My Top 8 Plugins for the Cubase Control Room

[@mixdownonline]

Do you work with Reference type Plugins? If so, what are your favorite plugins?

[@pr4vus.studios]

You mean like Slate VSX? No, but I do have one sitting on my desk for a couple of months. I just have to kick my butt to open the lid and try it😅

[@lucentcirclemusic]

Sound ID Reference. Never used Span yet, but ready to try. Youre videos are #1 💪👍

[@thierry-VERET]

Salut Chris, comme membre du MCC depuis le début je peux dire que mon niveau de mix a fortement augmenté et je le dis toute honnêteté. Merci beaucoup.J'utilise la control room de Cubase et à tes plugs j'ai ajouté 2 frequency : un qui réduit la plage des hautes et des basses et un autre pour uniquement entendre les basses. ça me permet de contrôler ce que peut donner mon mix sur un laptop/smartphone pour le premier frequency et l'autre pour faire un A/B avec un morceau de référence.0 jeudi prochain pour de nouvelles aventures en live ! 👍

[@LaFeeDesBieres]

je fais la meme chose je cut 65 HZ et 10Khz pour focus sur les medium. midrange = win !@@thierry-VERET

[@mikrokopfstudio5029]

No, I use an audio track with my reference songs in Solo Defet mode. I send this pre-fader to a cue in the control room. This allows me to switch between my reference and my mix using a Butom on my DAW controller. I know this way doesn't have auto-level mach features, but for me it works well without a plugin and gives me more options that I need to easily reference my mix.

[@Joe_Pass]

I've been using Logic since 2007. But you're convinced me little by little over the years to switch to Cubase. I just purchased it and started using it today. Wish me luck, please, good Sir. God bless you.

[@mixdownonline]

That's so cool! You will love it!

[@Zewofficial]

Cubase 13 pro is fire.

[@spacealnishadsproduction]

Oh god please start to use.. u will love the midi features.. its infinite.. u can think how much its advanced over these years… myself also switched from logic to cubase since 2013

[@Joe_Pass]

@@spacealnishadsproduction I appreciate your feedback!! Thanks so much. :)

[@Byron101_]

Cubase´s Control Room is a real daw weapon! can´t live without.

[@mixdownonline]

It;s just Awesome!

[@procrasti-nation9517]

I 've been ignoring this feature for so long, silly me 😁

[@kzustang]

Fantastic stuff!, Chris! Your videos are super helpful, clear and insightful. I really learned a lot about my Cubase Pro from your vidoes. Definitely started to use the control room more lately.

[@-Deena.]

I use CR always, but mainly for room correction and mono/stereo mix A/B which is fantastic for 🧡

[@mixdownonline]

Totally agree!

[@gregaroller]

Hello, setting up my control room to mix and Dolby Atmos 7.4.1 I was using my mix console for eqing and time alignment for all my speakers but I think I can do it more accurately inside of Cubase control room I think you got me set in the right direction

[@procrasti-nation9517]

Btw, your introduction of the Sessionwire- Send/Recieve has been such a great deal for me workflow! Thx for that!!!

[@heikohesse4666]

Hi, great video as always - yes, please make a video for Span and SuperVision - that would be awesome 😎

[@mixdownonline]

Noted! Thanks!

[@placeoflace]

Thanks Chris, great video. If you could make a video on the ins and outs of Span that would be awesome. 👍

[@mixdownonline]

Sure thing!

[@karmakoza]

0:54 Great video Chris. I also use control room similar to your setup but only have ID reference which has various other profiles built in, e.g, ns-10s, phone, mixcubes, etc so don't see the need to use Master Plan. I'll Certainly be checking out session wire. Would be great to see you do videos of Span just to see what tricks of the trade we can use.

[@mixdownonline]

Yes, SoundID has some very nice profiles...Noted for Sessionwire

[@TokyoSpeirs]

I've since replaced SPAN with TDR Prism.. it's next hecking level. I have presets all set up to match Dan Worral's settings too.

[@mixdownonline]

I don't know this one, now I have to check it out Lol! Thanks bro!

[@KirbyAllen-s5l]

I just checked it out. It looks fantastic... 1,000 times better than SPAN, IMHO. Thanks for the tip!

