Steinberg Groove Agent 3 Operation Manual

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Tool Tips
After having used Groove Agent 3 for a while, you may want to live 
without the helpful Tool Tips. Do so by unticking this box.
Limit memory usage
If activated, Groove Agent will use less memory because changing 
from classic to dual mode or vice versa will empty the previously se-
lected modules. For example, if you go from Groove Agent classic to 
dual mode and load Special Agent in the upper module, Groove 
Agent classic will be unloaded. Also, if you change back to Groove 
Agent classic, all dual mode modules will be unloaded and classic 
mode will be loaded again.
Groove Agent 3 Credits
The all important Credits page informs you who’s been involved in 
making this instrument. It also shows the version number of Groove 
Agent 3. 
Steinberg Website
Pressing this button takes you to the Steinberg website, where you 
can get online support, check for updates, get answers to frequently 
asked questions, etc. These features require that you have a working 
Internet connection. 
						

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Audio outputs
You can decide how many stereo outputs you need for Groove Agent 
3 by choosing a number here. Each output will create a new mixer 
channel in you host audio mixer.
Please note that Groove Agent 3 will have to be removed from the VST 
instrument rack and re-opened again for changes to be effective. 
MIDI Output
When MIDI Output is active, this status is shown by a MIDI plug sym-
bol in the LCD window. Click the symbol to turn this function on/off.
One very strong feature in Groove Agent is its ability to write a MIDI 
part containing the notes you actually hear! When this feature is ac-
tive, Groove Agent in Classic Mode and the Groove Agent module in 
the UPPER slot (in Dual Mode) can write a MIDI part. The MIDI Output 
switch really opens up a whole world of possibilities!
If you arrange your drumming in real-time with your sequencer in 
record mode (you should try it – this was our ultimate goal when de-
signing Groove Agent), a MIDI part will be created as you go along. 
After this stage you are free to open that newly created part and per-
form various tasks: 
•Delete, add, copy or move individual notes.  
						

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•Copy any desired length of this new part into another section of the 
song or into another song altogether.
•Use another kind of quantizing or dynamics. 
•Copy the entire part, delete the kick drum in the original part and de-
lete all other instruments in the copy part on another track. Now you 
can assign the kick part to another virtual or physical instrument, e.g. 
your favorite sampler. If you’re using a Cubase drum map, this whole 
operation is even simpler. 
The MIDI Output feature really belongs to the outskirts of the VST proto-
col. We’re pushing the limits here. We have no idea what MIDI Output 
may do (or not do) in every available host program. We only guarantee 
that MIDI Output works correctly in Steinberg’s Cubase and Nuendo. 
It’s usually a good idea to turn on the SysEx (System Exclusive) filter in 
your sequencer when using Groove Agent. If you don’t filter out 
SysEx, the Run and Stop commands are written into the MIDI part, 
causing Groove Agent’s engine to start playing along with the incom-
ing MIDI data. If you filter out SysEx, the Run and Stop commands 
aren’t written into the MIDI part and life becomes generally easier. 
It is advisable to turn off your sequencer’s auto quantize function when 
Groove Agent writes a MIDI track. You can always quantize the drum-
ming later, if you want to.
You may choose to direct Groove Agent’s MIDI output to either a 
MIDI part in your host – as described above – or to a MIDI file on your 
desktop. The switch has three positions:
Off – Groove Agent does not output any MIDI notes.
Live to host – When selected, Groove Agent will output the notes it 
plays to the host. If the host is in record mode, those notes will appear 
in a newly created MIDI part.
Record to file – In this mode, Groove Agent will record a MIDI file for 
you and place it on your desktop.  
						

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If you use the “Record to file” option, remember to set the MIDI Out-
put switch to OFF when you’re finished. This action actually instructs 
Groove Agent 3 to write that file. You can then import said MIDI file 
into your song for further tweaking. Just use the “Import MIDI File” 
function of your host, or common drag and drop import if you prefer, 
and you’re there. Please note that every time you start Groove Agent 
in this mode, any previous MIDI file will be overwritten.
Please note that Groove Agent in Classic Mode and a Groove Agent 
module loaded into the UPPER part of Dual Mode will output MIDI note 
data. A Groove Agent module in Dual Mode lower half will NOT output 
any MIDI note data.
Actually, you CAN use MIDI files exported from Groove Agent to feed a 
Groove Agent module loaded into the lower half (in Dual Mode). Just re-
member to change the MIDI channel for that part to channel 2, as the 
lower module only listens to that MIDI channel.  
						

