Cubase Audio Mixdown Trouble

why you should lose settings?? the audio mixdown will include everything...

If you trying to open up the Mp3/Wav in Cubase you are not going to get your EQ etc. settings because that file format will not save settings like EQ, effects, and automation.

You have to open/save in the native cubase file format.

huh?

I dont use Cubase, so unless "mixdown" has a specific function inside that software all you want to do is render/export to some audio format so you can burn a cd.

Should be very straightforward if you read the manual.

Some people seem to have the manual "excluded" from their "version" of software. At any rate what I think was meant is that all the eq and effects are in the final exported mix but the data is not there. That is, you can't import a mixed down file into cubase and then expect to start tweaking where you left off. All you will get is a single stereo audio file as it was mixed.

So, what version of cubase is it? Because, they do differ from version to version. That might help to trouble shoot. You want info, you have to give some.

What file format are you exporting to? Did you do some automation and forget to enable the read button? I'm not sure why this would happen. There aren't that many options to exporting. I would just check and make sure that all of the options you have enabled are the ones that you want. Also some saturation type plugins will sound different once mixed. I don't know about magneto per se but some of the other tape emulation plugins(specifically the free ones) don't sound good in the master section. On individual tracks their fine but they tend to muddy up the mix. Have you updated your software? Have you tried at http://cubase.net ? That's the official forum after all. You just need your serial number or usb key number to register.

First of all. Why? Why are you mixing down to MP3 if you are planning to burn a cd? When I do an export, my file sound exactly the way I mixed them. That's how it should work. Mind you, I don't mix down to mp3.



Yeah. You might do better at http://cubase.net

from the C$ manual sx3 should be essentially the same....



Introduction

The Export Audio Mixdown function in Cubase allows you

to mix down audio from the program to a file on your hard

disk, in a number of formats. You can choose to mix down

one of the following:

• An output bus.

For example, if you have set up a stereo mix with tracks routed to a stereo

output bus, mixing down that output bus would give you a mixdown file

containing the whole mix. Similarly, you can mix down a complete surround

bus, either to a single multi-channel file or to one file per surround

channel (activate the split channels option).

• The channel for an audio track (Cubase only).

This will mix down the channel for the track, complete with insert effects,

EQ, etc. This can be useful for turning a number of events into a single

file, or if you are using CPU-intensive insert effects – by exporting the

track and re-importing it into the project you can turn off the insert effect,

saving processor power.

• Any kind of audio channel in the mixer (Cubase only).

This includes VST Instrument channels, effect return channels (FX Channel

tracks), Group channels and ReWire channels. There are many uses

for this – for example, you can mix down an effect return track or turn individual

ReWire channels into audio files.

Notes

• The Export Audio Mixdown function mixes down the

area between the left and right locator.

• When you mix down, you get what you hear – mutes,

mixer settings and insert effects are taken into account.

Note though that you will only include the sound of the bus or channel

you select for mixdown.

• MIDI tracks are not included in the mixdown!

To make a complete mixdown containing both MIDI and audio, you first

need to record all your MIDI music to audio tracks (by connecting the

outputs of your MIDI instruments to your audio inputs and recording, as

with any other sound source).

• With Cubase, you can also export selected tracks – this

is a different function that doesn’t create an audio mixdown.

Rather, this is a way to transfer complete tracks (including clips and

events) from one project to another. See “Importing audio” on page 400.

Mixing down to an audio file

1. Set up the left and right locator to encompass the area

that you want to mix down.

2. Set up your tracks, so that they play back the way you

want.

This includes muting unwanted tracks or parts, making manual mixer settings

and/or activating the R (Read) automation buttons for some or all

mixer channels.

3. Pull down the File menu and select “Audio Mixdown…”

from the Export submenu.

The Export Audio Mixdown dialog appears.

The available settings and options differ depending on the

selected file format (see “The available file formats” on

page 361).

4. Enter a name for the mixdown file in the File name field

and specify a path where you want the mixdown to be

saved. Alternatively, you can activate the option “Use

Project Audio Folder”.

This saves the mixdown file in the Project Audio folder.

361

Export Audio Mixdown

5. Select the bus or channel you want to mix down with

the Outputs pop-up menu.

