File handling

Working with Projects

New Project

The New Project command on the File menu allows you to create a new project, either empty or based on a template:

1. Select New Project from the File menu.

By default, this list is empty. How to create templates is described in the section (see “Save as Template” on page 488).

2. Select “Empty”.

A file dialog opens, allowing you to specify a folder for the new project.

3. Select an existing project folder or click on Create and enter a name for a new one in the dialog that opens.

A new, untitled project is created.

• Click “Activate” to open and activate the new project.

The active project is indicated by the blue Activate button in the upper left corner of the Project window. To make another project active, simply click its Activate button.

An active project.

• You can also open project files by selecting an entry from the “Recent Projects” submenu on the File menu.

Open

The Open command on the File menu is used for opening saved project files. Project files created with Nuendo (file extension “.npr”), Cubase (file extension “.cpr”) and Sequel (extension “.steinberg-project”) can be opened. Note that program-specific settings which cannot be applied in Nuendo will be ignored.

1. Select Open… from the File menu.

A file dialog opens, allowing you to select a project.

2. Click Open.

The project opens in the Project window.

• Several projects can be open at the same time.

This is extremely useful, if you want to copy parts or entire sections from one project to another.

3. If a project is already opened, opening another project brings up a warning.

• Click “No” to open the other project inactive.

This significantly reduces load times, especially for large projects.

This submenu lists the projects you have recently worked with, with the most recent one at the top of the list.

•Projects can also automatically be opened when you launch Nuendo (see “Startup Options” on page 489).

•You can drag projects from the MediaBay into the Nuendo application window (not into an existing Project window) to open them.

About the “Pending Connections” dialogs

If you open a Nuendo project created on another setup (other audio hardware), the program tries to find matching audio inputs and outputs for the i/o busses (this is one of the reasons why you should use descriptive, generic names for your input and output ports – see “Preparations” on page 12).

If the program cannot resolve all audio/MIDI inputs and outputs used in the project, a Pending Connections dialog will open. This will allow you to manually re-route any ports specified in the project to ports available in your system.

Close

The Close command on the File menu closes the active window. If a Project window is active, selecting Close will close the corresponding project.

• If the project contains unsaved changes, you will be asked whether you want to save the project before closing it.

If you select “Don’t Save” and have recorded or created new audio files since saving, you get the choice to delete or keep these.

Save and Save As

The commands Save and Save As allow you to save the active project as a project file (file extension “.npr”). The Save command stores the project under its current name and location, while Save As allows you to rename and/or relocate the file. If a project has not been saved yet or if it hasn’t been changed since it was last saved, only Save As will be available.

Generally, we recommend that you save project files in their project folders, to keep the projects as manageable as possible.

A word about file extensions

Under Windows, file types are indicated by three letter file name extensions (such as *.npr for Nuendo project files).

Under Mac OS X, it is not necessary to use file name extensions, since the file types are stored internally in the files. However, if you want your Nuendo projects to be compatible with both platforms, you should make sure the option “Use File Extension in File Dialog” is activated in the Preferences (General page). When this is activated (default), the proper file name extension is automatically added when you save a file.

Save New Version

This function is only available as a key command, by default [Ctrl]/[Command]+[Alt]/[Option]+[S]. When you use this function, a new version of the project will be saved.

The new file will get the same name as the original project, but with an incremental number attached. For example, if your project is called “My Project”, you will get new versions called “My Project-01”, “My Project-02”, and so on.

Save New Version is useful if you are experimenting with edits and arrangements and want to be able to go back to a previous version at any time. The newest versions are always listed on the Recent Projects submenu on the File menu for instant access.

Save as Template

This function allows you to save the current project as a template. When you create a new project, the available templates will be listed, allowing you to base the new project on a template.

Proceed as follows:

1.Set up a project.

2.Select “Save As Template…” from the File menu and save the project template under the desired name.

• Templates can contain clips and events just like regular projects.

If this is not what you want, make sure to remove all clips from the Pool before you save the project as template.

Templates are always stored in the Templates folder.

On a Windows system, it is located at \Documents and Settings\<username>\Application data\Steinberg\Nuendo 4\templates. On a Mac system, it is located inside Users/<username>/Library/Preferences/Nuendo 4.

Setting up a default template

If you always want the same default project to open when you launch Nuendo, you can save a default template. Proceed as follows:

1.Set up a project.

2.Select “Save As Template…” from the File menu and save the project template with the name “default”.

3.Open the Preferences dialog and select the General page.

4.Open the “On Startup” pop-up and select “Open ’Default’ Template”.

The next time you launch Nuendo, the default template will automatically be opened. For details on the other Startup options, see “Startup Options” on page 489.

Save Project to New Folder

This function is very useful if you want to move or archive your project.

1. Select “Save Project to New Folder”.

A file dialog opens in which you can choose an existing, empty folder or create a new folder to save the project.

2. Click OK to confirm your choice.

The “Save to Folder Options” dialog opens with the following options:

3.Make the desired settings.

4.Click OK.

The project is saved in the new folder. The original project is not affected. However, now you could e.g. delete the original project without losing your project data.

Startup Options

Auto Save

If you activate the Auto Save option in the Preferences (General page), Nuendo will automatically save backup copies of all open projects with unsaved changes.

Backup copies of projects are named “<project name>- xx.bak”, where xx is an incremental number. Unsaved projects are backed up in a similar way as “UntitledXxx.bak”, with X being the incremental number for unsaved projects. All backup files are saved in the project folder.

•Use the “Auto Save Interval” setting to specify the time intervals in which a backup copy will be created.

•Use the “Maximum Backup Files” option to specify how many backup files will be created with the Auto Save function.

When the maximum number of backup files is reached, the existing files will be overwritten (starting with the oldest file).

On Startup

The “On Startup” pop-up menu in the Preferences (General page) allows you to specify what should happen each time you launch Nuendo.