Steinberg Sequel 3 Operation Manual

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Advanced Features
Introduction
In this chapter, you will get to know the advanced features in Sequel.
Some of the following sections make reference to tutorial projects, located in the 
default Sequel project folder.
Adding Silence
Adding silence allows you to mute sections of an audio event. This is great for erasing 
unwanted clicks or glitches, and for removing headphone bleed from vocal tracks or 
any other extraneous noise. The process is non-destructive.
•Load the project “Adding Silence 1” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 5” folder.
This is a simple project with drums, bass, guitar, and an organ track.
The guitar track was recorded by placing a microphone in front of the amp. Therefore, 
there is a lot of noise present when the guitarist was not playing anything. To clean it 
up, proceed as follows:
1.Select the Guitar event.
2.In the Multi Zone, open the Editor Page.
When you move the mouse pointer over the waveform, it changes to a Range 
Selection tool.
3.Find an area where the guitarist was not playing. There is an area right at the 
beginning and in between the first and second bar. Click and drag to highlight the 
section. Zoom in if you need to see more detail.
The selection area turns gray. 
4.Point the mouse at the left and then at the right edge of the selection. 
The mouse pointer changes, allowing you to adjust the size of the selection by 
clicking and dragging. 
						

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Advanced FeaturesAbout Time Stretch and Pitch Shift Algorithms
5.Adjust the selection so that it is as close as possible to the audio that you want to 
keep.
6.Press [Delete] or [Backspace] on your computer keyboard to remove the selection 
and create silence.
7.Add silence to any other areas in the Guitar event that you think might need it.
•Load the project “Adding Silence 2” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 5” folder to hear 
the project now that silence has been added.
About Time Stretch and Pitch Shift Algorithms
Sequel offers various functions where audio is time stretched or pitch shifted, for 
example, audio quantization, Free Warp, and transposing, see 
“Audio Quantization 
and Free Warp” on page 103 and “Edit Audio – Transpose” on page 87. In the 
Sample Editor, you can choose between different algorithms that perform the time 
stretch and pitch shift in realtime.
The “Set Time Stretch Mode” pop-up menu contains algorithm presets for time 
stretching and pitch shifting. It is sorted into category submenus based on the 
underlying technology: élastique or Standard. 
The élastique Pro algorithm is an algorithm for high-quality time stretching and pitch 
shifting. It is suited for all kinds of audio recordings and for both polyphonic and 
monophonic material. The audio quality is superior to the Standard algorithm. The 
following modes are available:
ModeDescription
élastique – DefaultThis mode offers the best audio quality, without formant preservation. 
This means that Mickey Mouse effects can occur when transposing 
audio (especially vocals). If this is not what you want, use the 
Formant mode.
élastique – Tape 
ModeIn this mode, the pitch shifting is locked to the time stretching, as if 
playing back a tape with varying speed. Stretching the audio to a 
longer duration automatically decreases its pitch.
élastique – FormantThis mode provides formant preservation, meaning that the timbre of 
the audio is kept. 
						

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Advanced FeaturesAudio Quantization and Free Warp
The Standard algorithm is optimized for CPU-efficient realtime processing. The 
following presets are available:
Audio Quantization and Free Warp
Audio quantization and free warp allow you to edit the timing and tempo of audio 
events. For that purpose the audio data is time stretched. You can choose between 
different algorithms that perform the time stretching in realtime. For more information 
about these algorithms, see 
“About Time Stretch and Pitch Shift Algorithms” on page 
102.
Audio Quantization
The Quantize function in Sequel is automatic and very useful for quickly locking drum 
tracks to the project tempo.
•Load the project “Audio Quantize” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 5” folder.
This project contains a Drums event with a few timing issues.
1.Press [Space] to start playback and hear how the drum beat strays off time.
2.Activate the metronome to hear the mistakes more clearly.
3.Double-click the Drums event to view it in the Sample Editor.
4.Click the “Project Tempo” button to lock the event tempo to the project tempo.
OptionDescription
Standard – DrumsThis mode is best for percussive sounds, as it does not change the 
timing of your audio. Using this option with certain tuned percussion 
instruments may lead to audible artifacts. In this case, try the Mix 
mode as an alternative.
Standard – PluckedUse this mode for audio with transients and a relatively stable 
spectral sound character (for example, plucked instruments).
Standard – PadsUse this mode for pitched audio with slower rhythm and a stable 
spectral sound character. This minimizes sound artifacts, but the 
rhythmic accuracy is not preserved.
Standard – VocalsThis mode is suitable for slower signals with transients and a 
prominent tonal character (for example, vocals).
Standard – MixThis mode preserves the rhythm and minimizes the artifacts for 
pitched material that does not meet the above criteria (that is, with a 
less homogenous sound character). 
Standard – SoloThis mode preserves the timbre of the audio. Only use it for 
monophonic material (for example, solo woodwind/brass 
instruments or solo vocals, monophonic synths, or string instruments 
that do not play harmonies).
Metronome On/Off 
						

