Cubase 10 Tutorial - Expression Maps

Expression Maps are great for anyone composing with MIDI. They help you keep all of your articulations straight. In this video tutorial I will show you some tips and tricks on how to use expression maps and get started with using them in Cubase instruments and with third-party libraries like those in Kontakt.

[bsbazzman]

oh man this is fantastic thanks for the tutorial. This is so much better than articulation sets which is what my current (and soon to be former) DAW has. No more trying to remember which note has which articulation on it!! 😭

[meyermusic]

Very well explained man! Thank you very much! I will be sure to use this into my creations! Liked and Subbed for sure!! Take care buddy!

[MrMikomi]

Great, really well explained. I'm just getting into using orchestral instruments in pop music so this is really helpful; thanks.

[onlyposting]

Great video, man, looks like you've been doing expression maps forever ! Even the guys at steinberg can't work that fast :) thanks

[MoonhareStudio]

A great Cubase feature. One useful shortcut I use is after adding the correct number of articulations, instead of typing in the keyswitch notes manually, type the lowest note for the keyswitches in the "Root note" box then click Set Remote Keys and it adds them automatically. Great time saver for those expansive multi articulation libraries like Spitfire.

[omezey]

Thanks for getting right to the point. This was very useful as I have been changing each note individually, although I have to admit there was a bit of laziness involved: I have a weak spot when it comes to the learning process and find myself skipping to the creating, where I end up stuck due to lack of knowledge where it comes to the interface. Good job demystifying the process.

[modernman]

Hi thank you great video the different ones I create don't show up in articulations any ideas ???

[howlerbike]

Thanks for this, and the Kontakt examples you throw in here and elsewhere. Native Instruments is my non Cubase Vst instrument go to source, and I struggle with making them work together sometimes.

[chrisshollinrake]

Perhaps, next one on expression maps deal with multis, then the power of expression maps really kick in, just struggling through it all myself. Great stuff, keep up the good work.

[njmmusic]

Another great video, I was wondering have you done a tutorial on the Logical editor in pro10?

[comelymusicband]

Man, thank you so much for this video!

[wizendweaver]

Just started using Art Conductor 8 for automating the keyswitch settings.. It saves loads of set up time.

[chrisshollinrake]

Wow, perfect timing, was just working on this.

[sekritskworl-sekrit_studios]

Do you have a Behringer BCF2000 by any chance? I can't find any video guide for MIDI expression using this tool, even though people seem to have them all over the place.

[PreacherAtArrakeen]

I'm just learning Cubase, getting it 50% off crossgrade from Logic. Logic, imo, is a bit more elegant in this respect, as it is with setting up a drum map. Thanks! Nice to be able to jump right in and get it done.

[MaxTooney]

Cubase considers 'C3' as middle 'C'. However, some libraries consider 'C4' as middle 'C'. Is it necessary to do an octave transposition in order to use these 'C4' libraries within the expression maps when making your own customized ones?


(P.S.--It's been a while, but I believe Cubase's default setting for the root note was 'C2' when I first attempted to use maps, so it always needs to be checked to make sure it's on the correct initial setting.)

[sixthtulip]

I think it would be useful to add a note to this video:
For example, I use the Expression map on the 1st MIDI track which is assigned to the 1st MIDI channel and another Expression map on the 2nd MIDI channel which is assigned to the 2nd MIDI channel. In order for both Expression maps to work correctly, I need to enter the number of the corresponding midi channel in the settings of each of them. If I don't use templates with already configured maps for each instrument, this can take a long time. Or I'm wrong?
Expression maps are a very extensive topic and there are many more interesting features.

[andrewholcroft.]

Sometimes you can copy and paste a generic save then rename for your instrument,
Because the articulations are in the same place then change just key names or articulation type.

[TheRangeControl]

Hi,

Not trying to be a jerk (I really appreciate your work). BUT, while your vocal level are fantastic, I am watching this as the second in a row of yours (last one was beat designer), and your instruments are SOOOO quiet. My A/V receiver gets blasted by your vocals, and I can only hear like 3 articulations.

So, Just a head's up, as it is frustrating for we noobs who are just learning.

Thank you for your time.

[svenisaksson]

Unfortunately, you’re missing the huge flaw, in how Steinberg has implemented expression maps. As you say, there are two types “Attributes” and “Directions”. The difference is that you can only use one Direction at a time. However, you can use multiple Attributes, but they are locked to a single note.

This causes several problems! If you have a hundred notes, you need to program a hundres Attribute-instances as opposed to just a couple of Direction-instances. Also, you can’t use Attributes with Key-Switches that aren’t directly related to specific notes. The majority of Kontakt libraries use key-switches for non-note related functions.

There is a, dirty and limited, workaround, though, Using groups! Let’s take a bass library as an example. These often allows you to “lock” from which strings the library selects what notes to play, using key-switches. Since you can’t have parallel Directions, you can’t “normally” do this.

You can “get around” this problem, though, by using Groups. By assigning the key-switch for each string to it’s own group, you can have up to 4 parallel Directions (but has none left for other articulations). This will only work for 4-stringed instruments, as you’re limited to 4 groups.

If you’re dealing with say, a guitar library, you need to resort to an even “dirtier” work around. You need to add enough Sound Slots to cover each combination of strings. You then need to associate these with the same number of Output Mappings (each with 6 key-switches). Finally you need to make one Articulation for each Sound Slot!

This will give you a nice little list of 64 entries in your editor. I don’t know where to put the musical notes, though, unless you have a monster screen! :)

All this would go away, if Steinberg only ditched the one-instant-at-a-time limitation for Directions!