New Features
Cubase 4 comes with a brand-new VST3 plug-in set and four new integrated software instruments with more than 1000 sounds. The revolutionary SoundFrame? is a powerful combination of Track Presets, Instrument Tracks, and MediaBay database, to help organize all your sounds from every instrument - both software VSTi and hardware. Cubase 4's mixer now offers a flexible Control Room section and up to four independent studio mixes. Composers and musicians benefit from the enhanced score editor while the redesigned user interface with many new features speeds up workflow and boosts creativity to new levels.
Control Ro om
The mixer in Cubase 4 has been expanded with a powerful Control Room section. You?re now able to connect multiple sets of control room monitors and external sources (CD, DVD, Tape etc.) directly to your audio hardware and switch between them from a convenient Control Room panel. The Control Room section also offers a talkback channel, a headphone bus, and the ability to create up to four studio mixes (monitor mixes), so each mixer channel now offers a separate studio send section for controlling those mixes.
New Plug-in Set - VST3
Cubase 4 not only includes a completely new set of superlative audio effect plug-ins, it also marks the next step in VST plug-in technology. VST3 offers major new features both for plug-in developers and users. VST3 plug-ins can adjust their number of audio busses to the channel they're inserted to (mono, stereo, 5.1, etc.). A silence detection function makes sure that a plug-in only processes audio when there's actually a signal present. This helps to reduce overall CPU load. VST3 plug-ins natively support Intel-based Macintosh computers. For developers there are many more features under the hood.
New Virtual Instruments
Cubase 4 adds four new outstanding virtual instruments: HALion One, Prologue, Spector an d Mystic. HALion One is a special version of Steinberg?s award-winning HALion virtual sampler and puts hundreds of quality instruments at your direct disposal. The HALion One content is based on the same renowned Yamaha sample content used in its famed Motif series of synthesizers.
Prologue is a polyphonic analog-modeling synthesizer with exceptional-sounding filters and powerful modulation capabilities ? ideal as a general purpose sound armory covering ev erything from smooth, rich pads to bright, acerbic leads. With its flexible spectrum filter synthesis, Spector adds an additional range of synthesis tools for exquisitely detailed sounds and textures, while the aptly-named Mystic uses a stunningly powerful combination of physical modeling and spectrum filters to create a vast range of unusual textures ranging through darkly emotive, startlingly original or just plain strange. Prologue, Spector and Mystic are powered by VirSyn technology and also come with hundreds of fantastic presets to get you going.
SoundFrame? - Universal Sound Manager
SoundFrame? is a set of features which incorporate a powerful Universal Media Library within Cubase 4. SoundFrame? combines the new Instrument Tracks, Track Templates, and VST3 categorization functions with a powerful database system known as MediaBay.
MediaBay ? media file management system
To keep up with the ever-growing number of sounds, samples, loops and presets, Cubase 4 is equipped with an immensely powerful media file management system known as MediaBay. MediaBay is the central place for browsing, searching, managing and categorizing any type of media file. This includes audio and MIDI files, instrument and plug-in presets, track presets, video data and even project files.
Track Presets
One of the most powerful new features in Cubase 4 is the Track Presets system ? especially when combined with the new MediaBay feature. Track Presets store every aspect of track/channel settings for audio, MIDI, and Instrument tracks. Combinations of tracks can also be saved as Multi-Track Presets. Almost all track and mixer setting are stored including volume and Pan information and all insert effect settings as well as the channe l EQ. For instrument tracks, all Instrument/Preset information is stpre with a Track Preset, while for MIDI tracks, the Track Preset includes MIDI Port, Channel and Patch information.
Track Presets can be saved with attributes like Category/Style/Character and so on, opening up a whole new dimension in sound management on your DAW.
Instrument Tracks
Cubase 4 introduces a new track type: the Instrument Track. An Instrument Track provides a fast an d convenient way to use virtual instruments. As a quick alternative to the VSTi Rack, Instrument Tracks provide a single MIDI Input and a single stereo Output within a single channel/track. Setting up a VST Instrument and getting ready to play is now just one step away!
Major Score Editor Enhancements
The Score Editor in Cubase 4 has seen a major redesign, including many usability and workflow improvements as well as new features. Composers don?t despair! None of the existing functions have been lost. All functions from previous versions are still available, albeit in different places.
User Interface Redesign
Designed with meticulous attention to detail, Cubase 4 features an extensively r edesigned and anhanced user interface. The overall visibility of active items versus inactive items has been drastically enhanced, so although there are now more screen elements in Cubase 4 providing better access to even more features, overall visibility and orientation is now better than ever. Critical areas such as the Mixer and Inspector have received particular attention, with clearer highlighting and better readability of textual information.
The new user interface also introduces a number of new features, inculding a fully customizable Track Inspector. Not only can each item in the Track Inspector be hidden or shown as desired, but the order and visibility of items can be changed and stored individually for each track type.
Technical Info
System RequirementsMacintosh
Mac OS X Version 10.4
Power Mac G4 1 GHz or Core Solo 1.5 GHz
512 MB RAM
Display Resolution 1024x768 pixels
DVD drive required for installation
CoreAudio compatible audio hardware
USB port required for Steinberg Key (copy protection device)*
Internet connection required for license activation
Windows
Windows XP Home or XP Professional
Pentium/Athlon 1.4 GHz
512 MB RAM
Windows DirectX compatible audio hardware (ASIO compatible audio hardware recommended for low latency performance)
Display resolution 1024x768
DVD-ROM drive required for installation
USB port required for Steinberg Key (copy protection device)*
Internet connection required for license activation