Steinberg Cubase LE Effects Parameters Manual

							 
Effects Parameters CUBASE LE
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You can also change parameters in the graphic display window. This 
works as follows: 
• You can set the Rate parameter by clicking the waveform and dragging left 
and right.
• You can set the Depth parameter by clicking the waveform and dragging up 
and down.
This means you can freely adjust Rate and Depth at the same time by clicking and 
dragging.
• By click-dragging the green/blue line in the display left or right you can 
change the Stereo Basis parameter.
Stereo Basis When the Auto-panner is activated, this sets the stereo width of the 
panning. 
When the Auto-panner is deactivated (Tempo sync off), this deter-
mines the depth of the stereo enhancer effect. 0% is mono, 50% orig-
inal stereo, and 100% maximum stereo enhancement. Parameter Description 
						

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Tranceformer
Tranceformer is a ring modulator effect, in which the incoming audio is 
ring modulated by an internal, variable frequency oscillator, producing 
new harmonics. A second oscillator can be used to modulate the fre-
quency of the first oscillator, synchronized to the Song tempo if you 
wish.
The parameters are as follows:
• Note that clicking and dragging in the display allows you to adjust the 
Tone and Depth parameters at the same time!
Parameter Description
Mix Sets the level balance between the dry signal and the effect. 
Tone Sets the frequency (pitch) of the modulating oscillator (1 to 5000 Hz).
Tempo sync 
on/offThe button above the Speed knob is used to switch tempo sync on or 
off. The button is blue when tempo sync is on, and white when it is off.
Speed If tempo sync is on, this is where you specify the base note value for 
tempo-syncing the effect (1/1 - 1/32, straight, triplet or dotted). Note 
that there is no note value modifier for this effect. If tempo sync is off, 
the modulation speed can be set freely with the Speed knob, without 
sync to tempo.
On button Turns modulation of the Pitch parameter on or off.
Mono button Governs whether the effect output will be stereo or mono.
Depth Governs the depth of the pitch modulation.
Waveform 
buttonsSets the pitch modulation waveform.  
						

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Bitcrusher
If you’re into lo-fi sound, Bitcrusher is the effect for you. It offers the 
possibility of decimating and truncating the input audio signal by bit 
reduction, to get a noisy, distorted sound. You can for example make 
a 24 bit audio signal sound like an 8 or 4 bit signal, or even render it 
completely garbled and unrecognizable. Bitcrusher can be used as an 
insert effect or a send effect. You can of course also use it as a master 
effect, should you so wish.
Parameter Description
Mode Select one of four operating modes for the Bitcrusher. Each mode will 
produce a different sounding result. Modes I and III are nastier and nois-
ier, while modes II and IV are more subtle.
Depth Use this to set the desired bit resolution. A setting of 24 gives the high-
est audio quality, while a setting of 1 will create mostly noise.
Sample 
DividerThis sets the amount by which the audio samples are decimated. At the 
highest setting (65), nearly all of the information describing the original 
audio signal will be eliminated, turning the signal into unrecognizable 
noise.
Mix This slider regulates the balance between the output from the Bitcrusher 
and the original audio signal. Drag the slider upwards for a more domi-
nant effect, and drag it downwards if you want the original signal to be 
more prominent.
Gain Governs the output level from the Bitcrusher. Drag the slider upwards to 
increase the level. 
						

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Chopper
Chopper is a combined tremolo and autopan effect. It can use different 
waveforms to modulate the level (tremolo) or left-right stereo position 
(pan), either using tempo sync or manual modulation speed settings. 
Parameters are as follows: 
Parameter Description
Mix Sets the level balance between the dry signal and the effect. If Chopper 
is used as a send effect, this should be set to maximum. 
Tempo sync 
on/offThe button above the Speed knob is used to switch tempo sync on 
(blue button) or off (white button). 
Speed If tempo sync is on, this is where you specify the base note value for 
tempo-syncing the effect (1/1 - 1/32, straight, triplet or dotted). Note 
that there is no note value modifier for this effect.
If tempo sync is off, the tremolo/auto-pan speed can be set freely with 
the Speed knob, without sync to tempo.
Stereo/Mono 
buttonDetermines whether the Chopper will work as an auto-panner (button 
set to “Stereo”) or a tremolo effect (button set to “Mono”). 
Waveform 
buttonsSets the modulation waveform. 
Depth Sets the depth of the Chopper effect. This parameter can also be set by 
clicking in the graphic display. 
						

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Grungelizer
The Grungelizer adds noise and static to your recordings – kind of like 
listening to a radio with bad reception, or a worn and scratched vinyl 
record.
Parameter Description
Crackle This adds crackle to create that old vinyl record sound. The farther to 
the right you turn the dial, the more crackle is added.
RPM switch When emulating the sound of a vinyl record, this switch lets you set the 
RPM (revolutions per minute) speed of the record (33/45/78 RPM).
Noise This dial regulates the amount of static noise added.
Distort Use this dial to add distortion.
EQ Turn this dial to the right to cut off the low frequencies, and create a 
more hollow, lo-fi sound.
AC This emulates a constant, low hum of AC current.
Frequency 
switchThis sets the frequency of the AC current (50 or 60Hz), and thus the 
pitch of the AC hum.
Timeline This dial regulates the amount of overall effect. The farther to the right 
(1900) you turn this dial, the more noticeable the effect. 
						

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Vocoder
The Vocoder can apply sound/voice characteristics taken from one 
signal source, called the “modulator” and apply this to another source, 
called the “carrier”. A typical application of a vocoder is to use a voice 
as a modulator and an instrument as a carrier, making the instrument 
“talk”. A vocoder works by dividing the source signal (modulator) into 
a number of frequency bands. The audio attributes of these frequency 
bands can then be used to modulate the carrier.
The Vocoder has a built-in carrier (basically a simple polyphonic syn-
thesizer) but you can also use an external carrier, see page 38. 
						

