Steinberg Cubase 6 Manual

							161
The Mixer
EQ bypass
Whenever one or several EQ modules are activated for a 
channel, the EQ button lights up in green in the Mixer 
channel strip, Inspector (Equalizer and Channel sections), 
track list, and Channel Settings window (top right corner 
of the EQ section).
You can also bypass all EQ modules. This is useful, as it 
allows you to compare the sound with and without EQ. 
Proceed as follows:
•In the Mixer, the track list and in the Channel section in 
the Inspector, click the EQs state button so that it turns 
yellow.
To deactivate EQ bypass, click the button again, so that it turns green 
again.
•In the Inspector (Equalizers tab) and in the Channel 
Settings window, click the Bypass button (next to the EQ 
button) so that it turns yellow.
Click again to deactivate EQ bypass mode.
Left: EQ bypass in the Mixer; Right: EQ bypass in the Channel Settings 
window or the Inspector
EQ reset
On the Presets pop-up menu in the Channel Settings win-
dow and in the Inspector, you will find the Reset com-
mand. Select this to turn off all EQ modules and reset all 
EQ parameters to their default values.
Using EQ presets
Some useful basic presets are included with the program. 
You can use them as they are, or as a starting point for fur
-
ther “tweaking”. 
•To call up a preset, pull down the presets pop-up menu 
in the Channel Settings window or in the Inspector and 
select one of the available presets.
•To store the current EQ settings as a preset, select 
“Save Preset…” from the Presets pop-up menu and enter 
the desired name for the preset in the dialog that opens.
•To rename the selected preset, select “Rename Preset” 
on the pop-up menu and enter a new name.
•To delete the selected preset, select “Remove Preset” 
on the pop-up menu.
ÖYou can also apply EQ (and Inserts) settings from 
track presets, see 
“Applying inserts and EQ settings from 
track presets” on page 334.
EQ in the channel overview
If the Channel section is selected in the Inspector or if the 
Overview section is displayed in the extended Mixer view, 
you will get an overview of which EQ modules, insert ef
-
fects and sends are activated for the channel. 
By clicking on any of the module numbers (1 to 4), you 
can turn the corresponding EQ module on or off.
The channel overview in the extended Mixer view
Copying settings between audio channels
It is possible to copy all channel settings for an audio 
channel and paste them to one or several other channels. 
This applies to all audio-based channel types. For exam
-
ple, you can copy EQ settings from an audio track and ap-
ply these to a group or VST instrument channel, if you 
want them to have the same sound.  
						

							162
The Mixer
Proceed as follows:
1.In the Mixer, select the channel you want to copy set-
tings from.
2.On the common panel, click the “Copy First Selected 
Channel’s Settings” button.
3.Select the channel(s) you want to copy the settings to 
and click the “Paste Settings to Selected Channels” but
-
ton (below the “Copy First Selected Channel Settings” 
button).
The settings are applied to the selected channel(s).
You can copy channel settings between different types of 
channels, but only those channels will be used for which 
corresponding settings are available in the target channel.
• For example, since input/output channels do not have send ef-
fects, copying from them will leave the sends settings in the 
target channel unaffected. 
• In case of surround sound (Cubase only), any insert effects 
routed to surround speaker channels become muted when the 
settings are pasted to a mono or stereo channel.
Initialize Channel and Reset Mixer
The Initialize Channel button can be found in the lower 
part of the Control Strip section in the Channel Settings 
window. (If this section is not shown in the Channel Set
-
tings window, open the context menu and select “Control 
Strip” on the Customize View submenu.) Initialize Channel 
resets the selected channel to the default settings. 
Similarly, the Mixer common panel holds a Reset Mixer/
Reset Channels button. When you click this, you will be 
asked whether you want to reset all channels or just the 
selected channels.
The default settings are:
• All EQ, insert and send effect settings are deactivated and 
reset.
• Solo/Mute is deactivated.
• The fader is set to 0 dB.
• Pan is set to center position.
Changing the meter characteristics 
On the Mixer context menu, there is a submenu named 
“Global Meter Settings”. Here you can make settings for 
the preferred meter characteristics, with the following op
-
tions:
•If Hold Peaks is activated, the highest registered levels 
are “held” and are shown as static horizontal lines in the 
meter.
Note that you can turn this on or off by clicking in any audio level meter in 
the Mixer.
•If Hold Forever is activated, the peak levels are shown 
until meters are reset (by clicking the numerical peak dis
-
play below the meter).
If Hold Forever is off, you can use the parameter “Meters’ Peak Hold 
Time” in the Preferences dialog (VST–Metering page) to specify for how 
long the peak levels will be held. The peak hold time can be between 
500 and 30000
 ms.
•If Meter Input is activated, meters show input levels for 
all audio channels and input/output channels. 
Note that the input meters are post input gain.
•If “Meter Post-Fader” is activated, meters show post-
fader levels.
This is the default setting for channels in the Mixer.
•There is also a “Meter Post-Panner” mode.
This is similar to “Meter Post-Fader”, but the meters will reflect pan set-
tings as well.
•If Fast Release is activated, the meters respond very 
quickly to level peaks. If Fast Release is deactivated, the 
meters respond more like standard meters.
You can set the time it takes for the meters to “fall back” in the Prefer-ences dialog (VST–Metering page).
Hold Peaks is activated. The 
highest registered level is 
displayed in the meter. 
						

