Cubase is Cubase, PT is PT , Logic is Logic.. use which ever one fits you best. They’ll never be the same. To Me Cubase is simply unmatched. Also dude there is a ton of features and plugins between all those versions of Cubase that you missed just because you don’t use them doesn’t mean they’re not relevant.
IMO you mentioned the top three. FL powerful as it is, is very limited when it comes to audio editing (although it appears that has finally been addressed in FL 21 which is coming out soon). Ableton is amazing and I'm quite jealous of some of the features it has but I'm not a fan of the non-linear workflow. I have a feeling they'll be addressing some of the wish list items in the near future though. Here's crossing fingers...🤞
do you struggle with negative latency when recording midi with quantization off ? (midi notes being recorded earlier than you play them in the piano roll)
Was on Ableton for 4 years and I switched to Cubase and have been enjoying it so much. Midi editing, mixing is so refreshing and supercharged. I got frustrated with Abletons limited recording functionality and tempo manipulation for media composing especially. and some stock plugins like multiband envelope and Frequency were very welcome surprises in Cubase. I would say I love both and I think I'm becoming a multi DAW playa! Totally agree better DAW integration would be better for all users
I’ve switched from Cubase 4 to Logic and back to 10.5. Cubase has always been a follower with tons of basic functions already existing for years in other DAWs like proper side chaining, bounce in place just to name a few simple things. I like where it is now and will never go back to a other DAW.
I went from Ableton to cubase because of the film scoring. I’ve been using Cubase on everything with struggle. When I go back to Ableton I create music fast. For one the zoom feature in cubase is a major issue. I want to use Cubase so badly because it has allot of great features but I’ll always go back to Ableton live for the fast music production.
Hey Brian, great video from an obviously very experienced user. I found myself for many years switching between Cubase and Ableton, back and fourth, always missing features of the other DAW after a while... What surprises me is that you say you never use Cubase stock plugins. May you explain why? I always found Cubase has some of the best quality stock FX inclusive useful and meaningful presets you can find, for instance i.m.o. there are many multiband FX included and the reverbs are better than other DAW's stock reverbs, also the latest additions like Multi Tap Delay, Squasher, Raiser, Super Vision are superb (at least for house music). Of course there are many mostly better 3rd parts FX out there for every use-case. But stock plugins can reduce dependencies when opening projects after long time and not having freezed/rendered... Cheers
You do make an excellent point regarding the stock plugins. In my personal experience, I always find a better 3rd party plugin that does the same and better. Of course, it's vital for a major DAW to have stock plugins (and decent ones too). And I do find that sometimes I would use Squasher and Padshop (thanks to Ian Kirkpatrick lol), but unlike Ableton, it feels like they never were successful in making an iconic or signature plugin/instrument like Ableton did. Also, it feels like they started with the heavy plugin releases kinda late in the game to so their trying to produce a lot to make up for it, so it feels like every version we're getting more plugins instead of an actual feature that needs to be added or upgraded. But again, this is my opinion, and I know that a lot of successful users actually use their instruments and yield great results. So, it could be just me 😊 I would take an extra (meaningful) feature over 3 extra plugins per release.
Cubase = best DAW. It´s all about own workflow, macros, etc. Cubase ist very fast, Cubase´s Midi an Audio and the Mix Console is outstanding over other daws. Cubase = Pro Tools + Logic in one DAW. oh, and C12 very stable here. Highly recommend. I´m in VO/ADR, Composing, Sounddesign, Score, EDM... Cubase is THE daw for all this tasks and has great solutions for each music style. No doubt. finally: it´all about personal taste. ^^
Can't say I agree that Cubase = Pro Tools + Logic in one DAW. Much as I love it, there are features in both that are standard that Cubase doesn't have. eg, Peak/RMS metering on each channel...
I use Cubase since 1996. and Atari ST. It is/was integral part of my studio, and while I have Pro Tools, Nuendo and some special middleware I need for specific tasks, evolution of Cubase was so exciting to witness. Yes there are certain issues but I am still to find a DAW with as many features covering everything.
With plug-in managers like Komplete Kontrol and AkAi VIP, a user can audition any preset Instantly, before loading it . So, Cubase's media-bay, could make proxy audio files, for the presets of any selected libraries. It would be like browsing the Loops and Samples section of Cubase, but the audition sample is pointing to, calling, a preset for that sound when needed.
