Cubase 4

New Product Guide

29.08.2006

New Product Guide

Cubase 4
Product Name

Cubase 4 (please note correct spelling)

Tagline

Advanced Music Production System

Marketing Theme

All 4 You

Positioning Statement

Designed for professionals from the ground up, Cubase 4 sets a

new standard for integrated music production software by combining
powerful audio and MIDI recording, synthesis, editing, mixing and
effects.

Product Summary

Cubase 4 features a new set of plug-ins and integrated software

instruments. The revolutionary SoundFrame Universal Sound
Manager will change the way you make music. [25]
Designed for professional music production from the ground up,
Cubase 4 comes with a brand-new VST3 plug-in set and four new
software instruments. The revolutionary SoundFrame is a powerful
combination of Track Presets, Instrument Tracks, and MediaBay
database, to help organize all your sounds from every instrument both software VSTi and hardware. [50]
Designed for professional music production from the ground up,
Cubase 4 comes with a brand-new VST3 plug-in set and four new
integrated software instruments with more than 1000 sounds. The
revolutionary SoundFrame is a powerful combination of Track
Presets, Instrument Tracks, and MediaBay database, to help
organize all your sounds from every instrument - both software VSTi
and hardware. Cubase 4!s mixer now offers a flexible Control Room
section and up to four independent studio mixes. Composers and
musicians benefit from a streamlined and enhanced score editor. A
redesigned user interface with many new features speeds up
workflow and boosts creativity to new levels. [100]

Unique Selling Points

1) Exclusive virtual Control Room section, based on Steinberg!s

world-class audio engine, processing and mixing environment
2) SoundFrame Universal Sound Manager manages any sound
from any source
3) Unique combination of timeline-based and pattern-style arranging
and composing using Steinberg!s exclusive Play Order Track
4) Seamless integration of external hardware instruments and
effects processors.
5) Studio Connections Total Recall & Audio Use Yamaha and
third-party hardware like plug-ins.

Cubase 4 New Product Guide 1.1

2 of 31

Company Confidential 29.08.2006

Top-10 New Features

SoundFrame Universal Sound Manager

Control Room

33 All-New VST3 Audio Effects Plug-ins

Four New Virtual Instruments

Major Score Editor Enhancements

MediaBay

Instrument Tracks

Track Presets

User Interface Redesign

Drag & Drop for Insert FX

Mac PPC/Intel - Universal Binary

Advanced AudioWarp Realtime Transpose

New Trim Tool

User-configurable Track Inspector

New state-of-the-art Channel EQ

User-configurable Channel Strip

Intuitive Audio + MIDI Hardware Setup

MP3 Surround

MPEX 3 High-quality audio time-stretching and pitch-shifting

Complete printed Getting Started and Operation manuals

New tutorial manual including video tutorials

Additional New Features

Added Value

Cubase 4 New Product Guide 1.1

3 of 31

Company Confidential 29.08.2006

Cubase 4 New Product Guide 1.1

5 of 31

Company Confidential 29.08.2006

Product Facts
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.

Cubase 4 New Product Guide 1.1

6 of 31

Company Confidential 29.08.2006

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.

Cubase 4 New Product Guide 1.1

7 of 31

Company Confidential 29.08.2006

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 ?

Cubase 4 New Product Guide 1.1

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.

8 of 31

Company Confidential 29.08.2006

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

Cubase 4 New Product Guide 1.1

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.

9 of 31

Company Confidential 29.08.2006

Key Features & Benefits

Feature

What it does

Benefit

SoundFrame Universal
Sound Manager

Combines the new Instrument Tracks,

Track Templates, and VST3
categorization functions with a powerful
database system (MediaBay). Cubase!s
MediaBay is the central for organizing,
categorizing, searching and even
previewing sounds.

SoundFrame is a set of features which

when combined turn Cubase into a
powerful sound management system.

SoundFrame is present throughout the

entire program and serves as a
universal interface for managing and
accessing sounds.

