Steinberg Cubase SE 3 Operation Manual

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Audio processing and functions 14 – 261
Clip detection text
If you use the Preview function before applying the processing, the 
text below the slider indicates whether the current settings result in 
clipping (audio levels above 0 dB). If that is the case, lower the Gain 
value and use the Preview function again.
•If you want to increase the level of the audio as much as possible with-
out causing clipping, you should use the Normalize function instead 
(see page 263).
Pre- and Post-Crossfade
See page 259.
Merge Clipboard
This functions mixes the audio from the clipboard into the audio 
selected for processing, starting at the beginning of the selection.
For this function to be available, you need to have Cut or Copied a range 
of audio in the Sample Editor first.
The dialog contains the following settings:
Sources mix
Allows you to specify a mix ratio between the Original (the audio se-
lected for processing) and the Copy (the audio on the clipboard).
Pre- and Post-Crossfade
See page 259. 
						

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Noise Gate
Scans the audio for sections weaker than a specified threshold level, 
and replaces them with silence. The dialog contains the following 
settings:
Threshold
The level below which you want audio to be silenced. Levels below 
this value will close the gate.
Attack Time
The time it takes for the gate to open fully after the audio level has 
exceeded the threshold level.
Min. Opening Time
This is the shortest time the gate will remain open. If you find that the 
gate opens and closes too often when processing material that varies 
rapidly in level, you should try raising this value.
Release Time
The time it takes for the gate to close fully after the audio level has 
dropped below the threshold level.
Linked Channels
This is available for stereo audio only. When it is activated, the Noise 
Gate is opened for both channels as soon as one or both channels 
exceed the Threshold level. When Linked Channels is deactivated, 
the Noise Gate works independently for the left and right channel. 
						

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Dry/Wet mix
Allows you to specify a mix ratio between “dry” and processed sound.
Pre- and Post-Crossfade
See page 259.
Normalize
The Normalize function allows you to specify the desired maximum 
level of the audio. It then analyzes the selected audio and finds the 
current maximum level. Finally it subtracts the current maximum level 
from the specified level, and raises the gain of the audio by the result-
ing amount (if the specified maximum level is lower than the current 
maximum, the gain will be lowered instead). A common use for Nor-
malizing is to raise the level of audio that was recorded at too low an 
input level. The dialog contains the following settings:
Maximum
The desired maximum level for the audio, between -50 and 0dB. The 
setting is also indicated below the Gain display as a percentage.
Pre- and Post-Crossfade
See page 259. 
						

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Phase Reverse
Reverses the phase of the selected audio, turning the waveform “upside 
down”. The dialog contains the following settings:
Phase Reverse on
When processing stereo audio, this pop-up menu allows you to specify 
which channel(s) should be phase reversed.
Pre- and Post-Crossfade
See page 259.
Pitch Shift
This function allows you to change the pitch of the audio with or without 
affecting its length. You can create “harmonies” by specifying several 
pitches, or apply pitch shift based on a user specified envelope curve.  
						

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When the “Transpose” tab is selected, the dialog contains the follow-
ing parameters:
Keyboard display
This offers a way to specify the transpose interval in semitones, and 
gives a graphic overview of the transposition setting.
•The “root note” is indicated in red.
This has nothing to do with the actual key or pitch of the original audio, it just provides 
a way to display transpose intervals. If you like, you can change the root note by using 
the settings to the right below the keyboard display, or by pressing [Alt]/[Option] and 
clicking in the keyboard display.
•To specify a transpose interval, click on one of the keys.
The key is indicated in blue, and the program plays test tones in the base pitch and 
transpose pitch, to give you an audible confirmation.
•If “Multi Shift” is activated (see below), you can click on several keys 
to create “chords”.
Clicking on a blue (activated) key removes it.
Pitch Shift settings
The “Semitones” and “Fine tune” settings allow you to specify the 
amount of pitch shift. You can transpose the audio ±16 semitones, 
and fine tune it by ±200 cents (hundredths of semitones).
Volume
Allows you to lower the volume of the pitch shifted sound.
Multi Shift
When this is activated, you can add more than one transpose value, 
creating multi-part harmonies. This is done by adding intervals in the 
keyboard display, as described above.
•If the intervals you add make up a standard chord, this chord is dis-
played to the right.
Note however, that to include the base pitch (the original, untransposed sound) in the 
processed result, you need to click the base key in the keyboard display as well, so 
that it is displayed in blue. 
						

