Steinberg Cubase LE Effects Parameters Manual

							 
Effects Parameters CUBASE LE
11 
Trigger Frequency Range 
 
Autogate has a feature that allows the gate to be triggered only by sig-
nals 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 con-
trol 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 
window to set the frequency range you wish 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.
 
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.
The frequency range between the two handles will 
be used to trigger the gate. 
						

							 
CUBASE LE Effects Parameters
 12 
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 es-
pecially useful for material with consistent inherent background noise, 
like tape hiss. This may most of the time be masked by the audio con-
tent, 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.
 
Compress section
 
Compress reduces the dynamic range of the audio, making softer 
sounds louder or louder sounds softer, or both. Compress functions 
like a standard compressor with separate controls for threshold, ratio, 
attack, release and make-up gain parameters. Compress features a 
separate display that graphically illustrates the compressor curve 
shaped according to the Threshold, Ratio and MakeUp Gain parame-
ter settings. Compress 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.  
						

							 
Effects Parameters CUBASE LE
13 
The available parameters have the following functionality: 
Parameter Values Description 
Threshold -60 - 0dB This setting determines the level where Compress 
“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 ap-
plied 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 Compress 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”Sets the amount of time it takes for the gain to re-
turn to its original level when the signal drops below 
the Threshold level. If the “Auto” button is activated, 
Compress will automatically find an optimal release 
setting that varies depending on the audio program 
material.
MakeUp Gain 0 - 24dB This parameter is used to compensate for output 
gain loss, caused by compression.
Compressor 
ModeRMS/Peak RMS mode operates using the average power of 
the audio signal as a basis, whereas Peak mode op-
erates more on peak levels. As a general guideline, 
RMS mode works better on material with few tran-
sients such as vocals, and Peak mode better for 
percussive material, with a lot of transient peaks. 
						

							 
CUBASE LE Effects Parameters
 14 
Limiter section
 
Limiter is designed to ensure that the output level never exceeds a cer-
tain 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 be-
yond the set threshold level. Limiter adjusts and optimizes these param-
eters automatically, according to the audio material. You can also adjust 
the Release parameter manually. The available parameters are the fol-
lowing: 
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 differ-
ent results, and the available options allow you to quickly compare what 
works best for a given situation. Beside each processor label is a num-
ber. These numbers are used to represent the signal flow options 
shown in the Routing section. There are three routing options: 
• 1-2-3 (Compress-Gate-Limit)
• 2-1-3 (Gate-Compress-Limit)
• 1-3-2 (Compress-Limit-Gate)
 
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 sig-
nal 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 program material. 
						

							 
Effects Parameters CUBASE LE
15 
MIDI Gate
 
Gating, in its fundamental form, silences audio signals below a certain 
set threshold level. I.e. when a signal rises above the set level, the 
Gate opens to let the signal through while signals below the set level 
are cut off. MIDI Gate however, is a Gate effect that is not triggered by 
threshold levels, but instead by MIDI notes. Hence it needs both audio 
and MIDI data to function. 
Setting up
 
MIDI Gate requires both an audio signal and a MIDI input to function.
To set it up, proceed as follows: 
1. 
Select the audio to be affected by the MIDI Gate. 
This can be audio material from any audio track, or even a live audio input (provided 
you have a low latency audio card).
 
2. 
Select the MIDI Gate as an insert effect for the audio track. 
The MIDI Gate control panel opens.
 
3. 
Select a MIDI track to control the MIDI Gate. 
This can be an empty MIDI track, or a MIDI track containing data, it doesn’t matter. How-
ever, if you wish to play the MIDI Gate in real-time – as opposed to having a recorded 
part playing it – the track has to be selected for the effect to receive the MIDI output.
 
4. 
Open the Output (“out:”) pop-up menu for the MIDI track and select 
the MIDI Gate option. 
The MIDI Output from the track is now routed to the MIDI Gate. 
						

							 
CUBASE LE Effects Parameters
 16 
What to do next depends on whether you are using live or recorded 
audio and whether you are using real-time or recorded MIDI. We will 
assume for the purposes of this manual that you are using recorded 
audio, and play the MIDI in real-time.
Make sure the MIDI track is selected and start playback. 
5. 
Now play a few notes on your MIDI keyboard. 
As you can hear, the audio track material is affected by what you play on your MIDI key-
board.
 