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MIDI Mute Key Mode
When controlling Groove Agent from a MIDI keyboard, there are alter-
native methods for muting and un-muting groups. Choose the method 
that suits you best.
Toggle – White keys in the range C4-C5 switch instrument groups 
1-8 on and off. 
Velocity Switch – Notes with high velocity (>64) mute groups, notes 
with low velocity un-mute groups.
While Held – Groups are temporarily muted (or un-muted, depending 
on their current status) while notes are held. 
When host stops
You can choose how you want Groove Agent to react to Run and 
Stop commands. This switch offers two alternatives:
•Selecting “When Host Stops -> Pause Playback” puts your drummer 
in waiting mode whenever the host is stopped. 
•Selecting “When Host Stops -> Stop Playback” means that Groove 
Agent has to be restarted manually.
Save current settings as default
You may want Groove Agent 3 to have your own settings every time 
you start it. If so, adjust all parameters to your liking and press the 
“Save current setting as default” button on this page.  
						

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Creating a drum track with Groove Agent 3
When you want to add drums to your music, your scenario may be ei-
ther one of these two: 
1.Your sequencer program is an empty screen but you have very defi-
nite musical ideas in your head. You want to start with the drums.
2.A couple of instruments and/or vocals have already been recorded, 
and now you want to add a drum arrangement. Groove Agent offers at 
least three different ways of creating a drum track:
Method 1 – Play along with your song in real-time, using your se-
quencer’s automation to capture every move you make. Those moves 
can include “non-musical” events like real-time tweaking of sound pa-
rameters (edit knobs etc.).
•Advantage: After recording, you can edit your moves in great detail. 
Your own knob tweaking gets recorded as editable MIDI events. For 
sequencers that don’t accept MIDI output from a VST instrument, this 
is one of a few workarounds. Note: MIDI editing is not available for 
Special Agent and Percussion Agent modules.
•Disadvantage: You cannot edit individual hits in Groove Agent’s 
drumming this way, although you can always add individual hits by 
playing them live on your MIDI keyboard.
Method 2 – Play along with your song in real-time, using the Groove 
Agent panel controls to create a living and breathing drum track. Your 
sequencer records the MIDI notes output by Groove Agent in a MIDI 
part. The MIDI Output switch must be activated for this to work. We 
believe this is the most intuitive and creative way to create a drum 
track.
•Advantage: “What-you-hear-is-what-you-get”. The drum part will 
sound identical to your performance. Also, it’s easy to delete, add, 
copy or move individual notes in the newly created drum part. You can 
re-direct certain notes to trigger drum sounds in another instrument, 
like e.g. a sampler. Note: MIDI editing is not available for Special 
Agent and Percussion Agent modules. 
						

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•Disadvantage: If you want to use a lot of dynamic controls, like the 
Compressor knob fading in and out or switching snare drums during a 
song, these events are not captured, only the MIDI notes streaming 
out of Groove Agent.
Of course, you can mix these two methods of working, by automating 
Groove Agent to map out the song and then recording its output to a 
MIDI track for fine tuning. You can think of this as rendering Groove 
Agent’s output to a MIDI track, like you can render the audio output of 
plug-ins to an audio track. Of course, you can render Groove Agent’s 
output to an audio track, too!
Method 3 – First create a series of settings using the Memory func-
tion. One setting may be perfect for the verse, the next one for the 
chorus and so on. When you are happy with the individual memory 
setups, you can map out the song by switching between memories 
while it plays.
•Advantage: Since the Memories capture EVERYTHING currently on 
screen, this is the only way to switch instantly between different com-
plexity levels or even between different styles and kits! This is the 
method to use if it’s really drastic changes you’re after.
•Disadvantage: Switching between pre-set scenarios may seem a bit 
static, since fills and real-time variations will need to be recorded or 
programmed separately.
The creative musician may combine any of these methods to obtain the 
ultimate drum track, one that includes an editable MIDI part with moving 
knobs and instant switching between levels, styles and kits!
Here’s a slightly different angle: Set up a suitable controller – like a 
five octave MIDI keyboard – the way you like it. Then record a MIDI 
performance of pattern start, stop, select, fill, parameter adjustments 
and individual drum hits. This method can be used with Groove 
Agent’s MIDI output active or not. 
						

