Steinberg CUBASE 4 Review Guide

Cubase 4

Review Guide

September 2006

Review Guide

Cubase 4

Designed for professional music production from the ground up, Cubase 4 comes with a brand-new VST3 plug-in set and four new integrated software instruments with more than 1000 sounds. The revolutionary SoundFrame Presets, Instrument Tracks, and MediaBay database, to help organize all your sounds from every instrument - both software VSTi and hardware. Cubase 4’s mixer now offers a flexible Control Room section and up to four independent studio mixes. Composers and musicians benefit from a streamlined and enhanced score editor. A redesigned user interface with many new features speeds up workflow and boosts creativity to new levels.

What’s unique about Cubase 4? 1) Exclusive virtual Control Room section, based on Steinberg’s world-class audio engine, processing and mixing environment

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2) SoundFrame from any source

3) Unique combination of timeline-based and pattern-style arranging and composing using Steinberg’s exclusive Play Order Track

4) Seamless integration of external hardware instruments and effects processors.

5) Studio Connections “Total Recall & Audio” – Use Yamaha and third-party hardware like plug-ins.

Top-10 New Features

• SoundFrame

Universal Sound Manager manages any sound

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is a powerful combination of Track

[100]

– Universal Sound Manager

• Control Room

• 33 All-New VST3 Audio Effects Plug-ins

• Four New Virtual Instruments

• Major Score Editor Enhancements

• MediaBay

• Instrument Tracks

• Track Presets

• User Interface Redesign

• Drag & Drop for Insert FX

Additional New Features

• Mac PPC/Intel - Universal Binary

• Advanced AudioWarp Realtime Transpose

• New Trim Tool

• User-configurable Track Inspector

• New state-of-the-art Channel EQ

• User-configurable Channel Strip

• Intuitive Audio + MIDI Hardware Setup

• MP3 Surround

• MPEX 3 – High-quality audio time-stretching and pitch-shifting

Added Value

• Complete printed “Getting Started” and “Operation” manuals

• New tutorial manual including video tutorials

Competitive Comparison

Feature Cubase 4 Sonar

Producer 5.2

Supported Platforms Win (32; 64-bit

Audio Tracks unlimited unlimited 255 32 MIDI Tracks unlimited unlimited unlimited 256 Virtual Instruments unlimited (via VSTi Rack

Supported Plug In Formats

Included Plug-ins

Realtime Audio Plugins:

Offline Audio Plug-ins: 15 9 5

Realtime Midi Plug-ins: 16 8 6 0

Virtual Instruments: 6 8 14 1

compatible)

OSX (Universal)

and Instrument Tracks)

VST 2 and 3 VST 2, DirectX AU and TDM RTAS and TDM

50 37 53

Win (32 + native

64-bit)

unlimited 64 (VST only with

Logic Pro 7.2 ProTools LE /

M-Powered 7.1

OSX (Universal) Win (32-bit)

Wrapper) (128 software instrument tracks)

OSX (Universal)

RTAS only, via Instruments Tracks

Media file database management system:

Sound Management New Instrument Tracks,

Control Room yes, provides full control

Realtime time stretching and pitch shifting with formant preservation

Full score layout and printing

Full multi-channel audio path

Play Order Track for pattern style arranging

Recording with Effects Extended Freeze

Full latency compensation, including external instruments and effects

OMF Support yes yes yes optional Extensive Timecode and

Sync features User-Configurable

Toolbar, Track Inspector, Track Controls & Transport bar

Supported Hardware Windows DirectMusic,

Free MP3 Encoder yes no yes yes Price (US Retail excl. tax) $ 899.00 $ 799.00 $ 999.00 $ 299.00 (MP)

Powerful media file management system known as MediaBay. The central place for browsing, searching, managing and categorizing any type of media files.

Track Templates, and VST3 categorization functions

over external sources, alternative monitor sets, talkback and independent studio mixes inside the VST mixer

yes, extended AudioWarp (realtime transpose with formant preservation)

yes, redesigned Score Editor with new features

yes, Surround with real multi-channel audio path up to 5.1

yes no no no

yes

yes, extended Freeze function for CPU preservation (VSTi and audio channels) and Instrument freeze with or without effects

yes yes only partly no

yes yes yes no

Multiple new possibilities for the user to customize the client, like the fully customizable Inspector and Channel Strip window.

