Steinberg Cubase SE - 3.0 User Manual
Audio Effects and VST Instruments
Original Manual: Synkron
Revision and Quality Control: C. Bachmann, H. Bischoff, S. Pfeifer, C. Schomburg
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. The software
described by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied
to other media except as specifically allowed in the License Agreement. No part of this
publication may be copied, reproduced or otherwise transmitted or recorded, for any
purpose, without prior written permission by Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
All product and company names are ™ or ® trademarks of their respective owners.
Windows XP is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. The Mac logo is a trademark
used under license. Macintosh and Power Macintosh are registered trademarks.
© Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH, 2005.
All rights reserved.
Table of Contents
5 The included effect plug-ins
6 Introduction
7 Delay plug-ins
10 Distortion plug-ins
13 Dynamics plug-ins
21 Filter plug-ins
24 Modulation plug-ins
36 Other plug-ins
43 Restoration
44 Reverb plug-ins
47 The included VST Instruments
48 VB-1 Bass Synth
50 LM-7 Drum Machine
53 Universal Sound Module (USM)
57 Index
CUBASE SE
4 Table of Contents
1
The included effect plug-ins
Introduction
This chapter contains descriptions of the included plug-in effects and
their parameters.
In Cubase SE, the plug-in effects are arranged in a number of different
categories. This chapter is arranged in the same fashion, with the plugins listed in separate sections for each effect category.
CUBASE SE
1 – 6 The included effect plug-ins
Delay plug-ins
This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Delay”
category.
DoubleDelay
This effect provides two separate delays that can be either tempo
based or use freely specified delay time settings. Cubase SE automatically provides the plug-in with the tempo currently used in the project.
The parameters are as follows:
Parameter Description
Mix Sets the level balance between the dry signal and the effect. If Double-
Delay is used as a send effect, this should be set to maximum (100%)
as you can control the dry/effect balance with the send.
Tempo sync
on/off
Delay Time 1 This is where you specify the base note value for the delay if tempo
Delay Time 2 As above.
Feedback This sets the number of repeats for both delays.
Tempo Sync 1 The note value multiplier (x1 to x10) for the first delay unit.
Tempo Sync 2 As above, but for the second delay unit.
The buttons above the two Delay Time knobs are used to turn tempo
sync on or off for the respective delay. If set to off the delay time can be
set freely with the Delay Time knobs, without sync to tempo.
sync is on (1/1 - 1/32, straight, triplet or dotted). If tempo sync is off, it
sets the delay time in milliseconds.
CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 7
Parameter Description
Pan1 This sets the stereo position for the first delay.
Pan2 This sets the stereo position for the second delay.
You can also change parameters in the graphic display window. This
works as follows:
•
If tempo sync is on, you can set the Tempo Sync 1 parameter by dragging the light blue handle left and right.
When tempo sync is off, this sets the Delay Time 1 parameter.
•
You can set the Pan 1 parameter by dragging the light blue handle up
and down.
•
The dark blue handle works in the same way but for the corresponding second delay parameters.
CUBASE SE
1 – 8 The included effect plug-ins
ModDelay
This is a delay effect that can either be tempo-based or use freely specified delay time settings. The delay repeats can also be modulated.
The parameters are as follows:
Parameter Description
Mix Sets the level balance between the dry signal and the effect. If ModDelay
is used as a send effect, this should be set to maximum as you can control the dry/effect balance with the send.
Tempo sync
on/off
Feedback This sets the number of repeats for the delay.
Delay Time This is where you specify the base note value for the delay if tempo sync
Tempo Sync
knob
DelayMod. This controls the pitch modulation rate for the delay effect.
The button above the Delay Time knob is used to turn tempo sync on or
off. If set to off the delay time can be set freely with the Delay Time knob,
without sync to tempo.
is on (1/1 - 1/32, straight, triplet or dotted). If tempo sync is off, it sets
the delay time in milliseconds.
This is the note value multiplier (x1 to x10) for the delay when tempo sync
is used.
CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 9
Distortion plug-ins
This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Distortion”
category.
DaTube
This effect emulates the characteristic warm, lush sound of a tube
amplifier.
The parameters are as follows:
Parameter Description
Drive Regulates the pre-gain of the “amplifier”. Use high values if you want an
overdriven sound just on the verge of distortion.
Balance This controls the balance between the signal processed by the Drive pa-
rameter and the dry input signal. For maximum drive effect, set this to its
highest value.
