How to setup the Zoom HD16 as a Control Surface in Cubase via USB with songs you have already recorded in your computer.

 

Remember that the HD16 will not be used as a recorder; it will be controlling whatever song you have loaded in Cubase. You can control Volume, Solo, Mute, and arm and disarm tracks for recording in the computer.

So the project that is loaded in the HD16 does not matter. Also remember that this only needs to be done one time. After that Cubase will remember the settings.

First take a USB cable and plug it from the HD16 to your computer.

 

  1. Place the HD16 recovery CD in the computer. You will need it later.
  2. Open any existing project in Cubase.
  3. Click on devices – click on device setup.
  4. Click on ADD/REMOVE – Click on general remote on the right side and click ADD.
  5. When generic remote appears on the left side click it and then click on the Setup tab.
  6. Click Import, the Import generic remote dialog box will open. Navigate to the HD16 CD in your drive. In that CD, navigate to the CTRL_SF folder. Double click that folder and then highlight the CBLE_16.xml. Click OPEN.
  7. The parameters for the HD16 will load into the generic remote setup location. Pull down the arrow next to MIDI Input and select USB Audio Device (Emulated). Pull down the arrow next to MIDI Output and select USB Audio Device (Emulated). Click Apply and Click OK.

Turn on the HD16. Once it gets to the main screen, press the [PROJECT/UTILITY] key and then use the cursor left/right keys to bring up the indication "SYSTEM" on the second line of the display. Press the [ENTER] key. Use the cursor left/right keys to bring up the indication "Control Surface" on the second line of the display, and press the [ENTER] key. Turn the dial to select "USB”. Press the [EXIT] key repeatedly to return to the main screen.

From the main screen, hold down the [SHIFT] key and press pad 2 (CONTROL SURFACE). A confirmation screen for switching to control surface mode appears. Press the [ENTER] key. The HD8/HD16 switches to control surface mode.

If you press PLAY on the HD16 your song in Cubase should play. You will be able to use the HD16 transport controls, Mute any track, solo any track, and arm any track for continued recording in your computer.