Control Room
The mixer in Cubase 4 has been expanded with a powerful Control Room section. You!re now able to connect multiple sets of control room monitors and external sources (CD, DVD, DAT, iPod) directly to your audio hardware and switch between them from a convenient Control Room panel. All connections are defined under a new tab in the VST Connections window. The Control Room section also offers a talkback
channel, independent headphone channels, and the ability to create up to four studio mixes (monitor mixes). Therefore, each mixer channel now offers a separate studio send section for controlling those mixes.

The Control Room section in Cubase 4 is identical to the same section in Nuendo 3.2. If you are familiar with Nuendo, you already know about this powerful feature. Please check out all the details in our separate documentation.

Major Score Editor Enhancements
The score editor in Cubase 4 has seen a major redesign, including many usability and workflow improvements as well as new features. Composers don!t despair! None of the existing functions have been lost. All functions from previous versions are still available, albeit in different places. Here!s just a brief overview:

• The Score menu is now slimmer and better organized. Some functions are now available via dedicated context menus and therefore easier to use

• The symbol palettes have their own “inspector” which is organized in tabs – similar to the track inspector

• Several dialogs have been combined into a single “main” score settings dialog

• The Drum settings are now part of the main Drum Map Setup

• Cubase 4 now offers two additional high-quality score fonts:“Jazz” and “Classical”. The original Cubase font is now available as “Legacy” font.

New Plug-in Set – VST3
Cubase 4 not only includes a completely new set of audio effect plugins, it also marks the next step in VST plug-in technology! VST3 offers major new features both for plug-in developers and users. VST3 plugins can adjust their number of audio busses to the channel they!re inserted to (mono, stereo, 5.1, etc.). A silence detection function makes sure that a plug-in only processes audio when there!s actually a signal present. This helps to reduce overall CPU load. VST3 plug-ins natively support Mac Intel computers. For developers there are many more features under the hood.

In Cubase 4, there are more than 30 all-new audio plug-ins. In addition,some of the previous plug-ins have been reworked and updated for this version, pushing the total number of plug-ins to 66! The original SX3
plug-ins will still be available to update customers. New customers may install these plug-ins as a “Legacy” set for project compatibility.

One of the highlights of this new plug-in set is a powerful new state-ofthe- art 4-band parametric Equalizer, which is also available within the newly enhanced channel EQ. Other highlights include a Vintage Compressor, Studio Chorus, a new Multiband Compressor, a voicedoubler called “Cloner”, and a great-sounding modeling guitar amplifier with speaker cabinet simulation.

A feature not related to VST3 but to Cubase 4!s mixer: effects can now be re-arranged using drag & drop. This works both within a single channel, as well as between channels.

New Virtual Instruments
Cubase 4 adds four new virtual instruments: HALion One, Prologue, Spector and Mystic. HALion One is a special player version of HALion and comes with hundreds of ready-to-use instruments. Prologue is a polyphonic subtractive synthesizer with great-sounding filters and powerful modulation capabilities. Spector offers spectrum filter synthesis, while Mystic uses a combination of physical modeling and comb filtering to generate unique and colorful sounds. Prologue, Spector and Mystic are powered by VirSyn technology and also come with hundreds of fantastic preset sounds.

MediaBay – media file management system
To keep up with the ever-growing number of sounds, samples, loops and presets, Cubase 4 is equipped with a powerful media file management system known as MediaBay. MediaBay is the central place for browsing, searching, managing and categorizing any type of media file. This includes audio and MIDI files, instrument and plug-in presets, video data and even project files. Files can be organized in a folder structure, using attributes, or a combination of both. Powerful search tools support even most complex tasks. A user-friendly musical category search system helps finding sounds or loops fast. MediaBay also includes a tag editor to apply attributes. A Scope section features previewing options. Loops can be auditioned in the song!s tempo.

Instrument Tracks
Cubase 4 introduces a new track type: Instrument Track. An Instrument Track provides a fast and convenient way to use virtual instruments. As a quick alternative to the VSTi Rack, Instrument Tracks provide a single MIDI Input and a single stereo Output within a single channel/track. Setting up a VST Instrument and getting ready to play is now just one step away. As a limitation, Instruments in an Instrument Track only provide a single MIDI Input and one Stereo Output. Multitimbral VSTi!s and Instruments with multiple outputs may
also be used in an Instrument Track, but they will automatically be restricted to one MIDI channel and one stereo output. Of course, the VSTi Rack can still be used in the familiar way.