[@MrDanMeyer]

Would love a video about how to use Spectrum Analyzers ;)

[@mixdownonline]

Coming soon!

[@TOTO-nr8vu]

Super video, I use Metric AB for compare mix references and use T-Racks CS metering

[@ChrrZ]

same here, metric AB is a great plugin!

[@mixdownonline]

Metric A/B is very popular it seems

[@ChrrZ]

@@mixdownonlineMagic AB was great, but Metric AB is even greater 🥰 you are not only having reference tracks, you can define loop sections per referenc trakc or sync them to your existing track (for example the demo mix you got from the band) you can do frequency comparision, loudness comparision, filter frequencies, it has Mono and Side Switches and lots more. i have many controls of Metric AB mapped to a hardware controller via midi so i´m able to control the plugin very swiftly, without even having to open the mixerscreen to open the plugin and control it with the mouse

[@DerekMarshall]

the cue trick for references is awesome

[@mixdownonline]

I use this all the time :-) Glad you like this!

[@ErixSamson]

@@mixdownonline that's what I do too, I think I got it from one of your older videos...

[@ChrrZ]

and you can put the cues onto the keyboard as shortcut, so you can reference even faster

[@TatianaAGordeeva]

Great video again Chris. I use Supervision in the Control Room. There are many options so I would love it if you could make a video about it. Thanks!

[@melodiac]

You have a great channel and it has been my go-to for years now. Thank you. I do have a question that perhaps you can help me with. I have been using the room correction plugin ARC3 by IK multimedia for years now. But something seems to have changed in the control room section of latest versions of Cubase Pro 13.4. I use two sets of reference speakers, each have a different room correction profile. In past versions, I was able to insert the respective profile to A or B and the instances would remain for each bus individually. Now it seems there is only one insert section for both A and B busses meaning I have to have two instances of the room correction and manually deactivate the instance of ARC that relates to the speaker not in use. Am I missing something?

[@KennethGonzalez]

Several of the ones you use I am seeing for the first time and am interested in seeing more about. I've got most of the iZotope suite and am using Tonal Balance Control. I like it a lot! Definitely want to hear more about the others you were using. BTW, your courses are freaking outstanding! Steinberg should pay YOU to license these for the user community. The stock videos that they do are unhelpful. Too much random crap to wander through to get to what you need to know. I've not even gotten 25% through your course and already have picked up lots of useful goodies on how to do Cubase better! Worth every penny. Thank you!

[@mixdownonline]

Wow, thanks for letting me know, so glad my course is helpful :-)

[@marcelcouture5373]

My setup is very close to this. 2 main differences : I use 2 different set of monitors so I put the SoundID reference as insert in the insert section of the Monitors I created in the Control Room. Also I use ADPTR Metric AB as my mix reference tool. I inserted it in the first slot of the Control Room inserts. I tried to setup Sessionwire as you explained in your video to use a Cue for my reference mix but couldn't make it work

[@julevomgoldberg164]

Thanks Chris, I like your videos ! Do you have an idea why the plug ins in the insert slots are going away, when I close the Cubase application? The next time I open Cubase, the slots are empty - yes I did all Updates, either Windows 10…. Can you help me ?

[@Al69BfR]

Sessionwire sounds cool. But what about VST connect? What are the differences and what are the advantages?

[@mixdownonline]

Not the same purpose, Sessionwire is mainly for mix revisions type of collaboration, and VST Connect more towards recording remotely

[@sleudianfrip]

Hi Chris. It’s interesting to learn you’re using Sessionwire. Are there any reasons why you choose to use this, rather than Steinberg’s VST Connect Pro?

[@mixdownonline]

Not the same purpose, Sessionwire is mainly for mix revisions type of collaboration in a Zoom type environment, and VST Connect is more towards recording remotely

[@scottfaircloff9530]

Sweet! Thanks for making this!

[@mixdownonline]

Of course!

[@jefflynn56]

Make that video on using span NOW! Jk I would really appreciate it man. I hope more people will demand it. Come on people!

[@stevebeaudoin7234]

Yes please do one on the super vision

[@mixdownonline]

Will do!