Cubase, the most configurable and best workflow DAW. Design could be better, but I like very much how good is on the eye sight (i don´t even need glasses to use it, nor I get eye exhaustion as I do with others) - Many (if not all) of the features you asked for, are a MUST now. (Plugin SandBox, Group Track darn! why isn´t it yet?, Automation direct view on click) I wanted to like BitWig (and I do) but it still a premature DAW for my needs. LPX has been my "home" for many years now, but I don´t see the customizing capabilities I want, and also, it is glitchi in many ways. Hey man, how do you use ElGato with Cubase? (instead, I use a small Akai MPK Mini, and with Remote Controller, I configured pages and use the Keys as shortcuts... have to label them because sometimes I can´t remember which is which : here is my consideration for ElGato) P.s. I´ve been using KeyBoard maestro since your video about it, and it is GREAT.
Great video, and more or less I have the same opinion on Cubase as a long term user. 2 things I would add from Ableton, first one of course the nesting of instruments/fx on a single channel/track, which requires infinite inserts. 2nd thing would be to open up the audio stretching algos in Cubase the way they have it in Ableton, and even Bitwig. This alone opens up insane sound design capabilities that I haven't seen in any other DAW except Ableton & Bitwig. Fun story, when I did a stint with Studio One 3 for a month, I brought up the same thing about the stretching algorithms in their user forums and was laughed at by their userbase. lol
Yay, another Cubase user 😁 I started with Cubase 4 almost fifteen years ago (and prior to this, I was using Adobe Audition 3 and before that Cool Edit Pro 2). I still use it and I’m currently at 12 Pro. I chose it because I wanted something that would satisfy both the composer and the producer in me. And so far, it has served me well. Something that would be interesting to see in Cubase is they have some kind of “patch bay” like feature. I know that may give people Reason flashback nightmares. But the rationale is that it gives you another way to change the audio signal routing. After all, this was how studios did it when you had consoles and tape machines. I’m also sure this is a big pipe dream because I can’t imagine the coding for it. But what made me think of it is that if I wanted to “start over”, I would use Tracktion Waveform as it is very modular and free-form in its audio routing. As far as the “plugins / ‘insruments’ no one uses”, I’ll admit that I haven’t used everything they have to offer. But I haven’t ignored them either. For instance, their dedicated EQ has features that are comparable to Fabfilter’s Pro-Q3. I also really like Padshop. Hopefully Cubase will continue to be useful and grow in the right ways. =]
AGREED with regards to the plugins and instruments. Cubase has some AMAZING tools in this regard. Frequency EQ, FX Modulator, the saturation plugins, the compressors, Padshop, Retrologue, are some of my go-to's and I have a sh!tload of vst/is.
I started with cakewalk and Sonar, then Logic along with Cubase when Logic was cross platform! Logic was the bomb with all of the content that came with it! At this point Cubase caught up with Logic’s content and passed it! I think Cubase has the best audio editing and processing of ALL DAWS!!
Likeed, subbed, shared, belled. I'm a former Sonar user and I also use FL as a plugin (mainly cos most of my clients use FL). Cubase is honestly unparalleled. It's the best all rounder DAW out there. The learning curve is pretty steep though, which IMO is why many don't go for it. But now, especially with Cubase 12, it is definitely the most underrated DAW out there at the moment. FL powerful as it is, is very limited when it comes to audio editing (although it appears that has finally been addressed in FL 21 which is coming out soon). Ableton is amazing and I'm quite jealous of some of the features it has but I'm not a fan of the non-linear workflow. I must say though, I feel you were being a bit nitpicky with some of your gripes. Like the GUI design. Comparing C4 and C12 and proclaiming that they are "insanely similar" is insanely hyperbolic. There is no lower and right zone in C4, both of which offer a ton of new features C4 doesn't have. FL of instance looks pretty much the same since v12. And what about ProTools?! |As for Mackie HUI it's gotta go. Dom Sigalas posted a vid complaining about that in his SSL UF8 review. I have a feeling Steinberg will be addressing some of the wish list items in the near future though. Here's crossing fingers...🤞
I started using Cubase in 2000 then switched to Propellerhead Reason in 2002 and I've been using it ever since but now I'm considering switching back to Cubase. I just downloaded the 30-day free trial of Cubase Pro I'm loving it. The funny thing is that it does look a lot like what I used 22 years ago😂 I tried Alberton with its minimalistic design a lot of people like that I don't. Anyway, I've been able to figure out Cubase 12 quickly and I like the new features. I can always use the Reason instruments in Cubase which is a big plus for me.