Track Presets
One of the most powerful new features in Cubase 4 is Track Presets – especially when they!re combined with the new MediaBay. Track Presets are presets for complete track/channel settings. They are available for audio, MIDI, and Instrument tracks. Combinations of tracks can also be saved as Multi-Track Preset. Most track and mixer setting are stored, as well as Instrument/Preset information for an Instrument Track, or MIDI Port/Channel/Patch information for a MIDI track. Also included are all insert effect settings as well as EQ.

Track Presets can be saved with attributes like Category/Style/Character etc. This opens up a whole new dimension in sound management….

SoundFrame™ – Universal Sound Manager
The real power of Cubase 4 only reveals itself when combining some of the new key features and using them in conjunction.
One of the biggest problems in typical project studio environments is the management of plug-ins, instruments, loops, presets, etc. Cubase 4 now offers a powerful solution to this problem: SoundFrame™

What is SoundFrame™?
• SoundFrame™ allows you to manage ANY sound from ANY software or hardware synthesizer under a single, unified user interface (using MediaBay)

• SoundFrame™ can help you find any sound, not only by instrument but also by category, type, style, character or other attributes (Track Presets organized in MediaBay)

• SoundFrame™ even comes with more than 1000 ready-to-play sounds, which are also conveniently organized by instrument category, type, and character. These can even be instantly previewed before loading. (Instrument Track Presets managing the new included VST instruments – again organized in MediaBay)

• SoundFrame™ can even manage your VST effects plug-in presets as well. These can also be organized and categorized to form one big effects library.

User Interface Redesign
The first thing you will notice when opening Cubase 4 is the redesigned user-interface. The overall look has become a notch darker (although this can be changed in the Appearance preference pane) and less “3D”. The overall visibility of active items versus inactive items has been vastly improved. In fact, although there are more screen elements in this version, it looks like there was less, especially in the Mixer and Inspector areas. You will notice that selected mixer channels are now very clearly highlighted. Also, smaller fonts are now more
readable.

The new user interface also introduces a number of new features:
• The Track Inspector is now fully customizable. A new setup panel allows each item in the Track Inspector to be made visible or hidden. Also, the order of items can be changed – individually for each track type, of course. In addition, entire setups can be stored as presets.

• The Channel Strip window is also fully customizable. It also features its own setup panel and individual sections can be configured in the same way as the track inspector. Here as well, presets can be created for later recall. You will also notice the new EQ section with its larger display area.

• The Mixer window has many new functions, most of which deal with managing views, applying those to selected channels only, changing view/hide status of individual or multiple channels. Notice the new items in the mixers common panel.

Additional New Features

• Extended AudioWarp: realtime transpose with formant preservation. Solo instruments and vocals can be transposed at much higher quality and still sound natural. Just select the new “Solo” Preset in the Warp Setting menu of the sample editor.

• Much-improved Audio and MIDI Hardware Setup panels. Parameters are now consolidated and better organized. Port handling has been simplified.

• A new Trim tool in the key editor allows for trimming start and end for multiple events

• MP3 Surround: not only, Cubase 4 provides full MP3 encoding and decoding where similar products only provide demo versions of MP3. Cubase 4 also supports MP3 surround, the latest achievement in audio compression. MP3 surround is fully backwards compatible with stereo decoders and provides a convenient solution for multi-channel media distribution – for example via Internet or email.

Control Room
Without drawing a lot of attention, the control room section of a mixer is one of the key elements in every studio. No matter if it!s just about controlling the level of studio monitors, switching between different sets of monitors, communicating with musicians in a recording booth, or quickly switching to a external source like CD,
DAT or DVD player: the control room section of a professional mixing desk brings all these signals together and distributes them within the studio.

Equally important and often missed on smaller mixing consoles is one or more independent monitor or headphone mixes, specially when recording a live band or multiple musicians at the same time. Many of today!s studios still require a hardware mixer just for that purpose.

Cubase 4 completely redefines the computer-based recording and mixing workflow in music production systems by recreating the complete Control Room section originally found only in high-end hardware mixing consoles. With the addition of this virtual Control Room and suitable multi-channel audio I/O hardware, external mixers are finally a thing of the past.

The routing of all Control Room busses can be monitored and edited via the Control Room Overview window.
All elements and their possible connections are displayed with green dots marking existing connections. Connections can be changed directly in this view.

The Control Room section in Cubase 4 includes the following functions:

• Completely separate output busses for Control Room and Headphone Monitoring, leaving the main mix output untouched by control room specific settings.
• Four user-definable Monitor Setups allow for quick switching between monitor systems including “Foldback”and convenient solo functionality for surround setups such as “Solo to Center” or “Back to Front”
• Up to six External Inputs for external sources such as DAT, Tape, CD or DVD can be played through any Studio, Track, Headphone or Control Room Bus.
• A total of up to four separate Studios/Monitor Mixes, each getting their signal feeds from any audio channel, group channel, or FX return channel within the Cubase mixer. All of these channel types are now equipped with four independent Studio Sends, each offering level and pan.
• Talkback function allowing producers and engineers to speak directly to musicians/artists in any or all of the studios.
• Automatic Dim, when Talkback is used, as well as manual Dim button to reduce Control Room output levels by 20dB.
• Copy function to apply the main mix to any of the Studio mixes with a single mouse click or key command.
• Separate Click Bus allows for individual distribution of a metronome click to Studios, Headphone and Control Room busses.

New configurable Symbol Tabs re-organize Cubase 4's symbol palettes and facilitate score editing and layout.

The Score Menu and Score Settings Panel have been reorganized and consolidated. This dramatically simplifies and improves the workflow inside the score layout editor.

The Staff Presets have been linked to Cubase 4's SoundFrame™ and its new Track Presets. Whenever a track preset is used that contains sound category information, a suitable staff preset is automatically assigned to that track. Vice-versa user defined MIDI or Instrument Track Presets can save custom staff settings together with the instrument and sound. Last but not least, two brand-new master-quality Score Fonts have been added: "Jazz" and "Classic". These are now available together with the original Cubase Score Font, which has been renamed to "Legacy".

MediaBay sections can be individually switched on or off. The entire window or individual sections can also be resized.
The Scope section is used to preview the selected file.
The Browser section shows the current file system in a tree perspective.
The Viewer includes the Filter section and the search result list. In this window,Detail Search mode is active.
The Tag Editor is used to apply and edit standard or user-definable attributes to the selected file(s)

Two additional MediaBay windows provide direct access to either sounds or loops without the need to reconfigure any windows. Since each of these windows remembers its last setting, users can conveniently switch between browsing for sounds or searching for a specific drum loop or audio sample. MediaBay, SoundFrame Browser and Loop Browser can be accessed directly via key commands as well (F5, F6, F7).

MediaBay
Cubase 4 introduces a powerful media management system called MediaBay. MediaBay gives Cubase users total control over all of their instrument sounds, plug-in presets, audio loops and clips, MIDI Files, Track Presets and even video files or entire Cubase project files. It is the centerpiece of Steinberg's unique SoundFrame™ architecture.

But MediaBay is more than a database. It also includes a smart file Browser with "Flat" and "Focus" modes, as well as user-definable presets for Search Locations. The powerful Filter section offers both a multi-level Detail Search mode and a convenient Category Search mode, which is perfect for browsing instrument presets or track presets.

The Viewer area displays search results and can be quickly reorganized by sorting after category or type using its user-definable column views and column order. Files can be imported into the current project either by context menu command or simple drag & drop. Even editing operations on the file system level such as Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete or Rename can be executed from the Viewer area of MediaBay.

The Scope section of MediaBay gives a closer view at the selected media file. It features preview functions, including Auto Preview and Preview in Project Context to play loops in the project tempo. Audio files have a ruler waveform display. Standard Transport Controls are available as well.

The Tag Editor is used to apply and edit standard and user-definable Attributes to any media file that is supported in MediaBay. Using Attributes are the key to MediaBay's powerful search and filter functions. Cubase 4's included content such as track presets and instrument presets have pre-defined attribute information and can be used to demonstrate the speed and convenience of SoundFrame™.

Besides the standard MediaBay window, there are multiple adapted views of MediaBay available everywhere across Cubase 4. This includes a special SoundFrame™ Browser view for browsing sounds across all available internal and external instruments, a convenient Loop Browser, as well as any Load or Save dialogs for VST Presets and Track Presets.

The SoundFrame™ Browser window is specially configured to browse sounds across the entire studio. This can include any or all virtual or external instruments that are known to Cubase. Sounds can be previewed/played before they are loaded into a track. Instead of a "favorites flag", SoundFrame™ features a convenient rating system to personalize a sound library and get to the right sound quickly.

With Cubase 4's Loop Browser, users can directly access their existing loop library and preview any loop with just a single click, even in context with the current arrangement. Because of the flexible structure of MediaBay, users can work in either folder-based or category-based organization systems - or a combination of both.

