The Inspector

The Inspector

The area to the left of the Track list is called the Inspector. This shows additional controls and parameters for the track you have selected in the Track list. If several tracks are selected (see Handling tracks), the Inspector shows the setting for the first (topmost) selected track.

To hide or show the Inspector, click the Inspector icon in the toolbar.

The Inspector icon.

For most track classes, the Inspector is divided into a number of sections, each containing different controls for the track. You can hide or show sections by clicking on their respective headlines.

Clicking the headline for a hidden section brings it to view and hides the other sections. [Ctrl]-clicking the headline allows you to hide or show a section without affecting other sections. Finally, [Alt]-clicking a headline shows or hides all sections in the Inspector.

It's also possible to use key commands for showing different Inspector settings.

These are set up under the Inspector heading in the Key Commands dialog.

Folding a section does not affect the functionality but merely hides the section from view.

In other words, if you have set up a track parameter or activated an effect for example, your settings will still be active even if you fold the Inspector section.

Which sections are available in the Inspector depends on the selected track's class.

Sections

In general, the Inspector contains the same controls as the Track list, but there are also some additional buttons and parameters. Below is a list of all common, possible settings and sections, their controls and usage, followed by descriptions of which sections are actually available for each type of track:

Parameter

Description

Auto Fades Settings button

Opens a dialog in which you can make separate Auto Fade settings for the track. See Making Auto Fade settings for a separate track.

Edit button

Opens the Channel Settings window for the track, allowing you to view and adjust effect and EQ settings, etc. See Using Channel Settings.

Volume

Use this to adjust the level for the track. Changing this setting will move the track's fader in the mixer window, and vice versa. See Setting volume in the mixer to learn more about setting levels.

Pan

Use this to adjust the panning of the track. As with the Volume setting, this corresponds to the Pan setting in the mixer.

Delay

This adjusts the playback timing of the audio track. Positive values delay the playback while negative values cause the track to play earlier. The values are set in milliseconds.

In

This lets you specify which Input bus or MIDI input the track should use (see Setting up busses for information about Input busses).

Out

Here you decide to which output the track should be routed. For audio tracks you select an output bus (see Setting up busses) or Group channel, for MIDI tracks you select a MIDI output.

Inserts section

Allows you to add insert effects to the track, see Insert effects. The Edit button at the top of the section opens the control panels for the added insert effects.

Equalizers

section

Lets you adjust the EQs for the track. You can have up to four bands of EQ for each track, see Making EQ settings. The Edit button at the top of the section opens the Channel Settings window for the track.

Equalizer Curve section

Lets you adjust the EQs for the track graphically, by clicking and dragging points in a curve display.

Sends section

Allows you to route an audio track to one or several FX channels (up to eight), see Send effects. For MIDI tracks, this is where you assign MIDI send effects. The Edit button at the top of the section opens the control panel for the first effect in each FX channel.

Channel section

Shows a duplicate of the corresponding mixer channel strip. The channel overview strip to the left lets you activate and deactivate insert effects, EQs and sends.

Notepad section

This is a standard text notepad, allowing you to jot down notes about the track.

If you have entered any notes about a track, the icon next to the "Notepad" heading will light up to indicate this. Moving the pointer over the icon will display the Notepad text in a tool tip.

User Panel

Here you can display MIDI device panels - see About Device panels (Cubase SX only).

Audio tracks

For audio tracks, all settings and sections listed above are available.

Cubase SX: User Panels for audio tracks can display panels for channel controls (such as input phase or the linked panner option) or for VST effects currently inserted in the channel.

Cubase SX: User Panels for audio tracks are accessed by [Ctrl]-clicking on the Edit Channel button in the Inspector. This opens a menu listing all the device panels available for the audio track. If panels have not yet been created, you will see "Setup" panels in the menu. Double-clicking on