The Cubase experience: finest tools for artists In 1984, Steinberg was founded on an ideal: to help artists to make music in ways that put their creativity first, and using technology that almost anyone could afford. Since then, Steinberg has developed some of the most successful music products and technologies including Cubase, the world’s most popular software for composing, recording and mixing music.
Defining industry standards for over 25 years Since the foundation of the company, Steinberg has constantly pushed back the boundaries of what is possible in digital audio. The advanced technologies included in Cubase offer flexible, cost-effective and intuitive ways of realizing the artist's full creative and professional potential. Steinberg’s experience in developing highly performing cross-platform applications gives Mac and Windows PC users the option to enjoy Cubase on the hardware of choice. VST3: Steinberg’s industry standard Virtual Studio Technology The leading Virtual Studio Technology (VST) standard, developed by Steinberg, creates a full, professional studio environment on your PC or Mac and allows the seamless integration of virtual effect processors and instruments right into your sequencing software. The revolutionary VST standard recently reached a new stage with the release of VST3, a groundbreaking new version with a host of new capabilities, including sidechaining, dynamic I/O management and enhanced CPU efficiency. VST Sound: Steinberg’s universal media management format Steinberg’s universal media management format — VST Sound — is a fundamental part of VST3, the latest version of Steinberg’s industry standard Virtual Studio Technology. By supporting VST Sound, plug-ins and instruments from third-party manufacturers can be directly integrated into MediaBay — the media management system used in Steinberg’s host applications. This integration makes the entire process of finding and working with any form of media file including audio, loops, VSTi presets, videos, MIDI parts and Track Presets, much faster and simpler. ASIO: Steinberg's low-latency, high-performance audio standard The Audio Stream Input/Output (ASIO) architecture forms the backbone of VST. ASIO addresses any needs a professional audio recording solution might have. It does this by supporting variable bit depths and sample rates, multi-channel operation and synchronization. As a result, the user gets low latency, high performance, easy set up and stable audio recording within VST. Since its introduction, ASIO has become a supported standard by many leading audio hardware manufacturers — for good reason. Creating value for all Cubase helps both musicians and producers with every step of the music creation process: from the first idea through the arrangement to the final mix. In doing so, Cubase offers various tools to meet your individual needs. And this is why Cubase can be tweaked and used for all music styles and areas of application. Be it a recording engineer, rock guitarist, dance DJ, hip-hop producer, songwriter or film score composer, Cubase users are among the most successful professionals in the world. Singer/Songwriter Cubase 5 is the ideal tool for singers and songwriters for recording vocal lines, preparing playbacks and creating entire songs. VariAudio and PitchCorrect are two first-class features in Cubase 5 with which you can optimize your intonation and adjust the timing and melody of a vocal line anytime you want to. The PitchCorrect plug-in removes intonation problems in real time and shifts recorded vocals to the next note value on a defined scale. VariAudio goes yet a step further by letting you edit monophonic vocal recordings just as easy as if it were a MIDI part, adjusting the pitch, note length and timing position of each note. All recognized notes can be converted to MIDI data which, for example, you can play back using one of the many VST instruments available in Cubase 5. This means you can easily create entire arrangements based on your vocal recordings. Cubase 5 offers a wealth of virtual instruments and sounds, letting you create professional-sounding accompaniments, be it a playback for your vocal exercises or even an entire demo. To edit your vocals, various effect plug-ins such as high-quality EQs, reverbs and a professional DeEsser to reduce excess sibilance are also readily available. Any VST plug-in can be recorded together with the signal or used exclusively for monitoring — ideal for those who don’t like to sing “dry” during recordings. And with several recording modes at your disposal, you can capture the perfect recording each and every time. 
In Stacked mode, each take is displayed as an event on an individual layer of the track in order for you to cut and paste different takes easily together. If you accompany your vocals with guitar, it goes without saying that your guitar music can also be recorded and edited extensively in Cubase, which also includes a top-notch virtual guitar amplifier exactly for this reason. Composer  - Film composer Erran Baron Cohen
With Cubase, composers get a complete software notation program for professional score layouts. MIDI notes being played are translated directly to musical notation, resulting in a score that can be edited using more than 100 professional notation symbols. On the other hand, all playing instructions noted in the Score Editor are converted directly into MIDI parameters that can trigger any VST instrument in real time.