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Listen Key/Chord button
Clicking this button plays a test tone, pitched according to the acti-
vated interval key on the keyboard display. If “Multi Shift” is activated, 
this button is called “Listen Chord”, and plays all activated intervals, 
as a chord.
Pitch Shift Base
This allows you to set the root note (the red key in the keyboard dis-
play). This has no actual relation to the pitch of the audio material, but 
should be viewed as an aid for easily setting up intervals and chords.
Time Correction
When this is activated, the pitch shift process will not affect the length 
of the audio. When this is deactivated, raising the pitch will shorten 
the audio section and vice versa, much like changing the playback 
speed on a tape recorder.
Using envelope based Pitch Shift  
						

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Audio processing and functions 14 – 267
When the “Envelope” tab is selected, you can specify an envelope 
curve on which the pitch shift should be based. This allows you to 
create pitch bend effects, pitch shift different sections of the audio by 
different amounts, etc.
Envelope display
Shows the shape of the envelope curve, over the waveform image of 
the audio selected for processing. Envelope curve points above the 
center line indicate positive pitch shift, while curve points below the 
center line indicate negative pitch shift. Initially, the envelope curve will 
be a horizontal, centered line, indicating zero pitch shift.
•You can click on the curve to add points, and click and drag existing 
points to change the shape. To remove a point from the curve, drag it 
outside the display.
Curve Kind
These buttons determine whether the envelope curve should consist 
of spline curve segments (left button), damped spline segments (mid-
dle button) or linear segments (right button).
Spline curve segment envelope.  
						

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The same envelope with damped spline segments selected
The same envelope with linear segments selected.
Range
This parameter determines the vertical pitch range of the envelope. If 
set to “4”, moving a curve point to the top of the display corresponds to 
pitch shifting by + 4 semitones. The maximum range is +/- 16 semi-
tones. 
Transpose and Fine Tune
Allows you to adjust the value of a curve point numerically:
1.Click on a curve point to select it.
The selected point is shown in red.
2.Adjust the Transpose and Fine Tune parameters to change the pitch 
of the curve point in semitones and cents, respectively.
Pitch Shift Mode
These are the same parameters as on the Transpose tab.   
						

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Example
Let’s say that you wish to create a pitch bend effect, so that the pitch is 
raised linearly by exactly 2 semitones in a specific part of the selected 
audio.
1.Remove all curve points by clicking the Reset button.
2.Select a linear curve by clicking the right Curve Kind button.
3.Create a point where you want the pitch bend to start by clicking on 
the envelope line.
Since this is the starting point for the pitch bend, you want its pitch to be zero (the en-
velope line should still be straight). If necessary, use the Fine Tune parameter to set the 
curve point to 0 cents, because this point governs the start point, where you want the 
pitch transition to begin.
4.Create a new curve point at the horizontal position where you want 
the pitch bend to reach the full value.
This curve point determines the rise time of the pitch bend effect, i.e. the further away 
from the starting point the new point is positioned, the longer it will take for the pitch 
bend to reach the full value, and vice versa.
5.Make sure the Range parameter is set to 2 semitones or higher.
6.With the second point still selected, use the Transpose and Fine Tune 
parameters to set the pitch to exactly 2 semitones.
7.Create a new curve point to set the duration of the pitch bend, i.e. the 
time the pitch should remain transposed by 2 semitones.
8.Finally, create a point where you want the pitch bend to end.
You don’t need to create a new point if this should be the end of the audio file being 
processed. There is always an end point at the right side of the waveform display.
9.If necessary, make additional settings in the Pitch Shift Mode section.
10.Click Process.
The pitch bend is applied according to the specified settings. 
						

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Remove DC Offset
This function will remove any DC offset in the audio selection. A DC 
offset is when there is too large a DC (direct current) component in 
the signal, sometimes visible as the signal not being visually centered 
around the “zero level axis”. DC offsets do not affect what you actually 
hear, but they affect zero crossing detection and certain processing, 
and it is recommended that you remove them.
It is recommended that this function is applied to complete audio clips, 
since the DC offset (if any) is normally present throughout the entire re-
cording.
There are no parameters for this function.
Reverse
Reverses the audio selection, as when playing a tape backwards. 
There are no parameters for this function.
Silence
Replaces the selection with silence. There are no parameters for this 
function.