Steinberg Cubase SX/SL 3 Using DSP Factory Manual

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Wordclock Settings
The right half of the Routing window contains wordclock settings. 
These are used to determine which sample rate should be used for 
the audio playback and recording. Use the buttons to select one of 
the following options:
If you switch sample rate between 44.1 and 48 kHz, the audio output will 
be reset. When this happens, your mouse pointer may be “stuck” for a 
short moment - this is nothing to worry about.
Option Description
Int 44.1 kHz The internal clock is used, with a sample rate of 44.1 kHz.
Int 48 kHz The internal clock is used, with a sample rate of 48 kHz.
Ext. SI This can be used when you have another DS2416 or an SW1000XG 
card installed. Selecting this option means that the current DS2416 
card is “slaved” to the other card so that they play back with the exact 
same sample rate. 
In a configuration with two DS2416 cards, this option also works as a 
Cascade switch, as described on page 45.
Ext. IOA If you have an input/output unit which provides wordclock (connected 
as unit A), selecting this option synchronizes the DS2416 to the word-
clock signal received by the i/o unit. 
You may for example have an input/output unit with an ADAT interface, 
connected to another digital recorder - activating this option makes this 
recorder the master and DS2416 the slave.
Ext. IOB As “ext. IOA” but for an i/o unit connected as unit B.
Ext. S/PDIF When this is selected, wordclock is received from the digital input on 
the DS2416. The card accepts sample rates between 30.08 and 50.88 
kHz (32 kHz to 48 kHz, ±6%).
Vari 44.1 kHz Select this if you need to make use of the DS2416’s varispeed capabil-
ity. Using the dial below, you can adjust the sample rate ± 6% around 
44.1 kHz.
Vari 48 kHz As above, but variable ±6% around 48 kHz.
FS Detected Displays the sample rate currently detected by the system.
S/PDIF Prof.Switches the digital output between Professional and Consumer modes.  
						

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Changing the Input Routing
With the default routing of physical Inputs (see page 12), you only 
have access to the analog and digital inputs on the actual DS2416 
card, not to any inputs on additional input/output units. If you have one 
or two input/output units installed, you may want to connect the inputs 
on these units to DS channels that normally take their input from Cu-
base SX/SL. This is done using the Input pop-up menus in the Input 
Console window:
1.Open the Input Console window.
2.Locate a DS channel for which you want to change the input routing.
Note that there are restrictions as to which inputs can be connected to which channels. 
This means that you cannot route any input to any DS channel - rather there is a fixed 
connection between the different inputs and the DS channels, as described below.
3.Select “Bus Assign” or “Aux Assign” mode for the channel’s Lower 
display, to show the Input pop-up menu.
It doesn’t matter which of these modes you select.
4.Pull down the Input pop-up menu and select the desired input.
The table on the next page shows which inputs can be selected for 
each DS channel. Inputs on additional i/o units are labelled IOA1, IOA2, 
IOB1 or IOB2. “A/B” indicates whether the unit is connected as unit A 
or B, and “1/2” indicates a four-input unit (“1”) or an eight-input unit 
(“2”). “IOB2” therefore means “an eight-input unit connected as unit B”. 
The “SUB” inputs are described on page 47. 
						

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Channel Input Options
1VST 1 IOB2-1 
2VST 2 IOB2-2
3VST 3 IOB2-3
4VST 4 IOB2-4
5VST 5 IOB2-5
6VST 6 IOB2-6
7VST 7 IOB2-7
8VST 8 IOB2-8
9VST 9 IOB1-1 SUB 1 IOA2-1
10 VST 10 IOB1-2 SUB 2 IOA2-2
11 VST 11 IOB1-3 SUB 3 IOA2-3
12 VST 12 IOB1-4 SUB 4 IOA2-4
13 VST 13 IOA1-1 SUB 5 IOA2-5
14 VST 14 IOA1-2 SUB 6 IOA2-6
15 VST 15 IOA1-3 SUB 7 IOA2-7
16 VST 16 IOA1-4 SUB 8 IOA2-8
17 Analog In L IOA1-1 SUB 1 IOA2-1
18 Analog In R IOA1-2 SUB 2 IOA2-2
19 Digital In L IOA1-3 SUB 3 IOA2-3
20 Digital In R IOA1-4 SUB 4 IOA2-4
21 FX 1 Return L SUB 5 IOA2-5
22 FX 1 Return R SUB 6 IOA2-6
23 FX 2 Return L SUB 7 IOA2-7
24 FX 2 Return R SUB 8 IOA2-8 
						

