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Cubase is a series of MIDI , Music Sequencer and Digital Audio Editing Computer Applications (commonly known as a DAW - Digital Audio Workstation ), created by the German firm Steinberg . Its first version, which ran on the Atari ST computer, was released in 1989 . ORIGINS Steinberg's Cubase (briefly at first known as 'Cubit') started life on the Atari ST in 1989, as the successor Sequencer to Steinberg's professional sequencer "Pro 24" - it was a complete software re-write. Cubase's most obvious benefit over Pro 24 was its vastly superior arrange page — in fact, Cubase's arrange page is now widely regarded as the first sequencer to 'get it right', and its paradigm was later wisely incorporated into virtually all the major sequencers (for example, Logic ). However, as the Atari market slowly diminished, Cubase was Ported to the Apple Macintosh and Microsoft Windows platforms, and subsequent versions introduced features for recording raw audio (Circa late 1992). This Porting re-invigorated the Mac sequencer developers, and as time passed, they began to gradually catch-up with their European challengers. The original Cubase used its own Operating System called MROS ('''MIDI Real-time Operating System''') which runs on top of the computer's own operating system. MROS did not initially work well on Windows 3.0, which was not intended for Real-time applications. However, modern operating systems are designed to support Multimedia applications, so modern versions of Cubase no longer use MROS. The release of Cubase in 1993 on the Atari Falcon was a breakthrough in DSP software technology as realtime manipulation of audio was possible without the assistance of additional processor cards as was the case with the more costly Pro Tools and other similar systems. OPERATION Cubase creates projects which allow the operator to edit MIDI files, raw audio tracks, and other associated information like lyrics, and to present them in a range of formats including musical scores, editing console, event lists, etc. The operator can also mix the various tracks down into a stereo .wav file ready to be burned onto a CD in Red Book format or .mp3 burnt to CD or DVD as files or to be published on the web. While MIDI is a fairly ubiquitous standard for representation of digital music, there is no broadly accepted standard for the interchange of complete projects containing both MIDI and audio between Cubase and other competing recording/editing software (e.g. Logic Pro , Pro Tools , Digital Performer , or Cakewalk ), so while actual pure recorded audio information can be exchanged, it is hard to import a whole project (with specific edits, instrument information and automation) in its native format from Cubase to another application and vice versa. The cross-platform OMFI format (which is supported by Cubase SX) resolves this issue to some extent. VERSIONS Cubase 1.0 Atari ''April 1989'' -- Originally called Cubit, but changed to Cubase due to copyright reasons, this was the much awaited succesor to Pro-24 . Cubase for Atari was midi only and ran on the Atari 520ST and Atari 1040ST. Although it would run on a colour screen the best resolution was obtained by using the SM 124 monochrome monitor which gave, for its time, an impressive resolution of 640x400 The main innovation of Cubase for the Atari was the graphic arrange page. The Arrange Page, since copied by just about every other similar product, allowed for the graphic representation of the composition using a vertical list of tracks and a horizontal timeline. ''1990'' -- Cubase 1.0 is released for the Apple Macintosh Cubase 2.0 Atari ''April 1990'' Cubase Audio ''1991'' - Macintosh Cubase 3.0 Atari ''1992'' Cubase for Windows ''1992'' Cubase Score for Windows ''1993'' Cubase Score is released for Windows offering Key, List, Logical, Drum, and of course Score editing and also printing facilities. A GM/GS Editor is also included. Cubase 2.8 for Windows ''1996'' The Arrange Window was redesigned. Features included the Interactive Phrase Synthesizer, CueTrax and StyleTrax the "virtual Band". Cubase Audio 1.6 Windows ''1996'' Cubase Audio 1.6 supported the hard disk recording functions of Session8 and Yamaha's CBX D3/D5 Cubase Audio supported Digidesign's new AudioMedia III PCI card. Used in conjunction with AudioMedia III Cubase Audio gave 8 audio tracks, EQ and automation. Cubase Audio 3.0 TDM for Macintosh ''1996'' Cubase Audio 3.0 TDM had up to 16 Audio Tracks with TDM Support for up to 48 Physical Audio Tracks. Cubase Audio 3.0 TDM contained all the new features of Cubase Score 2.0. It also had OMS II Support and MovieManager Support. Cubase Audio XT 3.0 ''1996'' Cubase