Steinberg Cubase SX/SL 3 Getting Started Manual

CUBASE SX/SLInstallation and Requirements for Mac OS X 3 – 31
Hardware installation
About the copy protection key – please read!
New users
Included with the Cubase SX/SL package, you will find a hardware key 
(sometimes referred to as a “dongle”) that is part of the Cubase SX/SL 
copy protection scheme. Cubase SX/SL will not run if this key isn’t in-
stalled properly.
•You should first install the program (and any necessary hardware, see 
below), then insert the protection key and finally launch the...

CUBASE SX/SL3 – 32 Installation and Requirements for Mac OS X
Installing Cubase SX/SL
Defragment the hard disk
If you plan to record audio on a hard disk where you have already 
stored other files, now is the time to defragment it. Defragmentation 
reorganizes the physical allocation of space on the hard disk in order 
to optimize its performance. It is done with a special defragmentation 
program.
It is crucial to the audio recording performance that your hard disk is op-
timized (defragmented). You...

CUBASE SX/SLInstallation and Requirements for Mac OS X 3 – 33
If you are upgrading from a previous Cubase SX/SL version and have a 
working internet connection: 
Before launching the program you need to authorize the protection 
key for use with your new Cubase SX/SL version.
1.After restarting the computer, plug in your Cubase SX/SL key into the 
USB port.
2.Make sure that your computer has a working internet connection.
3.Locate the Authorization Code in the upgrade package and keep it at 
hand....

CUBASE SX/SL3 – 34 Installation and Requirements for Mac OS X
If you are upgrading from a previous Cubase SX/SL version and have 
no working internet connection: 
Before launching the program you need to authorize the protection 
key for use with your new Cubase SX/SL version.
1.Insert your program CD into a second computer with internet connec-
tion or go to an internet cafe.
2.Open the folder “Additional Content/Copy Protection Driver” on the 
program CD and double clic on the file...

4
Setting up your system 

CUBASE SX/SL4 – 36 Setting up your system
Setting up audio
Always make all connections with all equipment turned off!
Connecting audio
Exactly how to set up your system is a very personal matter – the fol-
lowing connection diagrams should be taken as examples.
The audio connections below may be digital or analog, it doesn’t matter.
Stereo input and output – the simplest connection
If you only use a stereo input and output from Cubase SX/SL, you can 
connect your audio hardware directly to the input...

CUBASE SX/SLSetting up your system 4 – 37
Multi-channel input and output
Most likely however, you will have other audio equipment that you 
want to integrate with Cubase SX/SL. This will require a mixer, prefer-
ably one with a group or bus system that can be used for feeding in-
puts on the audio hardware.
In the example below, four buses are used for feeding signals to the 
audio hardware’s inputs. The four outputs are connected back to the 
mixer for monitoring and playback. Remaining mixer inputs can...

CUBASE SX/SL4 – 38 Setting up your system
Connecting for surround sound (Cubase SX only)
If you plan to mix for surround sound, you could connect the audio 
outputs to a multi-channel power amplifier, driving a set of surround 
channels.
A surround sound playback configuration.
Cubase SX supports surround formats with up to 6 speaker channels. 
The figure above shows a 5.1 surround setup.
Connecting external effect processors (Cubase SX only)
You can connect external effects and use these as Send or...

CUBASE SX/SLSetting up your system 4 – 39
Recording from a CD player
Most computers come with a CD-ROM drive that can also be used as 
a regular CD player. In some cases the CD player is internally con-
nected to the audio hardware so that you can record the output of the 
CD player directly into Cubase SX/SL (consult the audio hardware 
documentation if you are uncertain).
• All routing and level adjustments for recording from a CD (if available) are 
done in the audio hardware setup application (see...

CUBASE SX/SL4 – 40 Setting up your system
Making settings for the audio hardware
Most audio cards come with one or more small applications that allow 
you to configure the inputs of the hardware to your liking. 
This includes:
• Selecting which inputs/outputs are active.
• Setting up word clock synchronization (if available).
• Turning monitoring via the hardware on/off (see page 46).
• Setting levels for each input. This is very important!
• Setting levels for the outputs, so that they match the...