The following MIDI Gate parameters are available: 
Parameter Description 
Attack This is used for determining how long it should take for the Gate to open 
after receiving a signal that triggers it.
Hold Regulates how long the Gate remains open after a Note On or Note Off 
message (see Hold Mode below).
Release This determines how long it takes for the Gate to close (in addition to the 
value set with the Hold parameter).
Note To 
AttackThe value you specify here determines to which extent the velocity values 
of the MIDI notes should affect the Attack. The higher the value, the more 
the Attack time will increase with high note velocities. Negative values 
will give shorter Attack times with high velocities. If you do not wish to 
use this parameter, set it to the 0 position.
Note To 
ReleaseThe value you specify here determines to which extent the velocity values 
of the MIDI notes should affect the Release. The higher the value, the 
more the Release time will increase. If you do not wish to use this param-
eter, set it to the 0 position.
Velocity To 
VCAThis controls to which extent the velocity values of the MIDI notes deter-
mine the output volume. A value of 127 means that the volume is con-
trolled entirely by the velocity values, while a value of 0 means that 
velocities will have no effect on the volume.
Hold Mode Use this switch to set the Hold Mode. In Note-On mode, the Gate will 
only remain open for the time set with the Hold and Release parameters, 
regardless of the length of the MIDI note that triggered the Gate. In Note-
Off mode on the other hand, the Gate will remain open for as long as the 
MIDI note plays, and then apply the Hold and Release parameters. 
						

							 
Effects Parameters CUBASE LE
17 
StepFilter
 
StepFilter is a pattern-controlled multimode filter that can create rhyth-
mic, pulsating filter effects.  
General operation
 
StepFilter can produce two simultaneous 16-step patterns for the fil-
ter cutoff and resonance parameters, synchronized to the sequencer 
tempo. 
Setting step values
 
• 
Setting step values is done by clicking in the pattern grid windows. 
• 
Individual step entries can be freely dragged up or down the vertical 
axis, or directly set by clicking in an empty grid box. By click-dragging 
left or right consecutive step entries will be set to the pointer position. 
Setting filter cutoff values in the grid window. 
						

							 
CUBASE LE Effects Parameters
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• 
The horizontal axis shows the pattern steps 1-16 from left to right, and 
the vertical axis determines the (relative) filter cutoff frequency and 
resonance setting. 
The higher up on the vertical axis a step value is entered, the higher the relative filter 
cutoff frequency or filter resonance setting.
 
• 
By starting playback and editing the patterns for the cutoff and reso-
nance parameters, you can hear how your filter patterns affect the 
sound source connected to StepFilter directly. 
Selecting new patterns 
 
• 
Created patterns are saved with the song, and up to 8 different cutoff 
and resonance patterns can be saved internally.  
Both the cutoff and resonance patterns are saved together in the 8 Pattern memories. 
 
• 
To select new patterns you use the pattern selector. 
New patterns are all set to the same step value by default.
Pattern Selector
 
Using pattern copy and paste to create variations
 
You can use the Copy and Paste buttons below the pattern selector 
to copy a pattern to another Pattern memory location, which is useful 
for creating variations on a pattern.  
• 
Click the Copy button with the pattern you wish to copy selected, se-
lect another pattern memory location, and click Paste. 
The pattern is copied to the new location, and can now be edited to create variations 
using the original pattern as a starting point. 
						

							 
Effects Parameters CUBASE LE
19 
StepFilter parameters
 
Parameter/Value Description 
Base Cutoff This sets the base filter cutoff frequency. Cutoff values set in the 
Cutoff grid window are values  
relative 
 to the Base Cutoff value.
Base Resonance This sets the base filter resonance. Resonance values set in the 
Resonance grid window are values  
relative 
 to the Base Reso-
nance value. Note that very high Base Resonance settings can 
produce loud ringing effects at certain frequencies.
Glide This will apply glide between the pattern step values, causing val-
ues to change more smoothly.
Filter Mode  This slider selects between lowpass (LP), bandpass (BP) or 
highpass (HP) filter modes (from left to right respectively).
Sync 1/1-1/32 
(Straight, Triplet or 
Dotted)This sets the pattern beat resolution, i.e. what note values the 
pattern will play in relation to the tempo. 
Mix Adjusts the mix between dry and processed signal.
Gain Sets the overall volume. 
						

							 
CUBASE LE Effects Parameters
 20 
Chorus
 
The Chorus plug-in adds short delays to the signal, and pitch modu-
lates the delayed signals to produce a “doubling” effect. The parame-
ters are as follows: 
• Note that clicking and dragging in the display allows you to adjust the 
Frequency and Delay parameters at the same time!
 
Parameter Description 
Mix Sets the level balance between the dry signal and the effect. If Chorus 
is used as a send effect, this should be set to maximum as you can 
control the dry/effect balance with the send. 
Shapes This sets the modulation waveform. Triangle produces smooth modu-
lation, saw produces ramp shaped modulation and pulse waveform 
produces stepped modulation.
Frequency This sets the modulation rate.
Delay This controls the depth of the Chorus effect.
Stages This adds one or two more delay taps, producing a thicker, multi-lay-
ered chorus effect.