Score 3.0 ''1996'' Cubase VST3.0 Macintosh ''1996'' Cubase VST3.5 Windows ''1997'' -- Windows Cubase VST provides up to 32 tracks of digital audio, 128 Equalizers in real time, a fully equipped effects rack with four multi-effects processors, a master section and an open PlugIn interface for additional real time effects and mastering tools. Cubase VST for Windows supports Active Movie compatible PlugIns. Cubase VST3.5.5 ''1998'' Other new features include: Updated implementation of the DirectX PlugIns which allows you to organize the list of installed PlugIns according to personal preferences. Support for Recycle Export Files (.REX-files). This allows the use of 'recycled' sample loops right in VST audio tracks without using a dedicated hardware sampler. VST Audio Engine can now be disabled while VST is running (from within the Audio-System Menu) or by launching the program while holding the Shift key Cubase VST24 3.6 ''1998'' 96 tracks, Submixers, ReWire, 8 FX sends and eight Aux. VST/24 3.6 supports the entire functionality of Yamaha's DSP Factory card Cubase VST24 3.7 ''1999'' Cubase VST24 4.0 Macintosh ''1998'' Macintosh only. Cubase VST24 4.0 now offers 96 tracks of 24 bit, 96kHz digital audio with Digidesign® Pro Tools 24(TM) digital audio hardware systems. Cubase VST24 4.1 Macintosh ''1999'' Macintosh only inroduced VST 2.0, ASIO 2.0, DSP Factory support, TDM support and more. In addition, the Cubase VST/24 Mixer/EQ section includes an extension with 5 new real-time processing modules - Compressor, Limiter, Auto Gate, Auto Limit and a Soft Clip. To make the virtual studio environment even more user-friendly, a number of VST elements can now be controlled remotely via external devices such as the Yamaha 01-V. Cubase VST32 5.0 ''2000'' Cubase VST32 5.1 ''2001'' Cubase SX1.0/Cubase SL1.0 ''2002'' Cubase SX1.0 was released as the next generation after Cubase VST. It was based upon a contemporary sister program Nuendo V1.0 and was a total rewrite over the previous versions. Although bringing vast improvements in both stability and feature quality, there were many features from Cubase VST that didn't make it into the new version, much to the annoyance of users upgrading from previous versions. One notable improvement of Cubase SX was its sound. The sound of Cubase VST was flawed and finally Cubase SX corrected this. Cubase SX1 was also blessed with responsiveness, having a bare minimum of intrusive copy protection code. Notably the copy protection code was embedded in the Key Editor where users could move MIDI Notes. The cracked version of SX1 was identifiable by its tendency to crash if a user moved notes in the Key Editor. Cubase SX2.0/Cubase SL2.0 ''2003'' Cubase SX2.0 was hailed by many as a huge leap in functionality. Where Cubase SX1 was bare of essential features, Cubase SX2.0 was brimming with them. One of the most innovative features was called Timewarp. This allowed users to record music either as midi and/or Audio in freetime, without click or metronome, and then move the bars and beats grid to the music, automatically creating a tempo track. The Timewarp tool actually allowed the user to move the gridlines. cubase SX2.0 also saw the introduction of Full PDC (Plugin Delay Compensation). Many plugins, particularly those which run on DSP Cards such as UAD-1 or Powercore cannot process their audio within a 1 sample time period and therefore introduce extra latency into the system. Unchecked this will cause some audio channels to end up out of sync with others. PDC is basically an internal algorithm that checks all the various latencies introduced by such plugins and creates audio delay buffers to allow the audio from all channels to synchronize. Cubase SX3.0 ''2004'' One of the major features to arrive with Cubase SX3.0 was Audiowarp. Audiowarp allowed Audio to remain in sync with the project even after changing its tempo. It also allowed the user to apply 'tempo anchors' to an imported audio file in order that it would sync to the tempo of the project regardless of the original tempo. Audiowarp was largely successful, but had a major flaw in that it didn't work with variable tempo projects. This was because the tempo map it copied to the Audio file when musical mode was enabled was derived from the fixed tempo setting of the project rather than the tempo track. None the less Audiowarp was an important addition to the musical features of Cubase and despite the caveats, having the ability to change the tempo of a musical piece and have the audio tracks flow this new tempo was an important facility in music production. Cubase SX3.1 ''2005'' Cubase 4.0 ''2006'' Cubase 4.0 marked the end of the SX nametag. It also marked the end of DX Plugin