[@henrykdandyk6164]

Thanks Chris, great video. We love you

[@kdcyp]

Hi Chris!, Great video. Would love you to make videos on a graphic analyser and on Supervision! I always use control room for Cue mixes (incl reference track using track versions for various ref songs), SoundRefID on both sets of monitors (auto switches inserts profiles!), switching to mono & Mixchecker insert. I also have Gulfoss but still to learn how to use it properly.

[@mixdownonline]

I will do so, for sure!

[@MrDrumboy61]

Please tutorials on Spectrum Analyzers such as SPAN or SUPERVISION would be appreciated

[@mixdownonline]

Noted!

[@dspoet1]

How you liking that Warm Audio MPX?

[@mixdownonline]

I Love It! I love recording Drum Overheads in it, and it's great to mix with also :-)

[@huberthubert2075]

Bonjour Chris, un tuto sur Supervision serait bien utile. Merci et bravo.

[@mixdownonline]

Merci et bien sûr!

[@SimondeVoil]

Thanks for this very helpful video Chris. If you have time please do make videos on supervision & sessionwire send. I do use supervision but I don’t really understand it. Thank you.

[@mixdownonline]

Sure, will do! What is the most confusing for you with Supervision?

[@SimondeVoil]

@@mixdownonline thanks for asking. I find it difficult to change the lay out of the modules & I’m unclear of the loudness module in particular. As an amateur I don’t really know how to utilize the info given so I usually default to just checking for clipping but I know supervision can offer much more than this. Thanks again.

[@AlessandroBagagli]

Hi, Chris. I would be grateful if you could consider to release a video about the use of a graphic analyzer. Frankly I never learned to use it appropriately. Thanks. 😂

[@toaldideutsch2158]

Hello Selim! Yes, it would be great if you made a video about how you create your videos and what you use. This topic might interest some people, but there isn't a lot of information about it.

[@mixdownonline]

I lke that idea!

[@RobCowie]

3:08 yes please, Chris! Thank you!

[@mixdownonline]

You're welcome!

[@undersubstance_]

That span tutorial would do wonders for me. Im just beginning mixing but studying how every instrument plays into the spectrum thru span. Then a lot of exports to see how the moves react in other environments. Also want to say thank you man. Thru mainly ur videos for 2-3 months I'm almost mixing my own band.

[@mixdownonline]

That's so cool! Thanks for letting me know!

[@baldy5683]

I use a plugin called ISOL8 which splits the signal into 4 frequency bands and you can solo/mute bands and adjust where the crossover is, I use it during songwriting sessions and usually mute the high bands so the music is filtered but you can still hear the chords/beat but its way easier to talk over and hear eachother in the room without having to turn down the music

[@ErixSamson]

I use it too!

[@mixdownonline]

Never heard of it, I will check it out! Thanks!

[@juliomendieta2803]

Hi Chris, could you make a video about SPAN? Thank you.

[@mixdownonline]

Sure thing!

[@ricshaw4358]

Cool, would like to see more on Session Wire. Thank e

[@gnt132]

Excelente video!! Si haces uno explicando el supervision sería genial!

[@mixdownonline]

Merci et bien noté pour Supervision

[@infinitystudio_tn]

Chris i learned alot alooot and aloooot from you and i am still learning, God bless you ♥ Greeting from Tunisia, Alaa Daly.

[@mixdownonline]

Awesome! Thank you for letting me know!

[@delabego]

Hi Chris, Thanks for video. I've been working with realphones (to get the environment of the room when mixing with headphones), did you try it? other thing, would be nice to have a video about SPAN. TO be honest I am not sure to understand why it is so important (guess you always have and EQ plugging informing you the sam thing, correct? cheers...

[@mixdownonline]

No, I never used Realphones but heard good things about it. I will do a SPAN video soon enough.

[@delabego]

I think Realphones is ok. However, when I am working with a project of 96 kHz I get problems with the processor. For 48 kHz is OK@@mixdownonline

[@kasoimusic]

Hi!, thanks for uploading this, i got a question: in a previous control room tutorial video you showed Sonarworks in the post monitor inserts, now you do the same with SoundID (it's the same i know), but, i may ask why do you use it this way instead of using it for each monitor. You said you don't work that way. I would like to know why as i use SoundID too. Thanks in advance.

[@batistuta8783]

Hello Chris, why would you insert the Izotope Tonal Balance Control in the “control room” slots and not in the Stereo bus?

