Cubase 10.5 - New Features and Updates

This time we will be taking a look at the newly released Cubase 10.5.
It is a 0.5 update and contains a EQ spectral curve comparison mode, new plugins, updated instruments, and more powerful and updated functions, so stay tuned!

Cubase10.5 New Features Video Access

EQ and Spectral Curve Comparison Mode (Spectral Comparison EQ)

A new spectral comparison EQ has been added to Cubase that allows you to compare and edit the spectral components of 2 audio signals.
Open the channel settings window, switch to the EQ tab, and press the orange area at the top of the EQ to choose which track to compare.

Lets try comparing the kick track to our current bass track.

The kick’s spectral curve will be layered with the bass like so.
We can easily see the points that overlap and we can make EQ cuts accordingly.

This EQ also allows you to switch between either of the tracks being compared.
Although currently the bass is selected, lets click on the area labeled “Kick” from above.

We have switched to the Kick track. You can make edits here and easily return back to the bass as well.

There is also a short-cut Solo button added onto this EQ for the selected tracks as well.
We can see an S mark beside the areas labeled Bass / Kick above, so click here.

This makes it incredibly easy to compare and make EQ adjustments.

Combined Object Selection and Range Selection Tools

The previously seperate object select tool and the range selection tool have been turned into 1 flexible combined selection tool.
To use it, click the mark on the left of the object selection tool.

By placing your cursor over an event in this mode, the top half shows a range selection tool and turns into an object selection tool on the bottom half.

For example, you can quickly select a range, cut it out, and edit it at ease.

Saving MIDI Data when Not Recording (Retrospective MIDI Record)

MIDI notes played during playback or even when paused can be easily accessed.
In this update, in order to read MIDI data from each track, there is a buffer prepared for each MIDI or instrument track.

From the bottom area of the main section of a track inspector, there is a new area labeled as Retrospective Recording. By selecting a track and playing MIDI notes, the MIDI data enters the buffer, and the Retrospective Recording text will turn white.

By clicking here and selecting “Insert as Linear recording”, the previously played MIDI performance will show up where the cursor is currently being placed.

By selecting Empty Retrospective Recording Buffer, the buffered MIDI data can be deleted.

Click the white lit Retrospective Recording after performing MIDI with playback in cycle mode, and you can now select from Insert as Linear Recording as well as Insert as Cycle Recording.

By selecting Linear, the played MIDI data will be entered as 1 continuous MIDI event.

When Cycle is selected, mulitple MIDI instances will show up stacked within the cycle span.

In addition, a button has been added allowing you to input buffered MIDI data into the transport zone.

This button will enter MIDI data into the playback area of the selected track.
If the button is clicked with the playback marker set inside of the cycle span, it will be inserted as a cycled recording.
If the button is clicked with the playback marker set outside of the cycle span, it will be inserted as a Linear recording.

A buffer input button has been added into the top left of the editor window as well. This is incredibly useful, allowing you to instantly get access to things you instinctively played.

MIDI Retrospective Recording has been added to the transport menu as well, which has same function.

Improved Ability to Import Tracks from Projects

More track types are now supported, and allow you to import tracks in more specific ways.
We’ll go to import from the file menu, project file track, and by opening the project file we want to use the tracks will be displayed in a list view.

• ① The files ticked here will be imported. Tick the folder to select all of it’s contents below it. You can input routing related FX and group channel simultaneously as well.
• ② There are Events and Parts, and Channel and Inspector Settings type track data. You can easily choose both or one. When Channel and Inspector Settings is selected, you will also be able to select Automation.
• ③ By pressing the Select Matching button, you can auto map tracks with the same track names within the current project. You can easily open events from different versions of a project, or even access just the mixing settings of a project.

Exporting Video

Cubase 10.5 now allows you to export video along with audio. This allows you to complete a project with a pre-edited video using just Cubase.
To export a video, go to export from the file menu, and select video.
A dialog box will pop up, where you can designate the file name and location.

There is only MP4 video format, and only Stereo Out for output.
The range of the video will be the span determined by the ruler in the project.
Press the export video button to begin rendering.

MultiTap Delay

The new MultiTap Delay is a tap delay that allows for a wide array of creative uses.

• ① Set the span of delay time where taps will be placed within.
• ② Choose and the number of taps to use.
• ③ Set the tap placement, pan, and even give different settings for each tap.

We can also click to create rhythms as well. Turn on tap rhythm, and click the text area on the right to the beat to create rhythmical taps.

Letting the track play or playing to the click will make this easier to do.

In addition, MultiTap Delay has onboard effects that can be applied to the tap sounds.

Padshop2

Padshop2 combines the versions of Padshop and Padshop Pro, their factory contents, and provides new functions and content.
A high quality time strech function and pitch scale function is onboard the new spectral oscillator.

In addition, the same arpeggiator found in Retrologue2 has been added.

Similar to the Retrologue, you can now easily apply a modulation source to a destination by dragging and dropping it.

In addition, 2 polyphonic LFO and an ENV 3 that allows for start/attack/end volume settings has been added.

There are over 100 new presets added, allowing you to start making music with from a rich plethora of sounds.

Colorized MixConsole Channels

The background of the MixConsole channel can now be changed to a selected channel color.
To do so, open the system preferences, and change it from the Track and MixConsole Channel Color under User Interface.

You can select which areas to color accordingly and even adjust the strength and brightness of the colors.

As we can see, it is much easier to differentiate between tracks.

The Addition of Loudness Normalization

Now you can also select loudness from the normalize function.
To utilize it, select Direct Offline Processing from the Audio menu. From the process list, select normalize.

In addition to the previous peak normalization, loudness normalization has been added.
For example, we can select -24 lufs for broadcast, -13 lufs for YouTube, and so on.

Improved Score Editor

You can now select various sub-names in a score. To display subnames, you must select page mode from the score menu above.
In addition, right click a staff and select display staff name to the left of staff.

By double clicking a staff name, a dialog box will be displayed, where you can enter in a subname.

After entered, it will be displayed as shown.

In addition, a ruler will be displayed when entering notes.
Turn on the note enter mode, bring the cursor above where you want to enter the note, and hold click.

A ruler will be displayed, and you can drag to change the placement of the note. Release the click to place the note.

Removal of Automatic Project Activation

By closing an activated project while multiple projects are open, previously, the next project was automatically activated in it’s place.
In this update, when an active project is closed, the other projects will remain deactivated.

They will only be activated by pressing the activate button, allowing you to select the next project.

Safe Start Mode

On a Mac, use shift+option+command, or shift+alt+ctrl on Windows, and a window will pop up allowing you to start Cubase in safe mode.

By checking deactivate all third party plugins, only steinberg products will be read, and third party plugins will be temporarily deactivated.
This helps solve problems when plugins within a project are making it difficult to open.

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This completes our basic overview of the new functions in Cubase 10.5
As you can see, quite alot of updates have been implemented.
Why not build a more comfortable work space with the new and improved Cubase?