ASIO or OSX CoreAudio

Track

Only file management tool with navigator pane and track folder

no Channel-Strip

no no no

yes, but only with a Plug-In, no formant

preservation

no yes no

no, only for bus tracks

no yes no

yes, Freeze function for tracks, FXs and synths

yes, extended customize functions

Windows ASIO/WDM only

Small loop browser (AppleLoops) and small file explorer

Presets, but no attributes and search engine

with AppleLoops only, no formant

preservation

no no

yes, but only for tracks

yes, but only some possibilities like changing the Track column view

OSX CoreAudio only Windows ASIO or

Optional DigiBase

yes, but only for Acid-File playback

OSX CoreAudio

$ 495.00 (Mbox 2)

Product Facts

Control Room

The mixer in Cubase 4 has been expanded with a powerful Control Room section. You’re now able to connect multiple sets of control room monitors and external sources (CD, DVD, DAT, iPod) directly to your audio hardware and switch between them from a convenient Control Room panel. All connections are defined under a new tab in the VST Connections window. The Control Room section also offers a talkback channel, independent headphone channels, and the ability to create up to four studio mixes (monitor mixes). Therefore, each mixer channel now offers a separate studio send section for controlling those mixes.

The Control Room section in Cubase 4 is identical to the same section in Nuendo 3.2. If you are familiar with Nuendo, you already know about this powerful feature. Please check out all the details in our separate documentation.

Major Score Editor Enhancements

The score editor in Cubase 4 has seen a major redesign, including many usability and workflow improvements as well as new features. Composers don’t despair! None of the existing functions have been lost. All functions from previous versions are still available, albeit in different places. Here’s just a brief overview:

• The Score menu is now slimmer and better organized. Some functions are now available via dedicated context menus and therefore easier to use

• The symbol palettes have their own “inspector” which is organized in tabs – similar to the track inspector

• Several dialogs have been combined into a single “main” score settings dialog

• The Drum settings are now part of the main Drum Map Setup

• Cubase 4 now offers two additional high-quality score fonts:

“Jazz” and “Classical”. The original Cubase font is now available as “Legacy” font.

New Plug-in Set – VST3

Cubase 4 not only includes a completely new set of audio effect plugins, it also marks the next step in VST plug-in technology! VST3 offers major new features both for plug-in developers and users. VST3 plugins can adjust their number of audio busses to the channel they’re inserted to (mono, stereo, 5.1, etc.). A silence detection function makes sure that a plug-in only processes audio when there’s actually a signal present. This helps to reduce overall CPU load. VST3 plug-ins natively support Mac Intel and 64-bit processing. For developers there are many more features under the hood.

In Cubase 4, there are more than 30 all-new audio plug-ins. In addition, some of the previous plug-ins have been reworked and updated for this version, pushing the total number of plug-ins to 66! The original SX3 plug-ins will still be available to update customers. New customers may install these plug-ins as a “Legacy” set for project compatibility.

One of the highlights of this new plug-in set is a powerful new state-ofthe-art 4-band parametric Equalizer, which is also available within the newly enhanced channel EQ. Other highlights include a Vintage Compressor, Studio Chorus, a new Multiband Compressor, a voicedoubler called “Cloner”, and a great-sounding modeling guitar amplifier with speaker cabinet simulation.

A feature not related to VST3 but to Cubase 4’s mixer: effects can now be re-arranged using drag & drop. This works both within a single channel, as well as between channels.

New Virtual Instruments Cubase 4 adds four new virtual instruments: HALion One, Prologue,

Spector and Mystic. HALion One is a special player version of

HALion and comes with hundreds of ready-to-use instruments. Prologue is a polyphonic subtractive synthesizer with great-sounding filters and powerful modulation capabilities. Spector offers spectrum filter synthesis, while Mystic uses a combination of physical modeling and comb filtering to generate unique and colorful sounds. Prologue, Spector and Mystic are powered by VirSyn technology and also come with hundreds of fantastic preset sounds.

