Steinberg Cubase Le 8 Manual

Audio Effects
Overview
241
VST 3 Standard
The VST 3 plug-in standard offers many improvements over the previous VST 2 
standard and yet retains full backwards compatibility.
Smart Plug-In Processing
The VST 3 standard features smart plug-in processing, i. e., processing by a plug-in 
can be disengaged if there is no signal present. This can greatly reduce the CPU 
load, thus allowing for more effects to be used.
This is achieved by activating the “Suspend VST3 plug-in processing when no 
audio signals...

Audio Effects
Insert Effects
242
Tempo Sync
Plug-ins can receive timing and tempo information from the host application (in this 
case, Cubase). Typically, this is used to synchronize certain plug-in parameters 
(such as modulation rates or delay times) to the project tempo.
• This information is automatically provided to any VST plug-in (2.0 or later) that 
requests it.
You do not have to make any special settings for this.
• You set up tempo sync by specifying a base note value.
You can use straight,...

Audio Effects
Insert Effects
243
In Cubase Elements, slots 7 and 8 are post-EQ and post-fader. Post-fader slots are 
best suited for insert effects where you do not want the level to be changed after 
the effect, such as dithering and maximizers – both typically used as insert effects 
for output busses.
NOTE
Applying several effects on several channels may be too much for your CPU to 
handle! If you want to use the same effect with the same settings on several 
channels, it may be more efficient to set...

Audio Effects
Insert Effects
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• In Cubase Elements, you can add up to 8 insert effects per channel this way. 
In Cubase AI and Cubase LE, 4 insert effects can be added.
• You can reorder the effects by clicking and dragging.
• You can copy an effect into another effect slot (for the same channel or 
between channels) by holding down [Alt]/[Option] and dragging it onto 
another effect slot.
• You can open all plug-ins inserted for a particular track at once by holding...

Audio Effects
Insert Effects
245
Adding Insert Effects to Busses
You can add insert effects to busses. The easiest way to add insert effects is the 
Channel settings window.
If you add insert effects to an output bus, all audio routed to that bus is affected.
Dithering (Cubase Elements only)
Dithering is a method for controlling the noise produced by quantization errors in 
digital recordings. The theory behind this is that during low level passages, only a 
few bits are used to represent the signal,...

Audio Effects
Insert Effects
246
4. Make sure that the plug-in is set to dither to the correct resolution.
This would be the resolution of your audio hardware (on playback) or the desired 
resolution for the mixdown file you want to create (as set in the Export Audio Mixdown 
dialog).
5. Use the other parameters in the control panel to set up the dithering to your 
liking.
RELATED LINKS
Export Audio Mixdown on page 551
Adding Insert Effects to Group Channels
You can add insert effects to group channels....

Audio Effects
Send Effects
247
• The program now renders the output of the track, including all pre-fader insert 
effects, to an audio file.
This file is placed in the “Freeze” folder within the Project folder.
• The frozen audio track is locked for editing in the Project window.
The frozen insert effects cannot be edited or removed and you cannot add 
new insert effects for the track (except post-fader effects).
• On playback, the rendered audio file is played back. You can still adjust the 
level and...

Audio Effects
Send Effects
248
• The FX channel track has its own channel in the MixConsole.
Here you can adjust the effect return level and balance, add EQ and route the 
effect return to any output bus.
• Each FX channel track can have any number of automation tracks, for 
automating various effect parameters.
RELATED LINKS
Automation on page 359
Adding an FX Channel Track
PROCEDURE
1. Select Project > Add Track > FX Channel.
A dialog opens.
2. Select a channel configuration for the FX channel track....

Audio Effects
Send Effects
249
Adding and Setting Up Effects
You can add a single insert effect when you create the FX channel track. To add 
and set up effects after the FX channel track is created, you can either use the 
Channel Settings window or the Inspector for the track.
PROCEDURE
1. In the track list, the MixConsole, or the Inspector, click the Edit button for the 
FX channel track to open the Channel Settings window.
On the left in the window you can find the Inserts section.
2. On the toolbar,...

Audio Effects
Send Effects
250
Routing an Audio Channel to the FX Channel
The next step is to set up a send for an audio channel and route it to the FX channel.
This can be done in the Channel Settings window or in the Inspector for the audio 
track. The example below shows the Channel Settings window, but the procedure 
is similar for all the sections:
PROCEDURE
1. Click the “e” button for an audio channel to bring up its Channel Settings 
window.
Each of the sends has the following controls:
• An...