Steinberg Cubase Studio 4 Plug In Reference Studio Manual

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MIDI effects
Context Gate
The Context Gate allows for selective triggering/filtering 
of MIDI data. It can be used for context selective control of 
MIDI devices. The following parameters are available:
Poly Mode – Chord Gate
When Chord Gate is activated, only notes in recognized 
chords are let through. There are two modes of chord rec-
ognition available; Simple and Normal. In Simple mode, all 
standard chords (major/minor/b5/dim/sus/maj7 etc.) are 
recognized, whereas Normal mode also takes more ten-
sions into account.
Poly Mode – Polyphony Gate
This allows you to filter MIDI according to the number of 
pressed keys within a given key range. This can be used 
independently or in conjunction with the Chord Gate func-
tion. 
The Minimum value field allows you to specify the mini-
mum number of notes needed for the notes to be let 
through.
The Upper/Lower Range sets the key range.
Only notes within this range will be let through.
Mono Mode – Channel Gate
When this is activated, only single note events in a speci-
fied MIDI channel are let through, which can be used with 
MIDI controllers that can send MIDI over several channels 
simultaneously, for example guitar controllers which send 
data for each string over a separate channel. You can ei-
ther set this to a specific channel (1–16), or to “Any”, i.e. 
no channel gating.
Mono Mode – Key Range Gate
This can be used independently or in conjunction with the 
Channel Gate function. Played notes will sound (no note 
off message) until a note is played inside the set Upper 
and Lower range (and additionally the set Channel Gate 
channel, if checked).
Panic button
Sends an “All Notes Off” message over all channels, in 
case of hanging notes.
Learn button
When this is activated, you can specify a Reset trigger 
event via MIDI. Whenever this specific MIDI event is sent, 
it triggers an “All Notes Off” message. When you have set 
the Reset event, the Learn button should be deactivated.
Auto Release time
If there is no input activity, all resounding notes are sent a 
note off message after the set time, in seconds or millisec-
onds.
Minimum Velocity
Notes below a set velocity threshold value will be gated. 
						

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MIDI effects
Density
This generic control panel affects the “density” of the 
notes being played from (or thru) the track. When this is 
set to 100 %, the notes are not affected. Lowering the 
Density setting below 100 % will randomly filter out or 
“mute” notes. Raising the setting above 100 % will instead 
randomly add new notes.
Micro Tuner
The Micro Tuner lets you set up a different microtuning 
scheme for the instrument, by detuning each key. 
 Each Detune field corresponds to a key in an octave (as indi-
cated by the keyboard display). Adjust a Detune field to raise 
or lower the tuning of that key, in cents (hundreds of a semi-
tone).
 Set the Convert setting according to whether the track is 
routed to a VST instrument or a “real” standard MIDI instru-
ment (capable of receiving microtuning information).
The Micro Tuner comes with a number of presets, includ-
ing both classical and experimental microtuning scales.
MIDIControl
This generic control panel allows you to select up to eight 
different MIDI controller types, and use the value fields or 
sliders (which are displayed when you click on a value field 
while holding down the [Alt]/[Option] key) to set values for 
these. A typical use for this would be if you’re using a MIDI 
instrument with parameters that can be controlled by MIDI 
controller data (e.g. filter cutoff, resonance, levels, etc.). By 
selecting the correct MIDI controller types, you can use the 
plug-in as a control panel for adjusting the sound of the in-
strument from within Cubase, at any time.
 To select a controller type, use the pop-up menus to the right.
 To deactivate a controller slider, set it to “Off” (drag the slider 
all the way down). 
						