This lists all output buses and channels in the active project.

6. Activate the Split Channels option, if you want to export

all channels as mono files.

7. Select a file format with the File Format pop-up menu.

8. Make additional settings for the file to be created.

This includes selecting sample rate, bit depth, etc. The available options

depend on the selected file format – see “The available file formats” on

page 361.

9. If you want to automatically import the resulting audio

file back into Cubase, activate the checkboxes in the “Import

to” section.

If you activate the “Pool” checkbox, a clip referring to the file will appear

in the Pool. Activating the “Audio Track” checkbox as well will create an

audio event that plays the clip, and place it on a new audio track, starting

at the left locator.

The Import options are only available if you have selected

an uncompressed file format.

10. If you activate Real-Time Export, the export will happen

in real time, i.e. the process will take the same time as regular

playback.

Some VST plug-ins require this to have time to update correctly during

the mixdown – consult the plug-in manufacturers if uncertain.

• Cubase: When Real-Time Export is activated, the exported

audio will be played back via the Control Room.

The fader below the Real-Time Export checkbox allows you to adjust the

Control Room volume. Note that if the Control Room is deactivated, the

Audition Volume slider will not be available

11. If you activate Update Display, the meters will be updated

during the export process.

This allows you to check for clipping, for example.

12. Click Export.

A dialog with a progress bar is displayed while the audio

file is created. If you change your mind during the file creation,

you can click the Abort button to abort the operation.

• If the option “Close dialog after export” is activated, the

dialog will be closed, otherwise it will be left open.

• If you have activated any of the “Import to” options, the

file will be imported back into the project.

When playing back the re-imported file in Cubase, remember to mute the

original tracks so that you really hear the correct file.

About the Import options dialog

When you activate any of the options in the Import section,

the Import Options dialog will open. For a detailed

description of the options in this dialog see “Import Medium...”

on page 233.

The available file formats

The following pages describe the different export file formats,

and their options and settings.

• AIFF files (see “AIFF files” on page 361).

• AIFC files (see “AIFC files” on page 362).

• Wave files (see “Wave files” on page 362).

• Wave 64 files (Cubase only, see “Wave64 files (Cubase

only)” on page 363).

• Broadcast Wave files (see “Broadcast Wave files” on page

363).

• MP3 files (Cubase only, see “MPEG Layer 3 files (Cubase

only)” on page 363).

• Ogg Vorbis files (see “Ogg Vorbis files” on page 364).

• Windows Media Audio Pro files (Windows and Cubase only,

see “Windows Media Audio Pro files (Windows and Cubase

only)” on page 364).

I could've posted from the manual too but I was hoping guitar10 would go and register over at cubase.net . Also, anyone owning a $600.00+ piece of software should take the time to read the damn manual. Spoon-feeding people doesn't help them to learn.

understood... i'll try to keep that in mind... just figured it was part of the post christmas crap...

dementedchord: Yeah. I was overreacting. I admit it and I appologize.



guitar10: You don't have to read the whole manual at once. Being in school you should know that most books have an index. In the index you can look for keywords like Exporting or Mixdown. Low and behold there you will find the page number if not a link if you are using the PDF to the info that you need. It's not rocket science. And, yes I do find it difficult to believe that you are using a legal version. I'm a skeptic. Either way I think you are getting the info that you need. If it's legit then registering at cubase.net is something you need to do. That is where the best cubase specific info will be found. Also a place where you will find that many may be having similar issues and likely have had them resolved.



Yes this is a recording forum and yes, someone may have an answer for you but why not go to the source for the information that they have the goods on? Support teams are useless only when you chose not to use them(or in some cases where they simply don't have the answer but that's another story.) My experience with Steinberg support has been very good at times and awful other times. I figure, I paid for the support, I'm going to make them work for it. That's why they're there.

I would guess that at least 80% of the software in use out there is cracked. Especially where music is involved. At another cubase forum that I frequent, not to mention homerecording.com, these sites are rife with people who would openly admit that they use warez. They even claim it as a right and want to justify it because of the "exhorbitant" software prices. Well that's a load.



