Introduction
One of the oldest sequencer, along with Logic (the golden era of classic cars can) and remember Notator Pro 24, Cubase, over the years has carried out numerous ergonomic, technical and conceptual standards on competition. Releasing a new version of Steinberg's flagship software, is still an event in itself, although one must admit that today, the heir to the throne of the king of sequencers are very numerous, are. As a result, innovation andExcellence are no longer unique to Cubase, with no other heavyweight sequencers (Logic, Sonar, Pro Tools, Samplitude, Digital Performer and Ableton Live), the last ten years to see where a lot of new challengers, with varying price tags and popularity, but packed with great features: Fruity Loops, Melodyne, Tracktion, Energy XT, Reaper ...
In a market as competitive as this, it is obviously more difficult to stand out. Cubase 4 had its critics, although it has theIs VST3 standard, has its effects and virtual instruments to date, marks a new media management system, and we could finally move from one track to the other effects by dragging and dropping. But it seemed as if they were trying to catch up to the competition as a really innovative ... Even the original innovations, such as the management of external devices (particularly from Yamaha, because the Japanese manufacturer had recently bought, Steinberg) and the development of targeted control roomFeatures were interesting, but not for all users and therefore does not necessarily justify the increased software costs approximately $ 879! Fortunately, if the logic was impressive 8 for around $ 500 Steinberg forced them to reconsider their tariffs and marketing strategy: You can now Cubase 5 for around $ 500 to find! With relatively interesting updates: 4.1 and 4.5 (page chain management for their effects better routing management, additional sound banks for HALionOne, etc..), And the 5th VersionSteinberg is doing its best to tempt us. Let's get into details ...
When I'm 64
The box is heavy and that's a good sign. In addition to the USB dongle and serial number, which can include register, it actually 2 manuals: a quick reference and a comprehensive rather large manual, not the cover, but the effects are still virtual instruments included with the software, but which are covered as PDF files. There are 4 DVDs: The DVD install to the program, DVDwith sounds and samples, and two DVDs with a 90-day demo version of HALion Symphonic Orchestra. Note that in addition to the manuals, the installation DVD a great number of tutorial videos that are very well done and the address contains all the important aspects of the sequencer. When you consider that there was a time that Steinberg attracted only manuals in PDF format, we can only thank the German companies have changed their behavior.
The installation went smoothly, and after a double clickClick on the red icon, I was in familiar territory: the Project window. The first novelty of this version is not directly to you, because it is invisible: Cubase now fully supports 64-bit technology. Was not that already the case? Yes and no, because even though Cubase 4 is compatible with 64-bit operating systems, the code has not yet really new to this writing. It therefore remained essentially a 32-bit application, but in the situation on a 64-bit system, while Cubase is 5 nowfull 64 bits.
What's the big deal about 64 bits? It is very simple: it increases the addressable memory. 32-bit operating systems manage to say, at best, 3.2 GB memory, while a 64-bit operating system can theoretically go up to 128GB, I (theoretically, because there is currently no equipment available to the general public that such has a lot of RAM). A very important detail in a time when virtual Rompler with banks of tens of Giga's for the presentation of a single instrument (BFD comeSuperior Drummer 2, Vienna, EastWest Symphonic Orchestra), Ivory Piano, etc., and simplify the lives of those who do have audio / video, and manage large videos in their sequencer.
Low Tech Propellerhead!
But not everything is rosy in the land of 64 bits. Although Steinberg is on the support of Mac OS X, Vista, 64 earned, and the upcoming Windows 7, no support for Windows XP 64 is officially expected to be (not necessarily mean that it will not work). DoRemember to check your plug-ins: Some developers already feature 64-bit compatibility, and proposes to Steinberg VST-Bridge technology, a path to 32-bit plug-ins in the 64-bit version of the sequencer to use but it's still very likely that one or two of your old effects that you have had a crash for the times in your directory VstPlugins or refuse to start. With the VST Bridge and resources consumed in relation to the use of a true 64-bit plug-in ... Apart from these minor inconveniences, themajor drawback of 64-bit is the incompatibility with the Propellerheads technologies: If you are Cubase 5 64-bit applications in a 64-bit operating system, you will not be able to use the REX file format, nor ReWire Platform: so farewell with Cubase with Reason, Ableton Live and Melodyne, among others ... Of course, the Swedish developer is probably not out of the situation as it stands, there is currently no announcement has been made on this issue ... What we do in this case? Install the 32-bit version of Cubase 5,runs very well on 64-bit operating system until Propellerhead makes a movement. While this is annoying, but it can not be blamed on Steinberg. Let us now look at the features that change how you are using Cubase.