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Setting up – using MIDI
In this mode, the Vocoder is set up slightly differently than other plug-
in effects. This is because this setup requires both an audio signal (as 
the modulator source) and a MIDI input (to play the carrier) to func-
tion. To set up for using an external carrier, see page 38.
To set up for use, proceed as follows:
1.Select a source for the modulator.
The modulator source can be audio material from any audio track, or even a live audio 
input routed to an audio track (provided you have a low latency audio card). 
•Good modulator source material are talking or singing voices or per-
cussive sounds, e. g. drum loops. 
Static pads or soft ambient material are generally less appropriate for use as modula-
tors, but there are no absolute rules as to what could be used as a modulator source.
2.Select the Vocoder as an insert effect for the audio channel with the 
modulator signal.
3.Make sure that the Vocoder Mode switch is set to “MIDI”.
4.Select a MIDI track.
This can be an empty MIDI track, or a MIDI track containing data, it doesn’t matter. 
However, if you wish to play the Vocoder in real-time – as opposed to having a re-
corded part playing it – the track has to have monitoring activated (or be record en-
abled) for the Vocoder to receive the MIDI output.
5.Select “Vocoder” from the MIDI “out:“ pop-up menu for the MIDI track.
The MIDI Output from the track is now routed to the Vocoder. There is an indicator on 
the Vocoder panel below the Mode switches that blinks when receiving MIDI.
That concludes setting up – you are now ready to start vocoding! 
What you do next depends on whether you are using live or recorded 
audio as the modulator source and whether you are using real-time or 
recorded MIDI as the carrier input. We will assume for the purposes 
of this manual that you are using recorded audio as the modulator, 
and play the carrier in real-time.
6.Make sure the MIDI track is record enabled and start playback.
7.Now play a few notes on your MIDI keyboard.
As you can hear, the audio track material, or rather its formant characteristics, is now 
applied to the Vocoder’s built-in sound source! 
						

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Setting up – using an external carrier
There are two modes for using an external carrier: 
• “Ext” mode is when the carrier and the modulator can be any two audio sources.
The synth section is disabled and grayed out when this mode is selected. MIDI input 
and the Gap Thru Vocoder parameter are also disabled.
• “Ext+MIDI” mode mixes the audio carrier with the Vocoder’s synth sound.
This is described on page 39.
To use an external carrier instead of the built-in synth (“Ext mode”), 
you set up as follows:
1.Create a Group channel from the Add Track submenu on the Project 
menu.
2.Open an audio file you wish to use as the carrier source and place it 
on an empty audio track.
3.Pan the audio channel full right in the Mixer or in the Inspector.
4.Route the output of the audio channel to the group.
5.Open an audio file you wish to use as the modulator source and place 
it on another empty audio track.
Events on the two audio tracks (carrier and modulator) have to play back simulta-
neously for the Vocoder to work.
6.Pan the modulator audio channel full left in the Mixer or in the Inspector.
7.Route the output of the modulator audio channel to the group.
8.Select the Vocoder as an insert effect for the group channel.
9.Open the Vocoder panel and activate the “Ext.” Mode button.
10.If you now start playback, the carrier channel will be modulated by the 
modulator channel!
Note that the synth section on the left half of the Vocoder panel and the “Gap Thru” 
parameter are now disabled. 
						

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Setting up – using an external carrier plus MIDI
Setting up is the same as for using an external carrier, except that a MIDI 
track with its output routed to the Vocoder should also be present. The 
MIDI track can either play the Vocoder synth in real time or from prere-
corded parts. Make sure that monitoring (or record enable) is activated 
for the track so that the Vocoder synth will receive MIDI played in real 
time.
•Set up as described, and activate “MIDI+Ext.” mode on the Vocoder 
panel.
Any incoming MIDI now triggers the Vocoder synth, and the synths output is mixed 
with the audio carrier signal.
Vocoder parameters
The Vocoder parameters govern the general sound quality of the 
vocoded sound.
Parameter Description
Number of 
BandsThis governs how many frequency bands the modulator signal is di-
vided into (2-24). Fewer bands will provide a thinner more resonant 
sound, whereas using more bands will make the sound fuller and 
more intelligible.
Bandwidth This sets the bandwidth for the frequency bands, which affects the 
overall timbre. Very narrow bandwidth settings will produce a thin, 
whistle-like sound. 
Min./Max. Freq. These parameters set the minimum and maximum frequency limits for 
the Vocoder, respectively.
log/lin Log/Lin controls how the frequency bands are spaced between the 
minimum and maximum frequencies. Log = equal spacing in octaves, 
Lin = equal spacing in Hz. This affects the basic timbre of the Vo-
coder.
Env.Speed This determines the attack and release times of the Vocoder enve-
lope. Fast settings will cause the modulator signal to trigger the Vo-
coder instantly, longer settings will gradually increase the attack/
release times, providing a more subtle Vocoder effect. If set to 
“HOLD” the modulator is “frozen”, and doesn’t affect the carrier synth 
at all.
High Thru This lets through high frequencies around the “S” frequency from the 
original input signal while notes are played. 
						

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Talk Thru Adjusts the level of the original input signal passed to the Vocoder 
output while notes are played.
Gap Thru Gap Thru (only available in MIDI mode) sets the level of the original in-
put signal that is passed to the Vocoder output when no MIDI notes 
are being played. This lets you apply the Vocoder to a vocal track 
adding vocoded parts just where you want them.
Output This controls the output level of the Vocoder.
Emphasis This is a highpass filter, gradually cutting lower frequencies while let-
ting high frequencies pass. Parameter Description