Cubase Essentials

Traditional recording studios and DAW-based recording studios compared.

Multitrack recording of audio and MIDI (including virtual instruments) performances within a Cubase project.

Editing and arrangeming of audio and MIDI recordings within a Cubase project.

Mixing within the Cubase MixConsole and using virtual effects.

Working with video in your Cubase projects for film, TV, advert or video game composition.

Using Cubase's scoring features to turn MIDI performances into standard musical notation for live musicans.

Cubase Elements has the essentials covered but what might you want to add?

With this Cubase Elements overview in place, a reminder of the roadmap we will follow to explore the essential features in more detail.

Computer and OS requirements for running Cubase and an introduction to other equipment you might need for your Cubase-based recording system.

Using Streinberg's Download Assistant to download and install Cubase on your computer.

Key settings within Cubase to ensure the software works smoothly with your audio interface.

Picking a suitable audio bit depth and sample rate for your audio recordings.

Exploring the important concepts of buffer size and audio latency - and why they matter.

What is processing precision and what does it mean for how hard your computer has to work?

A further look at audio I/O and the very useful concept of 'audio busses'.

Getting your MIDI keyboard connected to your Cubase system.

A quick recap to review what we have achieved so far.... and what comes next.

An introduction to the key elements/windows contained within the Cubase UI.

What the project window is for and an introduction to the concept of the Cubase 'project'.

An introduction to the Transport panel features including the metronome and tempo adjustment.

An introduction to Cubase's powerful virtual mixing console; the MixConsole window.

Key options provided by the multi-function Lower Zone of the project window.

Managing your project's contents and your loop, sample and other 'media' content within the Pool window and the MediaBay.

Using VST instruments and effects within Cubase and keeping track of them within the VST Plugin Manager.

More details on how the Score window can turn your MIDI performances into musical notation.

More details on using the Video window for music-to-picture composing.

The key window for getting your finished mix out of Cubase and into the wider world.

Speed up your workflow within Cubase by using the powerful keyboard shortcuts configured within the Key Commands window.

A deeper dive into the concept of a Cubase project.

How to create a new Cubase project - how to do it, where to do it, and what happens when we do it.

The power and potential of Project templates to speed up your workflow.

Keeping your project data safe with a sensible backup strategy.

Getting audio signals into (for recordings) and out of (for monitoring/playback) your Cubase projects.

The key role and features of Audio tracks/channels within your Cubase projects.

The key role and features of Instrument tracks/channels within your Cubase projects.

Perhaps somewhat superseded by Instrument tracks/channels, but MIDI tracks can still have their uses.

An introduction to the creative options provided by the Sampler Track within Cubase.

The practical advantages to your project's organisation and mixing workflow provided by Group Channels.

Recreating the send effects system from analog mixing consoles within Cubase's virtual mixing console and why it is so useful.

Using Folder tracks to keep your tracks organised as your project grows in size to maintain a streamlined workflow.

An introduction to the other key track types including the Ruler, Marker, Arranger and Video tracks.

Creating audio tracks, format, naming, colour-coding and using Folder tracks for organisation.

Configuring the audio input(s) for an Audio track and getting ready to record by record enabling the Audio track.

Recording in manual mode, punching in/out or cycle-based recording.

How to hear playback of both existing tracks and live audio input as you record. The importance of understanding Cubase's monitoring vs Direct Monitoring and a brief 'overdub' demo.

How to import existing audio recordings into your Cubase projects.

Importing and using one-shot samples and audio loops within your Cubase projects.

How the audio recording and audio exiting stages of a project are often intertwined.

The different roles of the main tracks types used for the recording of MIDI note-based performances.

An introduction to the virtual instruments included with Cubase Elements - and further options found within Artist and Pro.

A brief introduction to the amazing (and undeniably addictive) world of 3rd-party virtual instruments.

Setting up your Virtual Instrument tracks and exploring how the sound they create is routing through the Cubase audio system.

Exploring how you can also record MIDI controller data within your MIDI performances to add additional expression to your MIDI note performances.

The different 'modes' of MIDI recording - including new, merge, replace and cycle - and the pros/cons of each mode for particular tasks.

As with audio, when recording MIDI performances, you can often find yourself dipping into the MIDI editing phase, so here's a brief introduction to MIDI editing.... with more to follow later.

The powerful Chord Pad system makes creating MIDI performances easy even if the piano keyboard is not your first instrument.

Using the Step Input feature for creating MIDI performances for a somewhat 'old school' sequencer workflow.

Importing MIDI data/performances from existing MIDI files into your Cubase projects.

A quick recap to review what we have achieved so far.... and what comes next.

A quick review of the Project window's UI to customise your workflow.

Easy arranging of audio and MIDI events (clips) along the timeline within the Project window.

How the Marker track can help organisation and navigation of your project's structure/arrangment.

How the Arranger track provides a powerful toolset for exploring alternative arrangements for your projects.

How the Chord Track - and Chord Assistant - allows you to experiment with your musical arrangement along a project's timeline.

Arranging meets editing meets recording; how the Chord Track manages to combine all three options into one tool and provides further support for those without a Piano 101 certificate.