Plug-in Reference
Manual by Anders Nordmark The information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH. The software described by this document is subject to a License Agreement and may not be copied to other media except as specifically allowed in the License Agreement.
Table of Contents
5 Audio effects 6 6 7 9 12 13 16 About this chapter Overview Insert effects Send effects Making settings for the effects Effect presets Installing and managing effect plug-ins 18 The included effect plug-ins 19 19 19 20 21 22 25 26 26 Introduction Delay plug-ins Distortion plug-ins Dynamics plug-ins Filter plug-ins Modulation plug-ins Spatial plug-ins Reverb plug-ins Earlier VST plug-ins 33 HALionOne 34 34 Introduction HALionOne parameters 35 Index 4 Table of Contents
1 Audio effects
About this chapter Smart plug-in processing Overview Another feature of the VST3 standard is “smart” plug-in processing. Previously, any loaded plug-in was processing continuously, regardless of whether a signal was present or not. In VST3, there is a smart functionality builtin which disengages processing by a plug-in if there is no signal present. This can greatly reduce CPU load, thus allowing for more effects to be used. There are no settings involved for this functionality, it is fully automatic.
Which effect plug-ins can I use as insert effects? • When MIDI receive is available (or necessary) for other purposes than timing, the setting up and operation is described in the documentation for the corresponding effect. Please refer to the chapter “The included effect plug-ins” on page 18 for details about the included effects. Most effect plug-ins will work fine as insert effects.
• If the effect has a Dry/Wet Mix parameter you can use this to adjust the balance between the dry signal and the effect signal. Insert effects in the channel overview If the “Channel” section is selected in the Inspector, you will get an overview of which EQ modules, insert effects and effect sends are activated for the channel. See “Making settings for the effects” on page 12 for details about editing effects.
Using group channels for insert effects • If you have added several effects to the FX channel, the signal passes through the effects in series, from the top (the first slot) downward. Like all other channels, group channels can have up to eight insert effects. This is useful if you have several audio tracks that you want to process through the same effect (e.g. different vocal tracks that all should be processed by the same compressor).
• All FX channel tracks you create will appear in a kind of “folder” in the Track list. 4. When you add an effect, its control panel will automatically appear. Typically you should set the Wet/Dry Mix control to all “wet”. This makes it easy to manage and keep track of all your FX channel tracks, and also allows you to save screen space by folding the FX Channel folder. This is because you control the balance between wet and dry signal with the effect sends.
Note that the last three items are not shown until the Send is activated and an effect has been loaded. 6. If you want the signal to be sent to the FX channel before the audio channel’s volume fader in the mixer, click on the Pre Fader button for the send so that it lights up. 2. Pull down the routing pop-up menu for a send by clicking in the empty slot, and select the desired routing destination. Normally you want the effect send to be proportional to the channel volume (post fader send).
FX channels and the Solo Defeat function • You can also bypass individual sends in the channel overview. When mixing, you might sometimes want to solo specific audio channels, and listen only to these while other channels are muted. However, this will mute all FX channels as well. If the soloed audio channels have sends routed to FX channels, this means you won’t hear the send effects for the channels. See “Insert effects in the channel overview” on page 8.
• Please note that all effects can be edited using a simplified control panel (horizontal sliders only, no graphics). To edit effects using this “basic” control panel instead, press [Ctrl]/[Command]+[Alt]/[Option]+[Shift] and click on the Edit button for the effect send or slot. Effect presets Making settings Selecting effect presets Effect control panels may have any combination of knobs, sliders, buttons and graphic curves.
• If you activate “Preview” in step 3 it works similarly, but you have to activate Preview for each selected preset to audition the settings. • You can also open the Preset browser from the Inspector. Click the Inserts tab for the channel with the effect and click in the Preset name field. ! • To confirm a preset selection and to load it, click OK. In the Inspector there is a dual functionality.
You cannot change the default folder, but you can add further subfolders inside the individual effect preset folder. Importing and converting FXB/FXP files Under Windows, the default preset folder is located in the following location: 1. Load an effect from the “Earlier VST Plug-ins” folder (or any VST 2 effect you may have installed), and click on the SoundFrame button to open the Preset Management pop-up menu. To import .fxp/.
Ö An effect plug-in may also come with its own installation application, in which case you should use this. Installing and managing effect plugins Generally, always read the documentation or readme files before installing new plug-ins. Cubase LE supports two plug-in formats; the VST 2 format (extension “.dll”) and the VST 3 format (extension “.vst3”). The formats are handled differently when it comes to installation and organizing.
The Plug-in Information window The other columns show the following information about each plug-in: Column On the Devices menu, you will find an item called “Plug-in Information”. Selecting this opens a dialog listing all the available VST compatible plug-ins in your system (including VST Instruments). Description Name The name of the plug-in. Vendor The manufacturer of the plug-in. File This shows the complete name of the plug-in (with extension).
2 The included effect plug-ins
Introduction Distortion plug-ins This chapter contains descriptions of the included plug-in effects and their parameters. This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Distortion” category. Delay plug-ins Distortion This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Delay” category. PingPongDelay Distortion is great for adding crunch to your tracks. This effect is easy to use with only two parameters, but it is extremely effective.
