Plug-in Reference
Cristina Bachmann, Heiko Bischoff, Marion Bröer, Sabine Pfeifer, Heike Schilling, Benjamin Schütte This PDF provides improved access for vision-impaired users. Please note that due to the complexity and number of images in this document, it is not possible to include text descriptions of images. The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
Table of Contents
5 The included effect plug-ins 6 6 7 9 11 13 14 20 21 22 23 Introduction Delay plug-ins Distortion plug-ins Dynamics plug-ins Filter plug-ins Mastering plug-ins Modulation plug-ins Pitch Shift plug-ins Reverb plug-ins Spatial + Panner plug-ins Tools plug-ins 24 The included VST instruments 25 25 30 30 Introduction Groove Agent ONE (Cubase Elements only) HALion Sonic SE Prologue (Cubase Elements only) 40 Index 4 Table of Contents
1 The included effect plug-ins
Introduction Parameter Description Filter Hi This filter affects the feedback loop of the effect signal and allows you to roll off high frequencies from 20 kHz down to 1.2 kHz. The button below the knob activates/ deactivates the filter. Mix Sets the level balance between the dry and the wet signal. If MonoDelay is used as a send effect, set this to the maximum value as you can control the dry/effect balance with the send.
Distortion plug-ins BitCrusher This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Distortion” category. AmpSimulator AmpSimulator is a distortion effect, emulating the sound of various types of guitar amp and speaker cabinet combinations. A wide selection of amp and cabinet models is available. The following parameters are available: If you are into lo-fi sound, BitCrusher is the effect for you.
DaTube (not in Cubase LE) Grungelizer This effect emulates the characteristic warm, lush sound of a tube amplifier. The following parameters are available: Parameter Description Drive Regulates the pre-gain of the “amplifier”. Use high values if you want an overdriven sound just on the verge of distortion. Balance Controls the balance between the signal processed by the Drive parameter and the dry input signal. For maximum drive effect, set this to its highest value.
Dynamics plug-ins This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Dynamics” category. Compressor (Cubase Elements only) Compressor reduces the dynamic range of the audio, making softer sounds louder or louder sounds softer, or both. Compressor features separate controls for threshold, ratio, attack, hold, release and make-up gain parameters. Compressor features a separate display that graphically illustrates the compressor curve shaped according to the Threshold and Ratio parameter settings.
The following parameters are available: Parameter Description Parameter LP (low-pass), BP (band-pass), HP (high-pass) These buttons set the basic filter mode. Center (50 to 22000 Hz) Sets the center frequency of the filter. Description Input Allows you to adjust the input gain. (-24 to +24 dB) Output (-24 to +6 dB) Determines the maximum output level. Release (0.1 to 1000 ms or Auto mode) Sets the amount of time it takes for the gain to return to its original level.
Parameter Description Release (10 to 1000 ms or Auto mode) Sets the amount of time it takes for the gain to return to its original level when the signal drops below the threshold level. If the Auto button is activated, the compressor will automatically find an optimal release setting that varies depending on the audio material. Graphical display Use the graphical display to graphically set the Threshold and Ratio values.
StepFilter (Cubase Elements only) Selecting new patterns • Created patterns are saved with the project, and up to 8 different cutoff and resonance patterns can be saved internally. Both the cutoff and resonance settings are saved together in the 8 pattern slots. • Use the Pattern Selector below the Resonance grid to select a new pattern. New patterns are all set to the same step value by default.
ToneBooster (not in Cubase LE) ToneBooster is a filter that allows you to raise the gain in a selected frequency range. It is particularly useful when inserted before AmpSimulator in the plug-in chain (see “AmpSimulator” on page 7), greatly enhancing the tonal varieties available. The following parameters are available: The following parameters are available: Parameter Description Pedal Controls the filter frequency sweep.
Chopper The following parameters are available: Option Description Bit Resolution The UV22HR supports dithering to multiple resolutions: 8, 16, 20 or 24 bits. You select the desired resolution by clicking the corresponding button. Hi Try this first, it is the most “all-round” setting. Lo This applies a lower level of dither noise. Auto black When this is activated, the dither noise is gated (muted) during silent passages in the material.
Chorus Flanger This is a single-stage chorus effect. It works by doubling whatever is sent into it with a slightly detuned version. Flanger is a classic flanger effect with added stereo enhancement. The following parameters are available: The following parameters are available: Parameter Description Parameter Description Rate Rate If tempo sync is on, this is where you specify the base note value for tempo-syncing the chorus sweep (1/1 to 1/32, straight, triplet, or dotted).
Metalizer (not in Cubase LE) Phaser Metalizer feeds the audio signal through a variable frequency filter, with tempo sync or time modulation and feedback control. Phaser produces the well-known “swooshing” phasing effect with additional stereo enhancement. The following parameters are available: The following parameters are available: Parameter Description Parameter Description Rate Feedback The higher the value, the more “metallic” the sound.