							163
The Mixer
Saving and loading Mixer settings
It is possible to save complete Mixer settings for all or all 
selected audio-related channels in the Mixer. These can 
later be loaded into any project. Channel settings are 
saved as Mixer settings files. These have the file extension 
“.vmx”. 
Saving selected channels or all Mixer settings
Right-clicking somewhere in the Mixer panel or in the 
Channel Settings window brings up the context menu 
where the following Save options can be found:
•“Save Selected Channels” will save all channel settings 
for the selected channels.
The input/output routing is not saved.
•“Save All Mixer Settings” saves all channel settings for 
all channels.
When you select any of the above options, a standard file 
dialog opens where you can select a name and storage lo
-
cation on your disk for the file.
Loading selected channels
To load Mixer settings saved for selected channels, pro-
ceed as follows:
1.Select the same number of channels as when you 
saved your Mixer settings.
•The Mixer settings are applied in the same order as they 
were saved.
For example, if you save the settings for channels 4, 6 and 8, and apply 
these settings to channels 1, 2 and 3, the settings saved for channel 4 
are applied to channel 1, the settings saved for channel 6 to channel 2, 
and so on.
2.Open the Mixer context menu and select “Load Se-
lected Channels”.
A standard file dialog opens, allowing you to locate the saved file.
3.Select the file and click Open.
The channel settings are applied to the selected channels.
Loading all Mixer settings
Selecting “Load All Mixer Settings” from the context menu 
allows you to open a saved Mixer settings file, and have 
the stored settings applied to all channels for which infor
-
mation is included in the file. All channels, output settings, 
VST instruments, sends and “master” effects will be af
-
fected.
!When applying Mixer settings to fewer channels than 
Mixer settings available in the saved file, some of the 
saved settings are not needed and will be “left over”. 
Since the saved settings are applied from “left to 
right” (as shown in the Mixer), the settings for the 
channels furthest to the right are the ones that are 
not applied to any channels.
!This function does not automatically add channels! 
For example, if the saved Mixer settings are for 24 
channels, and the Mixer you apply it to contains 16 
channels, only the settings for channels 1 to 16 are 
applied. 
						

							164
The Mixer
Routing
When you play back an audio track (or any other audio-re-
lated channel), you route it to an output bus. In the same 
way, when you record on an audio track you select from 
which input bus the audio is received.
The input and output routing for a channel can be set up 
via the Inspector or the Mixer. For large projects, it is con
-
venient to use the Mixer for this, since it allows you to set 
inputs and outputs for multiple channels at the same time. 
•In the Inspector, you can select input and output busses 
using the Input and Output Routing pop-up menus.
•In the Mixer, you can select busses in the routing panel 
at the top of each channel strip.
For more information about the routing panel, see “Normal vs. extended 
channel strips” on page 148.
•If you press [Shift]-[Alt]/[Option] and select an input or 
output bus in the track list or the routing panel in the Mixer, 
it will be chosen for all selected channels.
This makes it easy to quickly set several channels to use the same input 
or output. Similarly, if you press [Shift] and select a bus, the following se
-
lected channels will be set to use incrementing busses – the second se-lected channel will use the second bus, the third will use the third bus 
and so on.
ÖFor audio-related channel types other than audio track 
channels (e.
 g. VST instrument channels, group channels, 
and FX channels), only the Output Routing pop-up menu 
is available. 
When selecting an input bus for a track you can only se-
lect busses that correspond to the track’s channel config-
uration. Here are the details for input busses:
• Mono tracks can be routed to mono input busses or individual 
channels within a stereo or surround input bus (Cubase only). 
• Mono tracks can be routed to External Inputs configured on 
the Studio tab of the VST Connections window. These can be 
mono or individual channels within a stereo or surround bus 
(Cubase only). They can also be routed to the Talkback input.
• Mono tracks can also be routed to mono output busses, mono 
group output busses or mono FX channel output busses, pro
-
vided that these will not lead to feedback.
• Stereo tracks can be routed to mono input busses, stereo in-
put busses or stereo child busses within a surround bus (Cu-
base only). 
• Stereo tracks can be routed to External Inputs that are config-
ured in the Studio tab of the VST Connections window. These 
can be mono input busses or stereo input busses. They can 
also be routed to the Talkback input.
• Stereo tracks can also be routed to mono or stereo output 
busses, mono or stereo group output busses and mono or 
stereo FX channel output busses, provided that these will not 
lead to feedback.
• Surround tracks can be routed to surround input busses (Cu-
base only).
• Surround tracks can be routed to External Inputs that are con-
figured in the Studio tab of the VST Connections window, 
provided that these have the same input configuration (Cu
-
base only). 
• Surround tracks can also be routed to output busses, pro-
vided that these have the same input configuration or will not 
lead to feedback (Cubase only).
For output busses any assignment is possible.
To disconnect input or output bus assignments, select 
“No Bus” from the corresponding pop-up menu.
!Assignments that will lead to feedback are not avail-
able in the pop-up menu. This is also indicated by a 
one-way symbol. 
						

