Steinberg have announced the imminent release of Cubase SX 3, a major revision adding more than 70 new features including powerful Audio Warp Realtime Timestretching, an intuitive Play Order Track, convenient Inplace Editing and many new editing functions. Read on for a complete list of new features.

Mixing:

• Extended Freeze for VST instruments offers more options for freezing VSTi's and VSTi channels.
• Freeze for Audio Channels to reduce CPU load by audio insert plugins.
• Dummy Plugin replaces missing plugins when transferring projects to another system; thereby preserving the original plugin when moving back to the original system.
• Glide return-time on touch fader automation.
• Play Order Track for intuitive arranging and re-arranging of projects.
• Volume envelope for parts offers automation of volume that moves with the part.
• Audition channel creates separate monitor bus for scrubbing, preview and editing audio.
• AUX send panners linked to channel panners facilitates surround mixing.
• Option to route send busses of FX return channel to any output channels.

Files and Formats (Import and Export):

• Import / export markers with Standard MIDI File.
• Improved Drag & Drop for Standard MIDI Files into project window.
• Import/Export selected tracks from/to OMF.
• OMF: Option to export clip names.

Recording and playback:

• Adjustable audio pre-record up to 10 minutes serves as a virtual audio sketch pad; audio clips can be expanded at the event start to reveal pre-recorded data.
• Improved scrubbing.
• New project start time options: keeps events absolute or relative to project start time.
• Audition option during export.
• Post-Record cleanup aft er MIDI recording (resets pitch bend, sustain and other controllers).

Editing:

• Audio Warp realtime algorithm supports realtime time stretching and pitch shifting on individual or all clips.
• Time-Warp content tool allows for manual audio warping of individual clips.
• Hitpoint/loop rhythm info improvements.
• Improved Hitpoint Detection.
• Tempo processing for fast and accurate tempo operations based on the project’s tempo track.
• In Place Editor puts the key editor directly on the project page and allows for MIDI event editing (notes and controllers) in context with other tracks and track types.
• Relative snapping of objects: parts keep their relative start position when moved by snap values.
• Audio feedback for velocity changes in controller lanes.
• Key commands to recall logical editor presets.
• Key commands to recall controller lane setups.
• MIDI Controller input for controller lane editing.
• MIDI controller input for data in Info-Line.
• Moving sync -point shows timecode indicator.
• Select tool automatically changes to pencil tool when moving mouse pointer to a velocity MIDI controller lane.

Project/General:

• Color coding for all tracks and mixer channels, including a new color tool, expanded color palette, view/hide button and more.
• Child bussed for VST group/fx busses facilitate signal routing in multi-channel applications.
• Alternative audio waveform visualization improves visibility of dynamics/loudness at small track heights.
• Performance Optimization (general and processor-specific).
• Apple G5 and Intel P4 (Prescott) Optimization.
• Workspaces for managing window sets or entire desktops.
• Advanced metronome settings, including/adjustable pitch/volume for metronome click and alternative click samples.
• Alternative PPQ (bars+beats) linear view in project window.
• Optional position display for selection tool.
• Expand/collapse Inspector section s by clicking on entire title bar.
• Content indicator for Inspector Notepad.

Plug-ins:

• External FX plugins allow integration of external hardware signal processors into the VST mixer as insert or send effects.
• New MIDI Plugin: Context Gate.
• New MIDI Plugin: Arpache SX.
• Dummy plugin for freeze (replaces missing plugins when projects are transferred to other systems).

MIDI & Music:

• MIDI Device Maps and Panels give access to external MIDI equipment (synthesizers, signal processors, digital mixers, etc.).
• User Panel for Track Inspector allows access to sections of Device Panels or specially designed user panels.
• User-definable channel strip in VST mixer as part of Device Panel integration.
• Integration of Yamaha Studio Manager 2 (Studio Connections open standard) to access compatible hardware editors, edit and manage devices, and save/recall settings with Cubase SX projects (Tot al Recall).
• Quantizing MIDI can move associated controller events.
• MTC Loop sends continuous MTC timecode from seq. timecode when sequencer loops, jumps, locates, etc. (user preference).
• MMC Machine Control Panel allows transport control and track arming of external MIDI devices.
• New Synchronization Setup Dialog organizes all related parameters in a new and more intuitive way.

Score:

• Improved slurs (insert, move, edit, delete).
• User symbols; custom created symbols can be created and edited.
• Playback of the form; repeat marks, endings, da capo, etc. are played back properly.
• Improved text import; import blocks of text, in *.txt or *.rtf format.

Various:

• New comma nd "set cursor to selection end".
• Marker window now offers sortable columns.
• Quick assign of multiple inputs or outputs of a channel to one input or output.
• Quick assign for incrementing input or output of objects for multiple channels.
• Grid Match color option for MIDI events.
• Option to open plug-in GUI directly from the plug-in information window.
• Maximize button for video window expands window to full screen.
• Key commands for the inspector sections expand or collapse respective sections.
• 64-Bit compatible with upcoming Windows XP 64-Bit Edition; supports up to 4 GB of RAM.