Steinberg Sequel 3 Operation Manual

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Setting Up Your SystemSetting Up Audio
Testing the Audio Hardware
To make sure that the audio card works as expected, perform the following two tests:
•Use any software included with the audio card to make sure you can record and 
play back audio without problems.
•If the card is accessed via a standard operating system driver, try playing back 
audio using the computer’s standard audio application.
Setting Up Audio
Connecting Audio
Exactly how to set up your system depends on many different factors, such as the kind 
of project you want to create, the external equipment you want to use, or the computer 
hardware available to you. Therefore, the following sections can only serve as examples.
How you connect your equipment, that is, whether you use digital or analog 
connections, also depends on your individual setup.
Stereo Input and Output – the Simplest Connection
If you only use a stereo input and output from Sequel, you can connect your audio 
hardware directly to the input source, and the outputs to a power amplifier and speaker.
A simple 
stereo audio 
setup
This is probably the simplest of all setups – once you have set up the internal input 
and output busses, you can connect your audio source, for example, a microphone, to 
your audio interface and start recording.
Multi-Channel Input and Output
You may have other audio equipment that you want to integrate with Sequel, using 
several input and output channels. Depending on the equipment available to you, 
there are two ways to go: either mixing using an external mixing desk, or mixing using 
the mixer inside Sequel.
External mixing means having a hardware mixing device with a group or bus system 
that can be used for feeding inputs on your audio hardware.
!Make sure that all equipment is turned off before making any connections! 
						

							12
Setting Up Your SystemSetting Up Audio
In the example below, four busses are used for feeding signals to the audio hardware 
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 using an 
external mixer
When using the Mixer inside Sequel, you can use the inputs on your audio hardware 
to connect microphones and/or external devices. Use the outputs to connect your 
monitoring equipment.
Mixing inside 
Sequel
Recording from a CD Player
Most computers come with a disc drive that can also be used as a regular CD player. 
In some cases the CD player is internally connected to the audio hardware so that you 
can record the output of the CD player directly into Sequel. Refer to the audio 
hardware documentation if you are uncertain.
All routing and level adjustments for recording from a CD are done in the audio 
hardware setup application.
ÖWhen connecting an input source (like a mixer) to the audio hardware, you should use 
output busses, sends, or similar that are se
avoid recording what you are playing back. You may also have mixing hardware that 
can be connected via FireWire. 
						

							13
Setting Up Your SystemSetting Up Audio
About Recording Levels and Inputs
When you connect your equipment, you should make sure that the impedance and 
levels of the audio sources and inputs match. 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. Refer to the audio hardware documentation for details.
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).
- 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 gathered in a control 
panel, that can be opened from within Sequel as described below. If Sequel is not 
running, the control panel can also be opened separately. In some cases, there may be 
several different applications and panels. Refer to the audio hardware documentation 
for details.
Selecting a Driver and Making Audio Settings in Sequel
The first thing you need to do is select the correct driver in Sequel to make sure that 
the program can communicate with the audio hardware:
1.Launch Sequel.
2.Open the Settings Page in the Multi Zone.
3.In the Audio Settings section, click on the “Audio Connection” field, and select 
your audio hardware driver.
4.Bring up the control panel for the audio hardware and adjust the settings as 
recommended by the audio hardware manufacturer.
•Under Windows, you open the control panel by clicking the “Setup…” button.
The control panel that opens is provided by the audio hardware manufacturer and 
not Sequel. Hence it is different for each audio card brand and model.
 
The control panel for the ASIO DirectX driver is an exception, as it is provided by 
Steinberg. It is described in the dialog help, opened by clicking the Help button.
!Using the correct types of input is important to avoid distortion or noisy recordings.
ÖSequel does not provide any input level adjustments for the signals 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. 
						