Bro cubase Is legendary software... I used studio one .. logic . Protools and fl also😂.. but cubase and protools gives some different kind of stereo width and sound way batter than all of them
I went from protools to Ableton rewired reason and ended up trying cubase 4... I switched to cubase ASAP and came to find out I was four updates behind
I am still using Cubase 3 😀 But now, only because I started to envy all the new awesome VST instruments available, I consider upgrade. I downloaded Cubase 12 for trial, but spent a whole day trying to get the codes for it to work, but was not able to. Now I am trying out other DAWs.
Thank you for the info. My take on it: Every DAW generally does the same thing and no DAW has everything. I presently use Cubase Pro 12. It has a professionally laid out user-interface, a huge choice of high-end production tools, integrates nicely with VST's and is great to work with. BTW...It works flawlessly with my Yamaha MODX keyboard via USB cable when I record MIDI and arps into Cubase tracks. (using the "Yamaha Steinberg Driver")
Cubase has a big learning curve, but once you get familiar with it, it has that “just feels right” workflow, in my opinion. And the updates with Cubase 12 seems like it brought a whole lot of extra goodies to the table.
AGREED! I think Cubase is the most underrated DAW at the moment, esp with the 12 update. Based on that, I have a feeling there are going to be some serious changes coming. 🤞
The separation between groups and folders is a feature to me, not a flaw. I have massive projects in ableton that are impossible to organize, because I placed tracks together to apply volume automation and effects on them, not to organize. In Cubase, organization is strictly separate from the sound that the DAW produces, so regardless of how big a project gets, I can work on it knowing that I can always organize it later.
I have been using Cubase since 20 years already,,, And I thing the reason why people still use it is ironicly the fact that it does not cheange to much... You see - The most creative Composers and musicians don't wanna lern to meny features coming out in a every next versions of DAW. The composing proces in so absorbing that simplycity wins this competition...I would be not interested if Cubase would change to much. Composing takes my atention and I only need few tools.. Globaly Ableton somehow killed creatyvity by introducing LOOPing culture of making music. I don't wanna become producer out of composer. My creative attention don't wanna be taken out to a diferent roles....
I love Cubase used it since VST5 (2001). I agree though it has a problem with plugins causing it to crash/freeze. V13 seems even worse. A plugin from SSL or UAD should not cause Cubase to freeze.
Cubase/steinberg user since i first used Steinberg's Midex 3 in 2000 for my preproduction studio... I had to go with a veteran company. The beginning of this year i was about done with cubase and YOU ARE RIGHT 3RD party plugins should never stop the show...... Right now Cubase 12 pro is as solid as a rock and i hope it stays that way. God bless CUBASE.....
Very good video lot of sensible points. Plugins crashes, not having automatic group folders ( also with midi input routed to all tracks in the group as in logic pro), the lack of GUI evolutions since a very long time seem to be not about to change soon. The number of bugs is also overwhelming. Pausing on the updates until I see another great reason to spend that kind of money. WIll start considering Ableton as well. They should maybe consider to use good GUI frameworks like Qt and stop reinventing the wheel too. Also a good plugin test before accepting a plugin (as in logic pro sa an example) would save everybody a lot of time. they could simulate initialization and destruction of plugin instances instead of hanging on exit ...
Totally agree! I used and I know well how to use most of the DAWs out there (PT, Logic, Ableton, FL, Cubase, Reaper, MuLabs, MixBus). I find my self missing something, one or the other feature in literature any DAW =/ I stick to Cubase and Reaper, cuz of their efficiency and features meaningful for workflow. I'd like to add one more feature Cubase rly miss out: pencil tool!!! It lacks of control and allows only to decrease volume, not to increase. They could have made a volume line in the middle which would be a 0 db and let us draw us the automation however we want. Still don't get it.
I completely agree. I am an Ableton user myself, but since I started experimenting with orchestral stuff i found out about cubase and it was amazing, but I still feel like I can't ditch ableton for cubase simply because of inifinite inserts, max for live and the fact that in ableton, when you use sidechain in a track it doesn't occupate the send in the other track that youre sending the sidechain signal. It's really sad because it feels like cubase is better than ableton in basically everything else (besides the instruments and plugins, but i don't care much about them).
Absolutely love your concepts and ideas, thanks for representing those of us users who’ve been waiting and living in the”Dissatisfaction “ ,I’m subscribing and now on board😊
Great video, I am also a Cubase user and heavy Keyboard Shortcut (Keyboard Maestro & QMK-Multilayer) Freak. Currently I am thinking of switching to Logic (because I am using Final Cut to edit videos and I would like to sync the Muscle Memory of my Workflows when it comes to Timeline Manipulation). You said that Cubase is still the best choice when it comes to custom keyboard shortcuts, I would like to get more information on that - why exactly is it better than Logic? A video on this would be huge!