Support. Whatever technical or economic reason Steinberg had for dropping the use of DX Plugins in Cubase 4 it had a big impact on customer satisfaction. Not only that but there was no prior announcement before release to allow users to plan ahead. It was eventually announced by a user that DX Plugins were no longer supported in the program. This caused an outcry. Cubase 4.0 brought a GUI change. In general the GUI was darker than the previous version, Cubase SX3 and on the whole was warmly welcomed. Some elements are a little too dark on a lot of monitors. NOTES Cubase has undergone three main incarnations - initially Cubase, which featured only MIDI, and which was available on the Atari ST, Macintosh and Windows. After a brief period with audio integration, the next incarnation, Cubase VST, featured fully-integrated audio recording and mixing along with effects, added VST support, a standard for audio plug-ins which has led to a plethora of third-party effects, both freeware and commercial. Cubase VST was only for Macintosh and Windows - Atari support had been effectively dropped by this time, despite such hardware still being a mainstay in many studios. Cubase VST was offering a tremendous amount of power to the home user, but computer hardware took some time to catch up. By the time it did, VST's audio editing capability was found to be lacking when compared with competitors such as ProTools DAE and Digital Performer MAS. To address this, a totally new version of the program called Cubase SX (which is based on Steinberg's flagship software Nuendo ) was introduced, which dramatically altered the way the program ran. This version had a steep learning curve for users of older Cubase versions, however, once the new methods of working are learned, the improvements in handling of audio and automation make for a more professional sequencer and audio editor. A notable improvement with the introduction of Cubase SX was the advanced audio editing, especially the ability to 'undo' audio edits. Early versions of Cubase VST did not have this capability. Cubase SX features real-time time-stretching and adjustment of audio tempo, much like Sonic Foundry 's ground-breaking ACID . In September 2006 Steinberg announced Cubase 4 - the successor to Cubase SX3. Notable new features include control room support and a new set of VST3 plug-ins and instruments. COPY PROTECTION Almost all versions of Cubase use Dongle s for Copy Protection . Dongles are flexible in that they allow free license transfer between host machines. The Atari versions used the cartridge port for this purpose. Parallel port dongles were employed as copy protection up until Cubase VST5.1. Cubase SX V1.0 introduced the use of cross-platform USB dongles combined with a system of code encryption licensed from Syncrosoft However, this protection has been successively broken for all versions of Cubase, up to Cubase SX 3.1, in spite of all Steinberg's efforts. The copy protection for Cubase SX3 did manage to survive unbroken for 9 months after its release. As of July 2007, the copy protection for Cubase 4 has managed to avoid being cracked. The varying degrees of success of the Cubase Copy Protection system has also taken its toll on some legitimate users. Part of the protection system process is to send out messages to the dongle not just on loading the program and projects, but also on many user functions. Many users have complained of the program being unresponsive as after initiating a certain function, such as re-routing an Audio Track they have to wait some time before the program is released back to them. On Windows systems when Cubase is temporarily locked up due to the copy protection system, clicking in the GUI can cause a phenomenon known as WWNRS™ ( '''W'''hite '''W'''indow '''N'''ot '''R'''esponding '''S'''yndrome ). Basically random windows will lose their contents and go white and the windows task bar and titlebar will show 'Not Responding' The original USB Dongles (supplied with SX1.0), which were physically longer than the newer versions, were known to take longer to process the copy protection code and thus cause the program to be more unresponsive. Subsequently Steinberg placed a page on their site explaining this for the benefit of the users. VST INSTRUMENTS Cubase standard for other DAW software when integrating software based instruments on the Macintosh and Windows platforms. A new version of VST, VST3, has been introduced with Steinberg's latest Cubase 4 product. TRIVIA Gerhard Lengeling - developer of Creator/Notator and later Logic, originally worked at Steinberg as a programmer on the pre-cursor to Cubase, "Pro 24". EXTERNAL LINKS
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