paragraph right at the top of my linked thread:

@Reco29

Preparation
If you want to include preference settings that you have changed just now in your current session, please close and relaunch Cubase first (important). Otherwise just skip this step.

You are totally right - I should’ve highlighted this crucial information like I did above. It can easily be overlooked! I will change it accordingly - I hope you have not lost your latest changes (again…)

@alexis

I saved all my new Cubase files (with Preference and Key Command data, presumably?) to a separate folder as you suggested in your linked-to post …

Now need to load them up so they are active when I start Cubase again.

Any suggestions on how to do that would be much appreciated!

Please open Cubase and activate your new profile in the Profile Manager and relaunch Cubase afterwards.
The tricky bit is this two-step:

1. Check the box “Activate Profile” > That is how Cubase knows that you are planning to work with this particular profile the next time you open Cubase.
2. Close and relaunch Cubase > Only now the chosen profile is active.

Thanks again for pointing this out, very helpful

[st10ss]

New profiles are empty by default!
Or did you save the current state in a new profile?
Then… what Reco said.

[Reco29]

@st10ss

@st10ss

New profiles are empty by default!

Yes, that is correct. However, in @alexis ’ context the word “new” refers to the latest profile which was saved following the above mentioned tutorial. But of course, you are right about new profiles being empty!

[Reco29]

Hi Alexis,
apparently I can’t change anything in my original thread that I linked above. Back then, I marked all the crucial bits with “(important)”. So, I will probably just keep it as is for now. Just wanted to let you know. Hope you got it all sorted out by now. Of course, if you encounter any further problems I am happy to help!

[alexis]

@Reco29

I think you have overlooked this important paragraph right at the top of my linked thread:

@Reco29

Preparation
If you want to include preference settings that you have changed just now in your current session, please close and relaunch Cubase first (important). Otherwise just skip this step.

How to Save Profiles, Key Commands, Preferences, Inputs/Outputs, CR Presets, Plugin Collections - Cubase - Steinberg Forums

Actually, @Reco29 , I did notice that part, and (at least to my best belief), carried that out as you directed

But, assuming I didn’t … with the files saved as you suggested (they are in a separate folder on my desktop) …

Would you know how I somehow get Cubase to access those files and load up the Preferences and Key Commands stored somewhere in those files?

Thank you!

[Reco29]

@alexis

Would you know how I somehow get Cubase to access those files and load up the Preferences and Key Commands stored somewhere in those files?

Hi,
if you open an *srf file with a simple editor it looks like this:

You would probably need the right programm to decode the content in a meaningful way. Like Cubase. I have not tried yet but if you copy your profile file into the dedicated profile folder you can open it with the 2-step method I described earlier on:

@Reco29

The tricky bit is this two-step:

1. Check the box “Activate Profile” > That is how Cubase knows that you are planning to work with this particular profile the next time you open Cubase.
2. Close and relaunch Cubase > Only now the chosen profile is active.

I have not tested it, yet: I assume that the key commands which are contained within the *srf are translated/written into your separate key command file in the preference folder as well. Same should apply to other preferences that are contained within the *srf file. You could take it from there if you want to save specific aspects of your profile settings.

The word “preferences” itself refers to a whole set of different settings which are stored all over the preference folder “Cubase 14_64”. So that’s not a single file per se.

[alexis]

Thank you, @Reco29 .

I’m a bit apprehensive, definitely leaving my comfort zone, but what can I do but move forward !

I really need to ultimately determine why this keeps happening. Am I not following the instructions as accurately as I think I am? Is Cubase silently crashing when I close and not completing everything In expecting it too?

“Enquiring minds want to know” !

[Reco29]

Haha, all good!

Why don’t you try a simple test first:
Open a project, asssign a key command and remember the name of your current profile which is currently active.
Close the project (you don’t even need to save it) and Cubase. Relaunch Cubase, load the project - the key command should still be there because the last profile is still active and your key command should be saved.

Now, you know that it works as expected.

Let’s take it from there, okay?

[alexis]

You know, @Reco29 … I didn’t actually open a project last night

I’ll do your proposed experiment.

Thank you