I don’t know much about the shortcut capabilities of Logic so I can’t really say how they compare. But I’m Cubase, every feature (even ones that are not in the menus) and even almost every option in the preference can be triggered with a keyboard shortcut, keyboard maestro or a midi controller. They really let you configure anything in any way you want. Sometimes I just browse the shortcuts dialogue to find features I didn’t know existed. That’s why it’s SO fast to work on it once you set it up.
I see your crazy about shortcuts like me. If you’re gonna try Logic may I suggest Batch Commander by Slate Media? It’s like having the power of a Raven but you just use whatever size/price touchscreen monitor you like. I used to use Ravens but they became too buggy for me. With Batch Commander you can program and name any shortcut you wish. It can even perform up to 99 commands with one button press.
Dude, you are the 1st person ive seen make a video using an S1 with cubase? If you dont already, id love to see how well it integrates vis eucon. Testing with pt control on my ipad it seems promising.
It works surprisingly well! If you take away my S1 I’ll be half as fast as I am in my workflow. I might do a short video about it. Could be fun. Definitely a niche! 😂
Bruh, I hundred percent agree. I’m looking for a where I can just turn it on start working on tracks arrangements loops, whatever on the fly and I feel order to have that in Cubase. You would have to create so many steps to do so I’ve been using this for many years since Cubase 4. I may be overdramatic as well, but I feel like I lost a lot of creativity based productions because of this. Coming from making tracks off of my yamaha motif aranger, I dont think I did enough to search for a DAW with similar workflow.
Personally, I don't think there is one DAW that does it all - I'm using three now - Cubase, Bitwig and Reaper - all have their strengths and failings. Cubase is (almost) unrivalled for composing although Studio One seems to be trying to take that one on but without any serious uptake so far.
as much as i share your love/hate for cubase, i often wonder if i’d be in the same situation with any other daw once i get to know what it can and cant do. one feature they dropped and brought back was batch export, i think it was around version 9 or 10. such a bonehead move. a lot of smaller pains and workflows not possible within cubase natively, i’ve been using autohotkey to address them. glad to see you are still using keyboard maestro!
You right about 2 things I faced ... Crash vst lead to crash cub, and midi Editor, midi with vst the best. It's not really workflow software ... its need more time . But I really love it , I been used Protools, and others daw never felt same as cub. It's magic.
Thanks for the video Brian, interesting as all the other video I saw on your channel. I'm substantially happy with Cubase and I could not switch to another DAW after 33! years of usage and all the work I did to perfect my workflow, but I have some issues. Regarding the Logical Editor, if you want to trigger the LE presets via the Streamdeck it's not necessary to assign a key command to it, you can recall it with the Generic Remote (or the new MIDI remote thing) and use the Streamdeck to transmit MIDI messages. If you prefer instead to use Keyboard Maestro you could build a Macro that will invoke the LE presets window, wait for it to appear, click in the search box and write the preset name. Now what irritates me on the LE side is that until Cubase 11 if you recalled an LE preset while the LE window was open the preset would not be executed but instead it would just be recalled inside the Logical Editor window, so I could recall a preset similar to what I need from a Metagrid button, tweak it for the case in use and then apply it, saving the hassle of creating a lot of similar LE presets and assigning buttons to them. Now, in Cubase 12, when you recall an LE preset it's immediately applied regardless of the LE window being open or closed. Please make a video regarding the S1 with Cubase, I wan thinking of getting it but can't find much about the real experience of using it with Cubase. What worries me regarding it is that I've tried the Eucon protocol and the free Avid app but I've noticed that it slows down quite a lot closing and opening projects; this was a couple of years ago, is this still the case in your experience?
Hi Luca. Thanks for the comment! Yeah... I can't really quit Cubase. It's too good of a DAW (plus years of experience with it). Good insight on LE. I'll try it. They did add some features to it in Cubase 12 that made it a little better (like audio routing, which saves me SO MUCH TIME). I had a few request to do a video about the integration of Avid S1 with Cubase. I think I'll make a video on it soon. Becuase while it's great the are some things to consider (like slowing down when closing and opening projects, which is still a thing unfortunately). But It's still my most used gear in the studio and I can't work properly without it.