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MIDI effects
MIDIEcho
This is an advanced MIDI Echo, which will generate addi-
tional echoing notes based on the MIDI notes it receives. 
It creates effects similar to a digital delay, but also features 
MIDI pitch shifting and much more. As always it is impor-
tant to remember that the effect doesn’t “echo” the actual 
audio, but the MIDI notes which will eventually produce 
the sound in the synthesizer.
The following parameters are available:
Quantize
The echoed notes will be moved in position to a quantizing 
grid, as set up with this parameter. You can either use the 
slider or type to set the value in ticks (1/480 ticks of quar-
ter notes) or click the arrow buttons to step between the 
“rhythmically exact” values (displayed as note values – see 
the table below). This makes it easy to find rhythmically 
relevant quantize values, but still allows experimental set-
tings in between.
An example: setting this to “16th” will force all echo notes 
to be played on exact 16th note positions, regardless of 
the timing of the original notes and the Echo-Quant. set-
ting.
ÖTo disable quantizing, set this parameter to its lowest 
value (1).
Length
This sets the length of the echoed notes. This can either 
be the same as their original notes (parameter set to its 
lowest value, “Source”) or the length you specify manually. 
You can either set the length in ticks or click the arrow 
buttons to step between the “rhythmically exact” lengths 
(displayed as note values – see the table below).
ÖThe length can also be affected by the Length Decay 
parameter.
Repeat
This is the number of echoes (1 to 12) from each incom-
ing note.
Echo-Quant.
The Echo-Quant. parameter sets the delay time, i.e. the 
time between a played note and its first echo note. You can 
either use the slider or type to set the value in ticks (1/480 
ticks of quarter notes) or click the arrow buttons to step be-
tween the “rhythmically exact” delay times (displayed as 
note values – see the table below). 
For example, setting this to “8th” will cause the echo 
notes to sound an eighth note after their original notes.
ÖThe echo time can also be affected by the Echo Decay 
parameter.
Velocity Decay
This parameter allows you to add or subtract to the veloc-
ity values for each repeat so that the echo fades away or 
increases in volume (provided that the sound you use is 
velocity sensitive). For no change of velocity, set this to 0 
(middle position).
Pitch Decay
If you set this to a value other than 0, the repeating (echo-
ing) notes will be raised or lowered in pitch, so that each 
successive note has a higher or lower pitch than the pre-
vious. The value is set in semitones.
For example, setting this to -2 will cause the first echo 
note to have a pitch two semitones lower than the original 
note, the second echo note two semitones lower than the 
first echo note, and so on.
Echo Decay
This parameter lets you adjust how the echo time should 
be changed with each successive repeat. The value is set 
as a percentage.
 When set to 100 % (middle position) the echo time will be the 
same for all repeats (as set with the Echo-Quant. parameter).
 If you raise the value above 100, the echoing notes will play with 
gradually longer intervals (i.e. the echo will become slower).
 If you lower the value below 100, the echoing notes will be-
come gradually faster, like the sound of a bouncing ball. 
						

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MIDI effects
Length Decay
This parameter lets you adjust how the length of the ech-
oed notes should change with each successive repeat. 
The higher the setting (25 –100), the longer the echoed 
notes will be compared to their original notes.
About ticks and note values
The timing and position-related parameters (Echo-Quant., 
Length and Quantize) can all be set in ticks. There are 480 
ticks to each quarter note. While the parameters allow you 
to step between the rhythmically relevant values (dis-
played as note values), the following table can also be of 
help, showing you the most common note values and their 
corresponding number of ticks:
Note to CC
This effect will generate a MIDI continuous controller event 
for each incoming MIDI note. The value of the controller 
event corresponds to the note number (pitch) and the sin-
gle parameter allows you to select which MIDI controller 
should be sent out (by default controller 7, MIDI volume). 
The incoming MIDI notes pass through the effect unaf-
fected.
For example, if MIDI volume (controller 7) is selected, 
notes with low note numbers (pitches) will lower the vol-
ume in the MIDI instrument, while higher note numbers will 
raise the volume. This way you can create “keyboard 
tracking” of volume or other parameters.
Note Value Ticks
1/32 note 60
1/16 note triplet 90
1/16 note 120
1/8 note triplet 160
1/8 note 240
Quarter note triplet 320
Quarter note 480
Half note 960
!Note that a controller event is sent out each time a 
new note is played. If high and low notes are played 
simultaneously, this could lead to somewhat confus-
ing results. Therefore, the Note to CC effect is prob-
ably best applied to monophonic tracks (playing one 
note at a time). 
						