RingModulator (not in Cubase LE) RingModulator can produce complex, bell-like enharmonic sounds. Ring modulators work by multiplying two audio signals. The ring modulated output contains added frequencies generated by the sum of, and the difference between, the frequencies of the two signals. Parameter Description LFO – Env. Amount Controls how much the input signal level – via the envelope generator – affects the LFO speed. Positive and negative values can be set, at 0 % no modulation is applied.
Rotary (Cubase Elements only) The Rotary plug-in simulates the classic effect of a rotating speaker. A rotary speaker cabinet features speakers rotating at variable speeds to produce a swirling chorus effect, commonly used with organs. Rotary features all the parameters associated with the real thing. The following parameters are available: Parameter Description Speed selector (Stop/Slow/ Fast) Allows you to control the speed of the Rotary in three steps.
The following parameters are available: Parameter Description Parameter Description Spatial Adds a stereo effect to the modulation. Waveform buttons Allow you to select a pitch modulation waveform. Output Allows you to adjust the output volume. Tone Sets the frequency (pitch) of the modulating oscillator (1 to 5000 Hz). Vibrato Depth Governs the depth of the pitch modulation.
Pitch Shift plug-ins This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Pitch Shift” category. Pitch Correct (Cubase Elements only) Octaver (not in Cubase LE) This plug-in can generate two additional voices that track the pitch of the input signal one octave and two octaves below the original pitch, respectively. Octaver is best used with monophonic signals. The following parameters are available: Parameter Description Direct Adjusts the mix of the original signal and the generated voices.
Reverb plug-ins Parameter Description Scale Source – Internal If you choose the Internal option from the Scale Source pop-up menu, you can use the pop-up menu next to it to decide to which scale the source audio will be adapted. The following options are available: Chromatic: The audio will be pitched to the closest semitone. Major/Minor: The audio will be pitched to the major/minor scale specified in the pop-up menu to the right. This will be reflected on the keyboard display.
Spatial + Panner plug-ins This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Spatial + Panner” category. StereoEnhancer (Cubase Elements only) MonoToStereo (not in Cubase LE) This plug-in will expand the stereo width of (stereo) audio material. It cannot be used with mono files. The following parameters are available: This effect will turn a mono signal into a “pseudo-stereo” signal. The plug-in must be inserted on a stereo track playing a mono file.
Tools plug-ins This section describes the plug-ins in the “Tools” category. Tuner (not in Cubase LE) This is a guitar tuner. Simply connect a guitar or other instrument to an audio input and select the Tuner as an insert effect (make sure you deactivate any other effect that alters pitch, like chorus or vibrato). When you play a note, the pitch is shown in the middle of the display. In addition, the frequency in Hz is shown in the bottom left corner and the octave range in the bottom right corner.
2 The included VST instruments
Introduction Pad functions This chapter contains descriptions of the included VST instruments and their parameters. Groove Agent ONE (Cubase Elements only) • The pads show the associated MIDI note in the top right corner. You can change the MIDI note by right-clicking it and selecting a different note from the pop-up menu. • You can assign up to eight samples to a pad. See “Drag & drop of audio material” on page 26.
Velocity Drag & drop to several pads • The velocity is determined by where on the pad you click: it is lowest at the bottom of the pad and highest at the top. Rather than dropping several samples to the same pad, you can also let Groove Agent ONE distribute samples across the available pads in one or several groups. To do so, select the desired samples, drag them to the Groove Agent ONE window, press [Shift] and drop the samples onto a pad.
Now look at the Exchange section (to the left of the pads): the MIDI Export pad (the field displaying a double arrow) at the bottom of the section is lit. When mapping several samples to several pads, Groove Agent ONE creates a MIDI file containing all MIDI information to trigger these pads, and maps this file to the MIDI Export pad. 5. Drag this MIDI file from the MIDI Export pad onto the Cubase Project window. Dropping the file onto the Project window creates a new MIDI track.
pads used by this instance of Groove Agent ONE. The Size parameter indicates the amount of RAM occupied by the currently loaded samples. The Polyphony counter shows the number of pads currently playing. Parameter Description Sample This is the name of the sample file. Velocity Here you can specify a velocity range for the current layer. • Click on a pad for sound editing. Coarse Here you can tune the sample by up to ±12 semitones. It turns light green and the display shows its sample parameters.
Parameter Description Master volume Mute Gr. With this control you can assign a pad to one of eight mute groups. Pads within a mute group never play back simultaneously. New notes cancel previous notes. Tr. Mode The sample of the currently selected pad is played either from start to finish (One Shot) or only for as long as you hold the mouse button/key (Key Hold). Key Hold can also be determined by the length of the corresponding MIDI note on your track.