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Using Groove Agent’s MIDI output (Live to 
host) in Cubase SX
Not all hosts can handle MIDI output from a plug-in, but these steps 
work fine in Cubase SX:
1.Open Groove Agent in your VST instruments rack. Select Groove 
Agent as your input (and de-select it as an output to avoid double trig-
gering) on the desired MIDI track. Go to the Setup page and make 
sure that MIDI Output is set to “Live to host”. For most situations, the 
auto quantize function in your sequencer should be turned OFF. 
You’re now ready to start recording your drum track.
2.Start recording in Cubase SX. Record your drums. In this mode, FX 
and drum sound settings won’t be recorded, only the drum notes. 
When the song or section of the song is over, hit Groove Agent’s 
Stop button and then the Stop button in Cubase.
3.In order to hear what you just recorded, make sure that the MIDI track 
you’re using has its output set to Groove Agent. If not, it may output 
notes to another VSTi or external module, and you won’t hear Groove 
Agent play back the rhythm.
Using Groove Agent’s MIDI output (Record to 
file)
When using the standalone version of Groove Agent, or when using a 
host that doesn’t support “Live to host” MIDI output, you can still use 
the “Record to file” method for outputting MIDI.
On Groove Agent’s Setup page, set MIDI output to “Record to file”. 
Now everything Groove Agent plays will be recorded as MIDI.
To stop recording and save the MIDI file, return to the Setup page and 
set MIDI output to “Off”. A MIDI file named “Groove Agent Out-
put.MID” will be saved to your desktop.
•Note: In Dual Mode, only a Groove Agent placed in the Upper slot will 
output MIDI. Special Agent and Percussion Agent don’t output MIDI. 
						

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•Note: Every time Groove Agent writes a MIDI file to the desktop, any ex-
isting file with that name (“Groove Agent Output.MID”) will be overwrit-
ten.
•Note: In Classic Mode, the MIDI channel used to play back an imported 
MIDI file doesn’t matter; Groove Agent will listen on all channels (this is 
sometimes called Omni Mode). However, in Dual Mode, the Upper agent 
will only listen on channel 1, and the Lower agent only on channel 2.
Using host automation in Cubase SX
Probably the most powerful way of automating Groove Agent is by us-
ing the host’s automation (sometimes also called VST automation). 
Here’s how that’s done in Cubase SX:
1.Open Groove Agent in your VST instruments rack. From Groove 
Agent’s panel, activate the Write button (W). Look in the Cubase SX 
project window, and you’ll notice that a new track called VST Instru-
ments, plus another track below it, have been created. For most situa-
tions, the auto quantize function in your sequencer should be turned 
OFF. You’re now ready to start recording your drum track.
2.Start Cubase SX. When it’s time for the drums to start playing, hit the 
Run button (with or without a fill being armed, remember?). Drag the 
sliders, push the buttons and turn the knobs until your drum track 
sounds right. When the song or section of the song is over, hit 
Groove Agent’s Stop button and then Cubase’s Stop button.
3.After recording, right-click the VST Instrument automation track and 
select “Show used automation for all tracks”. All the automation 
classes (Run/Stop, Fill, Pattern Select etc.) will have a separate track.
4.Click the Read button (R) in Groove Agent or in one of the newly cre-
ated automation sub-tracks. Now you’ll see the actual data in all the 
tracks. This data can be freely edited.
5.To prevent unintentional overwriting of data, make sure the Write but-
ton is only lit when you deliberately want to overwrite the automation 
data. 
						

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Composing with Groove Agent’s Memory slots 
in Cubase SX
For more drastic changes, i.e. if you want to change style, kit and sound 
in one go, the Memory buttons come into play. Proceed as follows.
1.Open Groove Agent 3 in your VST instruments rack. Prepare settings 
for the various parts of your song in Groove Agent 3 and save those 
“snapshots” in different memory locations. You may want to use one 
snapshot for the first verse and another snapshot for the chorus etc.
2.From Groove Agent’s panel, activate the Write button (W). Look in 
the Cubase project window, and you’ll notice that a new track called 
VST Instruments, plus another track below it, have been created. For 
most situations, the auto quantize function in your sequencer should 
be turned OFF. You’re now ready to start recording your drum track.
3.Start Cubase SX. Record your drum track by hitting Run and select-
ing different Memory slots when you reach various sections of your 
song. When the song or section of the song is over, hit Groove 
Agent’s Stop button and then Cubase’s Stop button.
4.After recording, right click on the VST Instrument Automation track 
and select “Show used automation for all tracks”. All the automation 
classes (Run/Stop, Fill, Pattern Select etc.) will be on a separate 
track.
5.Click the Read button (R) in Groove Agent or in one of the newly cre-
ated automation sub-tracks. Now you’ll see the actual data in all the 
tracks. This data can be freely edited.
6.To prevent unintentional overwriting of data, make sure the Write but-
ton is only lit when you deliberately want to overwrite the automation 
data.