Dynamics plug-ins Parameter Description Center This sets the center frequency of the filter. (50 – 22000Hz) This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Dynamics” category. Q-Factor This sets the resonance or width of the filter. (0.001 – 10000) VSTDynamics Monitor (Off/On) Allows you to monitor the filtered signal. Attack This parameter sets the time it takes for the gate to open (0,1 – 100 ms) after being triggered.
Filter plug-ins Parameter Description Graphic display Use the graphic display to graphically set the Threshold or the Ratio value. This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Filter” category. The Limiter section DualFilter Limiter is designed to ensure that the output level never exceeds a certain set output level, to avoid clipping in following devices.
Modulation plug-ins Chorus This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Modulation” category. AutoPan Chorus works by doubling whatever is sent into it with a slightly detuned version. The parameters are as follows: AutoPan automatically moves the track’s signal from left to right and back again. Parameter Description Tempo sync on/off The button below the Rate knob is used to switch tempo sync on or off. The button is lit when tempo sync is on.
Flanger Phaser Flanger is a classic flanger effect with added stereo enhancement. Phaser produces the well-known “swooshing” phasing effect with additional stereo enhancement. The parameters are as follows: The parameters are as follows: Parameter Description Parameter Description Tempo sync on/off The button below the Rate knob is used to switch tempo sync on or off. The button is lit when tempo sync is on.
Rotary Tremolo The Rotary plug-in simulates the classic effect of a rotary speaker. A rotary speaker cabinet features variable speed rotating speakers to produce a swirling chorus effect, commonly used with organs. Rotary features all the parameters associated with the real thing. Tremolo produces amplitude (volume) modulation. Parameters are as follows: The parameters are as follows: Parameter Description Speed (Stop/Slow/ Fast) This controls the speed of the Rotary in three steps.
Vibrato Spatial plug-ins This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Spatial” category. MonoToStereo The Vibrato plug-in produces pitch modulation. Parameter Description Tempo sync on/off The button below the Rate knob is used to switch tempo sync on or off. The button is lit when tempo sync is on. Rate If tempo sync is on, this is where you specify the base note value for tempo-syncing the effect (1/1 to 1/32, straight, triplet or dotted).
Reverb plug-ins Earlier VST plug-ins This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Reverb” category. This contains a selection of earlier VST plug-ins, divided into various sub-categories. RoomWorks SE Distortion plug-ins This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Distortion” category. DaTube RoomWorks SE is a high quality reverberation effect. RoomWorks SE has the following parameters: Parameter Description Reverb Time Reverb Time in seconds.
Dynamics plug-ins What to do next depends on whether you are using live or recorded audio and whether you are using real-time or recorded MIDI. We will assume for the purposes of this manual that you are using recorded audio, and play the MIDI in real-time. This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Dynamics” category. MIDI Gate Make sure the MIDI track is selected and start playback. 5. Now play a few notes on your MIDI keyboard.
Filter plug-ins • The horizontal axis shows the pattern steps 1–16 from left to right, and the vertical axis determines the (relative) filter cutoff frequency and resonance setting. This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Filter” category. The higher up on the vertical axis a step value is entered, the higher the relative filter cutoff frequency or filter resonance setting.
Modulation plug-ins StepFilter parameters Parameter/ Value Description Base Cutoff This sets the base filter cutoff frequency. Cutoff values set in the Cutoff grid window are values relative to the Base Cutoff value. Base Resonance This sets the base filter resonance. Resonance values set in the Resonance grid window are values relative to the Base Resonance value. Note that very high Base Resonance settings can produce loud ringing effects at certain frequencies.
Ringmodulator Parameter Description Invert Stereo This inverts the LFO waveform for the right channel of the oscillator, which produces a wider stereo perspective for the modulation. Envelope Gener- The Envelope Generator section controls how the input ator (Attack and signal is converted to envelope data, which can then be Decay dials) used to control oscillator pitch and LFO speed. It has two main controls: Attack sets how fast the envelope output level rises in response to a rising input signal.
Tranceformer Other plug-ins This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Other” category. Bitcrusher Tranceformer 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. Parameter Description Waveform buttons Sets the pitch modulation waveform.
Chopper Restoration plug-ins This section contains descriptions of the plug-ins in the “Restoration” category. Grungelizer Chopper is a combined tremolo and autopan effect. It can use different waveforms to modulate the level (tremolo) or left-right stereo position (pan), either using tempo sync or manual modulation speed settings. The parameters are as follows: Parameter Description Waveform buttons Sets the modulation waveform. Depth Sets the depth of the Chopper effect.
3 HALionOne
Introduction Parameter Description DCA Release Controls the DCA signal after a key is released. DCA Amount Controls the amount of the DCA (amplifier) envelope. As stated earlier, other parameters may be shown; these will be clearly labelled on the panel. Most of the presets make use of effects – usually, the effect parameters are associated with the quick controls on the right of the panel and typically control the dry/wet mix of the effect.
Index
A F S Audio effects About 6 Editing 12 For output busses (Master inserts) 8 Inserts 7 Organizing in subfolders 16 Post-fader inserts 7 Pre/Post fader sends 11 Saving 14 Selecting Presets 13 Sends 10 Tempo sync 6 AutoPan 22 Flanger 23 FX channel tracks About 9 Adding effects for 10 Routing sends to 10 Setting up 9 Soloing 12 Send effects 9 Solo Defeat 12 StepFilter 28 G V Group channel tracks Using effects 9 Grungelizer 32 VST Instruments HALionOne 34 VST plug-ins Getting info 17 Installing 16 VSTDy
