i am Cubase LE user over 5 years - start with LE5,now use LE 9.5 - i like it,i know it,do perfectly what i need it to do,it's stable,reliable so on BUT...
Right now i seriously hesitate do i really need,not want,i know i want it but...
is it worth to spend money for upgrade and to wait for adding some options Bandlab already have
instead of investing time in exploring what Bandlab Cakewalk is capable of,
also there is so many musicians using it you can connect there,
seriously hesitate about my future Cubase club card.
Till the end of this month i will become or Bandlab user or Cubase Artist one during the August 40% OFF.
Please share opinion.
Bandlab Cakewak vs Cubase
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VELLTONE MUSIC VELLTONE MUSIC https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=404834 - KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2076 posts since 19 Sep, 2017 from The Future
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- KVRAF
- 3186 posts since 18 Mar, 2008
Only you can decide based on personal preference, personally didn't grow fond of Cakewalk and heard some experiences that discouraged me from even trying anymore, sure, free is amazing offer and whole DAW seems packed nicely, really wanted to like it, on other hand on the merge to pull the plug on Cubase Artist after using Logic for quite some time, have the demo of 9.5 and it finally feels like step up, can't find almost anything to favor Logic, Cubase really now feels like ultimate all round solution and I spent last year or so demoing everything I can.
Another DAW that I really dig is Bitwig, but it's so young and I really can't trust developers to bring it where I want it, right now it consumes 50% more resources (both CPU&RAM) than Cubase on same project and behaves like mess when is close overloading, ridiculous, Cubase is solid, saw some test, on lower buffers even outperforms famous Reaper, which I dislike.
Ultimately you must decide what is most important for you, no matter what concrete arguments I can bring in favor of Cubase or any other DAW, we have different needs, preferences and workflows.
Another DAW that I really dig is Bitwig, but it's so young and I really can't trust developers to bring it where I want it, right now it consumes 50% more resources (both CPU&RAM) than Cubase on same project and behaves like mess when is close overloading, ridiculous, Cubase is solid, saw some test, on lower buffers even outperforms famous Reaper, which I dislike.
Ultimately you must decide what is most important for you, no matter what concrete arguments I can bring in favor of Cubase or any other DAW, we have different needs, preferences and workflows.
This entire forum is wading through predictions, opinions, barely formed thoughts, drama, and whining. If you don't enjoy that, why are you here? 
ShawnG
ShawnG-
- KVRian
- 792 posts since 1 Aug, 2016
If you already know and like Cubase LE then I'd say just upgrade to the latest Cubase Elements for cheap. Why pay for Artist unless you need the features? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Cakewalk is very nice as well. I personally like the workflow of Cakewalk and hate the workflow of Cubase. I'd recommend trying it since it's free.
Cakewalk is very nice as well. I personally like the workflow of Cakewalk and hate the workflow of Cubase. I'd recommend trying it since it's free.
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- KVRAF
- 3186 posts since 18 Mar, 2008
Features on paper means nothing, how well they are implemented and how one responds to whole DAW workflow is the key thing here, so yeah, give it a go, you don't need much to find out if something suits you or not.
This entire forum is wading through predictions, opinions, barely formed thoughts, drama, and whining. If you don't enjoy that, why are you here? ShawnG
ShawnG-
- KVRAF
- 7540 posts since 7 Aug, 2003 from San Francisco Bay Area
Every DAW does more or less the same thing. Unless there is a very specific feature which Cubase is missing and Cakewalk provides, I would just continue to use what you already know.
Incomplete list of my gear: 1/8" audio input jack.
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- KVRian
- 840 posts since 28 Jan, 2008
As a longtime user of both Cubase and Sonar........stick with Cubase. Especially if you like it and it does what you want it to do. Why try to fix or alter a way of working that doesn't appear to be broken?
I was not a huge fan of Sonar. I felt it was miles behind other DAWs, ESPECIALLY when it came to it's midi implementation. Sonar's midi tools were extremely archaic and often didn't work correctly in my personal experience. (e.i. CAL scripts. OMG man....) I know folks swore by Sonar....but Cakewalk didn't do well for a reason..... I'm not sure if fixing some of Sonar's shortcomings are on Bandlab's radar, but time will tell. They need to redesign, rebuild and recode the whole thing.
I was not a huge fan of Sonar. I felt it was miles behind other DAWs, ESPECIALLY when it came to it's midi implementation. Sonar's midi tools were extremely archaic and often didn't work correctly in my personal experience. (e.i. CAL scripts. OMG man....) I know folks swore by Sonar....but Cakewalk didn't do well for a reason..... I'm not sure if fixing some of Sonar's shortcomings are on Bandlab's radar, but time will tell. They need to redesign, rebuild and recode the whole thing.
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- KVRAF
- 3328 posts since 7 Aug, 2008
Upgrading Cubase means getting an elicenser as well and in general, Cubase is on the more expensive side relative to other DAWs.
That's not necessarily a reason to avoid Cubase, but it should be a consideration. As others said, there are other DAWs out there as well outside of Cakewalk.