As a Pro Tools user, it's interesting to see a user of another DAW expressing their dissatisfaction with the software. In the PT community, we're used to being constantly underwhelmed by Avid, although it has gotten a bit better recently, especially with SoundFlow now in the picture. I've been curious about Cubase in the past but it seems like you guys are dealing with your own set of issues. Goes to show there really isn't a perfect DAW. Everyone's rolling with the punches!
Cubase is just smooth. Overall workflow is the best out of all daws I’ve worked in. I absolutely love Cubase. Been using since 2001 and never had a reason to leave.
Cubase user since '97 here (Roland MC hardware sequencer before that) Still use it for stem mastering for control room capabilities, but Ableton is now my go to for pre production, production, arrangement and stem mix down and I probably won't eve go back. A hybrid approach is possible!
If they just gave us Ableton link it’ll be game over for me! Can’t wait for that to happen. I played with ReWire (back when it was available) and it was pretty amazing. Although you couldn’t use 3rd party plugins in Ableton when in ReWire mode. Which kinda sucked…
Been a Cubase power user since Cubase 3 up until Cubase 10.5. and the best decision I've done so far is moving to Bitwig.. Cubase once was good because there was no enough competition.. It constant crashes.. It keeps code from the first versions of Cubase, its very buggy and slow. While loading a project in Cubase i can open 2 projects in Bitwig.. no 32bit VST compatibility.. no creative features, in order to modulate something you have to paint first find and then paint the modulation.. Every update release is just for the sake of releasing an update.. Making a buzz about features that already exist in other DAWS like it is a breakthrough in technology.. for example curved automation lines.. I remember when they've released it and how proud they were about it 🤦♂. Instead of fixing the problems from the ground up they are adding workarounds like Autosave. I can leave Bitwig open for a week just minimize it without saving a project and come back to it later and everything just works.. That's how stable it is. Anyway they have to Rewrite the program from 0 and include many advanced features, otherwise they're gonna stay only with Composers that use Kontakt for film scoring and that's it.
You obviously have no clue about the power of Beat Agent inside Groove Agent. It is FAR SUPERIOR as Drum plugin over for example NI Maschine, which I have been using for years, before I became aware of the incrdibly well done functionality of Beat Agent 5. It is my absolute no. 1 drum plugin meanwhile, with nothing out there coming even close in fast functionality. Some of your other critical points are very valid.
@@BrianRivlin Once you get the basic settings and workflow of the UI, Beat Agent 5 is incredibly powerful - MUCH more so than the Acoustic or Percussion Agent, which are just ok, but much less flexible and powerful than their acoustic EZDrummer 3 counterpart. Beat Agent, on the other hand, is clearly better than Maschine 3 for Cubase DAW use. It is so good, that it should be a separate plugin not in the shade of Groove Agent 5 acoustic from my view. It became my favorite electronic drum plugin, after watching a video tutorial I had bought. You can get a similarly easy free introduction here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yX6I5CHv69k.html (with follow ups). Beat Agent covers a) drum sample handling (including layering, velocity multisamples etc., simple sample editing etc.) b) excellent midi management and pattern editing (including special triggering like repeats, rolls etc.) c) free choice of either internal multi-out routing (with Steinberg insert and send effects) or routing to Cubase DAW multi outs (with any track effects you like). Imagine all that, combined with direct drag&drop midi functionality between the internal pugin midi patterns, and Cubase tracks. Beat making (including managing all my drum samples in free configurable kits) has never been more straightforward for me. I have all my favorite Goldbaby, Samples From Mars and NI samples in there meanwhile. You can import complete Maschine Kits (I had bought many of the Maschine expansions over the years) for Beat Agent use, with help of this very useful tool: www.kit-maker.com/
whats causing me to drift away from Cubase is the midi timing issue. Basically when you record the midi notes are recorded early is like a negative latency so I have to go to midi editor and correct them manually each time. This bug is still present since cubase 5 . It is a plague ! Been using Cubase for a decade !
Dude I love Cubase but I'm just so sick of the little bugs that make using it increasingly frustrating. Pro12 opens successfully 3/5 times. It will hang at startup because of the new licensing system. I just want it to run stably and reliably. I have so many issues right now with 12 it's making me look into other options.
Yup… I know a lot of users who upgraded to 12 and went back to 11 because it’s just not ready yet. ( I will say I am successful in getting Pro12 to work ok. But it’s nowhere close to being perfect).
Used Cubase for 12 years, tried Live, never really clicked wiith it but loved some of it's features. Bitwig was best of both imo, switched at version 1 and haven't regretted it.
