How does Cubase know to associate that sine wave that’s on another track with the timpani when I have 16 other tracks in the song? Doesn’t make any sense to me.
By default, yes, but you can change the parameters and have Cubase only export the tracks you want. Look in the dialog box that pops out when click on “export.”
Doesn’t that slightly degrade the sound as opposed to pure MIDI data?
When you export an instrument track, it’s converted to audio. MIDI data is not retained. MIDI is not audio, just a set of instructions for a VSTi or an external synth.
Well, I just went through all the VST synths that come with Cubase 7 and I can’t find one that generates a pure sine wave where I can change the ADSR to get the sound I want.
Does Cubase come with one or do I have to get a 3rd party VST tone generator?
Duplicate your timpani track and disable the output to the stereo master fader on one of them. (this one will be your trigger)
Make an Audio Track and Insert the Test Generator and set to sine wave. Dial in the frequency that will make the timpani “sweet”. Be careful: “Sweet” I says
On the same audio track insert a gate after the signal generator. Play with the threshold until the gate is closed and no audio is coming through. Activate the side chain on the gate.
Set the output on your duplicate timpani “trigger” track to the gate side chain.
Boom - Now every time the timpani is played, the sweet sine wave will miraculously ring with it making it phat. You need to adjust the threshold - attack -release, etc. of course.
If you make a million bucks due to this short tutorial, don’t forget mail me a check.
Like I said, I’ll figure it out eventually. Wow, what a difference in the timpani sound. I wasn’t exactly sure what it was supposed to do but the producer I spoke to said it makes a big difference. It does.
The idea is that you are going to carve a good chunk of the bass presence out with an EQ to give the instruments “space”. By adding a fundamental a couple of octaves lower, you can retain that presence and attack. You just have to be careful as with a lot of “modern” music, there is an ass ton of bass frequency content. I don’t work on that kind of music, so I can’t tell you how they deal with it. But, with older rock, classical and fusion type music, it works wonders when used sparingly.