[@sunpointstudio4472]

I really only use Supervision (it's VU metering -18dbfs is imo as good as the klanghelm). I also have room correction in an external HW controlling the monitors.

[@mixdownonline]

When it setup at -18, it's as good as klanghelm, but klanghelm is more flexible when it comes to calibration values

[@bernardojunqueira2392]

Yes, please do a video about Super Vision 🙂 . Thanks.

[@robnijhof1978]

I would love a video covering working with SPAN especially how to analyse the low-end in relation to a reference track. I always struggle with the balance of the low-end in my initial mix. I always tend to reduce the low-end after listening on other systems. So it would be nice if I could see in SPAN how the low-end is doing.

[@mixdownonline]

Will do soon enough!

[@Somedei]

Great vid as always Chris, Im using many of what you use but I wish the space to enter plugins was unlimited to the user, 8 plugins its very little when just trying to compare 4 or 5 same type of plugins and then having to delete for that time the ones I use.

[@mixdownonline]

I know what you mean!

[@verdi260]

Yes please SPAN tutorial would be useful. Thank's in advance.

[@mixdownonline]

Coming soon! :-)

[@daviddeck1074]

I have never heard about sessionwire until now. I would definitely like to see a tutorial on it as well as one on how you set up and use obs to make your videos.

[@mixdownonline]

Will do!

[@ShyGuru]

Would love to see how you work with SPAN!

[@mixdownonline]

Coming soon!

[@gotyor]

My main inserts are Izotope tone balancer, A/B metric and IK arc 3 room correction. I was using the latest Sound ID. but I like the speakers emulations better on Arc 3. I surprised your not using a/b metric. I used to do the setting up a reference channel on cubase, but the a/b metric allows you to reference 16 songs and in seconds perfectly level match them all to your song. Also the ability to see layered metering to compare width, frequence and lufs to the ref song is amazing on that metric. I bought mine on sell for $29 from plugin alliance everybody should at least try it out with the trial.

[@mixdownonline]

Yes, maybe I should try it, but I often use my references from my Amazon Music App, and route it in Cubase.

[@mikrokopfstudio5029]

Hello, Thanks for this video, the Masterplan plugin was new to me and I will give it a shot. But, why don't you use the SoundID plugin in an insert slot in the monitor section of the control room? This would give you the option to use it separately for each of your monitors.

[@mixdownonline]

Good question. Cause I work with a Hardware Monitor Controller, and not the Cubase one in the CT

[@rturner2095]

Great Video

[@mixdownonline]

Thanks!

[@sandrovanhetgroenewoud5817]

Hi Chris ! I'm always using CR and thanks for these useful tips. I just have this little problem. i'm using cubase 13 pro, and I can't get my CR to play in mono. even when I switch from stereo to mono, all stays in stereo. what's wrong ? Thanks for your advise !

[@dmitrystuchevsky9995]

please show us how you use sessionwire

[@mixdownonline]

Will do :-)

[@ErixSamson]

Yes!

[@gabrielpettit3989]

I would love to see a full video on Sessionwire!

[@mixdownonline]

Will do!

[@Bluesparkle_]

Using control room since I learned about it. TBProAudio ISOL8 is on it, Supervision with multiple analysers, Span, Sonible True Balance, optional use of Dear VR Monitor or Acustica Audio Sienna (Guru).

[@mixdownonline]

Wow, your control room setup looks pretty cool!

[@sebastienlachapelle3586]

yes chris it will be a great video

[@mixdownonline]

Noted :-)

[@АлександрДевятьяров-е7ю]

Very interesting to see the video about supervision. Especially that you got Analyser, and VU meter in Supervision as well. Or span and klanghelm are better?

[@mixdownonline]

There's pros and cons...I will make a video on Supervision soon enough!

[@АлександрДевятьяров-е7ю]

@@mixdownonline great! Waiting then!

[@jmkogey]

Hello Chris In a previous Video, you sent the Audio Signal to OBS withe Reastream from Reaper. (Obsolete plug-in , I guess) Is rewire session Better? Thanks Bestvregards from France

[@mixdownonline]

Yes, I did some time ago, but they have not updated this plugin since 2016, and I'm on MAC now so that option is no good anymore. Sessionwire works well for my needs. I will make a video on it soon!

