Steinberg Cubase SX/SL 3 Audio Effects And VSTi Manual

							 
CUBASE SX/SL
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 31 
MultibandCompressor (Cubase SX only)
The MultibandCompressor allows a signal to be split in up to five fre-
quency bands, each with its own freely adjustable compressor char-
acteristic. The signal is processed on the basis of the settings that you 
have made in the Frequency Band and Characteristics editors. You 
can specify the level, bandwidth and compressor characteristics for 
each band by using the various controls.
The Frequency Band editor
The Frequency Band editor is where you set the width of the frequency 
bands as well as their level before compression. Two value scales and 
a number of diamond-shaped handles are available. The vertical value 
scale to the right gives you a clue to the approximate input gain level 
of each frequency band.
The diamond-shaped handles provided in the Frequency Band editor 
can be dragged with the mouse. You use them to set the corner fre-
quencies and the input gain levels for up to five frequency bands. The 
width of each frequency band can be adjusted by dragging horizontally.  
						

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The Level handles can be moved by dragging them up or down. If you 
click and hold on a handle, its current value is displayed. Depending 
on the handle type, corner frequency or level is shown.
• The diamond-shaped handles at the bottom are used to define the corner fre-
quencies of the different frequency bands.
• By using the diamond-shaped handles on top of each frequency band you 
can cut or boost the input gain by +/- 12dB before compression.
• 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 [Shift] key and click on the corner frequency handles, 
they will be set to the same bandwidth (in octaves). The exact bandwidth they 
will be set to is dependent on the number of bands currently used.
If you hold down [Ctrl] (Win) or [Command] (Mac) and move a handle, 
the values will change in smaller steps.
Adding and removing frequency bands
To add a frequency band, drag the leftmost or rightmost corner fre-
quency handle towards the middle of the window, and a new band will 
automatically appear (given that you have less than the maximum 
number of five bands active). To remove a frequency band, drag the 
second leftmost or second rightmost handle out of the left or right 
edge of the window respectively. 
About the Frequency scale
The horizontal value scale below the Frequency band display indicates 
frequency. The maximum value on this scale corresponds to half the 
sample rate of the audio file used. Hence, if a 44.1 kHz soundfile is 
used, the highest frequency will be 22 kHz.
In the digital domain, only frequencies of up to half the sample rate used 
can be reproduced (Nyquist theorem). The values available in the Fre-
quency band display do therefore depend on the sample rate of the au-
dio material used. 
						

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The included effect plug-ins 1 – 33
The Solo button
The Solo button in the lower right part of the MultibandCompressor 
panel can be used to separately monitor each of the frequency bands. 
This function is useful both when editing bandwidth settings and 
compressor characteristics.
•To select another band while solo is active, click somewhere in the 
(dark) area of the frequency band that you wish to monitor.
Using the Characteristics editor
By adding breakpoints and drawing curves you set the compressor 
characteristic. Before you start using the Characteristics editor, you 
have to select the frequency band you want to process. This is done 
in the Frequency Band editor by clicking in the area inside the fre-
quency band. 
•A selected band is highlighted for editing both in the Frequency Band 
and the Characteristics editors. 
If you select another frequency band, the previously edited band characteristic is still 
shown in the Characteristics window, but it is no longer highlighted or editable until 
you select it again.
About breakpoints
• Clicking anywhere on the line will add a breakpoint.
• To remove a breakpoint, hold down [Shift] and click on it.
• The first breakpoint from which the line deviates from the straight diagonal will 
be the threshold point. 
• Creating a curve in the area below the diagonal input/output line will cause 
compression. Compression decreases the output level in relation to the input 
level.
• Creating a curve in the area above the diagonal input/output line will cause 
expansion. Expansion increases the output level in relation to the input level.
About the Compressor type (MODE)
• Classic mode works like a standard compressor with fixed attack and release 
parameters.
• Complex mode features a new compression approach with a program adaptive 
circuit. The program adaptive compression automatically optimizes parameters 
according to the audio material. 
						