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Changing the Output Routing
It is possible to route each bus or send (except Aux 5-6) to any output 
or any combination of outputs. However, it is not possible to route 
several different busses to the same output. Output routing is done in 
the Routing window:
1.Open the Routing window.
2.Locate the output you want to access, in the list to the left.
Note that the outputs listed are outputs pairs. The “DS2416” output pairs are connected 
to the Cubase SX/SL Inputs, while the “IOA” and “IOB” output pairs are outputs on ad-
ditional i/o units, connected as unit A and B, respectively. 
						

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3.Pull down the pop-up menu next to the output and select the desired 
Aux or Bus Send pair.
Even though the Aux Sends are selected in pairs, it is not possible to 
use them as “stereo sends”, since the pan setting of the channel is not 
taken into account. If you need stereo sends (for external stereo input 
effects or stereo monitoring), use the Bus sends in Post Pan mode. 
						

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Single-Track Recording
Recording a single mono or stereo Track in Cubase SX/SL with the 
DSP Factory is easily done, using the default signal routing:
Recording a Mono Track
In this section we assume that you are recording a signal connected to 
one of the analog or digital inputs on the DS2416 card, and that you are 
monitoring using the analog or digital outputs on the card.
1.In Cubase SX/SL, Record Enable the desired audio mono Track.
2.Select an Input for the Track by pulling down the Input pop-up menu 
in the Mixer.
In this example, we assume that you select “IN 1”.
3.Open the DSP Factory Input Console window and locate the DS 
channel to which the input sound source is connected.
With the default signal routing, the analog inputs on the DS2416 are connected to 
channels 17 and 18, while the digital inputs are connected to channels 19 and 20.
4.Make sure the Meter “Post” button is deactivated in the common 
panel in the Input Console window.
This will make the channel level meters show the input level, pre-fader.
5.Open the Channel Overview window and select the relevant DS 
Channel.
6.Play the input sound source and adjust the input level with the Atten-
uator control.
The signal should be as loud as possible, without reaching 0 dB.
7.Set up the sound the way you want it.
This may include EQ-ing and using the channel’s Dynamics processor. If you want to 
record with effects, this is described on page 39.
8.Select the Bus Send mode for the channel’s Upper display.
The Bus Sends are displayed. By default, these are used to route signals into Cubase 
SX/SL for recording.
9.Locate the Bus Send corresponding to the Input you selected in step 2.
In our example, this would be Bus Send 1. 
						

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10.Make sure the Post Pan button is deactivated, activate the Bus Send 
and turn its send level knob fully up.
Make sure this Bus Send is deactivated for all other DS Channels, to 
avoid leakage or re-recording background Tracks!
11.Open the Bus/Aux Console window and check the level for the acti-
vated Bus (in our example, Bus 1).
This shows you the level of the signal that will be recorded into Cubase SX/SL. Again, 
this should be as high as possible without reaching 0dB - use the channel fader and 
the Bus fader to adjust it.
The Stereo Mix fader in the Input Console can not be used for adjusting 
recording levels in this setup. Rather it is used for your monitoring level.
12.Activate recording in Cubase SX/SL as usual.
Recording a Stereo Track
In this section we assume that you are recording a stereo signal con-
nected to the analog or digital inputs on the DS2416 card, and that you 
are monitoring using the analog or digital outputs on the card.
1.In Cubase SX/SL, Record Enable the desired stereo audio Track.
2.Select an Input for the Track by pulling down the Input pop-up menu 
in the Mixer.
In this example, we assume that you select “IN 1/IN 2”.
3.Open the DSP Factory Input Console window and locate the DS 
channels to which the input sound source is connected.
With the default signal routing, the analog inputs on the DS2416 are connected to 
channels 17 and 18, while the digital inputs are connected to channels 19 and 20.
4.Pan the two channels fully left/right.
5.Link the two channels by clicking the green triangle just below the Pan 
control.
Now all settings you make are automatically “mirrored” for the other channel in the 
stereo pair. 
						

