Steinberg Cubase SX/SL 3 Audio Effects And VSTi Manual

							 
CUBASE SX/SL
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 11 
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 Styles Select 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 SX/SL
1 – 12 The included effect plug-ins 
QuadraFuzz (Cubase SX only)
 
QuadraFuzz is a high-quality distortion effect divided into four frequency 
bands allowing for control over the level both before and after distortion. 
This high level of control can create a very wide selection of distortion 
effects, ranging from subtle to extreme. The user interface consists of 
two windows. 
• 
The main window features four Filterbank controls, the master Gain 
and Output controls and a preset selector. 
• 
In the editor window (which is opened by clicking the “Edit” button in 
the lower right corner) the main feature is a frequency band display. 
This is where you set the width of the frequency bands as well as their level before dis-
tortion.   
						

							 
CUBASE SX/SL
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 13 
How does QuadraFuzz work?
 
Here’s a short description of the three major factors that determine how 
QuadraFuzz sounds, and where you find the corresponding controls: 
• The signal volume control before distortion.
 
You can use the Gain control on the left side of the QuadraFuzz main window to con-
trol the overall input level of the signal that is fed into the distortion stage. The signal is 
split up into four frequency bands in the editor window, with adjustable width and level 
controls. These control the input level before distortion. 
 
• The distortion type, based on a selectable distortion characteristic.
• The signal volume control after distortion.
 
The Output control on the right side of the QuadraFuzz main window controls the 
overall output level. In addition, the Filterbank controls in the same window allow you to 
raise or lower the output volume of each separate frequency band that was defined in 
the editor window.    
						

							 
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1 – 14 The included effect plug-ins 
Editing in the frequency band display
 
The signal is divided into four frequency bands before being passed 
to the distortion stage, as explained earlier. You adjust the level and 
width of these bands in the frequency band display. 
The frequency band display 
Two value scales as well as a number of rhomb- and diamond-shaped 
handles are available. 
• The diamond-shaped handles at the bottom are used to define the corner fre-
quencies of the different frequency bands.
• By using the rhomb-shaped handles on top of each frequency band you de-
termine its relative level before distortion.
• The horizontal value scale below the Frequency band display indicates fre-
quency. The maximum value on this scale corresponds to half the sample rate 
of the audio file used (Nyquist theorem).
• The vertical value scale to the right shows the approximate level of an edited 
frequency band.
• If you click and hold on one of the handles, its current value is displayed. 
Depending on the handle type, corner frequency or level is shown.
• The corner frequency handles can be moved by dragging horizontally. The 
level handles can be moved by dragging them up or down.
• To reset a level handle to 0 dB, hold down the [Shift] key on your computer 
keyboard and click on the handle.
• If you hold down the [Ctrl]/[Command] key and move a handle, the values will 
change in smaller steps.
• The “Solo” button above the frequency band display allows you to monitor 
individual frequency bands.
 
If Solo is activated, one of the four bands is highlighted indicating the selected band. 
You select other bands by clicking on them.  
						

							 
CUBASE SX/SL
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 15 
The parameters
 
The following tables list all parameters available in QuadraFuzz.
The parameters in the main window are as follows:
The parameters in the editor window are as follows: 
Parameter Description 
Gain dial This dial can be found in the lower left corner of the QudraFuzz win-
dow. You can use it to control the level of the overall input signal be-
fore distortion.
Filterbank dials: 
Low/Low Mid/
High Mid/HighThese dials are used to control the output level of the corresponding 
frequency band after distortion. Values between +/- 12 dB can be 
set for each band.
Presets fader This is used to select one of the available presets. To select a new 
preset, click on the fader handle and drag horizontally.
Output dial  This controls the overall output level.
Over LED When lit, this indicates that the total input signal level exceeds 0 dB. 
This LED does not refer to the output level but solely to the input level 
before distortion.
Levels above 0 dB are subject to strict limiting and cause signal clip-
ping. As this is sometimes what you want, QuadraFuzz also offers this 
option.
Edit button By clicking on this button, located in the lower right corner of the 
main window, you can open or close the editor window.  
Parameter Description 
Create  If you click on this button, a dialog will open where you can add (and 
name) a new preset to the preset set currently in memory. The pre-
sets are stored with the project – to make a preset available in other 
projects you use the File pop-up menu as usual.
Delete  This deletes the selected preset from the preset set currently in mem-
ory. If you click on the button, a dialog appears where you can confirm 
or cancel the action.
Solo This mutes all frequency bands except the selected band.
Shape buttons The available distortion characteristics (from bottom to top) create ef-
fects from a slight distortion up to a trashy hardcore sound.
Frequency band 
displayHere you control the level and bandwidth for the four bands, see 
above. 
						