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MIDI effects
Quantizer
Quantizing is a function that changes the timing of notes 
by moving them towards a “quantize grid”. This grid may 
consist of e.g. straight sixteenth notes (in which case the 
notes would all get perfect sixteenth note timing), but 
could also be more loosely related to straight note value 
positions (applying a “swing feel” to the timing, etc.).
ÖThe main Quantize function in Cubase is described in 
the Operation manual.
While the Quantize function on the MIDI menu applies the 
timing change to the actual notes on a track, the Quantizer 
effect allows you to apply quantizing “on the fly”, changing 
the timing of the notes in real time. This makes it easier to 
try out different settings when creating grooves and 
rhythms. Note however, that the main Quantize function 
contains settings and features that are not available in the 
Quantizer.
The Quantizer has the following parameters:
Step Designer
The Step Designer is a MIDI pattern sequencer that sends 
out MIDI notes and additional controller data according to 
the pattern you set up. It does not make use of the incom-
ing MIDI, other than automation data (such as recorded 
pattern changes).
Creating a basic pattern
1.Use the Pattern selector to choose which pattern to 
create.
Each Step Designer can hold up to 200 different patterns.
2.Use the Quantize setting to specify the “resolution” of 
the pattern.
In other words, this setting determines how long each step is. For exam-
ple, if Quantize is set to “16th” each step will be a sixteenth note.
3.Specify the number of steps in the pattern with the 
Length setting.
As you can see in the note display, the maximum number of steps is 32. 
For example, setting Quantize to 16 and Length to 32 would create a 
two bar pattern with sixteenth note steps.
4.Click in the note display to insert notes.
You can insert notes on any of the 32 steps, but the Step Designer will 
only play back the number of steps set with the Length parameter.
The display spans one octave (as indicated by the pitch 
list to the left). You can scroll the displayed octave up or 
down by clicking in the pitch list and dragging up or down.
This way you can insert notes at any pitch. Note that each step can contain 
one note only – the Step Designer is monophonic.
Click and drag to view other octaves.
To remove a note from the pattern, click on it again.
Parameter Description
Quantize Note This sets the note value on which the quantize grid is 
based. Straight notes, triplets and dotted notes are avail-
able. For example, “16” means straight sixteenth notes 
and “8T” means eighth note triplets.
Swing This allows you to offset every second position in the 
grid, creating a swing or shuffle feel. The value is a per-
centage – the higher you set this, the farther to the right 
every even grid position is moved.
Strength This determines how close the notes should be moved to 
the quantize grid. When set to 100 %, all notes will be 
forced to the closest grid position; lowering the setting 
will gradually loosen the timing.
Delay This delays (positive values) or advances (negative val-
ues) the notes in milliseconds. Unlike the Delay setting in 
the Track Parameters, this delay can be automated. 
						

