Pushing the quick template buttons change a set of parameters. And yes, Audio Rec in DAW changes all of the Parts' outputs to USB#/#+1 or Main L/R depending on the Part. It doesn't set a "mode" - it just changes parameters. Some Part-level parameters such as the outputs and mostly system-level parameters. The system-level parameters are not part of Performances so those will tend to "stick" for longer. Still, these are not mode buttons.

Your task here is to setup Cubase properly to record multiple audio channels from MODX. There are tutorials and videos that show you what to do.

Check out https://www.yamahasynth.com/learn/modx/part-1-mastering-modx-audio-record-on-daw from "MAKING THE CONNECTIONS" for the Cubase side setup.

Then Part 2 of this series shows you how to add another audio bus for the USB1&2 (USB#/#+1). You can follow this process to setup as many audio buses as you need. I believe Cubase also has templates for this - but I tend to create everything from scratch so I understand what's going on and can adapt.

https://www.yamahasynth.com/learn/modx/audio-record-on-daw-part-ii-mastering-modx

Here's a good video. Dom tends to build from scratch as well. He has his own tips which are helpful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPPJeU9Ayy4

There's not a problem with recording everything to Main L/R if that's what you want. You'd press Audio Rec on DAW then after doing this go to each Part and change the outputs to Main L/R. You don't have to keep pressing the Audio Rec on DAW button if you want to keep Main L/R as the outputs and record audio to DAW. Most of the other settings pressing this button changes are system level and will stay put. There are parameters you may change (or pressing standalone) in which case you'll want to later press the Audio Rec on DAW button to setup things properly OR learn what parameters are key for audio rec and change those manually.

Keep in mind that Parts with outputs to USB#/#+1 will strip off system and master effects. Only Main L/R outputs carry the system and master effects. Insertion effects are always sent regardless of the digital channels used.

Thanks Guys - I'll check out the links...

Sorry for a slight excursion:

Reaper is very cheap and very light and VERY good at recording Audio.

And it's massively configurable, and designed to be this way.

If you want (what I think is an easier way) to work, use Reaper for Audio recording, wherein you make your own template within Reaper for Track Audio recording however you like and however works best with MODX/Montage, and then export that Audio to the DAW you normally work in so that you get the best of both worlds.

That being less messing around with configuration in your favourite DAW, and the totally controllable templates for explicit Audio recording from MODX/Montage to Reaper that "just works"... once you've set it up.

I have nothing for or against Reaper - but it's worth stating that saving a configuration that "just works" upon recalling this configuration is not unique to Reaper. Cubase and probably the lot has similar capabilities.

Assuming Reaper has a trial or free tier (most DAWs do) - there's no harm in taking it for a test drive to see if there's anything that more fits your workflow.

I can say that reading the user guide for Reaper - the organization is more "... this is how you use our software, click here -- look at this picture -- this is what to expect". That's a complement, BTW. The Reaper documentation is, in my opinion, vastly superior to what I've read from Cubase's which is not so descriptive of the usage process and more descriptive of the product without walking you through the process. Plus Cubase's documentation isn't the most visual like Reaper's is with plenty of screenshots.

The main problem I'm trying to suggest avoiding, and not probably being explicit enough about, is that all the work to configure Cubase for Audio Recording can somewhat unsettle it for what you may normally do with it and how you might normally prefer working with it.

By using Reaper to manage Audio Recording ONLY, you can always be sure that how you use Cubase is how you use Cubase (or any other more brittle DAW).

Reaper not only has a long free trial period, it's also got a FOREVER free evaluation period, with full functionality and updates... if you don't mind a nag screen. On a third computer, that I rarely do Audio on, I put up with this, despite having a license on two others.

@Jason there are two guys that make videos for ALL features of Reaper, too. And they're in such a thorough and exacting manner that even Bill would be impressed. Info about everything, not superficial, and for each version. They're so thorough and exacting that it's a bit baffling why other DAW makers haven't learnt from this, as it's been a huge part of the reason for Reaper's steady growth in popularity over a decade.

https://www.youtube.com/c/REAPERMania/videos