Is there a written getting started guide somewhere?

Just got Cubase 13 Pro and find that getting started properly is frustrating. Obviously the first thing is getting my Studio and preferences setup but I am finding that my Studio keeps going missing. I have been reading the on line manual but somethings just don’t seem to be in it eg I create a signature track but how do I insert the key of it?
I’d also have to add that the default settings make reading somethings on screen (standout example is renaming a track and being able to actually see what your typing) or working out what a symbol is (at the displayed size with many almost the same) is particularly difficult.
Edited to stress I am after something written. I have found I do not learn from videos (yes I realise that is my problem).

Hi and welcome to the forum,

Here, you can find the user manual. It starts with the Settings Up Your System chapter. Then, it goes with the Project window. So, it is structured a bit, so you can go from top to bottom.

As a Getting Started, I would rather recommend to watch some videos, where you can clearly see, what happens on the screen, so you can follow it step by step.

Written guides are getting sparse as most people rather watch a video. Have you done a search on the internet for such guides? The last time I checked there were some but for older versions of Cubase.

Another way could be to drop your questions here on the Cubase forum. There are plenty of people who like to help around here.

For example, regarding the signature track: The signature track allows to insert a time signature only, like 3/8 or 4/4. Its secondary function is to allow working with so called click patterns, the sound of the metronome.
In Cubase you can use the chord track to define a scale for your piece of music. You would create the chord track and switch off its “automatic scale” option. Then you would draw in a scale event onto the track and select, which scale it is supposed to be.
However, this does not put Cubase in a mode where everything follows this scale. You’d have to activate to follow the scale on a track by track basis.

I feel your pain. I too seem to learn and retain a lot better when read on the written page than on a monitor. Unfortunately, printing the Cubase PDF manual (all 1200+ pages) is just out of the question. I may be wrong but I would guess there are a lot more people out there like us that would be more than willing to buy a soft-bound copy of the manual if it was made available.

Regardless if you want a Getting Started guide or details, this is very valuable.

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One could ask Amazon if it knows of any

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cubase&i=stripbooks&crid=2DFPNEFKBHNBU&sprefix=cubase%2Cstripbooks%2C172&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

@Johnny_Monteo thanks for the information about key signatures. I can stop looking now :smiley:

It does seem a little odd that Cubase doesn’t have them though.

@Greg_Purkey thanks for the link to CubaseINDEX.com - that looks like a very good resource.

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@Easto I feel for you - at least I can manage with a pdf to read from.

As I said, the Chord track allows you to enter a scale (or several, in case you want to modulate inside a song) that different parts of the program can follow, if you like. Of course the Score Editor allows you to define the scale as well.

And I see that C14 will let me do it in a Score :smile: