Going Pro with Cubase 5

by Steve Pacey

Overview

Going Pro with Cubase 5 provides a useful guidebook for those who are ready to jump to the next step with Cubase and would like some expert-level tips, tricks, and advice to help them truly master the program. Do you already know how to record MIDI and audio in Cubase? Do you already know Cubase's basic tools and terminology? Do you think and work in musical terms, such as bars and beats? Great, then you're ready to "go pro" with Cubase!

The overall goal is to get you working quickly and utilizing the newest and best features in Cubase 5 at a professional level without wasting your time. Certain components are summarized in ways that the manual doesn't so that you can get a quick overview without getting lost in details. You'll learn how to get the most out of Cubase 5 when using Steinberg's innovative CC121 controller and MR816 CSX audio interface. You'll also get an inside look at WaveLab and HALion 3 and why you might want to consider adding them to your setup if you haven't already. You'll discover pro mixing techniques that can be achieved without even touching a fader. And you'll get step-by-step instructions on how to interface your Cubase projects with Pro Tools, Nuendo, and other DAWs available on the market. You'll also discover many more expert-level recording techniques in this succinct, to-the-point guide that will have your friends and colleagues asking "how'd you do that!?" So what are you waiting for? Increased mastery is only a few clicks away.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781435455764
Publisher:	Course Technology PTR
Publication date:	01/11/2009
Sold by:	CENGAGE LEARNING
Format:	eBook
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Steve Pacey has been composing music for television and film professionally since 1994. He has been a Steinberg Cubase user since 1990 and Cubase has been the center of his music production studio for 21 years. He has written MIDI EDITING IN CUBASE, YOUR CUBASE STUDIO, and GOING PRO WITH CUBASE 5.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Chapter 1 Sharpening Your Cubase 5 Battle Axe 1

Setting Up External MIDI Controllers 1

Steinberg's CC121 1

M-Audio's Oxygen 49 6

Organizing Creative Media and the MediaBay 12

Auditioning Loops in the MediaBay 16

Auditioning VST Instruments in the MediaBay 18

Auditioning Projects Using the MediaBaying Templates for a Speedy Startup 20

Creating Templates for a Speedy Startup 20

Diving In and Taking Control of Your Templates 23

Organizing Your Plug-Ins 25

Creating the Perfect "Battlefield"-Setting Your Preferences 29

Preference Automation 30

Optimization and Warning Suppression 37

Customization 38

Saving Your "Work Could Save Your Career 42

Time-Saving Steps-Setting Up Key Commands and Macros 44

Juggling Windows When the Pressure Is On 47

More Steps to Save Yourself a Few Headaches 50

Chapter 2 Maximizing MIDI in Cubase 5 53

Monitoring Raw MIDI 53

Using the New Virtual Keyboard 54

Advanced Quantize and Groove Features 55

Quantizing MIDI Parts to an Audio Groove 56

Adjusting the Quantization and Feel of the Groove in Real Time 60

Advanced MIDI Effects and Modifiers 62

Category 1 The MIDI Modifiers 62

Category 2 Musical and Tonal Altering Effects 64

Category 3 MIDI Tool and Controls 66

Category 4 Programmers 66

Creating Editable MIDI Parts from MIDI Effects 67

Advanced MIDI Functions 67

Utilizing the List and Logical Editors 70

List Editor 70

Logical Editor 73

Automating MIDI in the Project Window 75

Using LoopMash to Take Your Old Loops to New and Interesting Places 78

Editing Loops Within LoopMash 79

Performing and Recording LoopMash Grooves 83

Using Groove Agent ONE with the MediaBay87

Dropping Individual Drum Samples into Groove Agent ONE 87

Transferring an Audio Drum Loop via Slices into Groove Agent ONE 89

Creating a MIDI Track to Trigger a Sliced and Imported Audio Loop 89

Step Programming Drum Beats with Beat Designer 91

VST Instruments in Cubase 5 97

Tips When Using VST Instruments 100

Chapter 3 Taking Audio to the Limit in Cubase 5 105

Working with the MR816 CSX 105

Quick Audio Cleanup 108

A General Overview of Audio Editing 112

Using the Offline Process History 119

Using Cubase 5 with WaveLab 6.0 120

Using WaveLab to Prepare Your Files for Cubase 121

Finalizing Your Mixes in WaveLab 122

Quantizing Audio 124

Changing Audio Groove Tempos via Audio Slices 130

Working with Free Tempo Recordings 135

Using Musical Mode (AudioWarp) 141

Vocal Pitch Correction Using VariAudio 142

Chapter 4 Mastering the Art of Mixing Within Cubase 5 151

Making the Most of Cubase's Mixing Tools 152

Automation Techniques in the Project Window 155

Using Cubase's Effect Inserts and Sends 160

An Overview of Available Plug-In Effects 161

Interfacing External Hardware Effects Processors 167

Mixing with the CC121 169

Creating the Final Output: Exporting Audio 170

Using Realtime Export vs. a Standard Export 173

Chapter 5 Interfacing Cubase 5 with the Rest of the World 175

Working with a Cubase Project in Nuendo 175

Transferring to Pro Tools or Another DAW 177

Using OMF Files Between DAWs 177

Using Channel Batch Export in Cubase 178

Creating an OMF 180

Working with Video Files in Cubase 184

Connecting Reason to Cubase Using Re Wire 189

Index 195