Cubase SE 1.07

[Boneman]

I have just purchased a copy to get used to the technology, can anyone walk me through the programme. I really would like to understand it's uses.

[gravehill]

That's quite a broad question... Did you read the manual already? Any specific things you'd like to know?

[Thorolf]

The main parts can be immense enough: Can you actually get sound or MIDI into the proggie, and get it out again with playback?

If you haven’t tried it, that would be lesson one. If you get stuck, ask for help.



Regards

[Boneman]

I have no way to input midi T. I have gone through the book and played with the demo music.

[Boneman]

Can you help me to delve into the world of VST

[gravehill]

Sure, but you need to tell us what it is you want to do exactly.

[Boneman]

Basically just to learn how to compose on it using VST etc.

[Boneman]

I know that some guys on here compose using vst etc I was hoping to get an understanding of how to do that and was hoping that Cubase SE would help me. Have I got the wrong bit of software?

[stevel]

Originally Posted by Boneman

I know that some guys on here compose using vst etc I was hoping to get an understanding of how to do that and was hoping that Cubase SE would help me. Have I got the wrong bit of software?

VST is Virtual Studio Technology. Basically, it was developed by Steinberg (the makers of Cubase) as a way to turn physical devices (keyboards, synthesizers, effects boxes, etc.) in virtual ones (software representations of those).

VSTi - Virtual Studio Instruments are software devices meant to do the same thing as a hardware device. For example, an early famous synthesizer was the ARP series - especially the 2600 line. Now, a company makes a software version of this synthesizer - TimewARP20006 (or some similar number). You can buy this software and use its sounds within a program such as Pro Tools (it actually comes with Pro Tools becuase they have the same parent company), Cubase, Logic, etc.

Pro Tools used RTAS, Logic AU, and Steinberg VST. But since S was first out of the gate, there are a great many software instruments for VST, so basically Pro Tools and Logic etc. have adopted all three formats (and others) now, as has Cubase.

These "virtual" instruments work in two ways - as a plug-in, or as a stand-alone. Some do both. A stand-alone virtual instrument (notice I'm not calling them VST because it's not specifically Steinberg) just operates like any other program - it's basically a software synth. You play your keyboard, twiddle the virtual knobs, and it makes sound. And in most cases, the virtual knobs are designed to look like the original instrument to make things easy. When a virtual instrument is used in a program, it's called a "host" - Cubase is a host for something like VB-1, which is a plug-in for virtual bass (though Steinberg designed that one, the same is true for any compatible plug in).

Because at first, not all host programs used all formats, some people wrote simple "host" programs - VST hosts - that could let you load up and play various synths.

Word of Caution - VST, AU, RTAS, etc. are all very processor hungry. Most people use one computer to run their plug ins and DSP stuff, and another computer to run the main program. In fact, there's now a HARDWARE device to play you virtual plug-ins! It's come full circle!!!!

So, back to Cubase. What Cubase is is a MIDI Sequencer and Audio Recorder, with the capability to use VST (and like most people make both a Mac and PC version of their software now, most plug-ins are in most common formats) format Plug-Ins (it has the capability to use external and other formats, but you need an extra piece to do this).

So here's what you do. Create a MIDI track and record some notes. Or you can import a MIDI file. Then you set up a virtual instrument. Your SE should have come with some - we use LE and I got Universal Sound Module, LM-7 and VB-1 with it. I've found some free ones on the internet that are actually very, very good (DaHornet, Free Alpha, Remedy, and for fun, Chip 32).

Now, here's the downside - a Virtual Instrument is just like a hardware Synthesizer, and it is only as good as the sounds they create at manufacture (assuming you want things like a Trombone, and not a "fizzywig" sound). For example, the Universal Sound Module that came with our LE is a simple, General MIDI sound module, and the sounds are really no better than what comes on the typical computer soundcard. On the flip side, Free Alpha produces some amazingly complex and way cool sounds - but not a "Violin", etc. - wacky sounds instead.

Look at the Vienna Symphonic Cube. This is a sample library that has recordings of Vienna symphony players. It's only about 20,000! (in USD!). So to get top-notch samples, you have to pay top dollar.

Luckily Kevin, there are mid-range and even low end samples that sound pretty good - good enough to give you a general idea of an orchestra score for example. Some sample libraries have nothing but piano sounds, some have entire orchestras, some have nothing but percussion, etc. Some of them are stand-alones, some of them a plug-ins that you can call up a sample library into, and other ones operate as plug ins automatically. You just have to check all the formats and make sure you're getting a VST compatible set.

In Cubase, once you've installed the Plug-In, it shows up in the VST Instruments selection box, so you just select it, and then assign any channels you want to that "device". Then they play out as audio.

I use both Pro Tools and Cubase, and as a composer, Cubase is more of a "creation" program to me - Pro Tools is more strictly "a recording program". Not that you can't do a lot of the other in each, but Cubase is still more MIDI-oriented, and Pro Tools more Audio-oriented. For the price too, you can't beat Cubase. It's ease of editing is far superior to Pro Tools for MIDI (thought PT has it beat hands-down in the audio department for editing).

So you haven't got the wrong software. You can use it for ideas, or, you can use it to realize written scores, you can notate (albeit rudimentarily) for closer scrutiny, and the editing capabilities make it REAL eazy to experiment with ideas once you've gotten them down.

Needless to say, I love using Cubase :-) I still actually use hardware instruments (cause I've got really nice hardware devices, and only crappy virtual synths) for sounds (Fantom, Motif, etc.) but the ability to create music - i.e. "compose" is great (see, I don't really see users of Pro Tools so much as "composers" as "assemblers").

Best,
Steve