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MIDI effects
5.Select “Velocity” on the Controllers pop-up menu.
This pop-up menu determines what is shown in the lower controller dis-
play.
6.Adjust the velocity of the notes by dragging the veloc-
ity bars in the controller display.
7.To make notes shorter, select “Gate” on the Controllers 
pop-up menu and lower the bars in the controller display.
When a bar is set to its maximum value (fully up), the corresponding note 
will be the full length of the step (as set with the Quantize parameter).
8.To make notes longer, you can tie two notes together. 
This is done by inserting two notes and clicking the Tie 
button below the second note.
When the Tie button is lit for a note, it won’t retrigger – instead the pre-
vious note will be lengthened. Also, the tied (second) note will automati-
cally get the same pitch as the first note. You can add more notes and tie 
them in the same way, creating longer notes.
9.If you now start playback in Cubase, the pattern will 
play as well, sending out MIDI notes on the track’s MIDI 
output and channel (or, if you have activated the Step De-
signer as a send effect, on the MIDI output and channel 
selected for the send in the Inspector).
Adding controller curves
The Controllers pop-up menu has two more items: two 
controller types.
You can select which two controller types (filter cutoff, 
resonance, volume, etc.) should be available on the pop-
up menu by clicking the Setup button and selecting con-
trollers from the lists that appears.
This selection is global to all patterns.
To insert controller information in a pattern, select the 
desired controller from the pop-up menu and click in the 
controller display to draw events.
The MIDI controller events will be sent out during playback along with the 
notes.
ÖIf you drag a controller event bar all the way down, no 
controller value will be sent out on that step.
Other pattern functions
The following functions make it easier to edit, manipulate 
and manage patterns:
Automating pattern changes
You can create up to 200 different patterns in each Step 
Designer – just select a new pattern and add notes and 
controllers as described above.
Typically, you want the pattern selection to change during 
the project. You can accomplish this by automating the Pat-
tern selector, either in real time by activating the Write auto-
mation and switching patterns during playback or by 
drawing in the automation subtrack for the Step Designer’s 
MIDI track. Note that you can also press a key on your MIDI 
keyboard to change patterns. For this, you have to set up 
the Step Designer as an insert effect for a record enabled 
MIDI track. Press C1 to select pattern 1, C#1 to select pat-
tern 2, D1 to select pattern 3, D#1 to select pattern 4 and 
so on. If you want, you can record these pattern changes as 
note events on a MIDI track. Proceed as follows:
1.Select the desired MIDI track or create a new one and 
activate the Step Designer as an insert effect.
2.Set up several patterns as described above.
Function Description
Shift Oct These buttons allow you to shift the entire pattern up or 
down in octave steps.
Shift Time Moves the pattern one step to the left or right.
Reverse Reverses the pattern, so that it plays backwards.
Copy/Paste Allows you to copy the current pattern and paste it in an-
other pattern location (in the same Step Designer or an-
other).
Reset Clears the pattern, removing all notes and setting con-
troller values to default.
Random Generates a completely random pattern – useful for ex-
perimenting.
Swing The Swing parameter allows you to offset every second 
step, creating a swing or shuffle feel. The value is a per-
centage – the higher you set this, the farther to the right 
every even step is moved.
Presets Handling of Presets is described in the chapter “MIDI re-
altime settings” in the Operation manual. Note that a 
stored Preset contains all 200 patterns in the Step De-
signer. 
						

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MIDI effects
3.Press the Record button and press the desired keys 
on your keyboard to select the corresponding patterns.
The pattern changes will be recorded on the MIDI track.
4.Stop recording and play back the MIDI track.
You will now hear the recorded pattern changes.
ÖThis will only work for the first 92 patterns.
Track Control
The Track Control effect contains three ready-made con-
trol panels for adjusting parameters on a GS or XG com-
patible MIDI device. The Roland GS and Yamaha XG 
protocols are extensions of the General MIDI standard, al-
lowing for more sounds and better control of various in-
strument settings. If your instrument is compatible with 
GS or XG, the Track Controls effect allows you to adjust 
sounds and effects in your instrument from within Cubase.
Selecting a control panel
At the top of the Track Controls effect window you will 
find a pop-up menu. This is where you select which of the 
available control panels to use:
About the Reset and Off buttons
Regardless of the selected mode, you will find two buttons 
labelled “Off” and “Reset” at the top of the control panel:
Clicking the Off button will set all controls to their low-
est value, without sending out any MIDI messages.
Clicking the Reset button will set all parameters to their 
default values, and send out the corresponding MIDI mes-
sages.
For most parameters, the default values will be zero or “no adjustment”, 
but there are exceptions to this. For example, the default Reverb Send 
settings are 64.
Control panel Description
GS Basic 
ControlsEffect sends and various sound control parameters for 
use with instruments compatible with the Roland GS 
standard.
XG Effect + 
SendsEffect Sends and various sound control parameters for 
use with instruments compatible with the Yamaha XG 
standard.
XG Global Global settings (affecting all channels) for instruments 
compatible with the Yamaha XG standard. 
						