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Setting Up Your SystemSetting Up Audio
•Under Mac OS X, you can open the control panel for your audio hardware from the 
System Preferences, opened from the Apple menu or from the Dock.
If you are using the built-in audio hardware of the Macintosh, you use the Sound 
control panel in the System Preferences to set levels, balance, etc. If you are using 
ASIO audio hardware, you can click the “Control Panel” button to bring up its panel.
If you are Using Audio Hardware with a DirectX Driver (Windows only)
Sequel comes with a driver called ASIO DirectX Full Duplex Driver available for 
selection on the Audio Connection pop-up menu on the Settings Page.
In all other cases, the audio inputs are emulated by DirectX. See the dialog help for 
the ASIO DirectX Full Duplex Setup dialog for details about how this is reported.
Setting Up the Input and Output Ports
Setting up the inputs and outputs primarily depends on the configuration settings of 
your audio card. You can check the configuration by clicking “Setup…” on the 
Settings Page.
If you have a stereo in/out audio card, this is most likely set up automatically.
Inputs
Setting up the recording input for Sequel is described in “Adding an Audio Track” on 
page 20.
Outputs
Audio outputs can be selected on the Settings Page from the “Output Selector” pop-
up menu.
Retrieving Channel Names (Mac only)
For some audio cards, it is possible to automatically retrieve the ASIO channel names 
for the ports of your audio hardware:
1.Open the Settings Page in the Multi Zone. 
2.In the Audio Settings section, select your audio card from the “Audio Connection” 
pop up menu.
3.Open the control panel for your audio hardware.
4.Activate the “Use CoreAudio Channel Names” option.
When you now open the “Output Selector” pop-up menu in the Audio Settings 
section or the Input pop-up menu in the track list for audio tracks, you will find that 
the port names correspond to the names that are used by the CoreAudio driver.
Port Selection and Activation (Mac only)
On the settings page for your audio card, you can specify which input and which output 
port are active. For example, this allows you to use the microphone input instead of the 
line input or even to deactivate the audio card input or output completely, if required.
!If your Windows audio hardware does not have a specific ASIO driver, a DirectX 
driver is the next best option.
ÖTo take full advantage of DirectX Full Duplex, the audio hardware must support WDM 
(Windows Driver Model) in combination with DirectX version 8.1 or higher.
ÖThis function is only available for built-in audio, standard USB audio devices, and a 
certain number of other audio cards. 
						

							15
Setting Up Your SystemSetting Up MIDI
About Monitoring
In Sequel, monitoring means listening to the input signal while preparing to record or 
while recording. Sequel always monitors the signal in realtime.
The audio passes from the input into Sequel, possibly through Sequel effects and EQ 
and then back to the output. You control monitoring via settings in Sequel. This allows 
you to control the monitoring level from Sequel and add effects to the monitored 
signal only.
Setting Up MIDI
This section describes how to connect and set up MIDI equipment. Note that this is 
only an example – you might need or want to set up your equipment differently!
Connecting the MIDI Equipment
In this example we assume that you have a MIDI keyboard. The keyboard is used for 
feeding the computer with MIDI messages for recording. Using Sequel’s automatic 
MIDI Thru feature you can hear the correct sound from the instrument track while 
playing the keyboard or recording.
A typical 
MIDI Setup
Setting Up MIDI Ports in Sequel
Sequel automatically finds any MIDI devices connected to your computer and allows 
them to be used as MIDI inputs for recording.
!Make sure that all equipment is turned off before making any connections! 
						