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Advanced FeaturesAudio Quantization and Free Warp
5.Open the “Time Stretch Mode” pop-up menu, open the Standard submenu, and 
select “Standard – Mix”.
6.Make sure that the right audio length is set and that the grid lines are positioned at 
the visible beats. In this example, leave everything as it is.
7.Set the Quantize value to 1/4.
You can see the audio file locking to the nearest quarter note.
8.Activate the “Enable/Disable Quantize” option.
The audio automatically snaps to the selected Quantize value.
9.Play back the project; it is now in perfect time.
Free Warp
Sometimes, an event might need a bit of manual adjustment as well. That is where 
Free Warp comes in handy. Warp tabs are a kind of anchor that can be attached to 
musically relevant time positions in the audio, such as the first beat of every bar. They 
allow you to effortlessly stretch and warp audio.
•Load the project “Audio Warp” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 5” folder.
1.Double-click the Drums event to view it in the Sample Editor.
2.Make sure that “Project Tempo” is activated, and activate the “Free Warp Tool” 
button.
In this mode, you can adjust the timing of the audio file by creating warp tabs and 
dragging them to match up properly with the bars and beats in the ruler. The audio 
is stretched accordingly. 
3.Determine where the first beat of a bar in the audio event does not match the 
corresponding ruler position in the waveform. Click at the beginning of this beat to 
create a warp tab.
!On c e s e t , th e  po s it i on  of a w arp  t ab  re lat i v e t o a b e at  is  fi xe d. M ov in g  a wa rp t ab  i n  th e  
waveform always affects the timing. 
						

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Advanced FeaturesStep Envelope Editing
4.Drag the Warp tab left or right to the correct ruler time position.
The audio is stretched accordingly.
5.Repeat this procedure for any drum beats that are off time. Keep listening back to 
make sure that you are getting the correct result.
If you are not satisfied, you have two options:
•You can delete a warp tab by clicking the triangle at the top of the ruler. 
By deleting the warp tab the stretching is also reset.
•You can click the “Reset Warping” button.
This way, all manually adjusted warp tabs are reset.
•You can perform a new auto quantization by selecting a new Quantize value.
Congratulations! You have successfully warped an audio file to fit the bars and beats 
of your project.
Step Envelope Editing
The Sample Editor contains a Step Envelopes section. With step envelopes you can 
manipulate different parameters of your audio loops (such as level, pitch, or pan), 
producing versatile variations of an audio loop.
Working with step envelopes includes two major workflows: 
- Defining steps (audio segments) for your audio loop, and adjusting them 
according to your needs. 
- Adding and editing the step envelopes themselves. 
You can edit different types of envelopes, that is, value sequences with one value per 
step. Sequel offers the following envelope types: Level, Pan, Pitch, Decay, and 
Reverse, see 
“Adding and Editing Step Envelopes” on page 106.
ÖStep envelopes only apply to the selected event. If you want to have several copies of 
an audio loop with the same step envelopes, first create step envelopes for one event 
and copy this event afterwards. 
						