SoundFrame can be used to organize and

browse any sound from any source
regardless from where it!s coming from.
The user can preview sounds before
loading, mix, and match or replace sounds
on the fly, as well as substitute missing
sounds from imported projects.

Control Room

Provides full control over external

sources, alternative monitor sets,
talkback and independent studio mixes
inside the VST mixer

With the addition of Control Room in

Cubase, many project studios will no longer
require an external mixer or monitor
controller. In combination with suitable multi
I/O audio hardware, Cubase now provides
a full-functional user-definable control room
monitoring system.

New VST3 Plug-in Set

More than 30 new plug-ins have been

designed based on the new VST3 plugin standard. These professional quality
effects cover a wide range of types and
applications and showcase some of the
new features available in VST3.

These great-sounding plug-ins showcase

brand-new VST3 features like multi-channel
capability and SoundFrame integration.
They are highly optimized for different
processor platforms, run natively on
MacIntel systems and support the VST3
silence flag to reduce processor load
when no signal is present.

Four new Virtual

instruments

Adds three new virtual synthesizers

Prologue, Spector and Mystic as well
as a special optimized player version of
Steinberg!s HALion sampler: HALion
One.

With these four additional virtual

instruments, Cubase 4 now offers a
powerful built-in synthesis engine equipped
with more than 1000 ready-to-play
instruments and sounds.

New Score Editor Settings

Dialog

All settings in the Score Editor have

been consolidated into a new intuitive
settings window incorporating project,
layout, staff and text settings.

The new Score Editor settings window is a

major workflow improvement and speeds
up the process of setting-up Cubase!s
score editor drastically.

New Symbol Inspector in

Score Editor

The symbols pallets have been

consolidated into a new inspector-style
sidebar with collapsible tabs and a new
favorites section

Another major workflow improvement for

score layout work. All available symbols are
now conveniently located in a separate
window section and no longer cover other
windows.

MediaBay

Integrated media management system

featuring file browser, database, search
engine, preview functions and attribute
editor

More than just a database, MediaBay is the

new central media management system
that handles all your media files: audio,
MIDI, video, plug-in presets, track presets
and even Cubase project files. Organize,
catalog, categorize and preview files even
in project context.

Instrument Tracks

Instrument Tracks combine MIDI Input

and Audio Output into one single track
and mixer channel.

Instrument Tracks are a huge time-saver

for using virtual instruments in Cubase.
Setting up a track for a VSTi is now only
two clicks away. Instrument Tracks are fully
integrated with Cubase!s new SOUNDFRAME Universal Sound Manager, create
only a single channel in the VTS mixer and
have the additional benefit of showing MIDI
and plug-in automation in the same
location.

Cubase 4 New Product Guide 1.1

10 of 31

Company Confidential 29.08.2006

Track Presets

Track Presets are snapshots of entire

track/channel strips. They are available
for Audio, MIDI and Instrument Tracks
and can be categorized using MediaBay
attributes. Audio Track Presets contain
EQ and insert effect information, MIDI
Track Presets save MIDI port, channel
and patch data, as well as additional
MIDI track parameters like MIDI plugins. Instrument Track Presets include a
combination of all of the above, as well
as selected instrument/preset
information.

Track Presets open a whole new dimension

in sound and track management. Besides
being used as templates for new tracks,
Track Presets can also be used to extract
EQ or FX settings and paste these into
other tracks. Track Presets are also the
basis for Cubase!s SOUND-FRAME
Universal Sound Manager. Since any type
of sound (external MIDI or internal VSTi)
can be organized in Track Presets,
searching sounds across instruments is
possible. Finally, even multiple Tracks can
be saved into a single (Multi-) TrackTemplate. This allows for complex sound
textures from multiple sources.

User Interface Redesign

The entire Cubase user interface has

been cosmetically updated. Several
dialogs have been redesigned. The
mixer has many new view options.

Although many functions have been added,

the overall look of Cubase is now clearer
and more concise. Inactive objects no
longer distract, while active objects have
more focus.

