User manual

99
Recording
About the record format
When you record with effects, consider setting the bit res-
olution to 32 Bit Float. This is done in the Project Setup
dialog opened via the Project menu. Note that this is not
required in any way – you can also record with effects in
24 or 16
Bit format. However, there are two advantages to
the 32 Bit Float format:
• You do not risk clipping (digital distortion) in the re-
corded files.
This can be avoided with 24 or 16 Bit recording as well, but requires
more care with the levels.
• Cubase processes audio internally in 32 Bit Float for-
mat – recording in the same format means the audio qual-
ity will be kept absolutely pristine.
The reason is that the effect processing in the input channel (as well as any
level or EQ settings you make there) is done in 32 Bit Float format. If you
record at 16 or 24 Bit, the audio will be converted to this lower resolution
when it is written to file – with possible signal degradation as a result.
Ö It does not matter at which actual resolution your au-
dio hardware works. Even if the signal from the audio
hardware is in 16 Bit resolution, the signal will be 32 Bit
Float after the effects are added in the input channel.
An example
This example shows how to apply the “SoftClipper” effect
while recording. The principle is the same for all effects (or
combinations of effects).
1. Set up an audio track for recording and select the de-
sired input bus.
For best results, also activate monitoring as this allows you to hear and
try out your settings before actually recording. See
“Monitoring via Cu-
base” on page 96 for a description of monitoring via Cubase.
2. Open the Mixer and make sure that the full extended
view is shown.
To show the extended Mixer view, either click the arrow icon (“Show Ex-
tended Mixer”) in the Common Panel, select “Show Extended View” from
the Window submenu of the Mixer context menu or use a key command
(this can be set in the Key Commands dialog, see
“Setting up key com-
mands” on page 542).
3. Locate the input channel (bus) from which you record.
If the input channels are hidden, click on the Show/Hide Input Channels
button to the left.
4. Check the input level (of the signal coming into the au-
dio hardware) as described in the section “Setting input
levels” on page 94 and adjust the level of the source audio
if necessary.
5. Pull down the View Options pop-up menu for the input
channel and select “Inserts”.
The View Options pop-up menu is opened by clicking the arrow button
between the fader panel and the extended panel.
Now the extended panel for the input channel shows the
insert slots.
6. Click on an insert slot and select an effect from the
context menu.
As you see, the included effects are sorted into submenus – you will find
the SoftClipper effect on the “Distortion” submenu.
The effect is loaded and activated and its control panel is
automatically opened.
7. Adjust the effect parameters to your liking.
For detailed information on the Effect parameters, see the separate PDF
document “Plug-in Reference”.
8. When the effect is set up as desired, you can check
the level of the input channel by setting the Meters to
post-fader (see
“Setting input levels” on page 94).
Use the input channel fader to adjust the level if needed.