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Advanced FeaturesStep Envelope Editing
Defining Steps
To define the steps for your step envelopes, you can choose between two modes:
Editing the Step Size
To edit the steps calculated by Sequel, you have the following options:
•To adjust the width of a step, position the mouse over the border at the beginning 
or end of the step so that the mouse pointer turns into a double arrow. Click and 
drag to the left or right to adjust its width.
•To divide a step, position the mouse over the bottom of the waveform display so 
that the mouse pointer turns into a Split tool. Click to divide the step. 
•To join two adjacent steps, position the mouse over the bottom of the step border 
so that the mouse pointer turns into a glue tube. Click to glue the steps.
Adding and Editing Step Envelopes
The following step envelope types are available:
ModeDescription
Event GridIn this mode, Sequel automatically detects onsets in the audio event 
and calculates the steps accordingly. Use this mode for percussive 
audio material with clearly discernible beats.
Musical GridIn this mode, the steps for the audio loop have a defined resolution of 
1/4 beats by default. You can define a different resolution by clicking 
the value selecting a resolution from the pop-up menu. Use this mode 
for audio material without discernible transients, such as atmospheric 
sounds or heavy guitar riffs.
ÖYou can also select a step envelope type and start editing without defining a 
segmentation mode. In this case, Sequel applies the Event Grid mode to define steps 
for the audio file. If you change to Musical Grid mode, Sequel tries to match the 
already edited step envelopes with the new segmentation.
Step Envelope TypeDescription
LevelAllows you to edit the volume. This is a convenient way for 
creating fade ins and fade outs or abrupt volume changes. 
PanAllows you to position the step in the stereo image. High values 
position the step at the left and low values at the right. Especially 
with drum loops you can achieve stunning effects by panning 
steps to opposite positions.
Decay Lets the step decay. If the steps are short, this creates a kind of 
stutter effect. 
PitchAllows you to enter pitch changes. The transposition value is 
displayed in steps of semitones. 
ReverseReverses the step.
!The Pan step envelope only works with audio files on stereo tracks. If you want to edit 
the panning of a mono file, first add an empty track in the Arrange Zone (empty tracks 
are stereo by default). Then drag the mono file onto the stereo track. 
						

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Advanced FeaturesDetecting the Tempo of an Audio File
To edit a step envelope, proceed as follows:
1.Select the step envelope type you want to edit, and move the mouse over the 
waveform display.
The mouse pointer turns into a Draw tool. 
2.Click a step and drag the mouse up or down to edit the value. 
•To create a step envelope, that is, modify consecutive steps, keep the mouse 
button pressed and draw a curve.
Randomizing Step Envelope Values
If you select a step envelope type and click the Randomize button, Sequel sets the 
selected step envelope to random values. With this function you can quickly give an 
audio loop a completely new sound.
Resetting a Step Envelope
You can reset all values of the selected step envelope by clicking the Reset button.
Detecting the Tempo of an Audio File
The Sample Editor gives access to the tempo detection function. Tempo detection 
allows you to detect the tempo of an audio file and align it to the bars and beats grid 
of the project. For example, it can be applied to complete CD or MP3 tracks with a 
single constant tempo that you want to use for one of the following:
•Creating a loop
Once you have detected the tempo of an audio file, you can create a loop by 
setting up a cycle encompassing the section that you want to isolate. You can then 
cut the loop, and drag it to the MediaBay with the tempo information included. For 
information about setting up a cycle and about cutting, see 
“Cycle Playback” on 
page 24 and “Splitting” on page 29.
•Creating performance parts 
You can create performance parts from the imported track and use the pads on 
the Performance Page to remix your track in realtime, perfectly aligned to the 
project tempo. For information about performance parts and the pads, see 
“Live 
Pads and Chain Play Mode” on page 49.
•Creating mixtapes 
You can create mixtapes from your music library where all tracks follow the project 
tempo. You can easily create soft tempo transitions between the tracks. If needed, 
you can add tempo changes to your project by adding a tempo track. 
						

