Steinberg Cubase Pro 12

FM VERDICT
9.2
This a solid and dependable
update to Cubase, and offers
some excellent new features
and small, but important,
update to others
Multi-track Audiowarp: Now a reality.
Group Editing mode now adds a
Phase-Coherent AudioWarp mode
meaning no anomalies with your
multi-mic recording out of whack
FX Modulator: An all-new plugin
that use LFO to modulate effects
parameters. 14 different effects are
available, ranging from volume and
pan to time and pitch-shift
ARA Extensions: Now makes
integration of editors like Melodyne a
speedier and more fl uid process
Logical Editors: These complex
editors are often overlooked, but
offer a wealth of powerful editing and
transformation options
resolution monitors. On the subject
of visual feedback, there are some
useful new modules (including
old-school VU meters) in the
excellent Cubase Supervision
analysis tool.
Remaining on an audio
processing tip, Cubase 12 includes
tweaks to its Crossfade functionality
with the addition of an advanced
Crossfade editor, which adds more
visual feedback, a range of new
operations and quicker navigation
between multiple crossfades.
Synchronisation between the Part
and Crossfade Editor windows could
be improved, and there should be
an easy way to keep the Crossfade
Editor on top of other windows. The
original Crossfade Editor can be
reinstated should you wish to keep
things simpler.
Another audio editing feature
gets some love in C12 with the
news that ARA can be enabled for
whole tracks. The ARA Extension
functionality, which integrates
external editors such as Melodyne
into the Cubase workfl ow tended to
slow up when dealing with lots of
audio events on the same track.
Extensions can now be enabled at
the track level, which makes the
process much more fl uid (and with
a noticeable speed improvement).
Audio export of channels or
groups now allows you to include all
side-chain input signals. However,
for me the ability to export multiple
selected events at once is a
gamechanger as it facilitates (with
some forethought) ’proper’ stem
bounces in way that is not yet
possible using the standard export
dialogue. This is also a boon for
sound design work.
Robots in disguise
An area that often gets overlooked
by users – perhaps because of their
intimidating look – are the Logical
Editors and Input Transformers.
This has been updated visually and
functionally, and given some new
presets to get you started. These
are immensely powerful processors
that can be used with Key
Commands and Macros to carry out
tasks that might normally take a lot
of button and/or mouse activity.
The list of new features and
changes in Cubase 12 is very long
and some appear quite small on the
surface but will have a very real
impact for specifi c groups of users.
You can fi nd the full list here –
https://www.steinberg.net/cubase/
release-notes/12/. Some additional
ones worth mentioning are the new
MIDI remote integration (see
boxout), WinRT MIDI Windows
Bluetooth MIDI, a second video
track, a fourth MixConsole window,
independent grid settings for nudge
operations (great for vocal edits)
and sample-accurate automation.
There are, however, casualties. The
Mystic, Prologue, Spector and
Loopmash plugins and Rewire
connectivity have been removed
and Apple silicon users will lose
their VST 2 plugins unless they run
under Rosetta – though this applies
to all DAWs on newer Macs.
Steinberg have also announced
that a forthcoming maintenance
update will also include Dolby
Atmos support and Extended
Channel Freeze (multiple tracks at
once). A couple of very nice things
to look forward to.
When one DAW closes,
another opens…
I usually hold off on embracing big
DAW updates until the fi rst or
second bug fi x/maintenance release
– mainly to see how other users get
on, and avoid nasty surprises.
However, a few visual glitches
aside, Cubase 12 has been solid
since the moment that I updated it,
both when loading earlier projects
and starting new ones. All relevant
settings were transferred as
expected, and there were no nasty
surprises in relation to plugins or
other third-party components not
working as expected. I will once
again voice my annoyance regarding
MixConsole’s scaling quirks and the
inability to save mixer
confi gurations globally. Event
Volume Curves could also do with a
refresh. Despite this, Cubase 12
feels like a particularly solid update
that should tick at least a few boxes
for most users. It also points in the
right direction of travel, making
Cubase quite possibly the best
all-round DAW available.
Steinberg Cubase Pro 12 | Reviews
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