Reverb and deelay

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RobbieD

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Hey can anyone tell me if theres a way to take a track and add delay only on some areas of the track.. or for reverb add more or less in certain areas of the track??? i use cubase now and all i do is pick the effect and it stays with that one reverb or delay setting for the whole thing, unless i cut a part and move it in another track slot...
 
You need to use automation.

First you want to add an FX track. If you don't know how to do that you need to right click on the mixer or and select Add Track -> FX Channel Track.

When the dialog comes up asking you to choose a plugin, pick the desired reverb or delay plugin. You need to set that plugin to 100% "mix" or "wet".

Then, once you've done that you have to link the FX channel to a send on the channel in question. This is done by selecting the "Sends" tab on the left hand side inspector in the project window and clicking on the first slot. You should be able to select the FX channel from there.

Now, there are two ways that you can write automation:

1. In realtime using the "W" and "R" buttons on the relevant track with either the mouse or a midi controller.
2. Manually, by writing it in with the mouse.

To achieve this in realtime, all you need to do is select the "W" (red) and "R" (green) buttons on the relevant track and navigate to the sections in the song where you need the reverb to come in. Then, press play and use the mouse to send the appropriate amount of level to the FX channel. This is a performance thing so make sure to send some level and bring it down when the part is over while listening back to make sure it's not too much or too little. Once you are done, un-click the "W" button and leave the "R" button active so that Cubase will follow the automation you just programmed.

To write it in with the mouse is a bit more complicated but basically at the bottom left of each track is a little button that appears when you point over it and this will add an automation track. Click it once to reveal one automation track. On the automation track you can select which parameter you want it to control. Usually there is a list of 20 or so common ones but if it's not there you have to click "more" and find the relevant parameter. Note this has to be done AFTER you have enabled the send in the inspector. Once you have selected the right parameter, which in this case will be "Send 1 Level", you need to press the "R" (green) button on the relevant track so that you can manually write automation for Cubase to follow. You can then use the pencil tool to write in the appropriate amount of level at the appropriate place.

Phew.

I didn't expect automation to be so difficult to explain but I guess it is. If I were you I would use method 1 as it's easier and forces you to use your ears in realtime to assess the results.

Hope that helps.

Cheers :)
 
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BTW, every button, knob, or fader can be automated this way in Cubase. It is a crucial feature to add long term dynamics, effects and excitement to a mix.

Mixing just would not be mixing without automation.

Cheers :)
 
Very well put Mo Facta. A suggestion for placing delay on individual notes, words or phrases, set up just like above. Go to the track that is sending to the delay and click the 'e' button. From that screen, while in write mode, toggle the power button on/off (top left of send slot) for the send on the sections you want the effect.

Just thought I'd throw it out there as I seem to be doing it all the damn time lately. :)
 
Yes...
It s called automation.
It s pretty easy to do in cubase.

Make sure you do it at the end as when automation is on... it gets a pain in the put to adjust volumes afterwards.
 
ok so i tried it out, i added an fx channel, picked delay, went to my lead vocal track to the sends, and picked the delay fx, now which channel do i press R and W, i tried different combination, even both and then hit play and it wouldnt pick it up... please help
 
Select the channel you want automation (the channel you are sending from). Press the 'W' button on the channel. Press play. Any changes you make while playing will be stored in real time. In other words, while track is playing, adjust the send level with the mouse. Or toggle the power button for the send to turn the send on and off.

When finished, toggle the 'W' button off. The 'R' button lit green, means the track is following the automation you just wrote. Toggle it off, and track will not follow automation. You can edit the automation you wrote by clicking on the hidden 'down arrow' to the bottom left of each track right below each track number.

You should read the manual for more detailed info on automation.

Have fun! :D
 
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