HALion Sonic SE Sound parameters This VST instrument is described in detail in the separate PDF document “HALion Sonic SE”. Oscillator section Prologue (Cubase Elements only) This section contains parameters affecting the 3 oscillators. These are located in upper half of the instrument panel. Selecting Waveforms Each oscillator has a number of waveforms which are selectable by clicking on the waveform name in the box located in each oscillator section.
Waveform Description Parameter Description Sine The sine wave is the simplest possible waveform, with no harmonics (overtones). The sine wave produces a neutral, soft timbre. Wave Mod (±50) Formant 1–12 Formant waveforms emphasizes certain frequency bands. Like the human voice, musical instruments have a fixed set of formants, which give it a unique, recognizable tonal color or timbre, regardless of pitch. Vocal 1–7 These are also formant waveforms, but specifically vocaloriented.
Parameter Description Parameter Description Ratio (1–16) This parameter (which is only active if the Freq Mod button is activated) adjusts the amount of frequency modulation applied to oscillator 2, see “About frequency modulation” on page 32. Is normally referred to as FM index. Tracking button (On/Off) When Tracking is activated, the oscillator pitch tracks the notes played on the keyboard. If Tracking is deactivated, the oscillator pitch remains constant, regardless of what note is played.
Filter section Ring modulation Ring modulators multiply two audio signals. The ring-modulated output contains added frequencies generated by the sum of, and the difference between, the frequencies of the two signals. In Prologue, Osc 1 is multiplied with Osc 2 to produce sum and difference frequencies. Ring modulation is often used to create bell-like sounds. • To hear the ring modulation, turn down the output level for Osc 1 and 2, and turn up the “R.Mod” level all the way.
Modulation and controllers About the filter types You select which filter type to use using the buttons around the filter cutoff knob. The following filter types are available (listed clockwise from 9 o’clock): Type Description 12 db LP Low pass filters let low frequencies pass and cut out the high frequencies. This low pass filter has a gentler slope (12 dB/Octave above the cutoff frequency), leaving more of the harmonics in the filtered sound.
The two LFOs have identical parameters: Assigning LFO modulation destinations Parameter Description Speed This governs the rate of the LFO. If MIDI Sync is activated (see below), the available rate values are selectable as note values, e. g. beat increments of the sequencer tempo in Cubase. To assign a modulation destination for an LFO, proceed as follows: Depth This controls the amount of modulation applied by the LFO. If set to zero, no modulation is applied. Waveform This sets the LFO waveform.
Assigning LFO velocity destinations You can also assign LFO modulation that is velocity controlled (i.e. governed by how hard or soft you strike a key). Proceed as follows: Envelope generators govern how a parameter value changes when a key is pressed, when a key is held and finally when a key is released. 1. Click in the “Vel Dest” box for one of the LFOs. A pop-up menu appears in which all possible velocity destinations are shown. 2. Select a destination.
Decay After the maximum value has been reached, the value starts to drop. How long this takes is governed by the Decay time parameter. The Decay time has no effect if the Sustain parameter is set to maximum. Range is from 0.0 milliseconds to 91.1 seconds. Sustain The Sustain parameter determines the level the envelope rests at after the Decay phase. Note that Sustain represents a level, whereas the other envelope parameters represent times. Range is from 0 to 100.
Event page Effects (EFX) page The Event page is opened by clicking the EVENT button at the top of the lower half of the control panel. This page contains the most common MIDI controllers and their respective assignments. This page features three separate effect units: Distortion, Delay and Modulation (Phaser/Flanger/Chorus). The Effect page is opened by clicking the EFX button at the top of the lower half of the control panel.
The parameters are as follows: SR parameters Parameter Description Song Sync This switches tempo sync of the delay times on or off. Delay 1 Sets the delay time ranging from 0 ms to 728 ms. If MIDI sync is activated the range is from 1/32 to 1/1; straight, triplet or dotted. With these buttons you can change the sample rate. Lower sample rates basically reduce the high frequency content and sound quality, but the pitch is not altered.
Index
A R AmpSimulator 7 Apogee UV22HR 13 AutoPan 14 RingModulator 17 RoomWorks SE 21 Rotary 18 B S BitCrusher 7 StepFilter 12 StereoEnhancer 22 C Chopper 14 Chorus 15 Compressor 9 D DaTube 8 Distortion 8 Dither 13 DualFilter 11 T ToneBooster 13 Tranceformer 18 Tremolo 19 Tuner 23 V Vibrato 19 VSTDynamics 10 F W Filter plug-ins 11 Flanger 15 WahWah 13 G Groove Agent ONE 25 Grungelizer 8 L Limiter 9 M Metalizer 16 MonoDelay 6 MonoToStereo 22 O Octaver 20 P Phaser 16 PingPongDelay 6 Pitch Correc