That's not necessarily a reason to avoid Cubase, but it should be a consideration. As others said, there are other DAWs out there as well outside of Cakewalk.
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- Banned
- 356 posts since 2 Mar, 2016
The upgrade to Cubase Elements is really cheap and you won't need an USB elicenser.
But yeah, Cakewalk is free now so you could give it a try, maybe you'll like it more than Cubase, maybe not.
But yeah, Cakewalk is free now so you could give it a try, maybe you'll like it more than Cubase, maybe not.
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- KVRAF
- 2415 posts since 28 Mar, 2007
Steinberg Cubase Pro 9.5 Recording Software (Retail Box Version) £537.06 + £3.21 UK Delivery (Amazon)
CakeWalk Bandlab ......................................................... FREE (Download)
Thats a clear win for Cubase then
CakeWalk Bandlab ......................................................... FREE (Download)
Thats a clear win for Cubase then
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VELLTONE MUSIC VELLTONE MUSIC https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=404834
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 2076 posts since 19 Sep, 2017 from The Future
Thanks for your opinion and time guys,i will definitely work extensively with both this month to compare all aspects - workflow,sound,tools so on ...it's amazing that fully functional advanced DAW is free.
I am guitarist and think that Bandlab cakewalk is very friendly for players,don't know now have to work more with it to say more,it's like when you have to decide to break up with you old girlfriend you've been over 5 years and used to be with her but then you meet new exciting girl and hesitate what to do hihihi same feelings now
Probably have to check how new girl will satisfy my needs hahahahha.
Cheerz
I am guitarist and think that Bandlab cakewalk is very friendly for players,don't know now have to work more with it to say more,it's like when you have to decide to break up with you old girlfriend you've been over 5 years and used to be with her but then you meet new exciting girl and hesitate what to do hihihi same feelings now
Probably have to check how new girl will satisfy my needs hahahahha.
Cheerz
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- KVRAF
- 3186 posts since 18 Mar, 2008
Yeah, less money you spend on your gear, bigger artist you are.dellboy wrote:Steinberg Cubase Pro 9.5 Recording Software (Retail Box Version) £537.06 + £3.21 UK Delivery (Amazon)
CakeWalk Bandlab ......................................................... FREE (Download)
Thats a clear win for Cubase then
Not to mention that pain of using DAW you don't like, true pain like an true artist.
Last edited by Zexila on Fri Aug 03, 2018 7:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
This entire forum is wading through predictions, opinions, barely formed thoughts, drama, and whining. If you don't enjoy that, why are you here? ShawnG
ShawnG-
- KVRAF
- 35436 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
I don't think he really NEEDS Pro though. Artist will surely be sufficient. It surely was for me. AND, he already owns Cubase LE, so he can benefit from a cheaper upgrade price.dellboy wrote:Steinberg Cubase Pro 9.5 Recording Software (Retail Box Version) £537.06 + £3.21 UK Delivery (Amazon)
CakeWalk Bandlab ......................................................... FREE (Download)
Thats a clear win for Cubase then
Frankly, if you like Cubase, stick with it. Nothing worse than learning a new DAW, and having to learn that it does things a way you might not like as much.
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- KVRian
- 1287 posts since 25 Jul, 2009
VELLTONE MUSIC wrote:.... LE 9.5 - i like it,i know it,do perfectly what i need it to do,it's stable,reliable so on .....
You've got several options that people have mentioned.
But since you've been using Cubase for 5 years and are happy with it, I think you should stick with it.
I checked the up grade price, and it's $119.99 to go from Elements to Artist, and that includes a dongle.
You'd have to decide if the extra features are worth it to you.
You've probably looked at the comparison chart: https://www.steinberg.net/en/products/c ... rison.html
You don't have to upgrade of course.
Elements is a fine program and since you like it,
you might also want to just keep using it until an Elements version 10 comes out.
But the 40% off upgrade price is a good deal and kind of hard to pass up.
I bought Cakewalk a lot of years ago and didn't care for it compared to Cubase.
For me, it was a waste of money. But for you, it might only be a waste of time
Or....you might end up liking it. I guess it won't cost you anything to try it.
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- KVRAF
- 35436 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
This somehow reminds me off my excitement, when i rode with a bike to the local newspaper shop, to buy the Beat magazine including Cubase LE5. Not sure which DAW i used at that point, but, i never really got warm with the stuff i used to before, and, Cubase LE made so much more sense in the way it operated. Still kept Cubase Artist 9, and, from time to time, i think about switching back from Studio One. There something about its GUI which is so pleasant, even though i dislike other stuff again, like, working with windows, or the MIDI learn system. Well, nothing is perfect, i guess.
Not sure which DAW i used at that point, but, i never really got warm with the stuff i used to before, and, Cubase LE made so much more sense in the way it operated. Still kept Cubase Artist 9, and, from time to time, i think about switching back from Studio One. There something about its GUI which is so pleasant, even though i dislike other stuff again, like, working with windows, or the MIDI learn system. Well, nothing is perfect, i guess.