New Virtual Instrument: HALion One
With HALion One Steinberg adds powerful sample playback synthesis to Cubase 4. Based on Steinberg's award-winning HALion 3 architecture, HALion One is optimized for use with SoundFrame™. It comes with more than 650 brand-new ready-to-play sounds covering dozens of acoustic and electronic instruments, as well as hundreds of colorful synth timbres. This extremely versatile sound set is optimized for lightning-fast preset switching and low memory consumption.

HALion One plays one single VST3 Preset at a time and provides one pair of stereo audio outputs. Sound and effect parameters can be tweaked using eight convenient Quick Controls. Edits can be saved as user presets. SoundFrame™ manages all of HALion One's presets, user presets and track presets. So finding the right sound is equally convenient and fast.

• Integrated sample-based instrument with more than 600 instruments/sounds
  
• Includes 58 drum kits
  
• Eight QuickControls
  
• FX Bypass button
  
• Variable efficiency to control CPU load
  
• One MIDI In, stereo audio out - perfect for Instrument Tracks

New Virtual Instrument: Prologue

Prologue is a powerful virtual analog synthesizer and represents a further development of Steinberg's critically acclaimed D'cota synthesizer's Analog Page. It offers up to 128-voice polyphony and comes with hundreds of great-sounding presets covering a wide range of sounds reaching from traditional analog to indescribable. Prologue's intuitive user interface provides full editing capabilities with access to its three oscillators, powerful multi-mode filter, four envelopes, two LFOs, a powerful modulation matrix, and on­board effects.

• Virtual analog synthesizer with hybrid analog and digital waveforms
  
• Three oscillators
  
• Multi-mode variable resonance filter
  
• Four ADSR envelope generators
  
• Two LFOs
  
• Powerful modulation matrix
  
• On-board effects (Distortion, Delay, Phaser, Flanger, Chorus)
  

New Virtual Instrument: Spector

The second new integrated synthesizer of Cubase 4 - Spector - is based on two extremely colorful and versatile spectrum filters and is a further development of the Spectrum Page of Steinberg's D'cota Virtual Instrument. It also comes with hundreds of VST3 Presets. This unique instrument can utilize up to six oscillators per voice with two different waveforms each. Separate independent spectrum filters process each of the two waveforms. Creating new, unique sounds by simply drawing new filter curves and then shifting or morphing the two filter's spectrums is pure fun.

Identical to Prologue, Spector offers four envelope generators, two LFOs, a powerful modulation matrix and on-board effects. With access to all sound parameters, Spector provides full editing capabilities.

• Up to six oscillators per voice
  
• Two variable spectrum filters with morph control
  
• Four ADSR envelope generators
  
• Two LFOs
  
• Powerful modulation matrix
  
• On-board effects (Distortion, Delay, Phaser, Flanger, Chorus)

New Virtual Instrument: Mystic
The third new integrated synthesizer in Cubase 4 goes by the name Mystic and is a further development of the Wave Page of Steinberg's D'cota Virtual Synthesizer.

Mystic's synthesis is based on three parallel comb filters with feedback. Sound source is an "impulse sound" based on physical modeling technology. The harmonic spectrum of this sound is based on one of six waveforms and a set of two spectrum filters. The sound can be shaped with a filter (Damping), by adding an offset to the comb filters (Detune), or by adding a noise component (Crackle).

Mystic is a very unusual but inspiring instrument with lots of personality. That makes it the perfect complement to Cubase 4's other integrated instruments.

• Impulse oscillator with spectrum filters
  
• Three parallel comb filters with feedback
  
• Four ADSR envelope generators
  
• Two LFOs
  
• Powerful modulation matrix
  
• On-board effects (Distortion, Delay, Phaser, Flanger, Chorus)

VST3 – Technical Background
Cubase 4 is the first host application to support VST3, the longawaited major update of the world!s leading universal plug-in standard. VST3 marks an important milestone in virtual studio technology and incorporates countless updates, enhancements, changes and new features. Following is a brief overview of the major new features included with VST3. Continuing on the next page is a FAQ section.

Improved Performance
Some current plug-ins are known to be heavy on CPU load. Managing large plug-in sets and multiple virtual instruments on typical project studio computer systems can often be difficult because of CPU performance limits. VST3 helps to improve overall performance by applying processing to plug-ins only when audio signals are present on their respective inputs. So instead of always processing input signals, even when there is only silence present, VST3 plug-ins can apply their processing economically and only when it is needed.