Cognito, Ergonomic sum
There is no revolution in terms of the interface that seems to have opted for the German developer, with this release, the surface flow easier and increasing workload. Take, for example, the new automation panel that brings together in a singleMain window of the automation commands. One click is enough now all the tracks in reading or writing mode arm while you can choose to display or hide automation data, and dissolve / to playback or recording features of Type: Volume, Pan, EQ, sends, inserts. The time saving is substantial!
Achieved since the checks to a variety of small improvements, such as the presence of a virtual keyboard, the music from a QWERTY keyboard to play (useful when you are away on a laptop,and you still have) no keyboard, or a free application for iPod / iPhone, you can remotely control the transport bar is via WiFi ... well, you might say, but not enough to justify an upgrade. Except that Steinberg has the opportunity to meet the needs of many users to express, through the integration primarily an export of multiple audio files.
Total exports, Hallelujah!
Before Requested age, the total export feature now makes it possible to export moreTitle in one fell swoop. Until now, in Cubase, if you wanted to make one CD with 16 audio tracks, to give a friend or a studio with another sequencer without the OMF format, you had to track for track, using the Solo and mute buttons: a waste of time! Now, in the mix down the window, check the box for the outputs, audio tracks or instruments and effects tracks. The only thing missing from this window is the ability to activate or deactivate the effects of Title inserted, soYou can easily provide a dry track, although it still be made in a blender or project view. It would have been nice if Cubase lossless audio formats are managed (Monkey Audio etc.). In any case, even if Steinberg brings to the competition over innovation on this point, this simple feature alone is worth an upgrade from any version of Cubase to this new version ...
Up to Speed
Not so important for some, but important for the other, it mustmentioned that there can be two new types of marks: Tempo track and signature track, which you can program changes in tempo and time signature in your projects. Granted, Cubase already a tempo-editor in the past, but there was only one editor who is not very ergonomic. Well, not only from the Project window, you can vary the tempo and time signatures with a click of the mouse. Unfortunately, you can but only one signature speed and length of a project: you can not have a 3 / 4Length and 4 / 4 track play simultaneously, or a track, the tempo would increase, while the others remained at a solid pace, even if these examples are rare ... The addition of these two tracks, should in any case greatly simplify work for the composer, who also like to see the new range of MIDI software.
MIDI plug-ins
Let's start was with MIDI plug-ins: they have completely revised and two new additions are: MIDI Monitor andBeat Designer (which will be spoken about later)
The MIDI Monitor plug-in allows you, as the name suggests, keep an eye on all messages sent through the MIDI sequencer, making it an invaluable tool when it comes to the diagnosis of a disorder or a connection problem comes, as it allows you to export logs to a TXT file. Very useful for automation of complex programming.
Have less esoteric but equally have the other MIDI plug-ins, made substantial improvements to her were eitherOn the graphic or functional level, how Chorder, now a MIDI Learn mode. Unfortunately: not using tools that create the MIDI programming for acoustic instruments to facilitate the realistic strumming or other techniques. However, in the field of realistic MIDI programs, Steinberg has not been idle, as shown by VST-expression, another important change in version 5, ...
VST Expression: Express Yourself!
So, what is it? It is an interface with theIntuitively manage and control (of the piano roll, the Drum Edit or guest edit) the many joints that are found in large symphonic sound banks (Vienna, Garritan, East West Symphonic Orchestra, etc.) .. Like a Drum Map editing drums easier, you can now Expression Maps that continuous controller (especially the key-switch) to a specific technique (staccato dedicated, glissando, tremolo, etc.) administer .. Once an expression of the map is created, all youneed to do is program used in the changes in the articulation at the bottom of the Piano Roll (in the same room for the continuous controllers) are, or use the corresponding symbols in the score editor.
That is all, but it really simplifies things, as you soon realize the HALion Symphonic Orchestra demo version (limited to 90 days), or with the wind instruments, guitars and bass samples in HALion an expression set 01 Like all good ideas, one wonders why nobody thought of before. In addition toSimplify programming, VST expression, you can also transfer your sequences from one bank to another, as long as the appropriate expression of cards. It is on this very issue that you have to be pitied, perhaps, because even though Cubase expression Maps offers for HALion One and HALion Symphonic Orchestra, it does not provide for the heavyweights in the Symphonic samples. So you need to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself, wait through a simple editor, or until the marksthemselves or enthusiasts who work for you, what will probably be the case sooner or later. But whether VST expression becomes standard will be adopted by other sequencers can still be seen ...
Vari Nice!