I have Ableton Live 12 and Cubase pro 13, i am frustrated at how Ableton is so limited compared to Cubase !!! In Ableton you can only send your audio from 1 channel to 1 location, in Cubase each channel can out put to 8 other channels, groups ! In Ableton i cant make channels disappear ! In Cubase i can, meaning when i want to mix drums only i can have my drum channels on screen, in Ableton i am stuck scrolling endlessly up and down across tracks i don't want visible. List is endless, i own both, Ableton is a decade behind Cubase in features.
I'm baffled that they don't have routing folders yet. Since what I mostly need is a DAW to mix and record in, it looks like this is the final nail in the coffin for Cubase. Reaper is looking real good right now.
I came from reaper and I switch the cubase I love cubase I think is superior to reaper in how complete by default it is compare to reaper that you need to have external plugins by the most and learn how to configure anything to your workflow however after switching to cubase I miss a few things from reaper 1. Routing with any track like folders 2. Unlimited insert 3. The fact that any track is an instrument and audio, sampler track. 4. Reaper stability 5. Reaper support almost any plugin without limit even 32 beats. Believe if cubase apply that and some small stuff of fl studio like giving more easy ways with piano roll chopping, adding numbers of beats to beat designer like fl channel rack and being able to see the notes of other track like ghost and play in them without taking the other track believe if cubase only add those stuff will be the best daw in my opinion.
Ableton users find community in talking shit about ableton too. Grass is always greener I guess. I just don’t understand how there’s not a single daw that does what every other daw does combined. Surely it would become the king daw
I started with Performer on a Mac 512ke back in the 80’s, at some point I switched to Cubase and I did a ton of work in the early versions of Cubase audio. Finally, I switched to Logic and have stuck with it ever since. The end for me with Cubase was when they stopped supporting their OWN file format. They also gave you no way to even import files from the older versions. Well they did, but it required having a working copy of ONE particular version. Keep in mind that off and on their support for Macintosh hardware was spotty and sometimes actually in question as to if it would continue! I maintain a vintage computer just so I can access my legacy files when needed. Also, I had major problems with their copy protection key over the years. It has been a complete pain which slowed and even stalled the conversion of critical projects. Faced with the fact that Cubase 7 would no longer launch on my new computer or the older computer it was replacing with a much older OS, (it seems to be crashing when looking for the key! I haven’t tested my legacy computer where I keep a copy of SX, but I am not hopeful that the key will function as the key manager failed every time I attempt to run maintenance!) I folded and purchased Cubase 12 last night as it claimed to not require the USB dongle any longer and it took me TWO HOURS just to get ANY sound out of it! Re-linking audio files is confusing and laborious and frankly the UI is just ugly. Of course, it still will not recognize projects made with any version prior to SX… criminal in my book. I have paid them SO much money over the years and been rewarded with being stuck with a completely sub par product. So now my only goal in life is to destroy every Cubase file I ever created over the years (rebuilding them in logic) so that I never need to give them money ever again. Sorry for the rant but the mountain of Cubase boxes I own just collapsed and nearly crushed me and I am a bit cranky. 😆
Also, wanna know how much I have paid Apple for upgrades in the last two decades? Nothing. So far they just consider it part of the business of selling Macs I guess. Every new version has been free! And nowadays the buy in price is only $200! Comparison that to the cumulative price of Cubase. People always complain about the cost of Macs, but I bet they never factor in the money saved if you use their pro software and don’t have to pay through the wazoo every year or two. The only reason I gave Stineberg any more money is that my update to cubase 12 was on sale and I figured it was a good opportunity to buy some more time rebuilding my old projects.
Great video again Brian! I tried for about 3 years to make Cubase work and couldn't. I've always thought the advanced midi editing and particularly drum focused midi editing were the best. There was just too much weirdness though and I couldn't make it work. Professional obligations brought me back to Pro Tools. Now with the combination of Soundflow / Streamdeck, any features that I'm missing I can essentially program into a macro, including things not available in any DAW. The grass is always greener though. I think Hans Zimmer said something like, you just have to commit to whatever tools you're using.
Yeah. It’s also almost I possible to switch after 21 years. The DAW becomes an extension of your hand so you can’t beat years of DAW learning with any shiny feature.
I was a Cakewalk (and later Sonar) user until it became freeware. I then decided to switch and did a lot of research into every DAW I could find. In the end I purchased licenses - One for Cubase Pro and one for Studio One Pro. Since one of my friends is using Studio One I really wanted to like that, but I fell in love with Cubase right after starting using it. Coming quite recently from another DAW into the Cubase-world felt incredible. It's not just the amount of features it has.. It's also that every feature feels really thought through and well put together. Of course it's just my opinion, but I really think Cubase is one of the most thought through and most capable DAWs out there. (I've worked in ProTools, Logic a lot too in other studios and they're not for me at all...)