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Advanced FeaturesSmart Transpose
Using Tempo Detection
1.Drag the audio file that you want to analyze from the MediaBay or the Windows 
Explorer or the Mac OS Finder into the Arrange Zone. 
2.Double-click the audio event to open it in the Sample Editor.
3.In the Sample Editor, click “Tempo Detection” to open the Tempo Detection 
section.
4.Click the “Detect Tempo” button.
The following happens:
- Sequel analyzes the audio event and defines a single constant tempo for the whole 
audio event.
- The project tempo is set to the detected tempo.
- A reference beat inside the audio event is detected. In the Arrange Zone, the 
reference beat is displayed as a thin vertical line in the audio event.
- In the Arrange Zone, the audio event is moved to align the detected reference beat 
with the project grid.
5.Play back the audio event with the metronome click turned on to find out if the 
analysis directly led to a perfect result.
If this is not the case, you can make corrections with the buttons now enabled 
below the Detect Tempo button.
Correcting the Detected Tempo
Sometimes, the detected tempo may be half or double the tempo that it should be.
•Use the “Half Tempo” or “Double Tempo” button to set the project tempo to half or 
double the detected tempo.
The audio file is moved again to match the metronome click.
It may also be the case that the first downbeat is not detected correctly and has an 
offset to the correct musical downbeat.
•Use the arrow buttons (“Nudge Left” and “Nudge Right”) to move the audio file in 
steps of eighth notes to manually align the first musical downbeat of your audio file 
with the first downbeat of the metronome click.
Smart Transpose
When you set the project root key in the Pilot Zone, it becomes the reference that any 
audio file or MIDI loop follow. When you add a file with a defined key to your project, 
it adapts to the project root key.
Smart Transpose makes sure that the loop is transposed to the nearest interval or 
pitch. This way, no loop is transposed by more than six semitones. Therefore, loops 
never sound too unnatural because the pitch was raised too high or too low.
Let’s see this in action:
1.Load the project “Smart Transpose” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 5” folder.
2.Open the MediaBay.
!Only close the Sample Editor or deselect the audio event if you are sure that the 
tempo is correct. The tempo detection settings cannot be adjusted any more after 
deselecting the events or closing the editor.
!If you use the “Half Tempo” or “Double Tempo” button, all manual offset corrections 
that you made previously are discarded. 
						

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Advanced FeaturesSmart Transpose
3.In the search field, type in “Bb guitar”, and press [Return].
Sequel filters the results.
4.Drag the “03 105 Bb Guitar” loop to bar 1.
The project’s settings for Tempo and “Project Root Key” change to match the 
loop. The project root key is now A#, which is the enharmonic equivalent for Bb.
5.Go back to the MediaBay. This time enter “D horns” in the search field, and press 
[Return].
6.Drag the “02 112 D horns” loop to bar 1 underneath the guitar.
7.Double-click the “03 105 Bb Guitar” event to open it in the Sample Editor. 
8.Check the “Root Key” and Transpose values in the Edit Audio section.
“Root Key” is set to A# and Transpose to 0.
9.Select the “02 112 D horns” event, and check the same settings. 
“Root Key” is set to D and Transpose to -4. Smart Transpose has automatically 
transposed the “02 112 D horns” loop to the closest interval.
10.Start playback and hear that the guitar and horns are in the same key without 
excessive transposition.
Ignore Transpose Track
In case you have an audio loop that is supposed to follow the root key, but not the 
transpose track, you can activate the “Ignore Transpose Track” option in the Sample 
Editor.
Project 
root key
Transpose = 0
Root Key = A#
Transpose = -4
Root Key = D 
						

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Advanced FeaturesRemote-controlling Sequel
Remote-controlling Sequel
It is possible to remote-control certain Sequel functions by assigning external 
controllers, for example, small mixers or keyboard controllers with USB or MIDI 
connection and the ability to send MIDI messages. This way, you can control special 
program parameters using the assigned faders and knobs on your external controller. 
The control assignment is saved for the application and will be available for all projects.
You can map the following Sequel parameters and functions to your external controller: 
- The transport controls
- The page selection in the Multi Zone (except for the Settings Page)
- The Mixer Page controls
- The controls on the Track Inspector Page panels and the panel selection buttons
- The pattern pad buttons on the Beat Page
- The pads on the Performance Page
- Metronome on/off
The remote assignment is only active if the mapped controls are visible. If you have 
connected more than one external controller, use the Remote Controller Source pop-up 
menu in the Options section of the Settings Page to select the corresponding input.
Assigning Controllers Using the Mouse
Proceed as follows:
1.Connect your remote device with the USB or MIDI port on your computer and start 
Sequel.
2.Click the “Edit Remote Control Assignment” button in the Sequel Pilot Zone.
The main user interface is dimmed, so that you can clearly see which elements can 
be assigned to remote controls (indicated by frames).
ÖIf you assign a MIDI controller or a key on your keyboard to a Sequel function, this 
controller or key is filtered. For example, it is not available as input for instrument tracks.