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6.Make sure the Meter “Post” button is deactivated in the common 
panel in the Input Console window.
This will make the channel level meters show the input level, pre-fader.
7.Open the Channel Overview window and select one of the channels 
in the stereo pair.
8.Play the input sound source and adjust the input level with the Atten-
uator control.
The signal should be as loud as possible, without reaching 0 dB. You may want to 
check the level of the other channel in the stereo pair as well, in case it is louder.
9.Set up the sound the way you want it.
This may include EQ-ing and using the channel’s Dynamics processor. If you want to 
record with effects, this is described on page 39.
10.Select the Bus Send mode for the channels’ Upper displays and locate 
the Bus Sends corresponding to the Inputs you selected in step 2 
above.
In our example, this would be Bus Sends 1 and 2.
11.Make sure the Post Pan button is activated, activate the Bus Sends 
and turn their send level knobs fully up.
With the Post Pan button activated, a left-panned channel sends its signal to the odd-
numbered bus in a pair, and vice versa.
12.Make sure these Bus Sends are deactivated for all other DS Channels, 
to avoid leakage or re-recording background Tracks!
13.Open the Bus/Aux Console window and check the level for the acti-
vated Busses (in our example, Bus 1 and 2).
This shows you the level of the signals that will be recorded into Cubase SX/SL. If 
necessary, adjust the channel and Bus faders.
The Stereo Mix fader in the Input Console can not be used for adjusting 
recording levels in this setup. Rather it is used for your monitoring level.
14.Activate recording in Cubase SX/SL as usual. 
						

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Recording with Effects
If you like to add effects to the signal you are recording, proceed as 
follows:
1.Set up the controls as described above (for mono or stereo recording).
2.Activate Aux Sends 5 and/or 6 for the input channel(s), and set their 
send level knobs to medium values.
If you want the sends to be Post fader, activate the Post buttons for the sends.
3.Make sure the FX Return channels are not muted or have their levels 
turned down.
4.Open the FX Editor window.
A quick way to open this window is to click the FX Show button in the Input Console.
5.Play the input source, select effects and make adjustments until you 
get the desired sound.
The adjustments may include changing the send levels, FX parameter settings, return 
levels and even EQ or Dynamics on the FX Return channels.
6.Activate the Bus Sends for the FX Return channels, and set them up 
in the same way as the input channels.
Now, the effect sound will be sent into Cubase SX/SL along with the “dry” sound. 
Note that you may have to lower the recording level in the Bus/Aux Console to avoid 
clipping.
7.Record as usual. 
						

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Multi-Track Recording
The DSP Factory system makes it possible to record up to eight sep-
arate audio Tracks at the same time (in a setup with one DS2416 
card). Proceed as follows:
In this section we assume that you have at least one additional input/
output unit installed, and that you are recording mono signals from sev-
eral different inputs at the same time, while monitoring through the an-
alog or digital outputs on the card.
1.In Cubase SX/SL, activate Record Enable for the Tracks on which you 
want to record.
Make sure that the Tracks all have different Inputs selected.
2.In the DSP Factory Input Console window, use the Input pop-up 
menus (in the Lower display in Aux or Bus Assign mode) to select the 
physical inputs which you want to record from.
There is a fixed relation between the inputs and the DS channels - see page 32 for a 
listing of the channels and their corresponding physical inputs.
3.Check and adjust the input level for each used channel, as in the pre-
vious examples.
4.Select the Bus Send mode for the input channels’ Upper displays, 
and make sure the Post Pan switches are deactivated and the send 
levels are fully turned up.
In this example, we assume you are recording several separate mono signals. There-
fore the Post Pan switches should be turned off, so that the panning doesn’t affect the 
level of the recorded signals.
You could also record several stereo signals, or a mix of mono and stereo signals. In 
those cases, you would want to use two busses for each stereo channel pair, activate 
the Post Pan switches for these busses, and use the pan controls to direct the channel 
signals to odd/even busses.
5.Activate one Bus Send for each input channel, so that they are routed 
to different Cubase SX/SL Inputs.
Make sure these Bus Sends are deactivated for all other DS Channels, 
to avoid leakage or re-recording background Tracks!