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Saybase Help

Hands-free voice control for Cubase, on macOS and Windows. Push to talk, say a command, and Cubase fires it. Here’s how to set up and fix the common snags.

Getting started

  1. InstallmacOS Open the .dmg and drag Saybase into Applications. Windows Run the installer and follow the prompts.
  2. First launchThe beta isn’t signed yet, so your OS warns you once. macOS Right-click the app → Open; if it calls the app “damaged”, run xattr -cr /Applications/Saybase.app and reopen. Windows On the SmartScreen prompt, click More info → Run anyway.
  3. Grant microphone accessAllow Microphone when asked. macOS also needs Input Monitoring for the push-to-talk key — it may ask you to restart the app.
  4. Download a speech modelIn the Models tab, download one Whisper model. A one-time, online step — everything after runs offline.
  5. Windows Create a MIDI portWindows can’t create a virtual MIDI port on its own. Install loopMIDI (free), click + to add a port, then pick that port in Saybase. On macOS this is automatic — skip this step.
  6. Install the driverSaybase scans Cubase and installs its MIDI Remote script. If you run more than one Cubase version, choose which to target.
  7. Restart CubaseOn launch Cubase loads the driver and auto-creates the “Saybase Control” surface — nothing to add by hand.
  8. Isolate the control port (important)In Cubase: Studio → Studio Setup → MIDI Port Setup. Find the Saybase port and untick “In ‘All MIDI Inputs’” so its notes don’t record onto your tracks.
  9. Say your first commandHold Right Option (macOS) or Right Alt (Windows), say “play”, and release. Cubase starts. Customise phrases in the Vocabulary tab.
Tip: hold Shift with the push-to-talk key to repeat your last command without speaking again.

Managing your vocabulary

Your vocabulary maps the words you say — the aliases — to a single Cubase command, macro, or Logical Editor preset. Open it from the tray icon → Vocabulary.

Aliases. Type a phrase, or hit record to speak one. One command can have several — “play”, “start” and “go” can all fire it. Edits are live; nothing to do in Cubase.

On / off. Toggle each row. Every active item uses one MIDI note, so you can have up to 128 on at once — switch off what you don’t use.

Adding commands. Add command searches Cubase’s full catalogue. New items install automatically, but Cubase only sees them after a Refresh (↻) in its MIDI Remote Manager (or a restart).

When does Cubase need a refresh? Editing aliases, recording and toggling are all live. Only adding or removing items needs a Refresh (↻) in the MIDI Remote Manager.

Import new Cubase commands. Made a macro or preset in Cubase? Cubase only writes them on quit, so: restart Cubase → Sync from Cubase → Add command.

Back up & restore. From the ··· menu, back up your vocabulary to a file and restore it later — handy before a reinstall or on a new machine. Aliases are version-independent, so backups restore cleanly on a newer Cubase.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

I say a command but nothing happens

Check, in order:

1. A speech model is loaded (Status tab).

2. Cubase picked up the driver — click Refresh (↻) in the MIDI Remote Manager, or restart.

3. The match was confident. Saybase fires nothing rather than guess wrong — speak clearly or raise Recognition sensitivity in Settings.

4. The command is toggled on in Vocabulary.

5. Windows Your loopMIDI port exists and is selected in Saybase.

Control notes are recording onto my track

The control port isn’t isolated. In Cubase: Studio → Studio Setup → MIDI Port Setup, find the Saybase port, and untick “In ‘All MIDI Inputs’”. This is the key setup step.

The app won’t open

On the beta this is your OS’s unsigned-app warning. macOS Right-click → Open; if “damaged”, run xattr -cr /Applications/Saybase.app. Windows Click More info → Run anyway.

Saybase lives in the menu bar (macOS) / system tray (Windows), not the Dock or taskbar.

My microphone isn’t detected

Two things must be true: the mic permission is granted and a device is connected. macOSSystem Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. WindowsSettings → Privacy & security → Microphone. Pick a specific input in Settings → Input device.

WindowsThere’s no MIDI port to choose

Install loopMIDI and click + to create a port. If it still doesn’t appear, Core Isolation → Memory Integrity may be blocking loopMIDI’s driver — check Windows Security → Device security → Core isolation.

Saybase can’t find Cubase

Cubase must be installed and opened at least once — Saybase reads the command names Cubase writes on first run. Open Cubase, then re-scan.

A new macro I made in Cubase doesn’t show up

Cubase only writes new macros and presets on quit. So restart Cubase first, then Sync from Cubase in the Vocabulary window.

The “Saybase Control” surface didn’t appear

Cubase scans for drivers at startup. Restart it, or click Refresh (↻) in the MIDI Remote Manager.

How do I uninstall cleanly?

Use the tray menu → Uninstall Saybase… (Windowsyou can also use Add or remove programs). Then remove the leftover “Saybase” surface in Cubase’s MIDI Remote.

Still stuck? Get in touch and we’ll help.