Steinberg Cubase SE 3 Audio Effects And VSTi Manual

 
CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 11 
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 pre-
sets available. Note that these presets are not stored parameter set-
tings, but different basic distortion algorithms. The basic characters of 
the distortion preset “models” are indicated by their names. The pa-
rameters are as follows: 
Parameter Values Description  
Input -24dB to 0dB Sets the...

 
CUBASE SE
1 – 12 The included effect plug-ins 
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...

 
CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 13 
Dynamics plug-ins
 
This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Dynamics” 
category. 
Dynamics
 
Dynamics is an advanced dynamics processor. It combines three sep-
arate processors: AutoGate, Compressor and Limiter, covering a vari-
ety 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...

 
CUBASE SE
1 – 14 The included effect plug-ins 
The AutoGate section
 
Gating, or noise gating, is a method of dynamic processing that si-
lences 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-calibra-
tion of the threshold setting, a look-ahead predict function, and fre-
quency selective...

 
CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 15 
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 fea-
ture because it lets you filter out parts of the signal that might other-
wise 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...

 
CUBASE SE
1 – 16 The included effect plug-ins 
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 au-
dio content, but becomes noticeable during silent passages.
Use it as follows: 
1. 
Find a part of the audio material, preferably not too short, where...

 
CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 17 
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 parame-
ter settings. Compressor...

 
CUBASE SE
1 – 18 The included effect plug-ins 
The 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 re-
lease parameters, to totally avoid the possibility of the output level going 
beyond the set threshold level. Limiter adjusts and optimizes these pa-
rameters automatically, according to the audio material. You can...

 
CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 19 
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...

 
CUBASE SE
1 – 20 The included effect plug-ins 
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...