Open Cubase. The GUI (general user interface) may be slightly different depending on which version of Cubase you're using and how you've set up your opening screen. In general, most of what is explained here applies to just about all versions with slight variations since the drum mapping section has stayed consistent throughout the different versions.
Click on a track and set it as a MIDI drum track. Click on the Class column on the Inspector. A pop-up menu lists the different kind of tracks that can be assigned. Choose the Drum Track. This is signified by a small drum stick icon angled on the left side of the track.
Load your VST drum instrument. Click on Panels>VST Instruments or Devices>VST Instruments. Double click on the track and name it.
Set the "Snap" on the locators to "Bar." In Cubase 5.1r1 VST, this is done by clicking on the "Snap" pull-down menu in the top left hand corner of the DAW GUI. It defaults to the "Bar" setting.
Set the song tempo by double clicking on the tempo in the movable "Transporter" box, which is near the right side.
Set right locator near the left locator for one bar to four bars. Double click between the locators. A track section appears. Double click the track section. The screen reveals the drum editor.
Turn on your MIDI keyboard. Test the drum instrument by playing the keys. If you can hear the drums, everything is set correctly.
Record the drum hits. You can do this in two ways.
1. Press the "Click" button on the "Transporter," which activates the metronome. Press the asterisk (*) key on the number pad. Once the metronome counts off, play the key that corresponds to the drum you want to record and stop recording once the cursor reaches the right locator.
2. Double click on the drum section. Right click anywhere on the drum map grid and hold. A pop-up tool box appears. Click on the drum stick. Click on the spaces or lines of the track where the corresponding sound is.