A special highlight for all composers is the new VST Expression featured in Cubase 5, delivering an innovative solution for working with different instrumental articulations. VST Expression allows you intuitively and quickly to edit articulations directly in the Key and Score Editor. Thanks to the integrated HALion ONE sample player, you have hundreds of sounds at your fingertips, including a slew of high-quality orchestral sounds played in different styles — perfectly complementing the new VST Expression functions. On top of this, you also get a fully functional 90-day trial version of HALion Symphonic Orchestra 16-bit Special Edition, the great-sounding virtual symphony orchestra created by Steinberg. All composers working with comprehensive orchestra libraries also benefit from the native 64-bit support. Under Windows Vista 64, up to one terabyte of RAM can be addressed by Cubase — providing space for more samples and allowing you to work more efficiently.
Cubase 5 is also the perfect solution for film score composers. Video files of virtually all popular formats like AVI, MPEG and QuickTime can be displayed in a freely scalable video window within Cubase or, alternatively, can be played back on an external monitor using the appropriate video hardware. The individual video frames are displayed as thumbnails in a video track, making it a whole lot easier to compose in sync with individual frames. Basic editing functionality, such as edit, cut and paste, are also readily available. Electronic Music Producer  - Kraftwerk performing live with Cubase
Producers of all types of electronic music find an arsenal of stunning virtual synthesizers and numerous effects in Cubase 5.
Prologue, Spector und Mystic are based on renowned synthesizer technology by VirSyn and are the perfect choice for any type of synth sound, covering everything from powerful low end and impressive leads up to spherical pads and unheard-of atmos. In addition to hundreds of available presets, there are so many other ways to modulate, filter and edit your sound creatively. All this and the polyphonic pad synthesizer Embracer, the resource-saving Monologue synthesizer as well as the HALion ONE sample player round out the rich sound spectrum of Cubase 5. The handy Track Quick Controls and its MIDI Learn feature let you record those lively filter sweeps as well as virtually control every sound parameter, also with an external MIDI controller.
Let’s just put the awesome synthesizers aside for one moment and you’ll see that Cubase also provides outstanding drum tools including the drum sampler Groove Agent ONE and the Beat Designer step sequencer for programming quick and individual grooves. What’s more, LoopMash is a truly inspirational tool, letting you create new variations of available grooves and loops but is also pure fun for just playing around with. In case you crave even more sounds, simply turn to the hundreds of third-party software instruments that can perfectly be integrated into Cubase through the VST interface. Prefer to work with hardware synthesizers and samplers? Not a problem at all — external sound modules can seamlessly be connected to Cubase and used just as easily as plug-ins.
There are more than 50 audio effects in Cubase for sound designing and mixing: reverbs, delays, modulation effects, dynamic processors and many more. And it doesn’t stop here! Cubase 5 also features 18 MIDI-effects, such as the powerful Arpache arpeggiator.
Many sequencers confine you to a certain way of doing things. Cubase 5, on the other hand, allows you to choose between timeline- und pattern-based arranging — perfectly integrated into the familiar Project window. Using the Arranger function, you can define different segments of the song as Arranger parts and play them back in any order — the ideal solution for live performances. Beat Producer Cubase 5 includes a ton of tools for the creative beat producer. LoopMash is a revolutionary new instrument that lets you creatively work with loops and create constantly new and seamless groove variations of available audio material. The Groove Agent ONE drum machine combines powerful drum sampling with comprehensive sound design capability. Groove Agent ONE allows you to import sliced loops and MPC kits plus includes several acoustic and electronic drum kits. By using the Beat Designer step sequencer, you can quickly and intuitively program individual drum patterns. Including dozens of beats in different music styles, Beat Designer is the perfect complement to Groove Agent ONE, but can also be used with any other drum sampler of choice. Alongside the included libraries of LoopMash and Groove Agent ONE, you can also use the high-quality drum kits of the HALion ONE sample player as well as a selection of inspiring loops made by Big Fish Audio — installed when adding the free VST Sound Collection. 