The total export and VST expression functions important additions to Cubase, but the feature that has received the most attention in Cubase 5 is definitely VariAudio that is integrated directly in the ground like a Melodyne application in Cubase. In the Audio Editor(accessible by double-clicking on a file or an audio segment), there is a new tab called VariAudio. When you activate it, the software starts a process of recognition for all the notes in the audio clip that you are working then as a simple MIDI sequence. You can change the pitch, as well as the placement and duration of the segments, while showing a curve formants. Ergonomically speaking, the integration is perfect: Vehicles with the mouse on the pitch of a note, and the difference in pitch shown in comparison to thea half-step, while a piano-roll is superimposed to simplify the implementation. Compared to the Melodyne plug-in integration is seamless: it works in full screen mode and not in a minimized window, there are no worries about conflicting linkages between Melodyne and Cubase, and above all no more headaches with bouncing the sound - only in the be able to hear the outcome. There is only one thing that is lacking in comparison to Melodyne: VariAudio not treated, the amplitude of the variousSegments, which means that you do not set the volume for each note that it detects. Steinberg makes for this, however, by incorporating a good audio to MIDI conversion function. You can use any mono audio clip again in a sequence that can then be played by a virtual instrument. Of course, depending on the quality of the audio clip and detection limits (with or without taking into account pitch bend), the result is more or less true to the original, but through the editing a bit to clean up theResult, you get results that are suitable ...
How does it sound? Although the quality of the algorithms that holding VariAudio of its own when compared to the competition, they are not used up to par with Melodyne when dealing with extreme transpositions (plus or minus one octave, for example). It all depends, of course, to implement what you are trying to work some sounds better than others, such as electric bass, while others are more complicated (like singing, artifacts glitches, flange,implement, etc..) if you have more than 3 half-steps. It all depends what you use it for: hidden in the mix, some changes are not detectable, whereas when it forwards a mixture or alone, more than likely not be usable. Still, it's great to have a tool like this, because it proves useful in many situations, and it works quite well.
In the course of VariAudio is an editing tool, Steinberg has also delivered pitch correction plug-in, which as the name implies,corrected automatically change the pitch of the track you put it on (like Auto Tune), with the possibility of limiting the audio to a certain extent without changing its tolerance, formants, etc.. The big difference is that VariAudio this plug-in works in real time and does his job well as long as the appropriate settings (shape, speed, tolerance, etc..). Pitch correction can also add some special effects: Mickey Mouse (+ 2 octaves), Barry White (-2 octaves), or the testing of thePlug-in via MIDI as a virtual instrument, or that "Cher effect".
In short, between Pitch Correct, and VariAudio AudioWarp you can really shape your tracks as if they were produced by Sonic Sound. This is a very good starting point for Cubase 5, which is now its own in terms of audio editing. Let's take a look at the effects and virtual instruments that come with Cubase 5 ...
Machine FX
In Cubase 4, Steinberg added the built-in effects, and now there is noless than 58 audio plug-ins that come with Cubase 5th The selection of effects is comprehensive and covers virtually all needs: spectral processing (EQ, filters, wah, enhancer), dynamic (compressors, gates, expanders, de-esser, Transient Designer), spatial (autopan, Stereo Widener), pitch ( Octaver), modulation effects (chorus, phaser, flanger, ring modulator), distortions, amp simulator, guitar tuner, signal generator, etc.. etc.. It should be noted that there is a slight redundancy: the sameEffects are sometimes available in both a mono version and a stereo version, as the extremely annoying Wave Effects bundles. Instead of having 4 different delays, it would have been nice to have a single plug-in that was a little challenging to get ...
The magical effect of the stimulus
However, Steinberg applause that they should finally provide a real high-reverb: Reverence convolution processor that takes over until the very mediocre RoomWorks (whichyet) available. There is not much to reverence, whose functions are similar to other processors convolution say (setting different parameters, reverb, 3-band parametric equalizer, reverse mode, preview ...). It should be mentioned that the plug-in stereo or surround sound works, and it comes with a collection of impulse responses: reverb, no speaker simulators for guitarists, but since you can use many pulses from the network and import files in WAV or find AIFF format, this is not aProblem.
So the only criticism, which has been on this new reverb, the same for all processors folding: is a real reverence pig in terms of CPU utilization. To work in stereo, it is not too bad, but to use it in surround mode, it would be better to have an extremely powerful computer ... Nevertheless, Steinberg really needed its own convolution reverb. If you have one already, then you are not interested, but if you do not, you will save yourself some money ...
The same is true for allprovided effect plug-ins - and this is her greatest strength - you can be the implementation of a project from A to Z: nothing is missing, and you can just work with Cubase 5 as it is. What is the quality of effects and processing, let's just say that there is nothing unusual, but they are not up to par with other third party plug-ins, especially in the EQ and dynamics processor unit (you see better through plugins Before in Flux, Sonnox, Waves, URS, PSP ... but at a price that often exceeds that ofSequencer!), Or the impact that a Samplitude for example ...
Groove Baby Groove!
In Cubase 5, Steinberg offers two new virtual instruments and MIDI plug-in devoted to electronic rhythms: Groove Agent One, LoopMash, and beat-designer.
