In Cubase, the Expression Map feature allows you to switch key switches (articulations).
However, Expression Maps often exhibit minor bugs or unintuitive behaviors, making it challenging to switch articulations or trigger key switches as intended.
This guide introduces a workaround for one such bug (or design limitation) in Expression Maps.
Articulation Edits Are Not Reflected During the First Playback
When you edit articulation information (key switch data) in the Key Editor and play it back for confirmation, the changes are not reflected during the first playback.
If you stop playback and start it again, the edited articulations will then be applied correctly.
Notably, if you move the position cursor before starting playback, the articulation information is updated and applied at that point.
Due to this bug (or specification), the usual editing workflow in the Key Editor requires additional effort to edit and confirm articulation information.
Force the Position Cursor to Move Using the Pre-Roll Function
If moving the position cursor updates the articulation information according to its position, this behavior can be leveraged to resolve the issue.
Cubase includes a Pre-Roll function that allows you to move the position cursor slightly forward before starting playback.
By setting a minimal pre-roll (e.g., 1 tick), you can ensure that the position cursor always moves when playback starts.
The image below shows the Pre-Roll settings in the Transport Panel.
This method ensures that even during the first playback after editing articulation information, the changes are applied and reflected correctly.
Pre-Roll settings can be found in the information window at the bottom of the project screen or in the Transport Panel.
If the settings are not visible, right-click on the panel area and check the relevant option to display them.
Streamlining the Editing of Detailed Articulation Instructions
Before implementing this solution, I used to press the spacebar (assigned as my playback button) repeatedly to move the position cursor manually.
However, as you might expect, this added unnecessary effort and became a source of frustration.
At one point, I created a macro to move the position cursor before playback, but I later discovered that the same functionality could be achieved more efficiently using the Pre-Roll feature. This realization allowed me to resolve the issue more elegantly.
Being able to check articulations smoothly and without stress is an important aspect of music production. If this issue has been bothering you, I highly recommend trying this solution.