[@deejaytea694]

Great video as always Chris. I love the control room. I insert Plugin Alliance's ADPTR AUDIO Metric AB on the first insert. This way I can reference other mixes using the other plugins thru Span, Supervision, or Sonar works and more as I switch back and forth from my mix to a reference. I have a question. What is the difference between the upper (Top) and lower (Bottom) plugin insert sections in the control room?

[@mixdownonline]

Metric AB is great for sure! The upper inserts are for CUE Mixes, and the bottom one I use, is for the Main Mix

[@deejaytea694]

Thank you@@mixdownonline

[@nabeshin7741]

Control room is definitely a mandatory tool to use in Cubase, it's literally impossible for me to work without it. Also, for spectrum analysis, I rather use *VPS Scope* from Vengeance, I think it has a better GUI than SPAN but it's just a personal taste.

[@mikaelnyblom]

So after having used Cubase for waaay too long, I'm finally getting into using control room. So one thing i reacted on is that you use THREE graphic analysis tools. Isn't that a bit if overkill? I understand that Tonal Balance Control gives you something very specific, but why both SPAN and Supervision?

[@kingblack6965]

Can you do a video about graphic/spectrum analizer.

[@mixdownonline]

Will do!

[@brandenwilson4378]

I use Supervision, Span, MMultiayzer, a headphone correction plugin, an Nx plugin, and MixChecker.

[@mixdownonline]

Great chain :-)

[@1loveMusic2003]

Chris did you see the Produce Like a Pro video with the German guy who created a new drum room mic set up called DROOM? No flamming, so simple and smart. Can't believe no-one thought of it before.

[@mixdownonline]

I didn't! Send me the link, if you have a chance :-)

[@1loveMusic2003]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZa5kKGkotN1oZY This is the video with the cool drum mic techniques.@@mixdownonline

[@a.l.recordingstudio1163]

To have more info about the sessionwire / OBS procedure, which seems to be free for private use, will be appreciated.

[@mixdownonline]

Will do very soon, my friend!

[@fredericauger2436]

Une vidéo sur Session Wire m'intéresse ;)

[@mixdownonline]

ça s'en viens :-)

[@onespinable]

I was wondering why you don’t use Supervision plugin. Is it because it is only in Cubase pro so is a bit exclusive for the purposes of this video.? I used to use span it is very good.. Cris..

[@ErixSamson]

IMHO Supervision makes more sense on your Mix Track, not on the monitoring system. I add a Supervision instance at the beginning of my Mix Track and another one at the end so that I can see what I'm doing on my mix.

[@ErixSamson]

He is actually using Supervision

[@mixdownonline]

I use it, and it's a great tool, a bit limited in some regards, but still very good!

[@ErixSamson]

Is SessionWire a bit like Voicemeeter?

[@mixdownonline]

Not really, it's mainly a Zoom type platform for online collaboration between studios. It uses a plugin/audio drive to communicate from a DAW to the Sessionwire platform, but this Drive can also be used elsewhere like I do with OBS

[@ErixSamson]

haha, I also have the Klanghelm, it's so nice and accurate.

[@mixdownonline]

So accurate :-)

[@60secmusic96]

Span would be nice!

[@mixdownonline]

Noted!

[@jabulanimahlangu6863]

i know this is gonna be hot video

[@mixdownonline]

I hope so :-) Thanks, bro!

[@Guvnor513]

I thought that if you were using Control Room and a separate stereo track as a Master Bus that you didn't need to disable the inserts on the control room.

[@mixdownonline]

That's right, you don't need to disable the Insert plug-ins in the Control Room

[@Jura_JS]

I also use bx_solo from Plugin Alliance in my Control Room (to check mid/side)

[@mixdownonline]

bx-solo is great

[@MrDrumboy61]

SPAN and SUPERVISION

[@mixdownonline]

Oh Yeah!

[@fekiee]

Make a video of everything you said there, will be waiting

[@Barneyleeguitar]

Please - Please - Please: a video „Sessionwire“ will be GREAT and very helpful for my daily work. Thanks a lot Chris…🙏🏼

[@mixdownonline]

Noted! You're welcome!

[@VishnuExpress]

🪘