These people want answers to their questions about software that is well over their heads when they could go out and buy a decent sound card. One designed for audio recording and get a lite version of whatever software for free. If that isn't good enough there are lower end version of these software for little more than $100.00. If you can afford a computer and the high speed connection to download warez. You can certainly afford to save a buck for legal software. Manual and tech support included!



Why do I suspect that yours is illegal? Because of all things you had to ask about one of the most basic functions in Cubase. Something that would be covered in the Quick Start Guide. Which if you had it you would realize is not 300+ pages. Not 300+ english pages anyway. Stuff like that is a bedtime story compared to the real manual.



Also I have to question the legality because, here you are a student.(High school or ?)And, yet your spending your money on recording software. Or did your parents go and blow $400-500 on discounted software for your Xmas present? I don't know too many people that get that kind of money blown on them for gifts.





Regardless. Maybe you did get it as a gift. If that's the case, then it doesn't surprise me that you want this info spoon fed to you. Some things in life require effort. Better learn that lesson now cause once you get out of school, it'll be the harsh reality you'll have to face.



The basics are covered in the manual. There's some of the more detailed stuff that can seem a little more esoteric and approaches to different ends can vary in solutions. For the most part though, there's nothing that can't be learned from using the index of the manual.



So, have you finally registered at cubase.net? That would indeed shut me up, because you need a legal version to register.



I hope you didn't get your software from one of these online stores that have been spamming me. I'm hoping the SIIA will shut them down.

*cough* *cough* - hueseph don't kill me uh - but.. may I underline a thing? cubase.net is NOT a support forum (this is clearly stated in the guidelines of the board itself): the support has to be erogated by the reseller/retailer. :)

Technically it's not a support forum but why do people go there? Support. There's few places to get support. Steinberg's online faq, Steinberg's reseller phone support, online email support and cubase.net . If you can't get it from the first three, your best bet is cubase.net. At any rate, I just want to know that someone with a registerable product is asking. Not some crack head.

sure sure, but admins often underlines that the cubase.net board is just a discussion place and not an official support forum; of course, many good people help each others, but this is remarked as "accidental".

I am only trying to clarify this just to avoid further misunderstaing from others readers :)

relax...unlax... hell i dont care exlax... but chill dude... and i dont mean hueseph... his concerns are mine as well... i pay more for my legit copy and have to put up with things like repeated dongle calls because of pirates... and it pisses me off as well... and if you had asked in say june instead of jan i might have given a responce closer to his than my original... and if you think for one second i wont participate in a flame war... well ask remy or kev or for that matter hueseph.... they have removed me from more than one throat around here....



as remy once said...

"ya put the lime in the coconut an ya drink em bo...."

All is good. guitar10 I just want to ask how that cubase.net registration is going. I hope. I sincerely hope to see you over there.

Back to the origial topic.

I don't know SX3, but i know in other tracking programs the final mixdown attenuates -10db give or take.

Are you experiencing a loss of volume or really your EQ and effects are not present?

If you have an external cd burner, you can accomplish this with no problems. After recording all tracks I then rebus them to the digital outs of the sound card to the digital ins of my cd recorder. The analog outs of the cd recorder take care of the monitoring. So as you tweak and adjust anything within cubase/nuendo, you're hearing it (of course) in real time and once you've got your desired settings, start burning. I guaranty you'll get an exact replica of what you heard in the initial mix.

Dudes the problem is he's exporting to mp3 directly from Cubase. I've never been able to make it sound good this way.

I've been there, done that too hue & I agree with you 100%. That's why I master from outside of the box, but keep the audio stream all digital. As a matter of fact, I can make my sony cdr/w33 act as a sound card just by hitting the record button without a cdr being loaded in its tray. But to make it act like that, it has to have an incoming digital signal, then the display states it's going through the "DA" converters. In the main mixer section of cubase/nuendo, you have to activate and bus all of the audio tracks to the digital out bus. That's the only way this will work. I found this out by experimenting one day and have never mastered any other way since. I do the same thing with my other mastering programs, ie: sound forge 8.0, wavelab & etc. Once the cd is burnt, the mastered wave file is converted to whatever format I choose (using other converting programs of course).