Digital audio workstations (DAWs) are software programs used to make music and perform various tasks. In this digital era, many DAWs are on the market, each with specific features.
In this article, I will discuss Steinberg Cubase Pro 13 Pro. This music production software offers different tools for mixing, mastering, composing, recording, and editing. It is designed for both beginners and advanced users.
What’s new in Steinberg Cubase Pro 13 :
Now, let’s discuss what’s new in Cubase Pro 13. In this article, I will explain the major software updates. So, let’s get started.
- VariAudio 3 :
- It is a pitch correction plugin.
- It offers transparent pitch correction
- It also lets the user time stretch the audio.
- Steinberg Cubase Pro 13 variaudio only allows the pitch correction of monophonic audio.
- It will enable the user to interact with each midi note of the audio individually.
- This plugin can also include timing, volume, and formant correction.
- It allows the user to edit the notes directly on the waveform.
- This plugin also has the ARA 2 Support.
- Variaudio offers a user-friendly interface that displays the MIDI notes for editing.
Multitrack AudioWarp & Audio Quantize :
Let’s first talk about the audio wrap tool.
- The audio wrap tool helps with the timing of the audio recordings.
- This tool is mainly used to measure the rhythmic tempo accurately.
- It first analyses the audio signal and then slices it based on the transients.
- The audio wrap tool works more accurately on the single audio signal.
Now let me list some features of the multitrack audio quantize tool
- Unlike the audio wrap tool, this one can handle complex audio signals.
- It allows quantizing the audio signal according to the project’s tempo.
- It provides both manual and auto quantization.
- It is mainly used to quantize the drums or vocal loops.
An update of Cubase 13 also adds some new synth plugins. Let me give some important insights about them.
New Synths in Steinberg Cubase Pro 13 by Looptorrent:
This new update of Cubase 13 also includes some new synth plugins. Let me give some important insights about them.
Retrologue 2 :
This is a synth plugin for Cubase 13. It provides sound design tools. Its key features are listed below.
- It uses three oscillators.
- It has many features for sound design, such as
- low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and notch filters, as well as effects like distortion, chorus, delay, and reverb.
- It provides the polyphonic and monophonic modes.
- MPE support is also available in this plugin, which allows it to give an organic performance and fine-tune individual notes within a chord or melody. Here is the visual representation of the plugin.
Padshop Pro :
- The Padshop Pro is the granular and spectral synthesizer in the Cubase 13 Pro.
- This plugin is also available as a third-party VST. This means you can use it in other DAWs except the Cube.
- This plugin uses samples of different sounds.
- It offers a wide range of sounds like pianos, guitars, etc.
- It also provides built-in effects like chorus, reverb, etc, for sound design.
- As I said, it uses samples, so you can export your own samples in this plugin to create your desired sound. Here is the visual representation of this plugin.
Verve & Trip :
These are the two new synths added this time in the Steinberg Cubase Pro 13 which offer different sounds then the normal synths for cinematic scoring, electronic production, and much more. Two new effect plugins are also added in the steinberg cubase.
New Effect VST in the Steinberg Cubase Pro 13 :
EQ-P1A :
- EQ-P1A is a new EQ plugin added in this update.
- It is the emulation of the old classic hardware.
- The main function of this EQ is to provide old analog warmth to the sound
- EQ-P1A of the Steinberg Cubase Pro is mainly designed to affect the high and low frequency of the sound transparently
- This plugin is favorable in adding the body to the low-end elements such as bass, drums, etc
- It can also be used to add air to the high-end frequencies of the sound.
EQ-M5 :
- This plugin is designed as normal EQ.
- It can be used for mixing, mastering, and subtractive EQ. It is mostly similar to the EQ P1A, but it is limited compared to it.
Applications and use cases
Music Production :
Unlike FL Studio 2024 , Ableton 12 live, and other DAWs, Cubase 13 Pro stands out with its unique features for creating electronic music. It offers a comprehensive set of tools, including effect plugins, synth plugins, and sample packs, making it a versatile choice for music production.
Audio Post-Production :
With its array of options, such as time stretching, audio manipulation, and pitch correction, Cubase 13 Pro is not just for music production. It’s also a powerful tool for audio post-production, offering a wide range of possibilities.
Sound Design :
Various synths like padshop, retrolouge 2, and other tools in the Cubase pro 13 provide a vast ground for sound design.
Mixing and Mastering :
This software can also be used for mixing and mastering, providing the necessary tools, such as EQ, reverb, delay, etc.
Film Scoring :
It also has a video player tool that plays the video and syncs it with the audio. This allows it to be used for background film scoring.
Education and Training:
Cubase 13 Pro is not only CPU-friendly but also boasts a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate. This, combined with its comprehensive features, makes it an ideal choice for students and institutions of education and training.
My Honest Review
Before I discuss my personal experience, I must disclose that this is not a sponsored review. I purchased Cubase 13 Pro with my own funds and want to share my thoughts on the plugin.
this review aims to be informative, not promotional. In this blog section, I will discuss its strengths and weaknesses and let you decide if it fits your needs.
Keep in mind that everyone has different needs for a DAW. What worked for me might be challenging for some. So, let’s get started with the pros of this software.
Stability :
Other software in the market has a modern interface, like Logic Pro x and FL Studio 24, which is why they are not stable on long projects. This is thought to be more stable than them.
Audio Editing:
Other software on the market offers basic audio editing tools like EQ and some other basic tools. However, Cubase 13 has one advanced tool for spectrum analysis: sophisticated tools. These tools are used to remove noise and restore audio quality.
MIDI and Notation:
The Cubase 13 provides in-depth midi integration compared to the other daws.
Now I will list some of the cons I faced while using the Cubase 13.
Steep Learning Curve:
Although Cubase 13 has a user-friendly interface, it requires a lot of time to understand. When I first started using this software, I spent many weeks thoroughly understanding it.
Dated Interface:
Although the user interface is classic in look, when I worked on a long project with this software, I felt bored with the interface’s graphics.
I am indeed a fan of modern interfaces, but I thought it important to mention it, and if you are like me, you may also face this problem.
Plugin Compatibility Issues :
Cubase is compatible with many third-party plugins, but some are not supported. Although it is a stable DAW, most of the time, it sometimes shows unexpected crashes.