Output Adjusts the post-gain, or output level, of the “amplifier”.
CUBASE SE
1 – 10 The included effect plug-ins
Distortion
The Distortion effect plug-in is capable of producing anything from a
soft “crunch” to all-out distortion. There is a selection of factory presets available. Note that these presets are not stored parameter settings, but different basic distortion algorithms. The basic characters of
the distortion preset “models” are indicated by their names. The parameters are as follows:
Parameter Values Description
Input -24dB to 0dB Sets the Input level.
Output -24dB to 0dB Sets the Output level. As distortion generates har-
monics, it increases the level of the processed signal. You can use the Output fader to compensate
for the level increase.
Shapes Linear,
Non-linear 1,
Non-linear 2
Contour 0-100% This is a selective low-pass filter, altering the tonal
Drive 0-100% Governs the amount of distortion.
Factory
Presets
Soft, Crunchy, Dirty,
Wracky, Evil
The Shape parameter determines how much the input signal is affected by the distortion effect. Nonlinear 2 will produce the strongest distortion.
quality of the distortion.
Select one of five presets, which can be used as
they are, or as a basis for further “tweaking”.
CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 11
Overdrive
Overdrive is a distortion-type effect, emulating the sound of a guitar
amplifier. A selection of factory styles is available. Note that these are
not stored parameter settings, but different basic overdrive algorithms,
with the style names indicating the basic character of each algorithm.
The parameters are as follows:
Parameter Description
Input Sets the input level.
Output Sets the output level. As overdrive generates harmonics, it increases
the level of the processed signal. You can use the Output fader to
compensate for the level increase.
Speaker
simulation
Factory
Styles
Bass Tone control for the low frequencies.
Mid Tone control for the mid frequencies.
Hi Tone control for the high frequencies.
Drive Governs the amount of overdrive. You can also adjust this by clicking
When this is activated, the effect simulates the sound of a speaker
cabinet.
Select one of six presets, which can be used as they are or as a basis
for further “tweaking”.
and dragging in the display.
CUBASE SE
1 – 12 The included effect plug-ins
Dynamics plug-ins
This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Dynamics”
category.
Dynamics
Compressor
Routing
selector
AutoGate
Limiter
Dynamics is an advanced dynamics processor. It combines three separate processors: AutoGate, Compressor and Limiter, covering a variety of dynamic processing functions. The window is divided into three
sections, containing controls and meters for each processor.
Activating the individual processors
You activate the individual processors by clicking on their labels. Activated processors have highlighted labels.
CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 13
The AutoGate section
Gating, or noise gating, is a method of dynamic processing that silences audio signals below a certain set threshold level. As soon as
the signal level exceeds the set threshold, the gate opens to let the
signal through. AutoGate offers all the features of a standard noise
gate, plus some very useful additional features, such as auto-calibration of the threshold setting, a look-ahead predict function, and frequency selective triggering.
The available parameters are as follows:
Parameter Values Description
Threshold -60 - 0dB This setting determines the level where AutoGate is
activated. Signal levels above the set threshold trigger
the gate to open, and signal levels below the set
threshold will close the gate.
Attack 0,1 -100 ms or
“Predict mode”
Hold 0 - 1000 ms This determines how long the gate stays open after
Release 10 - 1000 ms or
“Auto”
This parameter sets the time it takes for the gate to
open after being triggered. If the Predict button is activated, it will ensure that the gate will already be open
when a signal above the threshold level is played back.
AutoGate manages this by “looking ahead” in the audio material, checking for signals loud enough to pass
the gate.
the signal drops below the threshold level.
This parameter sets the amount of time it takes for the
gate to close (after the set hold time). If the “Auto” button is activated, AutoGate will find an optimal release
setting, depending on the audio program material.
CUBASE SE
1 – 14 The included effect plug-ins
Trigger Frequency Range
AutoGate has a feature that allows the gate to be triggered only by
signals within a specified frequency range. This is a most useful feature because it lets you filter out parts of the signal that might otherwise trigger the gate in places you don’t want it to, thus allowing more
control over the gate function. The Trigger Frequency Range function
is set using the control in the upper part of the AutoGate panel, and
the buttons located below it.
The basic operation of the Trigger Frequency Range function is as
follows:
1.
While playing back audio, click the “Listen” button.
You will now monitor the audio signal, and the gate will be bypassed.