Contrary to popular belief, Groove Agent is not comparable with the old A Groove Agent, but rather as the LM4 ... produces at a glance, an Akai MPC. It is a virtual drum sampler with 16 pads, which can be assignedto an AIFF, WAV, MPC, or several slices of a loop. Note that GA1 manage up to 8 layers per block, and you can have 8 banks of 16 pads. Pad assignment is done by simple drag and drop from MediaBay, audio editor, or project window, but unfortunately not on the desktop of Windows or Mac OS. But if you put more than one file on the same block, the software creates automatically distribute the appropriate layers dynamically speeds. As for handling, GA1 provides a set of controls:Tuning / implementation sample amplitude envelope, multimode filter (resonant but not, unfortunately), reverse-mode ... In short, there is plenty to keep you busy even if it would have been nice if had to edit the section develops a little more (I was not able to change the playback start and stop points) to a sample and there is no effects (distortion, delay, etc.). Although, you can apply these effects in the mixer with various audio outputs, it is less intuitive. In fact, despite their similarity does notexpect to do with Groove Agent One quarter of what you do with FXpansion's Guru, but it has been delivered but for a program with a sequencer normal ...
As for sequencing, you will have fun with the new MIDI plug-in called Beat designer. The inclusion of ergonomics and the logic of the traditional step sequencer (up to 64 steps per pattern with different time signatures is available) can be Beat Designer quick Groove Agent Pilot or another synth or drum sampler. Its useis very simple: a click on an event with one click delete, and click Add, and then drag to change the speed, while feeling the effects of the regulator "Swing". It's a nice little sequencer, although, again, the combination with Groove Agent Man is far from offering the performance and ergonomics of a guru ...
And finally, the most original of the lot: LoopMash. No sequences nor a shot samples, this time we are dealing with loops, with a concept that is not far) from PowerFX Miracle or guru (once again.The idea is to combine the groove of a master loop with the sound of 7 other loops, and fits like elements in loops and beats, to create new "mash-ups" of any rhythmic audio material. The software is based on sound recognition algorithm, so that you can dose the level of each loop, and you can have up to 8 scenes with one click. There are not many settings, but that is to remain in order, because this fact makes LoopMash to a simple and effective tool for finding original ideas, especially whenYou try to mix melodic loops and drum loops. If electro is your cup of tea, you will really like the idea. However, if you tend toward jazz or rock, you probably will not have much interest in this device, nor Groove Agent A or beat Designer.
I would like to point out what is now one of the few real weaknesses that have Cubase in comparison to some of its competitors: the number of virtual instruments. While it could be Embracer, monologue, Spector or Halion very beautiful in and of themselves, theyvery far from the power and versatility of the Z3TA +, Dimension Pro and Rapture LE, trio, or the instruments in Sonar Logic Pro 8 offers (no Rhodes, no organ, etc.) .. It would probably be less embarrassing if Cubase comes with a real software sampler (why not HALion included by default). All we get is the default Halion One Römpler with healthy banks range from good to very average.
In this context, it would be nice if Steinberg had a more attractive offer, be it throughMarketing or licensing (including versions of third party plug-ins) or why not to buy, technologies or products from small, specialized developers.
Conclusion
Cubase 5 is without doubt a success and shows the progress in various fields. More user-friendly, more powerful and better equipped, Steinberg's baby is healthy and happy! Sure, we'd always like more (in particular) virtual instruments, but features such as VariAudio, VST expression, tempo / signature title orMulti-export function, make this a major change. When asked, "When you upgrade from version 4 or lower", the answer is 1000 times more so, but remember that the studio version of the software is not included (and it is an important point) VariAudio, among others.
If you are not a sequencer, or you want to change is the problem more difficult by the fact that after a quick web surfing, it was pretty surprised to find that no marks except Magix, Cakewalk, andAbleton have demo versions of their sequencer! And it's a shame that you can not try before you buy at a time which says if the differences between the sequencer is often a few different functions and work processes. But speaking as an unconditional Cubase user in the last fifteen years, I can not recommend enough Cubase 5 ...
Positives:
Full 64-bit!
VariAudio, efficient and fully integrated.
VST expression.
Finally, there is still a multi-export!
Finally aHELLO reverb!
Tempo and signature songs, so much easier ...
A complete all-in-one solution.
Printed manuals and video tutorials.
Groove Agent One simple and effective.
Loopmash
The Automation Panel
The concept of the iPhone application to control the sequencer
Cons ...
No samplers, no organ, no piano outside of the presets in HALion One
Synthesizers that are not up to par with the competition
Sarit Bruno manages contentand the editorial line for Audiofanzine
AudioFanzine provides benchmark / reviews of products, software or instruments and articles of a tutorial nature, all presented systematically through exclusive video and audio excerpts. Addressing a general audience, whether amateur or professional, http://Audiofanzine.com addresses as well as sound engineers, musicians, home studio recording enthusiasts and audio and lighting engineers.
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