Drag&Drop for Insert FX

Insert FX plug-ins can be copied or

swapped using drag & drop, even
across channels.

Allows for more flexibility in routing effects

and speeds up the process of setting up
and comparing multi-effect chains.

Advanced AudioWarp
Realtime Transpose

A new realtime audio pitch-shifting and

time-stretching algorithm has been
added to provide formant preservation.

Solo tracks like vocals or single instruments

can now be transposed in realtime without
the unwanted artifacts of formant shifting.

Trim Tool

The key editor has a new tool to cut the

heads or tails of multiple selected MIDI
events.

This has been a long requested feature

from Cubase VST power-users. Now it!s
back in Cubase 4. Can be used to create
arpeggiated chords, strums or more
accurate note-offs.

User-configurable Track
Inspector

As part of the UI redesign, the track

inspector can now be custom configured
for each track type. Any Inspector
section can be switched on or off, plus
the order of sections can be changed.
Furthermore, configurations can be
stored as view presets and quickly
recalled.

With more and more items added to the

Track Inspector, visibility has suffered
especially on smaller monitors. With the
new configuration features, Cubase users
can customize the Track Inspector to their
taste and improve overall usability of this
important Cubase feature.

User-configurable Channel
Strip

Just like the Track Inspector, the

Channel Strip window for audio and
MIDI tracks can now be custom
configured as well. Sections can be
switched on or off, and their left-to-right
order can be changed as well.
Configurations can be saved as view
presets.

With the addition of new sections like the

studio sends, this allows for more flexibility
in working with the Channel Strip view.

Dynamic Output
Configuration for VSTi!s

Virtual Instruments with multiple outputs

no longer create return channels for
each available output. Instead, the user
can change the output configuration on
the fly.

Managing multiple-output VSTi!s has

become a lot more flexible using this new
function.

New state-of-the-art
Channel EQ

In line with the new plug-in set, the

Channel EQ has been converted into a
high-end multi-mode studio equalizer
that provides unparalleled sonic detail
and flexibility when compared to
standard channel EQs in other DAWs.

This new EQ and the new StudioEQ plugin represent a major advancement in
sound quality. Instead of the previous
analytic EQ, this new EQ is a creative
tool, which adds character and depth to any
sound and it!s fully backward compatible.

Intuitive new Audio+MIDI

Hardware Setup

Audio and MIDI Hardware Setup control

panels have been consolidated and
simplified. Management of missing or
replaced hardware has been improved
as well.

This not only improves the entire hardware

setup and management process, it also
speeds up the entire workflow, especially
when projects are exchanged between
users working on different hardware setups.

Cubase 4 New Product Guide 1.1

11 of 31

Company Confidential 29.08.2006

VST3 backwardscompatibility

Existing VST2 plug-ins run smoothly

within the new VST3 plug-in system.
Although they do not benefit from
proprietary VST3 features,

VST3 is a major technological

advancement with major code changes
under the hood of Cubase. Still, users can
continue to work with most of their existing
VST plug-ins and projects are still
compatible.

MP3 Surround

The latest Fraunhofer MP3 codecs are

included with Cubase 4. MP3 Surround
is a special extension to the existing
MP3 format which encodes multichannel audio information into a
compressed file that is playable on both
stereo and surround playback systems.

MP3 Surround is a convenient way to

deliver multi-channel audio files in a spacesaving compressed format. With the great
benefit of backwards-compatibility to MP3
Stereo, a single MP3 Surround file can be
used even if there!s no surround playback
hardware present.

MPEX3

MPEX3 is the latest and highest-quality

MPEX time-stretching and pitch-shifting
algorithm available. It offers improved
overall sound quality, MacIntel
compatibility, support for more sampling
rates, better performance, and seven
different modes to chose from.

MPEX3 sounds fantastic and the new

modes are optimized for specific audio
material, which improves sound quality
even further.

Cubase 4 New Product Guide 1.1

12 of 31

Company Confidential 29.08.2006