Hi is there a way to enable preroll only for recording while keeping it off for playback?
Hi and welcome to the forum,
I’m afraid this is not possible.
For what it’s worth, I pointed this out decades ago. I think Cubase SX broke the correct preroll behavior. Preroll by definition is pre RECORD roll. Anything else is just changing the start time globally. But pre RECORD roll was removed and never restored.
During recording sessions I would have any random number of bars set up as a pre Record roll based on the request of the talent. My punch-in would always be the left locator. Then, I could swiftly press 1 to audition the take without having to listen to the pre roll bars.
Now we need to jump through hoops setting up and constantly changing markers.
Preroll, as it functions now, is of no use in a fast paced recording session.
I hope traditional tape machine style preroll is restored some day.
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wow thats a big deal… How is one supposed record vocal track properly without a preroll?.. Having to deal with the issue of hearing it every playback is ridiculous…
How is such an essential feature missing in cubase? literally every other DAW has this. I feel like they over focus on shiny new features while ignoring the fundamentals. Most DAWs are doing this nowadays…
I think I am gonna head back to logic pro even though i hate macs…
The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence. 
Exactly. And I’m scratching my head to find an use case for which a Pre-Roll PLAYBACK could actually be needed… 
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I don’t have an answer to that question, too.
However, why don’t you assign a key command (Transport/Preroll)? I know, it is an additional click and doing that over and over again in a session is not helping. Nevertheless, much more comfortable than changing markers.
Another thought: Maybe adding the possibility to adjust the Pre-Count to not only bars but also beats might be a helpful addition in the metronome dialogue. Not as exact as Pre-Roll but better than nothing.
Yep, or maybe creating two macros that would include the Transport > Use Pre-Roll command and replace the usual Play/Record ones could be useful, as it’s a toggle one.
But we shouldn’t have to find clumsy workarounds such as these, IMO.
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Agreed in the light of Pre-Roll + Playback not making any sense.
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That’s one example of what I meant by “jump through hoops”. There are a few ways to get around it.
I think the preroll was botched when Yamaha rushed out Cubase SX and it was never fixed.
Yeah, I know…