Cubase: Mixing Explained

If you're getting started with Cubase and are ready to mix down your first song but have no idea where to begin, you're in the right place! In this comprehensive Cubase video course, studio expert Gary Hiebner walks you through the process of mixing your first Cubase track, from initial setup to final export. You'll learn about project organization, using effects like compression, reverb, EQ, etc., instrument-specific tips, vocal tuning and processing, editing (audio and MIDI), setting up buses for each instrument group, automation, and much more! By the end of the course, you'll be ready to dive in with confidence, and you'll no doubt have saved yourself hours and hours of mistakes, manual diving, and frustration. You also get all the tracks in the video, so you can follow along and mix as you watch the instruction! These Cubase videos are designed for Cubase users who are new to mixing.

Videos

• Setup & Routing of Tracks (09:28) - We start off by showing you how you can group and route your similar tracks together, so that they are more organized and you can work more efficiently through the mix. So you move similar tracks into the groups. Plus, we route all the instruments to a Music Bus Group. And then these groups sum to the main stereo output.

• Pack Into Folders and Color Tracks (05:28) - To further organise the project we can move tracks into folders. Especially with a big project this is handy, as we can collapse and expand differen folders to focus on specific tracks we working on. In this video you see how to create the folders, add tracks into them, and how to color tracks and folders to make the project more visually organized.

• Strip Silence to Clean Up Tracks (04:04) - With the Strip Silence Tool you can quickly and Easily go in and get rid of silence in your audio events. And in turn this will neaten up your arrange area, so you can clearly see where there are audio parts on a track. This video shows you how to use this feature.

• Using Markers for Arrangement Navigation (05:51) - In this video you see how you can create markers to be visual cues to changes in your arrangement. Plus, you can also use these markers and the Marker window with a shortcut key to help you to jump to specific positions in your arrangement. Plus, you see how the Marker track can be added to the Divider Line area so that it is always visible in the arrangement.

• Gain Staging Tracks (20:13) - In this video we look at how to gain stage all the tracks as a pre-mix process. This is a good practice to do before a mix to make sure we have enough headroom. Here we are trying to balance the levels of all the tracks, plus do some panning to move the tracks around the stereo spread. And also we use meters to make sure there is enough headroom before we start adding any processing and effects to the tracks.

• Mixing Drums (16:28) - Here we take a look at the effects and processing we can add on our individual drum tracks. We use a combination of EQs, Compressors, and the Channel Strip effects. We also take a look at some of the newer effect that emulate analog gear to impart that character onto the audio.

• Drum Bus Processing (05:22) - Here we add a chain of effects on the Drums Group Bus to help even out the dynamics and glue the drum parts all together. This includes a chain of EQ and Compression and Reverb.

• Parallel Processing with Direct Routing (06:26) - In this video we see how we can setup Parallel Processing using the Dedicated Compressor group and direct routing. This allows you to blend a heavy compressed rums sound, with an uncompressed drum sound to get the best of both sounds blended together.

• Detecting Hitpoints to Layer Kicks & Snares (12:23) - Here you see how you can use the Detect Hitpoints features to detect transients in an audio file, and convert it to MIDI. Then you can use a virtual Drum instrument and the MIDI to create extra layers for the Kicks and Snares to enhance both the kick and snare.

• Using the Visibility & Configurations (04:24) - These tools allow you to show and hide specific tracks from the MixConsole, as well as being able to save configurations showing these views. This is a great efficiency tool. Especially when working with big track count projects. IN this video you see how you can use these tools.

• Mixing Bass (12:38) - Here we move over onto the different types of bass tracks in the song and see what types of processing and effects we can add to them. There is a mix of analog and digital sounding bass tracks. The main focus is to enhance the low end of these tracks. You'll see how to use Bass Amp emulation, EQs, Compressors and Saturation effects to enhance the bass in the mix. There is also some processing applied to the Bass group bus track to help glue all the bass tracks together.

• Mixing & Layering the Synths Pads (14:00) - Here we start focusing on the synth tracks and how they can fit in the mix. In this video you'll see how we use time-based and modulation effects on these synths to create some interest with them in the mix. Plus how some distortion and saturation can help give the synths more grit in the mix.

