The latest PC version of Steinberg's popular sequencing package incorporates a number of significant new features, including the long-awaited VST 2 and ASIO 2
Version 3.7 of Cubase VST for Windows has been eagerly awaited by PC Musicians for some time. It was first showcased at Frankfurt back in March of this year, but four months is a long time to wait when you've had some goodies waved at you and then been told to be patient. In fact, I was rather surprised when it was announced that 3.7 would be another free update for existing users, since it incorporates far more than most people would expect of an update. Moreover, version 4.1 for the Mac should also be available by the time you read this, and its new features are nearly all identical with those of the 3.7 PC version reviewed here.
For many people, the most interesting new feature in Cubase 3.7 will be VST Instruments. The new VST 2.0 specification allows plug-ins to receive MIDI data, which lets you automate effects via MIDI commands. However, before you rush off to try it, I must point out that only plug-ins written with VST 2.0 in mind will do this -- existing ones won't magically gain these functions.
If a VST 2.0 plug-in supports MIDI input, it will appear in the list of available MIDI outputs when you activate it, so that you can send it automation data. The ability to automate plug-ins via MIDI may not, of itself, sound like such an thrilling feature, but it's the other uses to which this architecture can be put that are creating excitement. Since you can now send MIDI data into a plug-in, it is possible to create stand-alone software synthesizers, samplers or drum machines that act as complete VST Instruments in their own right. Rather than attempting to run a stand-alone virtual instrument, moreover, VST 2.0 lets third-party developers use the Cubase VST engine instead. For the first time this means that rather than having to run a software synth on a second soundcard to avoid conflicts, you can let VST run it alongside your other audio tracks, all on the same soundcard.
If you have a soundcard with a low-latency ASIO driver then you will have the same low latency when playing a VST Instrument in real time. However, anyone running MME drivers (or indifferent ASIO ones) will find it difficult to 'play' the synth in real time if their latency is greater than about 25mS. This only applies during recording; during playback Cubase takes account of latency automatically.
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