Steinberg MediaBay lets you comfortably manage, categorize and listen in on all our drum samples, presets and loops, allowing you quickly to find the right sound file. By using the powerful AudioWarp tools, you can adjust the imported loops to any song tempo at the flick of switch — perfect for remixing other projects.
The added effects provide everything you need to let your beats sound punchier, louder and dirtier. Here you have high-quality EQs, compressors, limiters, distortion effects and tons more in your hand, not to forget the featured full side-chaining support. Bands  - Cubase User Qemists bei der Live-Show
Be it in the rehearsal room or recording studio, recording your band with Cubase 5 is as easy as it gets. The advanced music production system by Steinberg offers outstanding quality due to its audio engine as well as flexible and time-saving recording and editing functionality. And with an unlimited number of audio tracks being at your disposal, you can even record, arrange and mix the most comprehensive projects with ease, provided your computer can cope with the workload.
Different recording modes and great tools allow you to manage multiple takes and find the perfect recording in a jiffy. Due to the integrated audio pre-record function, you won’t miss a single take (especially the really good ones) even when forgetting to activate the recording function. What’s more, Cubase comes with PitchCorrect and VariAudio, two powerful tools for pitch and intonation correction, to edit the vocal line during or even after the recording.
Thanks to the virtual control room, recording with Cubase 5 is just as straightforward as using an expensive studio console. The Cubase 5 control room is a unique and powerful recording and monitoring environment, including four studio buses for individual submixes, talkback function, separate metronome bus, four monitor setups and much, much more. By using the control room functions, you can set up headphone mixes for musicians and singers, toggle between different loudspeaker setups and connect to six external sound sources such as tape, CD and DVD. Together with the Steinberg MR816 CSX/X FireWire interfaces, it is also possible to create absolutely latency-free monitor mixes in Cubase.
Innovative instruments that put creativity first Cubase 5 delivers the richest virtual instruments ever — right out of the box! With LoopMash and Groove Agent ONE, two new exceptional virtual instruments are added to the already impressive collection made up of HALion ONE, Prologue, Spector and Mystic. Each of them comes ready to play with hundreds of fantastic preset sounds. HALion ONE HALion ONE is a special player version of HALion, the VST sampler, and comes with hundreds of ready-to-use instruments which can be shaped to user’s taste with the eight intuitive Quick Controls. Delivered with sample-content taken from Yamaha’s award-winning Motif synthesizer workstation, HALion ONE comes ready to play with more than 600 great-sounding sample-based instruments and 58 drum kits. The sound library also includes a complete General MIDI sound set. Standard MIDI files can be imported and played directly using HALion ONE’s GM sound set by simply dragging a MIDI file into Cubase. Groove Agent ONE Groove Agent ONE pairs powerful drum sampling with detailed sound shaping — seamlessly integrated into Cubase. Not only does it boast sliced loop and MPC-import but rocks right out of the box with its own custom library of only the finest acoustic, urban, hip hop and dance drum kits! Each of its virtual pads features a complete sound processing section that gives full control of textures, timbres and expressive qualities of each drum sound. Creation of custom kits with drag and drop from the MediaBay allows an extremely fluid and easy workflow. Support for WAV, AIFF and the legendary MPC format means that creating your own kits and using custom MPC kits are only a few clicks away. And because the interface and workflow have been optimized to provide fast access and easy import and kit creation features, Groove Agent ONE is the perfect fusion of functionality and simplicity. LoopMash LoopMash is a revolutionary virtual instrument that offers a unique and innovative way of creatively working with loops and beats to create stunning new rhythms and grooves. Seamlessly blendable variations of both the included loops and any loop from your library open up myriad new creative possibilities. Its revolutionary new audio analysis/synthesis engine, developed in collaboration with Yamaha, matches similar elements across loops and beats, generating fresh and inspiring “mash-ups” from any rhythmic audio material — entirely synced to the Cubase Tempo. Integrated editing and the powerful live performance mode with user-definable scenes and automation support make this instrument a powerful new creative tool for any artist serious about their beats! LoopMash is the brand-new, first-of-its-kind interactive loop synthesizer that creative musicians working in many genres have been