Steinberg Cubase SE 3 Audio Effects And VSTi Manual

							CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 31
Rotary
The Rotary plug-in simulates the classic effect of a rotary speaker. A 
rotary speaker cabinet features variable speed rotating speakers to 
produce a swirling chorus effect, commonly used with organs. Rotary 
features all the parameters associated with the real thing. The included 
presets provide good starting points for further tweaking of the numer-
ous parameters.
The parameters are as follows:
Parameter Description
Speed This controls the speed of the Rotary in three steps: Stop/Slow/Fast.
MIDI Ctrl Selects the MIDI continuous controller for the Speed parameter. 
See page 32.
Mode Selects whether the Slow/Fast speed setting is a switch (left button is 
lit), or a variable control (right button lit). When switch mode is selected 
and Pitch Bend is the controller, the speed will switch with an up or 
down flick of the bender. Other controllers switch at 64.
Overdrive Applies a soft overdrive or distortion.
Crossover 
Freq.Sets the crossover frequency (200-3000Hz) between the low and high 
frequency loudspeakers.
Mic Angle Sets the simulated microphone angle. 0 = mono, 180 = one mic on 
each side.
Mic Distance Sets the simulated microphone distance from the speaker in inches.  
						

							CUBASE SE
1 – 32 The included effect plug-ins
Directing MIDI to the Rotary
For real-time MIDI control of the Speed parameter, MIDI must be 
directed to the Rotary.
•Whenever the Rotary has been added as an insert effect (for an audio 
track or an FX channel), it will be available on the output (“out:”) pop-
up menu for MIDI tracks.
If Rotary is selected on the “out:” menu, MIDI will be directed to the plug-in from the 
selected track.
Low Rotor 
Amp Mod. Adjusts amplitude modulation depth.
Low Rotor
Mix LevelAdjusts overall bass level.
Hi Rotor 
Amp Mod.High rotor amplitude modulation.
Hi Rotor 
Freq. Mod.High rotor frequency modulation.
Phasing Adjusts the amount of phasing in the sound of the high rotor.
Hi Slow Fine adjustment of the high rotor Slow speed. 
Hi Rate Fine adjustment of the high rotor acceleration time.
Hi Fast Fine adjustment of the high rotor Fast speed.
Lo Slow Fine adjustment of the low rotor Slow speed. 
Lo Rate Fine adjustment of the low rotor acceleration time.
Lo Fast Fine adjustment of the low rotor Fast speed.
Output Adjusts the overall output level.
Mix Adjusts the mix between dry and processed signal. Parameter Description 
						

							CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 33
Symphonic
The Symphonic plug-in combines a stereo enhancer, an auto-panner 
synchronized to tempo and a chorus-type effect. For best results, ap-
ply the Symphonic effect to stereo signals.
The parameters are as follows: 
Parameter Description
Mix Sets the level balance between the dry signal and the effect. If Sym-
phonic is used as a send effect, this should be set to maximum as you 
can control the dry/effect balance with the send. 
Tempo sync 
on/offThe button below the Temp sync knob is used to switch tempo sync 
on or off. The button is lit when tempo sync is on.
Tempo Sync 
pop-upIf tempo sync is on, this is where you specify the base note value for 
tempo syncing the auto-panning (1/1 - 1/32, straight, triplet or dotted).
Tempo Sync 
knobThis is the note value multiplier (x1 to x10), determining the timing of 
the auto-panning. 
Delay This determines the delay time and thus the character of the chorus 
effect, if activated.
Depth This controls the depth of the chorus effect. If you only want to use 
Symphonic as an auto-panner or a stereo enhancer, set this to 0%.
Rate This sets the modulation rate for the chorus effect, if activated.
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 
determines the depth of the stereo enhancer effect. 0% is mono, 
50% original stereo, and 100% maximum stereo enhancement.
Output Adjusts the output level of the effect.  
						

							CUBASE SE
1 – 34 The included effect plug-ins
You can also change parameters in the graphic display. 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. 
						

							CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 35
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, in sync with the Song tempo if needed.
•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.
Output Adjusts the output level of 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 lit when tempo sync is on.
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 output will be stereo or mono.
Depth Governs the depth of the pitch modulation.
Waveform 
buttonsSets the pitch modulation waveform.   
						

							CUBASE SE
1 – 36 The included effect plug-ins
Other plug-ins
This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Other” 
category.
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. The parameters are:
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 noisier, 
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 au-
dio 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.
Output Governs the output level from the Bitcrusher. Drag the slider upwards to 
increase the level.  
						

							CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 37
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. 
The 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 (the 
button lights up) or 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 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 can also be set by clicking in 
the graphic display.  
						

							CUBASE SE
1 – 38 The included effect plug-ins
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 39.
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 39.
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.  
						

							CUBASE SE
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 39
2.Select the Vocoder as an insert effect for the audio channel with the 
modulator signal.
3.Make sure that the Vocoder Mode 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. How-
ever, if you wish to play the Vocoder in real-time – as opposed to having a recorded part 
playing it – the track has to have monitoring activated (or be record enabled) for the Vo-
coder 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!
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.
•“MIDI+Ext” mode mixes the audio carrier with the Vocoder’s synth sound.
This is described on page 40. 
						

							CUBASE SE
1 – 40 The included effect plug-ins
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 simultaneously 
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.
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 
prerecorded parts. Make sure that monitoring (or record enable) is acti-
vated 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.