Recording - June 2015 - 24

...where we bring you follow-up articles
with application hints and upgrade news
about gear already reviewed in Recording

Steinberg Cubase Pro 8
A raft of new features and massive speed improvements
distinguish the latest version of this popular DAW
by Paul Vnuk Jr.

I've been using Steinberg's Cubase since the days of SX3, and I've been reviewing it in these pages since Cubase 4, way back in 2006. Most recently I reviewed
Cubase 7.5 in June 2014 with a fair number of full and "x.5" releases along the
way. With each version there have been new features, visual redesigns, general
changes, code rewrites, bug squashings, and of course a few new bugs and the
occasional gnashing of teeth on the online forums.
In Cubase 5 we got built-in pitch correction in the form of Vari-Audio and multitrack phase-accurate drum editing features. In Cubase 6 there was new Lane handling and comping, plus VST Expression. The big deal with Cubase 7 was a complete remodel of the mixer section, christened the MixConsole. It had a new look,
revamped channel strips, improved EQ, and stellar channel organization.
While the mid-term x.5 releases are often reserved for bug fixes or new virtual
instruments and plug-ins, last year's 7.5 update added some major improvements:
Track Versions (similar to Pro Tools Playlists), further MixConsole enhancements,
Track Window enhancements, redesigned Instrument Racks... and yes, new plug-ins
like the killer REVelation reverb and a revamped version of the Steinberg Magneto
plug-in, now called Magneto II and also available in the MixConsole channel strip.
So here we are at the latest version, not only with a new number, but also with a
new designation: Cubase Pro 8. Below it are Cubase Artist 8 and Cubase Elements
8. Check out www.steinberg.net/en/products/cubase/line_up.html for comparisons
and differences.
System requirements
Cubase Pro 8 is available for both Mac (10.8/10.9/10.10) and Windows (7,
with Aero activated, and 8) with options of 32- or 64-bit mode. The other system
requirements are OS agnostic: Intel or AMD dual core CPU, 8 GB of RAM recommended, 15 GB of hard drive space, and a free USB port for the eLicenser copy protection key.
You should also note that for third-party plug-ins, Cubase makes use of VST 2 and
3 alone. This isn't surprising; VST is the most prevalent format and Steinberg is the
creator of the VST spec, so naturally it takes center stage in Cubase.
Cubase is not only an audio recording/editing program-it is also still one of the
best MIDI sequencing programs available. This goes back to the early computer days
when brands like Atari (yes, that Atari) ruled the recording studio landscape, and
Cubase was one of the first graphical MIDI sequencers. Now, without further ado,
let's dive in to what's new!
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RECORDING June 2015

Engine tweaks
Perhaps the most significant change in
Cubase Pro 8 is one you'll never see on
your screen. This version sports a complete
engine redesign that results in drastically
improved handling, loading time, and
overall ASIO load.
I can verify that simply opening and comparing the same sessions in 7.5 vs. 8 showed
a significant drop in CPU load. For example,
one plug-in-heavy low-latency mix, which had
the CPU peaking around 40-50% in 7.5,
only showed a load of 10-15% in Cubase 8.
Thanks to ASIO Guard 2.0, Cubase is
even more adept at low-latency mixing and
tracking. The Steinberg folks call Cubase 8
more "snappy", and overall I concur. Note
that Cubase 8 sessions are backwards compatible with 7.5, should the need arise.
I only tested Cubase Pro 8 on the Mac
platform, as my studio PC gave up the
ghost last year. Although I could not test the
Cubase-Windows experience, I will mention that Steinberg calls out greatly
improved GUI handling in Windows. New
tweaks include dockable racks, better scalability, multiple monitor arrangements, and
more.
VCA channels
Moving on to the new-feature list, top
billing for Cubase 8 goes to the addition of
VCA-style channels typically found on highend analog and digital desks. VCA stands
for Voltage Controlled Amplifier. On a traditional console you could assign a group
of faders, like your drum channels, to a single VCA fader. Then, though the use of DC
voltage, this master fader would control the
overall level of the selected group.
If you're thinking, "Isn't that what a bus
channel or group does?" the answer is No!
With a bus or group, the audio from the
selected channels is routed into and
through the bus, where you can then add
further audio processing. A VCA channel
offers physical control of existing audio
channels only; it passes no audio, meaning
less gain stage noise on analog consoles.
In Cubase, groups are no noisier than any
other channel, but these VCA faders offer the
convenience of their analog ancestors. You
assign a group of channels to one of the new
VCA faders and use that one fader to mix
said channel grouping. It's also a dead simple way to automate that group of channels.
I'll anticipate the next question: "Can't I
already do the same thing in Cubase by
linking channels?" Absolutely; in fact,
channel linking and VCA faders can work
in tandem. In the linking menu there is even
a VCA fader assignment option.

http://www.steinberg.net/en/products/cubase/line_up.html

Recording - June 2015

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