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 program.
This is because the necessary drivers for the key are installed when you install the 
program.
If you’re upgrading from a previous version of Cubase SX/SL
In this case you already have a copy protection key – all you need to 
do is authorize that key for use with your new Cubase SX/SL version.
This is done by means of the Authorization Code included in the up-
grade package, after installing the program – see page 32!
Installing the audio hardware and its driver
1.Make sure you have the latest Mac OS X drivers for the audio hardware!
Please check the manufacturer’s web site for the latest versions.
2.Install the driver(s) for the audio hardware.
This is usually done by running an installer application.
3.Install or connect the audio interface, as described in the card’s 
documentation.
Installing a MIDI interface
1.Make sure you have the latest Mac OS X drivers for the MIDI interface!
Please check the manufacturer’s web site for the latest versions.
2.Install the driver(s) for the interface.
This is usually done by running an installer application.
3.Connect the MIDI interface to the computer, as described in the inter-
face documentation. 
						

							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 should make sure to defragment regularly.
Installing the files from the DVD-ROM
The installation procedure puts all files in the right places, automatically.
1.Insert the Cubase SX/SL DVD-ROM.
2.Locate the Cubase SX/SL installer and run it.
The installation procedure starts. This will create a Cubase SX/SL folder in your Appli-
cations folder and add various required files to your system.
3.At one point during the installation you will need to fill in your name 
and the serial number of your Cubase SX/SL copy.
You will find the serial number on the DVD sleeve.
4.You will be asked to read and confirm the license agreement (shown 
on screen).
This is required for the installation to proceed.
Finally, a dialog box informs you that the installation was successful.
Setting up the protection key
If you are a new Cubase SX/SL user:
1.After restarting the computer, plug in the hardware protection key into 
the USB port.
If you are unsure over which port this is, consult the computer’s documentation.
2.You are now ready to launch Cubase SX/SL! 
						

							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.
4.Launch the “License Control Center” application (found in the Appli-
cations folder).
This application allows you to view your USB protection keys and authorize them for 
new applications by downloading licenses.
5.Use the License Control Center “Wizard” functions to download a li-
cense for your new program version to your protection key.
This requires that you enter your Authorization Code – just follow the directions on 
screen. If you are uncertain about how to proceed, consult the help for LCC.
6.When the authorization is complete, you are ready to launch Cubase 
SX/SL!
This completes the installation of your Cubase SX/SL program! 
For information about product updates, you should check the Steinberg 
website regularly. Open the “Steinberg on the Web” submenu on the 
Help menu and select “Product Updates”. The website that opens con-
tains a list with the recent updates. 
						

							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 “SynchrosoftLicenseCon-
trol.pkg”.
The application “License Control Center” will be installed.
3.Plug in you Cubase SX/SL key into the USB port.
4.Connect to the internet.
5.Launch the application “License Control Center”.
This application allows you to view your USB protection keys and authorize them for 
new applications by downloading licenses.
6.Use the License Control Center “Wizard” function to download a 
license for your new program version to your protection key.
This requires that you enter your Authorization Code – just follow the directions on 
screen. If you are uncertain about how to proceed, consult the help for LCC.
7.When the authorization is complete, you can disconnect your copy 
protection key and plug it into the USB port of your audio computer.
Register your software!
Registering your software will make sure you are entitled to technical 
support and kept aware of updates and other news regarding Cubase 
SX/SL. For full support services, you need to register both online and 
by sending in you registration card.
For online registration, you need a working internet connection. 
Launch Cubase SX/SL, select “Register Online…” from the Cubase 
SX/SL menu and follow the instructions. If your computer does not 
have a working Internet connection, you can also register from another 
computer. 
						

							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 source, a mixer for 
example, and the outputs to a power amplifier and speaker.
A simple stereo audio setup.
Audio card inputsAudio card outputs
Amplifier and speakers
Source to be recorded
LRLR 
						

							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 be used 
for connecting audio sources like microphones, instruments, etc.
A multi-channel audio setup.
• When connecting an input source (like a mixer) to the audio hardware, 
you should use output buses, sends or similar that are separate from 
the mixer’s master output to avoid recording what you are playing back.
Audio    card inputsAudio card outputs
Amplifier and speakers Mixer Inputs
1 to 4Bus
1 to 4
LR 
						

							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 Insert ef-
fects in Cubase. This is done by configuring External FX Send/Return 
buses in the VST Connections window. Connected effects are se-
lectable from the effect pop-up menus just like internal effects.
Audio card inputsAudio card outputs
Amplifier and speakers
Source to be recorded
LRR C L
Rs/S LFELs/S
OutputsInputs
Effect processor Return Bus (from effect output)
Send Bus (to effect input)
USB/FireWireMultichannel audio interface 
						

							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 page 40).
• You can also grab audio tracks directly from a CD in Cubase SX/SL (see the 
Operation Manual). 
Word Clock connections
If you are using a digital audio connection you may also need a word 
clock connection between the audio hardware and external devices. 
Please refer to the documentation that came with the audio hardware 
for details.
It is very important that word clock synchronization is done correctly or 
there might be clicks and crackles in recordings that you make!
About recording levels and inputs
When you connect your equipment, you should make sure that the im-
pedance and levels of the audio sources and inputs are matched. 
Typically, different inputs may be designed for use with microphones, 
consumer line level (-10 dBV) or professional line level (+4 dBV), or 
you may be able to adjust input characteristics on the audio interface 
or in its control panel. Please check the audio hardware documenta-
tion for details.
Using the correct types of input is important to avoid distortion or 
noisy recordings. For more information about checking input levels, 
see page 110.
Cubase SX/SL does not provide any input level adjustments for the sig-
nals coming in to your audio hardware, since these are handled differently 
for each card. Adjusting input levels is either done in a special application 
included with the hardware or from its control panel (see below).  
						

							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 equipment you use for 
monitoring.
• Selecting digital input and output formats.
• Making settings for the audio buffers.
In many cases all available settings for the audio hardware are gath-
ered in a control panel, which can be opened from within Cubase SX/
SL as described below (or opened separately, when Cubase SX/SL 
isn’t running). In some cases there may be several different applica-
tions and panels – please refer to the audio hardware documentation 
for details.