							165
The Mixer
Routing audio to output busses in the Mixer
Output busses let you route audio from the program to the 
outputs on your audio hardware. To route the output of an 
audio channel to one of the active busses, proceed as fol
-
lows:
1.Make sure that the routing panel is visible (see “Nor-
mal vs. extended channel strips” on page 148).
2.Pull down the Output Routing pop-up menu at the top 
of the channel strip and select one of the busses.
This pop-up menu contains the output busses configured in the VST 
Connections window, as well as available group channels (provided that 
the busses and groups are compatible with the speaker configuration for 
the channel – see 
“Routing” on page 164).
For details on routing surround channels (Cubase only), 
see 
“Routing” on page 219.
Using group channels
You can route the outputs from multiple audio channels to 
a group. This enables you to control the channel levels us
-
ing one fader, apply the same effects and equalization to 
all the channels, etc.
For example, group channels can be used as “effect 
racks” (see the chapter 
“Audio effects” on page 187).
To set up a group channel, proceed as follows:
1.Pull down the Project menu, open the Add Track sub-
menu and select the “Group Channel…” option.
2.Select the desired channel configuration and click the 
Add Track button.
A group channel track is added to the track list and a corresponding 
group channel strip is added to the Mixer. By default, the first group 
channel strip is labeled “Group 1”, but you can rename it just like any 
channel in the Mixer.
3.Pull down the Output Routing pop-up menu for a 
channel you want to route to the group channel, and se
-
lect the group channel.
The output of the audio channel is now redirected to the selected group.
4.Do the same for the other channels you wish to route 
to the group.
Settings for group channels
The group channel strips are almost identical to audio 
channel strips in the Mixer. The descriptions of the Mixer 
features earlier in this chapter apply to group channels as 
well. Some things to note:
•You can route the output of a group to an audio channel 
(see 
“Recording from busses (Cubase only)” on page 94), 
to an output bus or to another group. 
You cannot route a group to itself.
•There are no Input Routing pop-up menus, Monitor but-
tons or Record Enable buttons for group channels.
•Solo functionality is automatically linked for channels 
routed to a group and the group channel itself.
This means that if you solo a group channel, all channels routed to the 
group are automatically soloed as well. Similarly, soloing a channel 
routed to a group will automatically solo the group channel.
•Mute functionality depends on the “Group Channels: 
Mute Sources as well” setting in the Preferences dialog 
(VST page).
By default, when you mute a group channel, no audio will 
pass through the group. However, other channels that are 
routed directly to that group channel will remain unmuted. 
If any of those channels have aux sends routed to other 
group channels, FX channels or output busses, those will 
still be heard.
If the “Group Channels: Mute Sources as well” option is 
activated in the Preferences dialog (VST page), muting a 
group channel will cause all other channels directly routed 
to it to be muted as well. Clicking the Mute button again 
will unmute the group channel and all other channels di
-
rectly routed to it. Channels that were muted prior to the 
group channel being muted will not remember their mute 
state and become unmuted with the group channel.
!You can select a group channel as input for an audio 
track, e.
 g. to record a downmix of separate tracks 
(see 
“Recording from busses (Cubase only)” on 
page 94).
!The “Group Channels: Mute Sources as well” option 
does not affect how mute automation is written. Writ
-
ing mute automation for a group channel only affects 
the group channel and not the channels routed to it. 
When writing automation, you will see the other 
channels being muted as well upon muting a group 
channel. However, during playback, only the group 
channel will respond to the automation. 
						