							 
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1 – 16 The included effect plug-ins 
Dynamics plug-ins
 
This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Dynamics” 
category. 
SPL DeEsser (Cubase SX only)
 
A de-esser is used to reduce excessive sibilance, primarily for vocal re-
cordings. Basically, it is a special type of compressor that is tuned to 
be sensitive to the frequencies produced by the "s" sound, hence the 
name de-esser. Close proximity microphone placement and equalizing 
can lead to situations where the overall sound is just right, but there is 
a problem with sibilants. Conventional compression and/or equalizing 
will not easily solve this problem, but a de-esser can.
The SPL DeEsser has the following parameters: 
Parameter Description 
S-Reduction Controls the intensity of the de-essing effect. We recommend that 
you start with a value between 4 and 7.
Level display Indicates the dB value by which the level of the sibilant or s-frequency 
is reduced. The display shows values between 0  dB (no reduction) 
and minus 20 dB (the s-frequency level is lowered by 20 dB). Each 
segment in the display represents a level reduction of 2 dB.
Auto Threshold See separate description below.
Male/Female This sets the s-frequency and sibilant recognition to the characteristic 
frequency ranges of the female or male voice. The center frequency of 
the bandwidth at which the SPL DeEsser operates is located in the 
7 kHz range for the female voice and in the 6 kHz range for the male 
voice.  
						

							 
CUBASE SX/SL
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 17 
About the Auto Threshold function
 
Conventional de-essing devices all have a threshold parameter. This 
is used to set a threshold for the incoming signal level, above which 
the device starts to process the signal. The SPL DeEsser however 
has been designed for utmost ease-of-use. With Auto Threshold on 
(the button lights up) it automatically and constantly readjusts the 
threshold to achieve an optimum result. If you still wish to determine 
for yourself at which signal level the SPL DeEsser should start to pro-
cess the signal, deactivate the Auto Threshold button. The SPL 
DeEsser will then use a fixed threshold.
When recording a voice, usually the de-esser's position in the signal 
chain is located after the microphone pre-amp and before a compres-
sor/limiter. This is useful, as it keeps the compressor/limiter from un-
necessarily limiting the overall signal dynamics by reacting to excessive 
sibilants and s-frequencies.
The Auto Threshold function keeps the processing on a constant level. 
The input threshold value is automatically and constantly adjusted to 
the audio input level. Even level differences of say 20 dB do not have a 
negative impact on the result of the processing. The input levels may 
vary, but processing remains constant. 
						

							 
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1 – 18 The included effect plug-ins 
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  
						

							 
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The included effect plug-ins 1 – 19 
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 but-
ton is activated, it will ensure that the gate will al-
ready be open when a signal above the threshold 
level is played back. AutoGate manages this by 
“looking ahead” in the audio material, checking 
for signals loud enough to pass the gate.
Hold 0 - 1000 ms This determines how long the gate stays open af-
ter 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” button is activated, AutoGate will find 
an optimal release setting, depending on the au-
dio program material. 
						

							 
CUBASE SX/SL
1 – 20 The included effect plug-ins 
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.