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Guide
to MIDI Sequencers Sequencers-->Cubase
VST 24
Submitted
by:
kevin@portonestudios.com Finally, home studio enthusiasts can reliably produce unbelievable results using only their Apple computer -- and it REALLY WORKS this time! No DSP farms or any of the usual high-priced, hardware-based foolishness is required (as long as you don't need to print more than two tracks at a time -- most won't need to, unless you've a need to print 8 mics from a drum kit, etc. )! As a long-time user of Logic Audio, this reviewer has switched completely to the VST platform with this new offering from the Cubase folks. Its MIDI-editing features are a bit easier to use than previous versions, and solid Logic folks might have a bit of a tough time getting used to the different tools, BUT many users might find themselves (like this reviewer) FORGETTING ABOUT MIDI ALTOGETHER!!! With the current availability of a wide variety of audio drum loops, and if you're competent enough to play your synth parts live at least once (you can cut 'n' paste 'em wherever you need of course) -- VST/24 offers home studio enthusiasts the opportunity to say goodbye to MIDI if they wish! That's just how fantastic the audio capability of this Cubase workhorse is. The extensive collection of truly fantastic -- and RELIABLE -- plugins for the VST platform make this the pick for folks who can't afford the full-blown ProTools setups costing thousands more. Auto-tune makes it possible to snap vocal performances to a relative key for perfect pitch every time; Dynasone offers a complete suite of post production tools for mastering your project like the pros; Free Filter allows you to copy the eq curve from any commercial CD cut of your liking to memory and then apply it to your own mix; Magneto actually adds the sound of tape -- in 15 i.p.s. and 30 i.p.s. flavors -- to your mix; Renaissance Compressor features an unbelievable emulation of old tube compressors for that super slick/sweet compressed sound; TC|Reverb is THE reverb plugin for reverb lovers; and the list goes on and on! The "export to audio" feature produces completely automated and affected mix downs of your multitrack project within seconds -- right on the same machine! No mixing to external devices is necessary. Veteran Cubase users will find the addition of interleaved stereo files and many new color options for midi editing and more a must for grabbing this upgrade. And users who don't really need the 24-bit sound everybody screams about, but few can really "hear" (hehe ...), the program runs just ducky in 16-bit mode, while offering more tracks for the savings in processing power. It's not like this version of VST is the answer to everybody's prayers either -- yes, it does FINALLY offer a reliable platform to actually produce excellent projects with a desktop Apple, but it could still use a few goodies. I like to work with drum loops, and as most drum loop tweakers know, you find yourself with loops sometimes that are just a tad bigger than others -- even though they're the same bar length and in the same b.p.m. An option to make "master tracks" for audio files like drum loops, (i.e., tell VST to "call this segment two measures on the grid even though it's just a tad over two measures in time") would be an excellent addition. The TimeBandit suite of pitch/tempo audio-editing tools is new-and-improved as well. It will "batch" process scads of drum loops in one pass to any bpm you desire. Those new to audio/MIDI on computers should understand that a line mixer (a Mackie 1402 for instance) will provide you with permanent patching solutions for repetitive input from a variety of sources, i.e., bass guitar setup, vocal mic setup, acoustic mic setup, etc.; and a good external hard drive (7200 rpm UWSCSI -- APS pro is the best way to go) together with a pro condensor microphone will top off the bare necessities for making CD-quality works of art on your Macintosh G3. Summary: In the wake of so many audio/MIDI software packages that have claimed to provide multi-tracking solutions with full automation and CD-quality results -- with no external DSP hardware necessary -- this one finally comes through with the goods. And it offers up the stuff that dreams are made of for the software of tomorrow.
All artwork, product profiles and related product information, names and titles for Cubase VST 24 are Copyright © 1998, Steinberg. Its appearance on this site is for informational, non-profit use, and may not be redistributed without their expressed written consent.
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