Steinberg Cubase Pro 12

to inform further edit choices.
There is a lot more to the Chord
Track than this, as it can also be
used as a powerful composition
tool, but the audio-based chord
detection alone is a really great
feature – try it on your favourite
song for some interesting insights
into how they are written.
Throwing shapes
On the sound creation side of
things, one of the bigger additions
is the piano-based instrument
Verve. Rather than just being
another ‘nice’ piano library, Verve
combines samples of a soft felt
piano with a customisable texture
layer. This additional layer adds an
extra element to the sustain portion
of the sound and when combined
with the delay and reverb effects –
which include a good modulated
reverb – allow you to create some
excellent atmospheric tones. Any
fans of Brian Eno or the minimal
started – though there are
third-party offerings that provide
more glitchy rhythmic options.
Raiser is a new dynamic limiter
that combines fast attack times
with a wider range of release
options and better visual feedback
than the standard Cubase offering.
In tests it was certainly capable of
less obtrusive results than its
forebear. Another worthy inclusion.
Given the scalability in other
areas of the software it’s a shame
that these plugin windows cannot
be altered in size, as they appear
quite small and cramped on higher
impressionist composer Harold
Budd will love this.
On the plug side there are also
two new offerings. FX Modulator is
an LFO-controlled effects unit
where multiple effects (such as
pan, filtering, pitch-change and
time-shift) can be modulated by
independent customisable
waveshapes to automate one or
more selected parameters. Anyone
aware of Cableguys ShaperBox will
understand the general way in
which this type of plug-in works. It’s
certainly a nice addition – with
some decent presets to get you
MIDI REMOTE INTEGRATION
Steinberg are clearly proud of this new feature as it sits firmly at the top of the ‘New In 12’
page on their website. This is a complete redesign of the way in which MIDI controllers
work in Cubase, with the core idea being that your device is automatically detected and
the controls mapped to relevant functions. Mapping is handled by the underlying Scripts.
In an ideal scenario there’d be one already created for your keyboard or control surface and
nothing else required; there are some already supplied with the initial release. You can
create your own using the MIDI Controller Surface Editor and connect controls to internal
Cubase parameters using the Mapping Editor. However, this is only scratching the surface,
as the features go way
beyond simple mapping.
There is in fact a whole
Javascript API that can be
used for two-way
communication devices,
and with the potential for
sophisticated scripts. That
said, creating your own
simple one is very easy
(and doesn’t require any
tricky program writing).
All of this integrates quite
neatly with Cubase Quick
Controls, which can be
configured for each plugin
using the small QC button
at the top right of each
plugin window.
THE ALTERNATIVES
Apple Logic Pro X
£175
If you already have
the dongle (and a
Mac), then Logic is
an obvious
alternative to
Cubase. They’ve
been battling it out
for years!
apple.com
Avid Pro Tools
Starts at £300
per year
An industry
standard, particularly
for larger studios.
You’ll have to
commit to their
subscription model,
which not everyone
is a fan of.
avid.com
Ableton Live 11
Suite £539
Ableton Live has
traditionally lacked a
few features geared
toward recording-
heavy projects, but
what it does, it does
very well.
ableton.com
Fans of Brian Eno or minimal
impressionist composer
Harold Budd will love Verve
Reviews | Steinberg Cubase Pro 12
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