[SOLVED] Cubase, Audio Track, Inserts & Tuner

louncov

New member
Hi guys,
I'm a newbie and recently bought a UR44C which came with Cubase AI/LE 10.5 software, which for a home guitarist used to 4 track recorders, is quite an eye-opener! I have completed a few YouTube lessons on how to add samples, record instruments & mix it down, which is pretty useful, but I am having a minor issue.

On the UR44C, I have 'Input 1' connected to my guitar and 'main output' to my amp. When I "add audio track" in Cubase, it recognises 'UR44C Input 1" and adds a "Audio 01" to the top frame, as well as to the 'MixConsole'. If I strum, I get a signal/level in the "Input 1" Meter in the bottom left of 'MixConsole' and if monitor is on, also a level in the new "Audio 01" meter. I also hear it through my amp. I can also record the guitar, which is fab-u-larse, BUT in the Inserts dropdown in the "Inspector", I get NO signal for the Tuner and I do NOT hear any of the effects through the amp, even with the 'monitor' switch on. I was thinking that perhaps the sound through the amp is the 'raw, dry' signal pre-Cubase effects, but that doesn't explain why I can't get a signal for the Tuner. Am I missing something? Is this normal? I guess the alternative is to use an effects pedal as input (bit of a shame when there are so many in Cubase), or the effects from 'dspMixFx' and pump it through to Cubase.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
TonyC,
NSW, AU.
 
With the way you have set up, what you are hearing is, as you have surmised, is the dry signal going straight from guitar through UR44c to amp.

To be able to hear the guitar with effects and to get a signal to the tuner requires enabling software monitoring.

Now, you mentioned that you turned a monitor switch on. What switch would that be? I can't see one on pix of the UR44C.

It's possible that the switch you refer to allows you to hear what you've recorded, but an extra step may be needed to hear what you are recording with FX as you are recording it.

You need a Cubase person to help.
 
Thanks for your help. The 'monitor switch' I am referring to is the icon on the 'input/output channel' of the 'Audio 01' channel within the Cubase software and not a physical switch on the UR44C. In the "Inspector" section of the Audio track I see there is an 'output bus' which is set to 'Mix 1 L/R' which doesn't appear to be changeable. You're right: I need a Cubase Specialist! Btw, I am running Cubase AI/LE 10.5
Ta, TC.
 
Hey there Tony. I can help you man.

It sounds like you either have input routing incorrect or inserting tuner/effects on wrong track. Or something more weird...

Can you post a snapshot of the channel screen showing the inspector window? Make sure to click on where it shows 'Audio 01' in the inspector window so that it expands and shows the input/output bus.
 
Hi Jimmys69,
Thanks for your reply. I have attached the "Inspector" for one of the Guitar channels, plus the inputs & outputs from "Studio", "Audio Connections" and an aerial view of my UR44C with the current connections.
Thanks, TC
 

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Ok, you have 10.5 software version that I haven't upgraded to yet. It looks different than my Cubase 10.0.

It appears that where you have the reverb inserted may be a DSP effect used for only monitoring via headphones I believe.
Click on the 'e' button next to 'Guitar 1'. That should open the 'Channel Settings' window and give you 16 insert slots, eq, and sends. That is where you would insert tuner and fx.

Try that first and see what happens. Show me a snapshot of that.
 
Hey,
I've enclosed the Channel Settings for both the Tuner & an Effect. You can see I am getting a signal in the right meter and the effect/tuner have been added under Inserts on the left and activated. Still only the sound of a clean acoustic guitar.
TC
 

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  • Channel_Settings_Tuner.jpg
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Man, I am stumped. It all looks like it should be working.
[MENTION=94595]Guitargodgt[/MENTION]
[MENTION=178786]rob aylestone[/MENTION]

Hopefully one of these Cubase using members has some input.

You could try Cubase in Safe Mode to see if there is something wonky in your preferences.

SAFE MODE INSTRUCTIONS LINK
 
What do you get with your headphones? On the Guitar 1 settings, I see headphones 2 selected.

Can you plug the amp into Line Out 1R or 1L and no the Main Out?

I'm guessing when you say amp, do you mean guitar amp? Do you have powered monitors and not use the amp?
 
Thanks Jimmys69. Appreciate your time.
Chili,
1. Headphones are exactly the same, dry, raw acoustic sound. I can't seem to get that display up anymore in the Inspector. All I get now is in the attached.
2. Plugged the Amp into Line Out 1R (and 1L, 2R and 2L) and the sound is the same, but substantially louder
3. Yes, guitar amp. I don't have any powered speakers (yet). I was hoping the amp would suffice

A couple of other points:
I tried changing my Windows 'Sound Settings' to 'Speaker/Headphone' under 'Output' and plugged headphones into my PC, but no sound at all. Nothing thru the PC speaker either. From the 'Studio', 'Audio Connections', 'Output', there is no 'Device Port' for a 'PC Speaker' for the 'Yamaha Steinberg USB ASIO'; just the 'UR44C Mix 1L & 1R'.
Now it gets weird: I shut down Cubase and started dspMixFx. I've noticed that Cubase doesn't play well with dspMixFx, so I had to shut both apps down and power off/on the UR44C. If I start dspMixFx first and turn on an effect plus the 'FX REC', then start Cubase, the effects sound will come thru the amp, the headphones and it will record. So it appears that Cubase can't seem to manipulate any dry sound input, but it will change it after the recording. Not sure if this helps or makes it more confusing...

dspMixFx.JPGInspector1_Snip.jpg
 
The DSPmix app adds a layer of complication. It is like having a mixer and effects processor in the audio chain before going into cubase and then after cubase when the audio goes back to the interface on the output bus. Can you run cubase without the DSPmix app? Or can you check that signal routing is set up properly. The idea is to eliminate it as a possible cause of the problem. You may not be able to add the yamaha lead amp sim, but cubase should have something you can test with. Find the cubase amp sim and insert it into the guitar track. Be sure to click the little speaker icon to monitor the effects in the guitar track.