• Mixing Plucked Synth Sounds (06:08) - Here we take a look at the short, staccato plucked synth sounds, and how they can fit in he mix. We use some more modulation and time based effects to get these tracks to sound more atmospheric in the mix.

• Sidechaining & Mixing Synths (04:37) - In this video we take a look at how to use Sidechain Compression on our sustained synths to create pumping effects. This works well in adding extra energy into our productions. SO you'll see how to setup the side chain course, and then what settings to use on the compressor.

• Creating Reverb Sends (09:52) - Here we take a look at how to setup a Reverb Send. So instead of adding a Reverb effect as an insert you can Create an FX channel, add the reverb and then send tracks to this reverb. This way you have a cohesive reverb effect that is applied across all your tracks.

• Mixing Guitars (13:02) - In this video we take a look at how to mix and process guitars. First you see how to use amp simulators to create the amp guitar tone. Then we use multiple stages of EQ. The first EQ gets rid of resonant frequencies. And then the second EQ shape the tone, and then a 3rd EQ to color the midrange of the guitar tone. And finally we look at the signal chain of effects on the Guitars Group bus to help even out the dynamics and glue the guitars together.

• Sound Effects (05:53) - Here we take a look at how to add sound effects into a mix to enhance the production. You'll see how to use reverse sounds and impact hits to take the mix to the next level. These sound effects can be quite subtle but still add a huge difference to the mix. You'll also see how to process these sound effects so they sit well in the mix.

• Tuning Vocals with VariAudio (05:27) - Before getting into the vocals it's good practice to improve the tuning of these vocals so they sound tighter in the production. You'll see in this video how to use the VariAudio feature to pitch correct your software. Gary will go through the different parameters and you'll see how far you can take the voice pitch correcting.

• Mixing Lead Vocals with the Vocal Chain (12:29) - In this video we take a look at the new dedicated Vocal Chain multi-effects processor. We work with the lead vocal and show how you can work with multiple stages of EQ and Compression on the vocal. Plus, you see how to add in saturation and add ducking Reverb and Delay Send effects. This tool really makes the complexity of vocal processing way more simple.

• Processing the Backing Vocals (08:56) - In this video we explore the doubled vocals and harmonies and see how we can process them with the VocalChain. We apply some pitch shipping techniques, and tweak the EQs, so the sit together nicely in the mix with the Lead Vocals and the Music.

• Creating Vocal Reverb & Delay Throw Effects (07:00) - In this video you see how to create Reverb and Delay Vocal Throw Effects. Instead of automating send levels, you see how you can create a new audio track, copy the vocal part you want to apply the reverb and delay on. And then apply the effects just to that track. This is a much cleaner method than the automation way, and you have more control over the levels of the reverb and delay sends.

• Vocal Bus Processing (05:13) - Here we take a look at what processing we can apply to the vocal group bus. We use a combination of the Black Valve Compressor, the mid focused EQ-M5 and the standard compressor. This signal chain helps glue all the vocals together better, and focuses the vocals in the mix.

• Automating Tracks for More Interest in the Mix (05:57) - To create some extra interest in the mix, automation can come in real handy. Making slight adjustments to parameters over time can add some extra dynamics to your overall mix. And in this video you see how you can view and edit automation lines for specific parameters. For example automating the volume levels on a track.

• The Music Bus Processing (09:52) - Here we take a look at what processing we can add to the Music Bus to polish up the mix. The chain will include the Black Valve Compressor, 2 stages of analog-style compression, some stereo-width enhancing, followed by some limiting. And to finish off the chain we'll see how a touch of reverb can help.

• Using VCAs for a Submix (07:10) - In this video we take a look at how to use VCA faders to create a submix of our song. And with these VCA faders we can easily fine tune the overall mix. And it doesn't affect any other automation we have programmed in.

• Finalizing & Exporting Out Your Song (09:39) - To finish off we apply some basic mastering processes on the Main output to improve the dynamics and overall perceived loudness of the song with the Multiband Compressor and Maximizer. And then we look out how to do an Audio Mixdown of our final mix.