You should complain more about Protools thats the only DAW they dont upgrade. Midi its outdated on PT. Cubase has changed alot since Cubase 6. And ver12 is the best of Cubase so far its a great Package now
I totally agree with your opinion, I only use cubase for music making. And if you look at the video content on RU-vid about music making, it's mostly not cubase but another DAW. Steinberg has to pick up it's features list in my opinion.
Yup! I find Cubase to be a great tool for music making. But not a fun one necessarily. So when I want to have fun making music I now gravitate towards Ableton.
@@BrianRivlin yeah when I see videos of producing in Ableton I think why does cubase don't have this. It's sometimes so intuitive. But the learning curve for a new DAW is holding me back to try it out.
I have both Ableton and Cubase for years and believe it or not my Cubase productions sounds more dynamic, dont know why but it is . Ableton i use for live performance witch its made for . I think.
I have been using cubase for three years now, and it has taken me plenty of time to get familiarized with it (still, I probably know to use just half of the DAW's features...). Nevertheless, I have recently bought ableton intro with the aim of getting to know the DAW and pay for the complete version later... I hope cubase 13 will introduce significant features so I don't make that change and keep using it...
Yeah. I noticed that even Venus Theory changed from Cubase to Bitwig. Watching his videos, there are definitely a lot of compelling reasons to check it out.
@@BrianRivlin the other thing I really like is how clean it is. And with a big screen I use triple display, I can see my entire project. The arranger, editor, and metering on every track it is amazing
Basically what you are describing is that Cubase always features new plugins in every new version that you end up barely using. I mean Cubase has at least 4 different Reverb plug-ins that are all very convenient but in the end I always find myself using RoomWorks (in my case) and the others are no options I take into consideration anymore. Cubase 12 introduces the Raiser limiter, but I am all fine with the Brickwall Limiter. So why would I need a new Limiter plug-in. To add, some of the new features in Cubase 12 could also be described as bug-fixes such as that Render in Place now also takes into account any Side-Chaining. I guess the issue Steinberg has is that it has already so many good features that it is hard to come up with something really new.
Totally! Also I find that most 3rd party plugins do what the stock plugins do, but better. So I just use those. But I do feel that there are many features still missing. Like I mentioned in my wish list later in the video.
If I had to learn music producing on that DAW I would have quit. I learned music producing using the Sony Acid Music Studio DAW. Everything else got easier. I also use other DAWs that have plugins to create music. I also have alot of sound loops that I accumulated through out the years. VSTs too.
Moving to Bitwig from Studio One for that reason amongst many. Bitwig is on a WHOLE other level for electronic music - it’s like a combination DAW/Synth/modular environment. And after getting used to clip arrangement it’s really hard to go back to 100% linear traditional DAW architecture like Studio One/Cubase/Logic. It just feels very stifling and inflexible.
@@jeffreyhanc1711 Never used Bitwig but I'm really jealous of the Ableton features. I gotta say though that I'm amazed at how little if any mention there is of FL in this thread. You'd think it doesn't exist and it probably has the biggest community online after Ableton! Changing to Bitwig is too big a mental shift for me though. Cubase has everything I need. Just hoping some of the more standard features in most DAWs will be incorporated into Cubase soon. 12 is awesome though, so there's hope.
@@jeffreyhanc1711 What do you mean linear? With the arranger track in Cubase I just wrote more songs than I ever have in any other DAW b/c I can just put different sections anywhere and string them together with the arranger track and then go linear once I figure everything out. It's honestly just what I needed, every idea becomes a full track. Bitwig lost me when they wasted a whole year or more on that stupid grid and mixing in it was tedious... I have version 3 something.
User since the Atari days! Lack of a loop back for routing streaming audio into Cubase is a pig . I would like to see more for online use when collaborating- always jealous of Logic users who are able to screen share their DAW and audio in Zoom. Cubase can’t do that and it’s becoming such an important area. VST Connect is so convoluted to get right.
Oh damn, you can't do loopback? that's weird. I do use that sometimes. Demoing now and about to buy pro version. I guess I can just use Reaper when I need samples off youtube lol.