MediaBay – media file management system

To keep up with the ever-growing number of sounds, samples, loops and presets, Cubase 4 is equipped with a powerful media file management system known as MediaBay. MediaBay is the central place for browsing, searching, managing and categorizing any type of media file. This includes audio and MIDI files, instrument and plug-in presets, video data and even project files. Files can be organized in a folder structure, using attributes, or a combination of both. Powerful search tools support even most complex tasks. A user-friendly musical category search system helps finding sounds or loops fast. MediaBay also includes a tag editor to apply attributes. A Scope section features previewing options. Loops can be auditioned in the song’s tempo.

Instrument Tracks

Cubase 4 introduces a new track type: Instrument Track. An Instrument Track provides a fast and convenient way to use virtual instruments. As a quick alternative to the VSTi Rack, Instrument Tracks provide a single MIDI Input and a single stereo Output within a single channel/track. Setting up a VST Instrument and getting ready to play is now just one step away. As a limitation, Instruments in an Instrument Track only provide a single MIDI Input and one Stereo Output. Multitimbral VSTi’s and Instruments with multiple outputs may also be used in an Instrument Track, but they will automatically be restricted to one MIDI channel and one stereo output. Of course, the VSTi Rack can still be used in the familiar way.

Track Presets

One of the most powerful new features in Cubase 4 is Track Presets – especially when they’re combined with the new MediaBay. Track Presets are presets for complete track/channel settings. They are available for audio, MIDI, and Instrument tracks. Combinations of tracks can also be saved as Multi-Track Preset. Most track and mixer setting are stored, as well as Instrument/Preset information for an Instrument Track, or MIDI Port/Channel/Patch information for a MIDI track. Also included are all insert effect settings as well as EQ.

Track Presets can be saved with attributes like Category/Style/Character etc. This opens up a whole new dimension in sound management….

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SoundFrame

The real power of Cubase 4 only reveals itself when combining some of the new key features and using them in conjunction.

One of the biggest problems in typical project studio environments is the management of plug-ins, instruments, loops, presets, etc. Cubase 4 now offers a powerful solution to this problem: SoundFrame

What is SoundFrame

• SoundFrame

– Universal Sound Manager

™

allows you to manage ANY sound from ANY software or hardware synthesizer under a single, unified user interface (using MediaBay)

™

can help you find any sound, not only by instrument but also by category, type, style, character or other attributes (Track Presets organized in MediaBay)

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even comes with more than 1000 ready-toplay sounds, which are also conveniently organized by instrument category, type, and character. These can even be instantly previewed before loading. (Instrument Track Presets managing the new included VST instruments – again organized in MediaBay)

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can even manage your VST effects plug-in presets as well. These can also be organized and categorized to form one big effects library.

User Interface Redesign

The first thing you will notice when opening Cubase 4 is the redesigned user-interface. The overall look has become a notch darker (although this can be changed in the Appearance preference pane) and less “3D”. The overall visibility of active items versus inactive items has been vastly improved. In fact, although there are more screen elements in this version, it looks like there was less, especially in the Mixer and Inspector areas. You will notice that selected mixer channels are now very clearly highlighted. Also, smaller fonts are now more readable.

The new user interface also introduces a number of new features:

• The Track Inspector is now fully customizable. A new setup panel allows each item in the Track Inspector to be made visible or hidden. Also, the order of items can be changed – individually for each track type, of course. In addition, entire setups can be stored as presets.

• The Channel Strip window is also fully customizable. It also features its own setup panel and individual sections can be configured in the same way as the track inspector. Here as well, presets can be created for later recall. You will also notice the new EQ section with its larger display area.

• The Mixer window has many new functions, most of which deal with managing views, applying those to selected channels only, changing view/hide status of individual or multiple channels. Notice the new items in the mixers common panel.

Additional New Features

• Extended AudioWarp: realtime transpose with formant preservation. Solo instruments and vocals can be transposed at much higher quality and still sound natural. Just select the new “Solo” Preset in the Warp Setting menu of the sample editor.

• Much-improved Audio and MIDI Hardware Setup panels. Parameters are now consolidated and better organized. Port handling has been simplified.

• A new Trim tool in the key editor allows for trimming start and end for multiple events

• MP3 Surround: not only, Cubase 4 provides full MP3 encoding and decoding where similar products only provide demo versions of MP3. Cubase 4 also supports MP3 surround, the latest achievement in audio compression. MP3 surround is fully backwards compatible with stereo decoders and provides a convenient solution for multi-channel media distribution – for example via Internet or email.

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