							16
Setting Up Your SystemOptimizing Audio Performance
Optimizing Audio Performance
This section gives you some hints and tips on how to get the most out of your Sequel 
system in terms of audio performance.
Two Aspects of Performance
There are two distinct aspects of performance in respect to Sequel:
Tracks and Effects
Simply put: the faster your computer, the more tracks, effects, and EQ you can play.
Short Response Times (Latency)
Another aspect of performance is response time. The term latency refers to the 
buffering, or temporary storing, of small chunks of audio data during various steps of 
the recording and playback process on a computer. The more and larger those 
chunks, the higher the latency.
High latency is most irritating when using software instruments and when monitoring 
through the computer, that is, when listening to a live audio source via the Sequel 
mixer and effects. However, very long latency times (several hundred milliseconds) 
can also affect other processes like mixing, for example, when the effect of a fader 
movement is heard only after a noticeable delay.
A system that responds fast is always more convenient to work with.
Depending on your audio hardware, it may be possible to trim your latency times, 
usually by lowering the size and the number of buffers. 
						

							17
The Sequel Window
Overview
The Sequel window is divided into three main sections: the Pilot Zone, the Arrange 
Zone, and the Multi Zone. 
The Pilot Zone
The Pilot Zone gives you access to the Sequel menu functions. Here, you can also 
find the functions for remote-controlling the program, the virtual keyboard and the 
tuner, the Pilot Zone display, the transport controls, and the metronome. 
For further information on the Pilot Zone, see the chapter “The Pilot Zone” on page 58.
The Arrange Zone
The Arrange Zone displays the instrument parts and audio events of the project along 
the timeline. Here, you can record, edit, and arrange your project. On the left, the track 
list is shown. 
For further information on the Arrange Zone, see the chapter “The Arrange Zone” on 
page 68.
Pilot 
Zone
Arrange 
Zone
Multi 
Zone
MediaBay
Click here to open 
the MediaBayClick here to open the 
Output Effects section 
						

							18
The Sequel WindowOverview
The MediaBay
The MediaBay is a browser for media files that allows you to search for media files on 
your computer. It can be displayed in the Arrange Zone by clicking the corresponding 
button in the lower right corner of the program window.
For further information on the MediaBay, see “Working with the MediaBay” on page 75.
The Output Effects
The output effects are effects that are applied to the overall output in Sequel. They 
can be displayed in the Arrange Zone by clicking the Output Effects button in the 
lower right corner of the program window.
For further information on output effects, see “Output Effects” on page 80.
The Multi Zone
In the Multi Zone, you have access to various pages where all of your project’s mixing, 
effects processing, and advanced editing takes place. 
For further information on the Multi Zone, see the chapter “The Multi Zone” on page 81. 
						

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Recording
Recording Audio
In this section, you will learn how to record a guitar line, how to add a drum loop, and 
play it back. Make sure that you have your audio card set up correctly, see the chapter 
“Setting Up Your System” on page 9.
Creating a New Project
By default, Sequel creates a new project on startup. You can change this in the Settings 
Page. For more information, see 
“The Settings Page” on page 99.
Creating a New Project if a Project is Already Open
•Open the Project menu and select “New Project”.
This creates a new empty project and closes the project that was open.
Setting the Save Folder
To specify where the projects are saved, proceed as follows:
1.Open the Settings Page in the Multi Zone.
2.Click in the “Project Location” field.
A dialog opens allowing you to browse your computer and find a suitable location. 
During the installation process, Sequel automatically creates a location for saving 
projects. 
3.Select a location and click OK. 
						

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RecordingRecording Audio
Saving a Project
1.Open the Project menu and select “Save Project”.
2.Type in a name for your project, for example “First Sequel Project”.
3.Click OK.
The project is saved in the folder you specified on the Settings Page.
Adding an Audio Track
The following sections make reference to tutorial projects, located in the default 
Sequel project folder.
•Load the project called “Recording” found in the “Sequel Tutorial 1” folder.
You will now add an audio track to record onto. For this example, you will record a 
guitar. The method is the same for all instruments.
1.Click the “Add Track” button below the track list.
The Add Track dialog opens.
2.Select the Audio option.
3.Select “empty” and click OK. 
This adds an audio track to the project.
4.Double-click the track name and change it to “Guitar”.
Ö
SelectionŽ pop-up menu. To see the pop-up menu, you may have to increase the track 
height.