Steinberg Cubase Essential 5 - Personal Music Production System

Cubase Essential 5

New Features

On-the-fly Pitch Correction

The PitchCorrect VST3 plug-in allows easy and automatic intonation control and scale correction of vocal and monophonic instrument recordings

Designer Beats and Grooves

Beat Designer is a beat construction plug-in that really allows getting hands-on with beats for step programming and designing drum patterns in an easy yet powerful way

More Sounds for More Music

Now comes with an exceptional polyphonic subtractive synthesizer, 240 additional premium instrument sounds for HALion ONE, and a new auto panning effect

Enhanced MIDI

Featuring numerous enhanced MIDI features that include MIDI loop support, redesigned MIDI effect plug-ins, and improved MIDI automation

Smoother Workflow

The software has a range of additional new ways of working faster, with added performance and redesigned and enhanced features

Other Details

Creative Composing and Sequencing

Key Editor

The Key Editor is a powerful yet transparent editor where melodies, chords, arrangements and performances take shape, and where ideas are sketched out, developed and taken to their full potential

Entering, cutting, moving and transposing individual notes or whole chords, editing any of the hundreds of MIDI parameters available or reworking even the most subtle nuances of a MIDI performance are just some of the tasks for which the Key Editor has been developed and refined

Score Editor

A streamlined and simplified, yet powerful notation environment derived from bigger Cubase versions

Completely integrated within Cubase Essential, the Score Editor lets you view and edit music in the form of scores

A few clicks are all it takes to adapt the view to show recorded MIDI performances correctly and print them on demand for others including soloists, orchestras and choirs.

Handy functions such as display quantization and transposition make this task even easier

Drum Editor

A highly intuitive yet powerful window for constructing and reworking beats, rhythms and grooves, offering a plethora of features to find the perfect rhythm for that one song or production

Specially developed for drum sequencing tasks - complete drum tracks can be easily created here with only a few mouse clicks

An individual drum map can be created for each instrument in the project

List Editor

A powerful MIDI editing tool that gives fast access to every single aspect of a MIDI note, and can be a huge timesaver in complex projects

VST MIDI Plug-Ins

Now includes an even bigger set of VST MIDI plug-ins that takes compositions to the next level, with their vast array of additional tools to manipulate MIDI information in any project

Version includes not only all-new plug-ins such as MIDI Monitor, Arpache SX, Context Gate or the creative Beat Designer, but all MIDI Plug-Ins in Cubase Essential 5 have a redesigned user interface

Additionally, several plug-ins offer minor enhancements over previous versions, such as Chorder with its Learn function

Recording and Editing

Next-Generation Audio Engine

The award-winning Steinberg Audio Engine delivers a crystal-clear 32-bit floating-point resolution and 96kHz sample rate, with a pristine sound quality that is the hallmark of the Cubase Essential 5 music production experience

Convenient Recording

The ideal music recording environment, tailored for a smooth and creative recording workflow that is as fluid and seamless as it is powerful

Convenient recording capabilities such as Retrospective Record, assure that no take ever gets lost because record mode wasn't engaged in time

FX handling allows any VST plug-in to be used for monitoring while the untouched, pristine signal is recorded in Cubase

The intuitive user interface supports even the largest recording rigs, with easy-to-use folders, customizable Track views and custom color schemes for Tracks that differentiate track types at a glance

Handling inputs and outputs in Cubase is effortless - the VST Connections window doesn't only setup custom I/O setups and customize port names but also switch between different I/O setups on the fly

A huge range of additional functions engineered to accelerate recording workflows are also included in the latest version of Cubase. When preparing a band recording sessions with higher track counts, the new Arm/Disarm All Tracks Function speeds up handling of large recording setups

To prevent accidentally disabling the record button when recording, the new Lock Record function can be set using a key command

A Remaining Record Time display keeps the user up to date on how much recording space is actually left on the system, letting the user keep a watchful eye over valuable hard drive space and helping to plan recording sessions accordingly

Sample Editor

Offers creative freedom while editing audio

The loop functions are a boon for anyone using loops in their project, including fully automatic hit-point recognition and excellent beat-slicing

Whether the user wants to adapt drum loops to the song tempo, transpose and time-stretch instrument passages or audio loop cuts, any of the myriad audio processes or the included next-generation VST3 plug-ins can be applied

Mixing

Mix Configuration

With 32 physical inputs and outputs, 8 insert effect slots per channel, 8 FX send and return channels as well as 256 groups/busses and an unrivaled routing between audio channels, busses, groups and FX returns means the software is fully equipped to master even the most demanding situations, like the recording of a whole band

The system-wide automatic latency compensation synchronizes all audio streams in your system automatically

Full Automation

Cubase automation handling is known for its quick access to all automation functions

Thanks to the quick learning curve, its transparency and flexibility, Cubase Essential 5 provides musicians with the capability to set up a complete automation within minutes and control the session clearly

Free Routing

Provides complete freedom when routing audio in any project

The routing capabilities allow totally unlimited routing between group channels regardless of their order and support sending from groups to FX returns as well as from FX returns into group channels

For even more flexibility, audio tracks can not only send signals into groups and FX returns with help of the pre fader sends, but also patch signals post fader from the output tab to group channels and FX returns

Instant Store and Recall

The unique Track Presets system lets the artist store, recall and archive track settings for just about any audio track or VST instrument for almost instant recall through the MediaBay

Made for Musicians

Cubase Essential 5 provides a complete mixing environment that not only lets the user produce stunning mixes, but allows for tailoring mixing workflows to suit the personal artistic and creative vision

Effects 1

EQ and Filters

Standard Channel EQ with full 4-band parametric control with variable band-width and shelving modes

