As a company Steinberg are synonymous with melding technology and creativity and their ethos is to help musicians hone their craft in ways that prioritise creativity. To date, affordable technology has put them at the forefront of the music industry. Their flagship digital audio workstation Cubase has consistently ticked both of those boxes. Recently launched at NAMM, Steinberg’s Cubase 6 replaces Cubase 5 and promises to be even more successful, but does it really deliver for musicians.
Steinberg’s tries to make Cubase the first stop for recording, editing, mixing and producing quality, professional music. New features and enhancements include an advanced multi-track editing tool, a new take-comping system and VST Expression 2. The refined interface gives faster access and more intuitive control, whilst new and improved effects and instruments include HALion Sonic SE with over 900 sounds, VST Amp Rack virtual guitar amplifier, LoopMash2 for remixing loops and Groove Agent ONE drum machine.
The main appeal of Cubase 6 is in its user-friendly versatility, coupled to detailed control where it’s required. Judging by our first impressions, musicians from rock bands to DJs and composers to singers will find the tools, effects and ease of use of great appeal. For the beginner there is a Project Assistant with templates to get them started and also two hours of in-depth high definition video tutorials. More advanced users and professionals will be more than happy with the huge range of possibilities that Cubase 6 offers, of course with Steinberg’s famous cross-platform flexibility for Mac or PC users.
Singers will love HALion Sonic SE with its bank of virtual instruments and sounds to create backing for vocals. Used in Cycle mode a singer can record several takes in quick succession and Cubase will create a lane track for each of the takes. Once the best bits are selected Cubase will then create a master from them. High quality EQs, reverbs, a professional de-esser and a Pitch Correct plug in for editing give a real professional polish to the finished product. From ‘comping’ right through to Red Book mastering, Cubase 6 should appeal to vocalists of all persuasions.
For composers, this latest edition of Cubase could well be the answer to all their prayers. MIDI notes being played are translated directly to musical notation, at which point the score can then be edited with over one hundred professional notation symbols. Instructions noted in the Score Editor are converted into MIDI to be used with VST instruments in actual time. VST Expression 2 gives instrument articulation and dynamics, coupled with HALion’s superior quality orchestral sounds. Cubase has a heritage that has always given it something of an edge when it comes to composition and scoring, but the new offering improves workflow significantly.
For those in electronic music production from DJs to producers the Groove Agent ONE drum machine, LoopMash2 and the beat designer should inspire some great beats and loops. The VST interface makes it easy to connect hardware synths and samplers. With over sixty audio effects including reverb, delays, modulation effects and dynamic processors, 18 MIDI effects including the Arpache arpeggiator and an Arranger function, which enables the live performer to define specific sections for playing in a chosen order there is plenty of scope for pushing live electronic music in new directions thanks to the advent of Cubase 6.
The unlimited number of audio tracks and lane track device for speedy multi-take comping makes Cubase 6 ideal for bands whether it is used in a rehearsal room or recording studio. Integrated audio pre-record function prevents a good take being missed. Pitch Correct and VariAudio are useful tools, while Track Edit Groups can be activated to link related events on multiple tracks to save time when editing. The virtual control room includes four studio buses for individual submixes, talkback function, separate metronome bus and four monitor setups. The headphone mix for musicians and singers and six connections to external sound sources will come in very handy for all Cubase users, but particularly for bands.
In summary, it’s hard to see why existing Steinberg users won’t be upgrading to Cubase 6 and this overdue reworking takes this DAW ahead of several competitors and should therefore pick up some musicians that are new to DAW’s. Whether it’s a strong enough package to lure producers and musicians away from Pro Tools or Sonar remains to be seen. If you’re interested in finding out more, check out our Cubase pages.
As part of Andrew’s work, he has an on-going personal and professional involvement in the music industry. In addition to advising several companies involved in the sector, such as Soundslive and Let’s Do Music, his gigging roots go back to the club and pub circuit in the English Midlands of the late 80′s and early ’90′s.
These days he’s more likely to be found working on online marketing for music industry businesses or lending his sound deck experience (and gear!) to local music groups.