							166
The Mixer
MIDI-specific procedures
This section describes basic procedures for MIDI chan-
nels in the Mixer.
MIDI channel strips
The MIDI channel strips allow you to control volume and 
pan in your MIDI instrument (provided that the instrument 
is set up to receive the corresponding MIDI messages). 
The settings here are also available in the Inspector for 
MIDI tracks.
Options for extended MIDI channel strips
When using the extended view (see “Normal vs. extended 
channel strips” on page 148), the upper panel can be set 
to show different views for each MIDI channel strip. You 
can select what to display in the extended panel individu
-
ally for each channel or globally for all channels (see 
“Configuring the extended channel strips” on page 149). 
The following views are available:
•A blank panel (“Empty”).
•The Inserts section, with 4 insert effect slots for the 
channel.
MIDI inserts can also be found in the Inspector and the Channel Settings 
window for MIDI channels. How to use MIDI insert effects is described in 
the chapter 
“MIDI realtime parameters and effects” on page 348.
•The Sends section, with 4 send effect slots for the 
channel.
The sends can also be found in the Inspector and the Channel Settings 
window for MIDI channels. How to use MIDI send effects is described in 
the chapter 
“MIDI realtime parameters and effects” on page 348.
•The Meter section.
Select the Meter option to view large level (velocity) meters in the ex-
tended panel.
•The Overview section. 
Select the Overview option if you want to know which insert effects and 
effect sends are activated for the channel.
You can click the indicators to turn the corresponding slot/send on or off.
•Cubase only: The User Panel section.
Select the User Panel option if you want to import MIDI device panels. 
This is described in the separate PDF document “MIDI Devices”.
ÖIf you select the EQ, the Studio Sends, or the Sur-
roundPanners (Cubase only) option on the common 
panel, the view for MIDI channels does not change. These 
apply to audio-related channels only. 
Panning MIDI channels
For MIDI channels, the pan control sends out MIDI pan 
messages. The result depends on how your MIDI instru
-
ment is set to respond to pan – check your documentation 
for details.
Using Channel Settings
For each MIDI channel strip in the Mixer (and MIDI track in 
the track list or the Inspector), there is an Edit (“e”) button. 
Clicking this opens the MIDI Channel Settings window. 
By default, this window contains a duplicate of the Mixer 
channel strip, a section with four MIDI inserts and a sec
-
tion with four MIDI send effects.
You can customize the Channel Settings window by 
showing/hiding the different panels and/or by changing 
their order:
•To specify which panels are shown or hidden, right-
click in the Channel Settings window and activate/deacti
-
vate the corresponding options on the Customize View 
submenu of the context menu.
•To change the order of the panels, select Setup on the 
Customize View pop-up menu and use the “Move up” and 
“Move Down” buttons in the dialog that opens.
Level fader  
(MIDI volume)
Level (velocity) meter Automation controlsPan control
Monitor and Record 
Enable buttonsMIDI input and out-
put
Edit button Mute and Solo
Insert/Send indicators 
and bypass buttons Input Transformer buttonMIDI channel Opens the control panel 
for a connected VST 
instrument 
						

							167
The Mixer
Every MIDI channel has its own Channel Settings window.Utilities
Link/Unlink channels
This function is used to “link” selected channels in the 
Mixer so that any change applied to one channel will be 
mirrored by all channels in that group. Only channels of 
the same type (audio-related or MIDI) can be linked with 
each other. You can link as many channels as you like, and 
you can also create as many groups of linked channels as 
you like. To link channels in the Mixer, proceed as follows:
1.Press [Ctrl]/[Command] and click on all the channels 
you want to link.
[Shift]-clicking allows you to select a continuous range of channels.
2.On the Mixer context menu, select the Link Channels 
option.
•To unlink channels, select one of the linked channels 
and select “Unlink Channels” from the Mixer context 
menu.
The channels are unlinked. Note that you do not have to select all the 
channels that are linked, only one of them.
ÖIt is not possible to remove individual channels from 
the link. 
						

							168
The Mixer
What will be linked?
The following rules apply to linked channels:
•Only level, mute, solo, select, monitor and record enable 
will be linked between channels.
Effect/EQ/pan/input and output routing settings are not linked.
•Any individual channel settings you have made before 
linking will remain until you alter the same setting for any of 
the linked channels.
For example, if you link three channels and one of them was muted at the 
time you applied the Link Channel function, this channel will remain 
muted after linking. However, if you mute another channel, all linked 
channels will be muted.
•Fader levels will be “ganged”.
The relative level offset between channels will be kept if you move a 
linked channel fader.
The three channels shown are linked. Moving one fader changes the 
levels for all three channels, but keeps the relative level mix.
•By pressing [Alt]/[Option], you can make individual set-
tings and changes for channels that are linked.
ÖLinked channels have individual automation tracks. 
These are completely independent, and are not affected 
by the Link function. 
						

							169
The Mixer
VST Mixer Diagrams
Channel Objects
!Note that the AFL/PFL Listen Bus architecture is 
available only in Cubase. 
						

							170
The Mixer
Control Room Objects (Cubase only)