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MIDI effects
GS Basic Controls
The following controls are available when the GS Basic 
Controls mode is selected:
XG Effects + Sends
The following controls are available when the XG Effects 
+ Sends mode is selected:
XG Global Settings
In this mode, the parameters affect global settings in the 
instrument(s). Changing one of these settings for a track 
will in fact affect all MIDI instruments connected to the 
same MIDI output, regardless of the MIDI channel setting 
of the track. Therefore, to avoid confusion it might be a 
good idea to create an empty track and use this only for 
these global settings.
The following controls are available:
Control Description
Send 1 Send level for the reverb effect. 
Send 2 Send level for the chorus effect.
Send 3 Send level for the “variation” effect.
Attack Adjusts the attack time of the sound. Lowering the value 
shortens the attack, while raising it gives a slower attack. 
Middle position (64) means no adjustment is made.
Decay Adjusts the decay time of the sound. Lowering the value 
shortens the decay, while raising it makes the decay 
longer.
Release Adjusts the release time of the sound. Lowering the value 
shortens the release, while raising it makes the release 
time longer.
Cutoff Adjusts the filter cutoff frequency.
Resonance Adjusts the filter resonance.
Express Allows you to send out expression pedal messages on 
the track’s MIDI channel.
Press. Allows you to send out aftertouch (channel pressure) 
messages on the track’s MIDI channel. This is useful if 
your keyboard cannot send aftertouch, but you have 
sound modules that respond to aftertouch. The default 
value for this parameter is zero.
Breath Allows you to send breath control messages on the 
track’s MIDI channel.
Modul. Allows you to send modulation messages on the track’s 
MIDI channel (just as you normally do with a modulation 
wheel on a MIDI keyboard).Control Description
Send 1 Send level for the reverb effect. 
Send 2 Send level for the chorus effect.
Send 3 Send level for the “variation” effect.
Attack Adjusts the attack time of the sound. Lowering this value 
shortens the attack, while raising it gives a slower attack. 
Middle position means no adjustment is made.
Release Adjusts the release time of the sound. Lowering this value 
shortens the release, while raising it makes the release 
time longer. Middle position means no adjustment is 
made.
Harm.Cont Adjusts the harmonic content of the sound.
Bright Adjusts the brightness of the sound.
CutOff Adjusts the filter cutoff frequency.
Resonance Adjusts the filter resonance.
Control Description
Eff. 1 This allows you to select which type of reverb effect 
should be used: No effect (the reverb turned off), Hall 1–
2, Room 1–3, Stage 1–2 or Plate.
Eff. 2 This allows you to select which type of chorus effect 
should be used: No effect (the chorus turned off), Chorus 
1–3, Celeste 1–3 or Flanger 1–2.
Eff. 3 This allows you to select one of a large number of “varia-
tion” effect types. Selecting “No Effect” is the same as 
turning off the variation effect.
Reset Sends an XG reset message.
MastVol This is used to control the Master Volume of an instru-
ment. Normally you should leave this in its highest posi-
tion and set the volumes individually for each channel 
(with the volume faders in the Cubase mixer or in the 
Inspector). 
						

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MIDI effects
Track FX
This plug-in is essentially a duplicate of the Track Parame-
ter section. This can be useful if you e.g. need extra Ran-
dom or Range settings, or if you prefer to have your track 
parameters in a separate window (to get this, [Alt]/[Op-
tion]-click the Edit button for the effect).
The Track FX also includes an additional function that isn’t 
available among the track parameters:
Scale Transpose
This allows you to transpose each incoming MIDI note, so 
that it fits within a selected musical scale. The scale is 
specified by selecting a key (C, C#, D, etc.) and a scale 
type (major, melodic or harmonic minor, blues, etc.).
ÖTo turn Scale Transpose off, select “No Scale” from 
the Scale pop-up menu.
Transformer
The Transformer is a real-time version of the Logical Editor. 
With this you can perform very powerful MIDI processing 
on the fly, without affecting the actual MIDI events on the 
track.
The Logical Editor is described in the corresponding 
chapter in the Operation Manual. As the parameters and 
functions are almost identical, the descriptions for the 
Logical Editor also apply to the Transformer. Where there 
are differences between the two, this is clearly stated. 
						

							Index