Multiple Dynamic I/Os
VST3 plug-ins are no longer limited to a fixed number of inputs and outputs. Their I/O configuration can dynamically adapt to the channel configuration they!re inserted in. For example, the new VST3 plug-ins in Cubase 4 can work in stereo-mode when inserted into a stereo channel, but switch to 6 channels when inserted into a 5.1 channel. In any case, each audio channel is processed independently. Interaction between channels depends on the type and design of the plug-in. While it is still eligible to have dedicated surround plug-ins, basically any VST3 plug-in can be surroundcapable with true multi-channel processing.

In addition to their flexible audio bussing capabilities, VST3 plug-ins may also offer a dedicated event bus. Typically, this is a MIDI input for control/modulation but these busses are no longer restricted to MIDI standard only. Future plug-ins may replace the common MIDI interface with alternative control methods.

Activating/Deactivating Busses
A typical issue with current virtual instruments is their audio output bussing system and how they!re connected to the mixer after loading. Especially virtual samplers with multiple outputs often occupy more mixer channels than need. The VST3 interface offers the possibility to deactivate unused busses after loading and even reactivate those when needed. This cleans up the mixer and further helps to reduce CPU load.

Routing Possibilities
Plug-ins can be connected to the host environment in many different ways: Future VST3 Instruments can have audio inputs. As an example, a synthesizer that offers a built-in vocoder will be able to directly receive an audio signal to control the effect. A VST3 plug-in may have multiple MIDI inputs at the same time.

Parameter Handling – Tree Structure
In general, parameter handling did not change with the integration of VST3. However, there are some improvements to the handling of parameters. Parameters can be organized logically in a tree structure to improve handling of complex plug-ins or instruments with a large number of parameters. It!s now a lot easier to locate specific parameters, for example on an automation track.

Resizable Edit Windows
VST instruments become more flexible and complex, which results in bigger editor windows. Some instrument edit windows may fill up more than half of the entire screen. In VST3 editor windows can be resized. As a result, multiple windows can fit on a single screen without overlapping each other.

SDK and Plug-in Test host
VST3 is a nirvana for plug-in developers! A new SDK will be available by the end of 2006 and allow 3rd-party developers to produce updates and new plug-ins for the VST3 standard. In order to facilitate design and testing of VST3 plug-ins, Steinberg has developed a VST3 test host application, which offers audio and MIDI playback to test any VST3 plug-in in a simple host environment. One special feature of this test host is a “unit testing”
section. It allows testing of the plug-in!s stability and consistency and executes automatic stress tests designed by Steinberg developers.

  VST3 - Frequently Asked Questions

With VST (Virtual Studio Technology), Steinberg established the world's leading and most widely supported standard for plug-ins and virtual instruments. Cubase 4 is the host application to support VST3 - Steinberg's latest version of the leading plug-in standard. Here are just the key facts about VST3 as well as some answers to frequently asked questions:

What is VST3?
VST3 is the next major revision of Steinberg's Virtual Studio Technology and follows VST 2.4, which is the latest current version of VST. VST3 is a plug-in standard, not a product or host application. In order to run VST3 plug-ins or instruments, the host application must also support VST3.

Can I still use my existing plug-ins and instruments?
Yes. Existing VST 2.4 plug-ins and instruments are fully compatible with Cubase 4. Any plug-in or instrument older than VST 2.4 must be tested and potentially updated.

Can I load projects from my previous Cubase version?
Yes. Projects created in Cubase SX or later can be opened in Cubase 4 and included plug-ins should work as expected if they were designed and tested for VST 2.4.

Can my old plug-ins and instruments also use the benefits of VST3?
Yes, they can. Although they do not offer the exclusive features of VST3 such as sample-accurate automation, improved performance or dynamic I/Os. VST2 plug-ins may benefit from VST3's new preset handling. FXB or FXP presets can be converted into VST3 preset format and then benefit from Cubase 4's SoundFrame™ Media Management System.

When will I get a VST3 version of my favorite 3rd party plug-in or instrument?
This depends on the availability of the VST3 software development kit (SDK) and the time it takes for the developers to update their plug-ins and instruments. The SDK is scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Is VST still an open and free standard?
Yes. VST is still an open and free standard.

How will developers learn about VST3?
All necessary documentation will be available in a new VST3 software development kit.

When is the SDK (software development kit) going to be available?
The SDK is scheduled for a release in the fourth quarter of 2006.

Will there be free upgrades to VST3 for all Steinberg plug-ins and virtual instruments?
The new plug-in set and some of the virtual instruments in Cubase 4 are already VST3. New Steinberg virtual instrument products will also be VST3. The same goes for new versions of existing Steinberg virtual instruments