User manual

281
The Sample Editor
VariAudio (Cubase only)
With the AudioWarp features, editing audio in the time
domain has become significantly easier. However, editing
pitch was limited to having just one single numeric “trans-
pose” value per event or part.
VariAudio offers completely integrated vocal editing and
pitch alteration of individual notes in monophonic vocal re
-
cordings and can solve intonation and timing problems
with only a few mouse clicks. It was developed and opti-
mized specifically to be used with monophonic vocal re-
cordings. Though the detection and stretching of notes of
other monophonic audio recordings, such as those of a
saxophone, may work well, the quality of the end result de
-
pends greatly on the generic condition and structure of
the recording’s texture.
And how does it work? First, the vocal line is analyzed and
split into segments shown as graphic representation of
the notes sung. After the detection process is complete,
the recognized notes can be modified entirely “non-de
-
structively” so that any modifications to the audio material
can be undone.
VariAudio allows you to change your audio on the vertical
axis (see
“Changing the pitch” on page 285) and on the
horizontal axis (see “Warping segments” on page 288).
Ö If you load projects with VariAudio files in Cubase Art-
ist, the original files will be played back and your VariAudio
modifications will be ignored. If you want to hear your
modifications in Cubase Artist, you will have to bounce the
audio files that have been edited with the Cubase Vari
-
Audio features.
Understanding the waveform display in
VariAudio
When you open monophonic vocal recordings in the Sam-
ple Editor and activate the Segments or the Pitch & Warp
tool on the VariAudio tab, your audio is analyzed and seg
-
mented to display the tonal portions, i. e. the notes sung or
played. This process is called segmentation. The segmen-
tation allows you to easily associate the audio with your lyr-
ics and to introduce pitch and timing changes.
In between the different segments you may find gaps
where non-tonal portions have been detected, e. g.
caused by breath sounds.
At the beginning of the waveform, you can see a gap where no segment
is shown.
Ö The audio waveform displayed on the VariAudio tab is
always shown as mono, even if you have opened a stereo
or multi-channel file.
Audio waveform Segments
Gap