Input and Output busses setup

[Return_On_High]

Hello! I have a couple of inquires!

I’m used to Pro Tools where whatever interface you’re using, it automatically makes your inputs and outputs with the names of the interface.

Does Cubase do this, or do you have to manually create every single input and output?

Second, Pro Tools will also make a stereo input and have them available as separate mono inputs as well. How does this work in Cubase?

Can I just create a Stereo Bus (inputs), let’s say “Stereo 1 and 2”, and then choose either 1 or 2 to use on a mono track? If so, any setbacks from doing that? At that point, it would seem to make sense to just create stereo busses (inputs) and use them as stereo OR mono inputs depending on if you’re recording a stereo or mono track, no? As opposed to making Stereo Bus (input) versions AND Mono Bus (input versions), which would be redundant, correct?

I hope that all made sense!

[Buer]

There’s no point in setup an stereo input if the source signal is mono. To input a mono signal into a stereo input will give two equally sounding to L & R or only sounding in one channel if you don’t pan it.

[Return_On_High]

I appreciate the reply! The reason I’m wondering if you can just set up a Stereo input is if you can use its two channels independently. That way, I don’t have to have “Stereo 1 and 2” AND “Mono 1” and “Mono 2”.

It would be a lot of redundant busses for no reason. Does that make sense? I’m just not in front of Cubase at the moment, but am trying understand the most practical way for setting up the inputs. If setting up a Stereo Input allows access to both inputs independently, there would be no need to also set up the same inputs in mono versions. Is what I’m trying to say make sense?

[Buer]

The possibillities in Cubase is a reflection of your interface. The manual for your interface should descibe the options available, I think.

The audio connection window makes it easy to set up presets for easy use. I think you are making it more complicated than it is.

[Return_On_High]

Thanks for the reply! I just have to try it out for myself. I think you’re just not understanding. What I’m asking. Any interface has as many inputs and outputs as it has.

Let me rephrase the question; If I create a Stereo Bus, let’s say Stereo 1 and 2 (a set of inputs using 1 and 2), does that also give me access to 1 and 2 independently to use with mono tracks? Or can I only use that with a stereo track?

[Buer]

You can’t configure the same channel to two inputs. If you configure a stereo input you occupy two channels. If you plug a mono cable into a stereo slot you occupy two channels but will only hear one , either left or right channel. But you can make another configuration with two mono inputs and save thatas a preset for easy access, using the two channels you used for stereo in another preset. But you can’t use the same channels for both stereo and mono in the same configuration; you have to make two different presets and use one of them.

[mkok]

Just go into connections and create stereo and mono inputs and save as a preset. Job done.

[MattiasNYC]

@Return_On_High

If I create a Stereo Bus, let’s say Stereo 1 and 2 (a set of inputs using 1 and 2), does that also give me access to 1 and 2 independently to use with mono tracks?

As far as I can see the answer is “yes”.

I didn’t try it though…

Basically it has the same appearance as a couple of child-buses “under” the stereo input bus.

In that image the bottom “channel settings” window shows input options, and under “Stereo In” you have both left and right selectable independently.

[raino]

@Return_On_High

Let me rephrase the question; If I create a Stereo Bus, let’s say Stereo 1 and 2 (a set of inputs using 1 and 2), does that also give me access to 1 and 2 independently to use with mono tracks? Or can I only use that with a stereo track?

You can create as many Cubase input busses for each physical input as you like in any combination that suits you. For example the first 2 physical inputs on my interface are each included in a stereo bus. But each individual input also has 2 mono busses assigned to it - one is named after its connector on the audio interface and another is named after the color coded cable I use on that connector.

So my first physical input goes by 3 names in Cubase; Stereo One (its left channel), Audio Input 1, and Red.

[Buer]

@raino

So my first physical input goes by 3 names in Cubase; Stereo One (its left channel), Audio Input 1, and Red.

But you can’t connect 3 sources to them at the same time, you have to choose which to use, don’t you?

