Cubase has fueled my musical creativity and assisted my recording sessions for 20+ years, while anticipating many trends and creating industry standards like the VST and ReWire systems. It’s been an exciting and jaw dropping experience to see it grow from a rather simple MIDI sequencer to the current fully featured Digital Audio Workstation.
As expected, the new Cubase 6 supports an unlimited number of tracks up to 192 kHz, 5.1 surround, and offers flexible routing and full automatic delay compensation. One really exciting feature of this new version is the new toolset for multi-track editing, which will make life much easier for all those who record (and spend hours editing) multi-track performances of drums, guitars and/or even vocals.
This new feature not only offers multi-tracktransient, tempo detection and drum replacement functions, but also multi-track phase-accurate audio quantization – and you should know by now how crucial phase is in the recording realm. Also, the new take-comping system provides a fast and effective way to paste together the best parts from various takes and effortlessly build the perfect one.
For extra audio editing options, the AudioWarp system allows time-stretching and pitch-shifting in real time, including automatic tempo detection, and VariAudio lets you treat audio tracks’ pitch as if they were MIDI instruments.
Speaking about MIDI, Steinberg has put some serious thought into re-thinking the way MIDI editing should work. Cubase 6 introduces a new system called Note Expression, featuring “note by note” MIDI editing, which in a few simple words makes MIDI editing way more musical and intuitive.
Cubase 6 also comes with exciting new virtual instruments and effect processors, including HALion Sonic SE, a streamlined version of Steinberg’s HALion Sonic VST workstation, LoopMash 2, the second incarnation of this beat-mangling tool, and a built-in set of virtual stomp boxes called VST Amp Rack.
This only scratches the surface of this DAW’s features and potential, if you are interested in knowing more about it please go here.
