CUBASE GOES PRO

Steinberg has released new versions of its Cubase audio editing and MIDI software tools, including a name change to Cubase Pro 8 and a new iteration for Artist 8.

Both programs have had massive engine rebuilds, ASIO-Guard 2 which not only improves performance, but allows you to run more instruments and tracks.

Also included are automation enhancements, giving you VCA faders, along with ‘render in-place’ added to both versions. Chord pads, Chord Assistant modes and MIDI tempo detection have been introduced to both, while the new Rack Zone is a dedicated area for the MediaBay sound browser and VST Instrument Rack. Track List and Inspector have been redesigned, with a new plugin manager and global workspaces plus will make life easier for Windows users.

Quadrafuzz multiband distortion plug-in has also had an overhaul, and brand new plugins Virtual Bass Amp, Multiband Expander, Multiband Envelope Shaper have been added, along with other effects. An acoustic drum kit, the Acoustic Agent has been added to Groove Agent SE 4, with 20 drum style patterns. There’s a new version of VST Connect (for remote recording online) and MixConsole has also received feature additions.

Key features of Cubase Pro 8:

• Award-winning 32-bit floating-point Steinberg audio engine with up to 192 kHz, 5.1 surround, flexible routing and full automatic delay compensation.
• Unlimited audio, instrument and MIDI tracks.
• MixConsole provides the ultimate mixing experience with unmatched flexibility and integrated EQ/Dynamics channel strip modules for epic pro-console sound.
• Set of 8 outstanding instruments with over 3,000 sounds, including HALion Sonic SE 2 workstation, Padshop granular synth, Retrologue virtual analog synth, LoopMash 2 and Groove Agent SE 4 drum machine.
• Suite of 73 high-end audio and 18 MIDI VST effect processors, including Quadrafuzz v2, VST Amp Rack and VST Bass Amp guitar and bass tone suites, REVerence convolution reverb, Voxengo CurveEQ and more.
• VCA faders for complex mixing and automation workflows, TrackVersions for playlists-like editing, and render-in-place for simplified editing tasks.
• VariAudio for MIDI-style note editing of monophonic audio tracks and automatic voicing harmonization and auto-tuning effect.
• Chord track and pads for easy chord management and re-harmonizing plus intelligent composing assistance for generating beautiful chord sequences.
• VST Expression 2 for unique instrument articulation management and expression control on single-note level. Professional music notation and score printing Key features of Cubase Artist 8.
• Complete music production system, offering a set of superb audio/MIDI recording, editing and mixing tools.
• Award-winning 32-bit floating-point Steinberg audio engine with up to 192 kHz, flexible routing and full automatic delay compensation.
• Supports 128 MIDI and 64 simultaneous audio tracks.
• MixConsole provides the stellar mixing experience with full flexibility and integrated EQ/Dynamics channel strip modules for epic pro-console sound.
• 8 outstanding instruments with over 2,600 sounds, including HALion Sonic SE 2 workstation, Padshop granular synth, Retrologue virtual analog synth, LoopMash 2 and the MPC-style Groove Agent SE 4 drum machine.
• Includes a suite of 53 audio and 18 MIDI VST effect processors, including Pitch Correct for vocal intonation correction and VST Amp Rack and VST Bass Amp guitar and bass tone suites, Quadrafuzz v2 and more!
• Chord track and chord pads for easy chord composing and management.
• Thousands of MIDI construction loops as building blocks to create songs in only a few steps.
• Streamlined score editing feature set.

Price and Availability

Various downloadable updates and upgrades are exclusively available through the Steinberg Online Shop (link), starting at A$139.99 (update from 7.5 for pre-October 15th, 2014 purchases).

If you buy Cubase 7.5 or Cubase Artist 7.5 now you can upgrade to 8 for free (until the Grace Period ends), which is a much cheaper option and will cost around A$550.

Other than that, the full retail versions of both programs are now available from retailers across Australia and will cost you around A$700.

Australian Distributor: Yamaha Music, Level 1, 99 Queensbridge Street Southbank VIC 3006, Ph: (03) 9693 5111 Website: www.yamahabackstage.com.au

Excerpts from PR