[Johnny_Moneto]

The Input and Output Busses in Cubase act as a bridge between the project and the rest of the world (non-project areas in Cubase like Control Room, printing to files, audio interface).

As @MattiasNYC pointed out if you have a mono configured audio track you can select one of the channels from a stereo input bus.

If you use the Add Track dialog you don’t have to have created an input bus first. You can simply select a port form your hardware interface and the input bus will be created automatically.

Many of us create input busses according to their needs. That includes using the same audio interface port for a stereo and a mono input bus, so that the input busses reflect what you need comared to what the hardware offers. But it is up to you what you wanna do. Just make sure to save your setup as a preset in the end for easy recall.

[raino]

Well they are all just different names for the same physical connection so you’re always going to be limited to whatever that is.

I decide which of the redundantly named busses to use based on what I’m connecting to. If it is a mono line level signal it’s Audio Input 1, line level stereo would use Stereo 1 and a mic would use Red (or another color if they are connected to other inputs).

[Return_On_High]

Got ya! I’m gonna check it out in a bit. I see that with the Stereo In, there is a dropdown that has the left and right separately below it. I wondered if that can serve as both a stereo in for a track, and independent left and right (or let’s say 1 and 2 on an interface) with two separate mono tracks. I’ll have to test it all out when I startup Cubase.

[Return_On_High]

I didn’t realize that the inputs are already there if you use the Track Dialogue! So, creating busses is for more customization, but otherwise, if I never set anything up there, all of the inputs on my interface are ready to be chosen from the track dialogue box?

[Johnny_Moneto]

All the hardware inputs will be there when adding a track. As I said, Cubase will then automatically create the appropriate input busses. You can try it for yourself and see how it goes.

[Return_On_High]

Ok, now that I am in front of Cubase, I have a lot of questions. I’m trying to understand an efficient way to create input busses ready to be selected for audio tracks.

From what I’ve gathered so far, you can create a single audio track, be it mono or stereo, and you can select your interface’s input for that channel. At that point, it auto creates that as an input bus.

However, if you create say 12 new audio tracks that you want to use to track drums for example, your only option is to create the Input Busses beforehand (or after) so that you can select your desired inputs, correct?

Further, you can’t rename the Left and Right of a Stereo Bus, correct?

Also, is there any other streamlined way of having your inputs be auto selected when you create a bunch of busses? For example, if I create 24 mono busses, I have to go one at a time to select each bus and choose the audio interface’s input from dropdown menus. Further, to do that with 12 Stereo Busses, you have to hit the dropdown button for each bus, and then select the input for the left and right from dropdown menus.

Are there more streamlined ways of doing this? Or is it just a matter of deal with it and do the grunt work once, then save that? If you save that, do you have to import that on every project? I’m used to Pro Tools where you literally just plug in an interface, and everything is already there ready to go to be selected.

EDIT: I see that when I created 24 mono inputs and put the name as “Input 1”, it seems to have auto populated them all and selected the appropriate inputs for each one. However, I tried this with Stereo Busses, and it didn’t. Any way to do that?

[Reco29]

Hi,
you are overcomplicating things. As @mkok suggested:

@mkok

Just go into connections and create stereo and mono inputs and save as a preset. Job done.

Please, have a look at setting up Inputs to familiarize yourself with the concept.

If you use the same setup for recording drums on a regular basis you can create a song template or you can import tracks from track archives.

There are even more ways to do it depending on your workflow. Cubase has a lot of options - absolutly no need to set up your tracks and inputs from scratch every time.

[raino]

@Reco29

There are even more ways to do it depending on your workflow. Cubase has a lot of options - absolutly no need to set up your tracks and inputs from scratch very time.

Templates are especially useful for this stuff

[Reco29]

I should spell check my posts more regularly…

[Buer]

Are we talking about what happens inside Cubase, or the combination of interface input ports and the tracks and channels inside Cubase? The answers here sounds like a mess to me. Sorry, but I get confused. Sound sources, input ports, plug types, Channels, Tracks, what is been recorded and what’s possible to record simultanesly ???
Are we talking about it all here?