Very interesting! i changed from Cubase 11 to Ableton 11 because my approach to music changed (after jamming with RC505 i fell in love with looping in general, and missed some sort of 'session view' in Cubase - and also LIVE playmode capabilities. Steinbergs Forum Entry about Session View further moved me away, as the discussions there just shows how split the community is and how 'elitist' some arrangement-view-composers feel and discriminate the mere wish for a session view as a wish of "non-musicians" from the electronical corner.). I would be extremely interested in a in-depth video about what aspects of Cubase specifically you would call "faster than other DAWs" and then have a look at it. Because often times there are m4l devices which do jobs i never imagined Ableton could do. For example "Shortcut Buddy" or "LoadR" -> loading huge plugin chains or whatever VST/FX/RACK combination of your liking via midi-assignable shortcuts. Or "Track Flow" which creates new Tracks with pre-programmable routings and also pre-definable plugin-chains on them, ready to go - also everything midi-assignable. "Track Select" making it possible to navigate more smoothly due to zoom-in / unfold/fold presets for the whole interface
I can never get cubase to start playing instantly when i hit play or record. Its always a 32 late. Havent found a solition yet. Other DAWs Flstudio, reason, ableton are great at this. You can almost use them like dj machines.
for what I need (I’m a composer and multi-instrumentalist) cubase is much better than ableton live and logic (I use them to open projects from other artists), but there’s nothing I can not do in cubase (what I need, I mean). it made a very long time I don’t have a plugin / daw crashes. actually I forgot this could happen. and yep, cubase doesn’t offer much in each update, too much stock useless things. I have my “trusty” plugins (Native Instruments, Arturia, iZotope, Softube, UAD) and I don’t remember if I once had problems with them, even using rosetta2. now everything is running fast and natively in apple silicon with no issues. and yep! I thought a lot of times switching daws, but in the end I regret it. (reaper, pro tools, bitwig, etc some crashed a lot, btw)… cubase is still opening projects from cubase 2sx from decades ago.
To me the biggest issue is, that there are no short tutorials on anything on RU-vid. Which I find on most other DAWs. And once I reached out to cubase with something I didn’t manage to do, and their response was, I should read the manual, instead of helping me out. Can’t express how disappointed I was
Oh man!! That sucks. But gave me a great idea for a series of videos 🤩 So thank you!! And expect a bunch of short tutorials in the near future. Hope they could help 😊 Cheers!
@@BrianRivlin that’s exactly what I miss from Steinberg or cubase. Short, precise, straight to the point, without wasting valuable time every time I need to check something. A couple of RU-vidrs do a really great job for FL studio on this. Never found anyone on cubase
i used cubase for most of my life and switched to bitwig like a year ago or smth. cubase is still fundamentally the most intuitive daw. they didn't just craft UIs, but entire workflows with the way drag operations and modifier keys are laid out in audio- and midi editing. but the stock plugins are all just excuses for not putting effort into proper plugins and the daw is especially missing modulation and good routing workflows. beware tho. bitwig has no freeze option yet so if you like to make your projects big it might not be the ultimate choice yet
100% agree!!! Although I never tried Bitwig, I totally get your point. For some certain projects, Cubase is incomparable. It you can’t ignore the feature in Bitwig and Ableton.
You can bounce in place with Bitwig and just disable all the vst's on the channel. Anything that is sleeping or disabled doesn't affect performance at all.
I was a rabid Cubase fan until I needed to have it installed on another studio computer; at this point I transitioned to Logic which didn’t limit me to use on one computer. I then transitioned to Studio One and now my arsenal includes Studio One, Reason and Logic X. Cubase needs to get off of the one computer restriction; I have a full-blown studio for mixing and mastering and a production desk for creating compositions without vocals. I want to be able to use the software without having to have a dongle restriction, even Reason allow usage on the two systems. I do miss the MIDI capabilities of Cubase and the instrument definitions (Studio One sucks in this area).
@@jamminjh2419 Your comment is timely. Yesterday I returned to Cubase due to the change of allowing the user to use 3 licenses; that’s all I wanted. I’m going through learning pains because Cubase is not as intuitive as days of old; it took me a day to get my Behringer X-Touch with extender up and running. I really liked Cubase for it’s simplicity and seamless integration of MIDI but it seems like they have gone the way of Logic, giving a LOT of MIDI control but it complicates the simplicity of the DAW. I will likely just use Cubase for my production (beats and composition) but use Studio One for mixing and mastering.
You are right in every word and there are other things I would like to add such as more headphones in the control room, turning the track from mono to stereo and vise versa without resorting to The Pool I hope you put this Video in Steinberg forum and I will vote for you or make another video only with wishlist
What about when you have to download it from their website or anything from their website even after you pay for it they make you feel like you're trying to steal it