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The Output dial
The Output dial controls the total output level that the MultibandCom-
pressor passes on to Cubase SX/SL. The range available is +/- 12 dB. 
If the SoftClip function (see below) is active, the Output dial instead 
controls the amount of soft clipping. 
The SoftClip function
The SoftClip function is positioned at the very last stage of the internal 
signal path, right after the Output dial. When active, it will ensure that 
the total output to Cubase SX/SL never exceeds 0 dB. It works by 
clipping the signal gently, generating harmonics which add a warm, 
tube-like characteristic to the signal. 
						

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The included effect plug-ins 1 – 35
VST Dynamics
The VST Dynamics plug-in is similar to the Dynamics plug-in (see 
page 18), but with the following differences:
• VST Dynamics has two additional modules: Auto Level and Soft Clip.
• The signal flow is fixed, in the order AutoGate-AutoLevel-Compressor-
SoftClip-Limiter.
Activating the individual processors
You activate the individual processors by clicking on their labels. Acti-
vated processors have highlighted labels. You can activate as many 
processors as you want, but remember that not all processors are de-
signed to work together. For example, “Limit” and “SoftClip” are both 
designed to ensure that the output never exceeds 0dB, but achieves 
this in different ways. To have both of them activated would be unnec-
essary.
•To turn off all activated VST Dynamics processors, click the lit On but-
ton to the right in the panel.
Clicking the button again activates the same configuration of processors.
Auto Gate section
This is exactly the same section as the AutoGate in the Dynamics 
plug-in. See page 19 for details.  
						

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Auto Level section
Auto Level reduces signal level differences in audio material. It can be 
used to process recordings where the level unintentionally varies. It will 
boost low levels and attenuate high level audio signals. Only levels 
above the set threshold will be processed, so low level noise or rumble 
will not be boosted. If the input level is greater than 0dB, Auto Level will 
react very fast, because it “looks ahead” in the audio material for strong 
signal levels and can attenuate levels before they occur, thus reducing 
the risk of signal clipping. Auto Level has the following parameters:
Compressor section
This is exactly the same section as the Compressor section in the 
Dynamics plug-in. See page 22 for details.
Soft Clip section
Soft Clip is designed to ensure that the output level never exceeds 
0dB, like a limiter. Soft Clip, however, acts differently compared to a 
conventional limiter. When the signal level exceeds -6dB, SoftClip 
starts limiting (or clipping) the signal “softly”, at the same time generat-
ing harmonics which add a warm, tubelike characteristic to the audio 
material. Soft Clip is simplicity itself to use as it has no control param-
eters. The meter indicates the input signal level, and thus the amount of 
“softclipping”. Levels in the green area (weaker than -6dB) are unaf-
fected, while levels in the yellow-orange-red area indicate the degree 
of “softclipping”. The deep red meter area to the right indicates input 
levels higher than 0dB. 
• Avoid feeding Soft Clip with excessively high signal levels as audible 
distortion may occur, although the output level will never exceed 0dB.
Limiter section
This is exactly the same section as the Limiter in the Dynamics plug-in. 
See page 23 for details.
Parameter Description
Threshold Only levels stronger than the set threshold will be processed.
Reaction time buttons 
(Slow, Mid, Fast)Here you can set the amount of time it takes for Auto Level to 
adjust the gain. Set this according to whether the program 
level changes suddenly or over a length of time. 
						

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The included effect plug-ins 1 – 37
Filter plug-ins
This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Filter” cate-
gory.
Q (Cubase SX only)
Q is a high-quality 4-band parametric stereo equalizer with two fully 
parametric midrange bands. The low and high bands can act as either 
standard shelving filters or fixed-gain high/low-cut filters.
Making settings
1.Click the corresponding On button below the EQ curve display to ac-
tivate any or all of the Low, Mid 1, Mid 2 or High equalizer bands.
When a band is activated, a corresponding eq point appears in the EQ curve display.
2.Set the parameters for an activated EQ band.
This can be done in several ways:
• By using the knobs.
• By clicking a value field and entering values numerically.  
						