waiting for and offers almost limitless variations: all with the sole aim of getting the beats creative again. Prologue Prologue is a polyphonic subtractive synthesizer with great-sounding multi-mode variable resonance filters, powerful modulation capabilities and cranking onboard effects. Powered by VirSyn technology, this punchy virtual analog synthesizer is fed by hundreds of great-sounding presets covering a wide range of sounds reaching from traditional analog to indescribable. Prologue’s intuitive user interface provides full editing capabilities with access to its three oscillators, powerful multi-mode filter, four envelopes, two LFOs, a powerful modulation matrix, and on-board effects. Spector This unique instrument is based on two extremely colorful and versatile spectrum filters and can utilize up to six oscillators per voice with two different waveforms each. Separate independent spectrum filters process each of the two waveforms. Creating new, unique sounds by simply drawing new filter curves and then shifting or morphing the two filter’s spectrums is as much fun as browsing through the included showcasing presets. Identical to Prologue, Spector offers four envelope generators, two LFOs, a powerful modulation matrix and on-board effects. With access to all sound parameters, Spector provides full editing capabilities. Mystic Mystic is a very unusual but inspiring instrument with lots of personality, making it the perfect complement to Cubase 5’s other integrated instruments. Its synthesis uses a combination of physical modeling and comb filtering to generate unique and colorful sounds and is based on three parallel comb filters with feedback. The sound source is an “impulse sound” based on physical modeling technology. The harmonic spectrum of this sound is based on one of six waveforms and a set of two spectrum filters. The sound can be shaped with a filter (damping), by adding an offset to the comb filters (detune), or by adding a noise component (crackle). Embracer Embracer is a simple but powerful polyphonic synthesizer designed entirely for producing pads and accompaniment sounds. With its easy-to-use envelope and tone controls, it gives fast access to the sounds needed without having to search through thousands of presets. However, the most powerful feature of Embracer is its surround output. With a single switch, the instrument can be turned from stereo to surround and the width control allows spreading its pad sound anywhere from mono to stereo to full 360° surround. The unique “eye” controller gives an exact idea of how the sound will be placed in a mix. Monologue Monologue is a monophonic analog synthesizer based on physical modeling technology. It offers full, rich and colorful sounds without consuming a lot of CPU power. The Monologue synthesizer is the perfect tool for bass, lead and sequenced sounds. Add outstanding effects to your music Cubase 5 comes with an impressive arsenal of high-quality realtime effect processors, including EQ, Dynamics, Modulation, Reverb, Filters, Distortion and special effects. Together with the also included “Legacy Set” of original Cubase SX 3 effects, Cubase 5 offers a total of 58 audio effects right out of the box, making it Steinberg’s most complete plug-in set ever. More than 1,000 great-sounding presets, which really allow experiencing the excellent quality of these effects from the first moment on are waiting to be explored. EQ Full four-band parametric control with variable response curves and shelving modes. This powerful and versatile equalizer offers full four-band parametric control with variable response curves and shelving modes, as well as analog-style peak filters. GEQ10 Graphic equalizer with 10 bands; features drawing of EQ curves, an invert parameter, and seven different response types. Also features a global range control for overall amount of equalization. GEQ30 Graphic equalizer with 30 bands; features drawing of EQ curves, an invert parameter, and seven different response types. Also features a global range control for overall amount of equalization. Filter Dual Filter A classic dual low- and high-pass filter with resonance: filters out certain frequencies while allowing others to pass through. A pattern-controlled multimode filter that can create rhythmic, pulsating filter effects. Supports up to 16 steps for individual settings of cutoff-frequency and filter A versatile and powerful analog modeling filter designed to be a creative tool to add color and punch to any track. Its variable characteristics plus the powerful modulation functions make it an excellent choice for all current music styles. Typical wah-wah pedal modeling effect — lets you emulate your favorite wah-wah pedals. Features parameters for frequency range, filter width, and gain range. Dynamics Classic compressor with auto release, auto make-up gain, hard/soft knee, RMS/Peak, and “Live” mode which disables look-ahead for low-latency use. Modeled after one of the most famous vintage compressors. Easy to use but very effective. |