2.
While listening, drag the two handles in the Trigger Frequency Range
display to set the frequency range you want to use to trigger the gate.
You will hear the audio being filtered as you move the handles.
• Dragging the left handle to the right will progressively cut frequencies starting
from the low end of the frequency spectrum.
• Dragging the right handle to the left will progressively cut frequencies starting
from the high end of the frequency spectrum.
The frequency range between the two
handles will be used to trigger the gate.
3.
After setting the frequency range, click the “On” button.
AutoGate will now use the selected frequency range as the trigger input.
4.
To disable the Trigger Frequency Range function, click the “Off” button.
AutoGate will now use the unfiltered audio signal as the trigger input.
CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 15
The Calibrate function
This function, activated by using the Calibrate button located below
the Threshold knob, is used to automatically set the threshold level. It
is especially useful for material with consistent inherent background
noise, like tape hiss. This may most of the time be masked by the audio content, but becomes noticeable during silent passages.
Use it as follows:
1.
Find a part of the audio material, preferably not too short, where only
the background noise is heard.
If you can only find a short background noise section, try looping it.
2.
Play it back, and click on the Calibrate button.
The button will blink for a few seconds, and then automatically set the threshold so that
the noise will be silenced (gated) during passages where there is no other signal present.
CUBASE SE
1 – 16 The included effect plug-ins
The Compressor section
Compressor reduces the dynamic range of the audio, making softer
sounds louder or louder sounds softer, or both. Compressor functions
like a standard compressor with separate controls for threshold, ratio,
attack, release and make-up gain parameters. Compressor features a
separate display that graphically illustrates the compressor curve
shaped according to the Threshold, Ratio and MakeUp Gain parameter settings. Compressor also features a Gain Reduction meter that
shows the amount of gain reduction in dB, and a program dependent
Auto feature for the Release parameter.
The available parameters work as follows:
Parameter Values Description
Threshold -60 - 0dB This setting determines the level where Compressor
“kicks in”. Signal levels above the set threshold are
affected, but signal levels below are not processed.
Ratio 1:1 - 8:1 Ratio determines the amount of gain reduction applied
to signals over the set threshold. A ratio of 3:1 means
that for every 3 dB the input level increases, the output
level will increase by only 1 dB.
Attack 0.1-100 ms This determines how fast Compressor will respond to
signals above the set threshold. If the attack time is
long, more of the early part of the signal (attack) will
pass through unprocessed.
Release 10-1000ms or
“Auto mode”
MakeUp Gain 0 - 24dB This parameter is used to compensate for output gain
Compressor
Mode
RMS/Peak RMS mode operates using the average power of the
Sets the amount of time it takes for the gain to return to
its original level when the signal drops below the
Threshold level. If the “Auto” button is activated, Compressor will automatically find an optimal release setting
that varies depending on the audio material.
loss, caused by compression.
audio signal as a basis, whereas Peak mode operates
more on peak levels. As a general guideline, RMS
mode works better on material with few transients
such as vocals, and Peak mode better for percussive
material, with a lot of transient peaks.
CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 17
The Limiter section
Limiter is designed to ensure that the output level never exceeds a certain set output level, to avoid clipping in following devices. Conventional
limiters usually require very accurate setting up of the attack and release parameters, to totally avoid the possibility of the output level going
beyond the set threshold level. Limiter adjusts and optimizes these parameters automatically, according to the audio material. You can also
adjust the Release parameter manually.
The available parameters are the following:
Parameter Values Description
Threshold -12 - 0dB This setting determines the maximum output level. Signal
levels above the set threshold are affected, but signal
levels below are left unaffected.
Release 10-1000ms or
“Auto mode”
This parameter sets the amount of time it takes for the
gain to return to its original level when the signal drops
below the threshold level. If the “Auto” button is activated,
Limiter will automatically find an optimal release setting
that varies depending on the audio material.
The Routing section
In the Routing section you can set the signal flow order for the three
processors. Changing the order of the processors can produce different results, and the available options allow you to quickly compare
what works best for a given situation. Beside each processor label is
a number. These numbers are used to represent the signal flow options shown in the Routing section. There are three routing options:
• 1-2-3 (Compressor-Gate-Limit)
• 2-1-3 (Gate-Compressor-Limit)
• 1-3-2 (Compressor-Limit-Gate)
CUBASE SE
1 – 18 The included effect plug-ins
Loading...