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• By using the mouse to drag points in the EQ curve display window.
By using this method, you control both the Gain and Frequency parameters simulta-
neously. The knobs turn accordingly when you drag points. In addition, if the Mid 1 and 
Mid 2 bands (M1 and M2) are activated there will be two points on each side of the 
Gain/Frequency point that control the width (Q) parameter.
If you press [Shift] while dragging, values can be set in finer increments.
Parameters
Parameter Description
Low Freq (20-2000Hz) This sets the frequency of the Low band.
Low Gain (-20 to +20 dB) This sets the amount of cut/boost for the Low band.
Low Cut If this button is activated for the Low band, it will act as a 
Low Cut filter. The Gain parameter will be fixed.
Mid 1 Freq (20-20000Hz) This sets the center frequency of the Mid 1 band. 
Mid 1 Gain (+/- 20dB) This sets the amount of cut/boost for the Mid 1 band.
Mid 1 Width
(0.05-5.00 Octaves)This sets the width of the Mid 1 band, in octaves. The 
lower this value, the “narrower” the bandwidth.
Mid 2 Freq (20-20000Hz) This sets the center frequency of the Mid 2 band. 
Mid 2 Gain (-20 to +20 dB) This sets the amount of cut/boost for the Mid 2 band.
Mid 2 Width 
(0.05-5.00 Octaves)This sets the width of the Mid 2 band, in octaves. The 
lower this value, the “narrower” the bandwidth.
High Freq (200-20000Hz) This sets the frequency of the High band.
High Gain (-20 to +20 dB) This sets the amount of cut/boost for the High band.
High Cut If this button is activated for the High band, it will act as a 
High Cut filter. The Gain parameter will be fixed.
Output (-20 to +20 dB) This parameter allows you to adjust the overall output level.
Left/Stereo/Right/Mono 
ModesFor stereo signals you can set independent curves for the 
left and right channels by clicking the corresponding but-
ton. If the Stereo mode is activated, the curve will be ap-
plied to both channels. 
When channel independent curves have been set, the left/
right channel curves will be colored green and red, respec-
tively. The currently non-selected channel is shown with a 
dotted curve. If you activate Stereo mode after independent 
curves have been set, the currently active curve will be ap-
plied to both channels.
Mono mode is automatically activated for mono signals 
and is otherwise unavailable. 
						

							CUBASE SX/SL
The included effect plug-ins 1 – 39
StepFilter
StepFilter is a pattern-controlled multimode filter that can create 
rhythmic, pulsating filter effects.
General operation
StepFilter can produce two simultaneous 16-step patterns for the fil-
ter cutoff and resonance parameters, synchronized to the sequencer 
tempo.
Setting step values
•Setting step values is done by clicking in the pattern grid windows.
•Individual step entries can be freely dragged up or down the vertical 
axis, or directly set by clicking in an empty grid box. By click-dragging 
left or right consecutive step entries will be set to the pointer position.
Setting filter cutoff values in the grid window.   
						

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•The horizontal axis shows the pattern steps 1-16 from left to right, and 
the vertical axis determines the (relative) filter cutoff frequency and 
resonance setting.
The higher up on the vertical axis a step value is entered, the higher the relative filter 
cutoff frequency or filter resonance setting.
•By starting playback and editing the patterns for the cutoff and reso-
nance parameters, you can hear how your filter patterns affect the 
sound source connected to StepFilter directly.
Selecting new patterns 
•Created patterns are saved with the project, and up to 8 different cut-
off and resonance patterns can be saved internally. 
Both the cutoff and resonance patterns are saved together in the 8 Pattern memories. 
•To select new patterns you use the pattern selector.
New patterns are all set to the same step value by default.
Pattern Selector
Using pattern copy and paste to create variations
You can use the Copy and Paste buttons below the pattern selector 
to copy a pattern to another pattern memory location, which is useful 
for creating variations on a pattern.
•Click the Copy button with the pattern you wish to copy selected, se-
lect another pattern memory location, and click Paste.
The pattern is copied to the new location, and can now be edited to create variations 
using the original pattern as a starting point.