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 Input level.
Output -24dB to 0dB Sets the Output level. As distortion generates har-
monics, it increases the level of the processed sig-
nal. You can use the Output fader to compensate 
for the level increase.
Shapes Linear, 
Non-linear 1, 
Non-linear 2The Shape parameter determines how much the in-
put signal is affected by the distortion effect. Non-
linear 2 will produce the strongest distortion.
Contour 0-100% This is a selective low-pass filter, altering the tonal 
quality of the distortion.
Drive 0-100% Governs the amount of distortion.
Factory 
PresetsSoft, Crunchy, Dirty, 
Wracky, EvilSelect one of five presets, which can be used as 
they are, or as a basis for further “tweaking”. 
						

							 
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 increases 
the level of the processed signal. You can use the Output fader to 
compensate for the level increase.
Speaker 
simulationWhen this is activated, the effect simulates the sound of a speaker 
cabinet.
Factory 
StylesSelect one of six presets, which can be used as they are or as a basis 
for further “tweaking”.
Bass Tone control for the low frequencies. 
Mid Tone control for the mid frequencies.
Hi Tone control for the high frequencies.
Drive Governs the amount of overdrive. You can also adjust this by clicking 
and dragging in the display.  
						

							 
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 by clicking on their labels. Acti-
vated processors have highlighted labels.
CompressorAutoGate
Limiter
Routing 
selector  
						

							 
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 triggering.
The available parameters are as follows: 
Parameter Values Description 
Threshold -60 - 0dB This setting determines the level where AutoGate is 
activated. Signal levels above the set threshold trigger 
the gate to open, and signal levels below the set 
threshold will close the gate.
Attack 0,1 -100 ms or 
“Predict mode”This parameter sets the time it takes for the gate to 
open after being triggered. If the Predict button is acti-
vated, it will ensure that the gate will already be open 
when a signal above the threshold level is played back. 
AutoGate manages this by “looking ahead” in the au-
dio material, checking for signals loud enough to pass 
the gate.
Hold 0 - 1000 ms This determines how long the gate stays open after 
the signal drops below the threshold level.
Release 10 - 1000 ms or 
“Auto”This parameter sets the amount of time it takes for the 
gate to close (after the set hold time). If the “Auto” but-
ton is activated, AutoGate will find an optimal release 
setting, depending on the audio program material. 
						

							 
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 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 
display to set the frequency range you want 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 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 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. 
						

							 
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 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.
The available parameters work as follows: 
Parameter Values Description 
Threshold -60 - 0dB This setting determines the level where Compressor 
“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 applied 
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 Compressor 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 return to 
its original level when the signal drops below the 
Threshold level. If the “Auto” button is activated, Com-
pressor will automatically find an optimal release setting 
that varies depending on the audio 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 operates 
more on peak levels. As a general guideline, RMS 
mode works better on material with few transients 
such as vocals, and Peak mode better for percussive 
material, with a lot of transient peaks. 
						

							 
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 also 
adjust the Release parameter manually.
The available parameters are the following: 
The 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 number. These numbers are used to represent the signal flow op-
tions shown in the Routing section. There are three routing options: 
•1-2-3 (Compressor-Gate-Limit)
•2-1-3 (Gate-Compressor-Limit)
•1-3-2 (Compressor-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 signal 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 material.  
						

							 
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 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 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 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.