My one advice is to ditch the amp as a monitor and just use headphones plugged into your interface. If Cubase is set up properly, you should not need to access the windows sound settings because cubase would not be using it.
 
Hi Chili, yes I can use Cubase without dspMixFx; I was just testing that to see how Cubase would process an 'effected' signal. I have also unplugged my amp from the UR44C and am using headphones only. I have also created a fresh Project, added "Audio 01" and added a "Rockstar" AmpSimulator. No change: Powering on/off and Powering on/Bypass the effect are the same sound. Bummer.
 
I think the problem here is the complication of using the outboard processing. I can't speak for your guitar kit, but on my cubase installation, I can take an input and use it for a holdback send quite easily - doing what you appear to have done, and created an output buss and then routed stuff to it. As far as I can tell - you can create pre-or post fader sends from a channel and route to whatever available sends you have - so I am guessing your issue is what happens when the interface receives these signals, logic says that if the meters in cubase say it's going out, it is - what the interface does with it is not something cubase knows? Occasionally when no sound comes from my monitors, it always relates to the master output fader, far right. If the meters are moving, then I've done something outside of the interface - if the meters move it IS at the very least, going to the interface. However, if the meters do NOT move, then it's a routing issue in cubase and usually for me it means I set up an external loop, or perhaps just forgot to route the output channel to the output. I've never had cubase indicate something that didn't happen - for me it has ALWAYS been from the interface output where the problem was.

I don't think this really helps - but my best guess is the weird way you are using the ins and outs with the guitar amp as monitor. It could be that one device you have is not doing inputs AND outputs at the same time.
 
Hi Rob, thanks for your input and insights. Some good points. I am a newbie and I can only assume that my setup is correct. It's not a complex setup: Guitar into input/port 1 of the UR44C and 'main output' to a guitar amplifier. The UR44C is USB connected to the laptop and I run Cubase 10.5 AI. I do get a signal, but it's dry. I've unplugged the amp from the UR44C and just used headphones, but it's still the same. Is there a preferred setup I should use?
 
Let's see if it something with the DSPMixFx. Open it and send me snaps of Main window, Level Meter window, and Setup window.

Also send me Hardware Setup. That will be in Cubase @ top menu. Studio>Audio Hardware Setup>Output Routing tab.

Are you by chance using 'Control Room'? I'm not sure Cubase AI even allows it. That can get tricky. If you do, show me the window from the Control room. Studio>Audio Connections>Control Room.
 
Hi Jimmys69, good to have you back!
Just as a note, I don't actually use the dspMixFx app at all. In my previous comment I was just playing around to see if I could get an effect generated by dspMixFx to Cubase and then to my amp & headphones and record it, which I could. Attached is a pic of the main dspMixFx Console, Level Meters & Setup. Also in Cubase, Studio>Studio Setup, Studio>Audio Connections>Output with the possible options.

I don't see a 'Control Room' under Studio>Audio Connections, just >Inputs and >Outputs.

Thanks.

dspMixFx_Main.JPGdspMixFx_Level_Meters.JPGdspMixFx_Setup.JPGCubase_Studio_Setup.JPGCubase_Audio_Connections_Output.JPG
 
Man, I don't see anything that could cause your issue.

Did you try starting Cubase in Safe Mode? Delete 'Preferences'.

If that doesn't do it, I suggest reinstalling Cubase altogether. I am out of options here. It should just work...
 
Yep, I started Cubase in Safe Mode and deleted the Preferences. Reinstalling is an option, but tbh, that never really solves anything. I've noticed that I have a few Output options in the Channel Settings. See attached.

I have a few options:
1. Reinstall (as you suggested)
2. Setup my Boss from the guitar and then into the UR44C and have that as my effects
3. Try and find a local (I'm in Sydney AU) Guru who will try & fix it
4. Fugg it off altogether! :mad:

Thanks again.
Channel_Outputs.jpg
 
Re-install will at least get you back to factory settings. I can only guess that either the installation is corrupt, or some setting was inadvertently changed. Other than basic input bus creation and setting output like you have, Cubase should work with your interface right out of the box. I can't see any reason why inserts wouldn't work.

If you import something like an mp3 file to a track in Cubase, do inserts function?
 
Try unchecking direct monitoring in your asio settings. Picture number 4 in that post.

I will warn you though, there may be latency if you do this but my thought is that it will allow you to monitor fx in cubase with it turned off.

If that's not it, I honestly am not sure. Everything else looks correct to me.
 
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