Dual low- and high-pass filter with resonance

Step Filter - a pattern-controlled multi-mode filter that can create rhythmic, pulsating filter effects. Supports up to 16 steps for individual settings of cutoff-frequency and filter resonance

Wah-wah pedal modeling effect which can emulate favorite wah-wah pedals. Features parameters for frequency range, filter width and gain range

Dynamics

VSTDynamics - a VST3 version of the classic VST Dynamics multi-effect plug-in. Combines compressor, gate, limiter and soft clipper with flexible routing capabilities

Low-distortion limiter with auto-release - puts a "hard ceiling" on any signal, and is also suitable for the master stage

Flexible gate with independent attack and release controls, auto-release, a side-chain input filter for ducking effects, as well as a "live" mode for low-latency use

MIDI Gate that is not triggered by threshold levels, but instead by MIDI notes. Silences audio signals depending on incoming MIDI notes and their velocity

Chopper is a combined tremolo and autopan effect which can use different waveforms to modulate the level (tremolo) or left-right stereo position (pan), either using tempo sync or manual modulation speed settings

Distortion

AmpSimulator is a guitar amplifier with speaker simulation. Features a total of 14 different amplifier and 10 speaker cabinet emulations. Additional controls resemble a classic guitar combo. Also suitable for bass and may also be used in combination with the ToneBooster if the guitar lacks output gain

ToneBooster is a simple volume booster with a variable filter stage for tone control. Simulates classic stomp boxes like Range Booster. Very useful in combination with AmpSimulator to adjust output volume from low-level output instruments

Distortion can add a nice palette of crunch effects to any track

DaTube simulates the characteristic warm, lush sound of a tube amplifier

Grungelizer adds noise and static to recordings - like listening to a radio with bad reception, or a worn and scratched vinyl record with a mangling distortion effect

Bitcrusher is the perfect tool for getting into Lo-Fi sound. Offers the possibility of decimating and truncating the input audio signal by bit reduction, to get a noisy, distorted sound

Reverb

A new "light" version of Roomworks reverb by Steinberg that is low on CPU load

Effects 2

Modulation

Flanger with editable Lo/Hi Range, a filter stage, manual mode and a spatial parameter for multi-channel modulation offsets

Classic phaser with variable filter stage, manual mode, tempo sync and a spatial parameter for multi-channel modulation offsets

Classic tremolo effect with optional tempo sync and a spatial parameter to add multi-channel modulation offsets

Classic vibrato effect with optional tempo sync and a spatial parameter to add multi-channel modulation offsets

AutoPan provides automatic panning effect with adjustable width, rate, 2wave shapes and featuring tempo sync

Transformer is a ring modulator effect, in which the incoming audio is ring modulated by an internal, variable frequency oscillator, producing new harmonics. A second oscillator can be used to modulate the frequency of the first oscillator, in sync with the song tempo if needed

RingModulator can produce complex, bell-like enharmonic sounds by multiplying 2 audio signals. The ring modulated output contains added frequencies generated by the sum of, and the difference between, the frequencies of the 2 signals

Metalizer feeds the audio signal through a variable frequency filter, with tempo sync or time modulation and feedback control

Delay

MonoDelay is a monophonic delay processor with filter stage and tempo sync. The Steve Reich of delays

PingPongDelay is a mono delay with automatic L/R bounce for the classic ping-pong delay effect. Also features a filter stage and tempo sync

Spatial

MonoToStereo can create a pseudo-stereo signal from any mono source. Also includes controls for "color" and "delay"

StereoEnhancer can enhance the stereo width of a stereo input signal. Features controls for "color" and "delay" to further enhance the effect

Pitch

PitchCorrect is designed for vocal and solo instrument recordings, and brings easy and automatic intonation control and scale correction of vocal and monophonic instrument recordings

Octaver is a sub-octave pitch shifter that creates 2 additional signals, one and two octaves below the input signal, each with variable level

The tuner plug-in is used to detect the notes played on musical instruments picked up and fed through the software. This allows the musician to adjust the instrument's pitch

Mastering

The UV22 HR is a dithering plug-in, based on an advanced algorithm developed by Apogee

Instruments and Content

HALion ONE

A special player version of HALion the VST sampler, and comes with hundreds of ready-to-use instruments which can be shaped to user's taste with the 8 intuitive QuickControls

Delivered with sample-content taken from Yamaha's award-winning Motif synthesizer workstation, HALion ONE comes with more than 370 great-sounding ready-to-play sample-based instruments and 58 drum kits

The sound library also includes a complete General-MIDI Sound-Set. Standard MIDI files can be imported and played directly using HALion ONE's GM Sound-Set by simply dragging a MIDI file into Cubase

Prologue

A polyphonic subtractive synthesizer with great-sounding multi-mode variable resonance filters, powerful modulation capabilities and onboard effects

Powered by VirSyn technology, this punchy virtual analog synthesizer ships with over 330 great-sounding presets covering a wide range of sounds from traditional analog to indescribable

The intuitive user interface provides full editing capabilities with access to its 3 oscillators, powerful multi-mode filter, 4 envelopes, 2 LFOs, a powerful modulation matrix, and on-board effects

Sequel Content Sets

The new first-class content sets for Sequel 2 feature hundreds of outstanding loops from top producers in a range of styles and genres

With each Content Set, users get access to a stunning array of loops to ignite song ideas and fuel the creative flow

Conveniently organized into easy-to-use construction kits, the Sequel Content Sets are so easy to get them into a project straight away

More Sounds

Cubase Essential 5 holds a wealth of instrumental sounds and effects presets for any aspiring producer to start working

33 high-quality audio effects and a massive 706 sounds are there to be manipulated and teased into completely new forms, providing an unlimited range of tonal possibilities