Get Creative with Cubase VST

Key features

* For PC and Mac
* With CD of Cubase and audio files
* Compose, arrange, record and mix your music
* Learn by doing with practical projects
* Record and edit with MIDI
* Use General MIDI, VST instruments and plug-ins
* Record, treat and manipulate audio
* Troubleshooting section and tips and tricks

Do you want to learn the basics of composition and arranging, and find out how to sequence, record and mix your compositions using Cubase VST?

If so, this book is for you.

Get Creative with Cubase VST will help you understand the composition process. You'll learn how to get the ideas in the first place, and how to develop, record and mix them into a satisfying whole.

Practical projects are the essence of this book - working through them and comparing your results with the examples on the CD will provide a clear insight into the creative process. And youšll be learning how to use Cubase VST at the same time.

Get Creative with Cubase VST shows you how to: * Conceive musical ideas and develop them * Understand melody, harmony and rhythm, the building blocks of composition * Use MIDI to emulate real instruments like woodwinds, brass, strings and guitars * Record vocals and real instruments using Cubase audio tracks * Use Score edit to produce professional music parts

Read this book and discover the art of writing and producing music as you master the functions of Cubase VST 5 itself. By using it. Creatively of course!

Contents

1 How to use this book and CD
Equipment needed. The Scheme of things. The CD. Opening projects containing Audio Files. Update your Image. The projects. VST Instruments used. The Universal Sound Module (USM). VST Plug-Ins used.

2 MIDI sequencing - make it easy on yourself
A myth dispelled. Slow it down. Break it down. Cycle Record. To Quantize or not to Quantize. Editing - Get rid of the bum notes!

3 Project 1 - some rock 'n' roll piano

4 Get real with MIDI - Part 1
Use your imagination. Listen and learn. Learn how to listen. Get a life! - play with others.

5 Get real with MIDI - Part 2
Sequencing woodwinds and brass. Sequencing strings. Sequencing drums and percussion. Sequencing guitars. Quantization. Dynamics.

6 Project 2 - a rock score

7 Project 3 - a jazz funk score

8 Project 4 - a classical score

9 Ideas - how to get them
At the computer? Away from the computer? Don't doodle!

10 Ideas - how to develop them
Visions - know where you are heading. Keep moving - work creates work. Repetition and variation. Keep it simple - details later. Review your work - less is more.

11 Project 5 - a computer game track

12 A look at musical form
Simple three part forms. Jazz standards. Pop songs

13 The building blocks of composition
The phrase. Melody. Harmony. Rhythm

14 Melody making
Memorable melody - How's it done? Single cell construction. Musical questions and answers.

15 Audio recording - the basics
Recording vocals. Recording electric guitars . Recording acoustic guitars. Recording brass & woodwind. Recording strings. From microphone to Audio Track - The signal route.

16 Project 6 - a football theme

17 Create illusions - a big band radio jingle
Audio and MIDI Tracks combined.

18 Project 7 - a TV sitcom theme

19 Minimalism
Its influence in the media. Minimalist techniques.

20 Project 8 - a minimalist soundtrack

21 Dance Music
Its influence in the media. Constructing loops and grooves.

22 Project 9 - Get Creative With Cubase jingle

23 Knowing the score
How Cubase VST Score Edit works.