Cubase 8.5 here any day now...and the day has come

[tristan-]

agreed, there are some really good features implemented.
the selection tool in midi editor - this is exactly what i wanted. people call this "smart tool". the only thing is that i don't think that they embedded a way to delete a note using only the mouse (i.e right click on the note or double clicking it again).

the fact we can now have a group track anywhere is cool and will remove clutter - when i open a folder track, i will make a group track for it inside the folder as the top track. more control. but on the other hand they could just give us the normal option to make a folder track into a group track. so a bit awkward of a solution.

but overall very nice update.

[Scotty]

I am glad that Steinberg put resources into workflow improvements and consolidation of menus. I agree it isn't sexy but these are the kind of improvements that make you more productive, decrease frustration and help the creative process. I'll pick this upgrade up and look forward to Cubase 9. - Scotty

[vespesian]

Pleased with the distinct lack of gimmicky add-ons...this looks like a good update. I'm in.

[Maincat]

Users have been wanting a 'rescan button' for ages, if not years. (at the moment, I can't give the link because the Forum appears to be down). Looks like 8.5 doesn't have it.

The videos point to some good ideas, eg the new punch in/out facility. I'll get it and hope v9 gets the rescan button.

[Compyfox]

Theo,

You talked about Cubase slapping on features to spaghetti code.

Would you believe me if i told you Logic's code base hasn't changed in 15 years? They just keep "tacking on" features and literally "bolted on" a multicore hack. ALL the bugs and limitations of earlier versions are still there, in 2015. Cubase's code is SUPER fresh compared to Logic.

Really?! Didn't Apple insist that this is a complete new code, which is the reason why it took so long to be released? And do you remember putte's old joke's on the "Colorwheel of Terror"?

I will finish with one last thing.. Logic has a massive delay between audio edits. EVERY SINGLE audio edit you do., changing gain, a fade, deletion.. takes 3 full seconds before the change occurs. Imagine you are looping a section and change the loop length even, 3 seconds. You are moving parts around within the loop and deleting others. 3 seconds for each and every single one. Could you really handle that coming from Cubase which has instant response?

I know that Logic can be darn slow and really picky on heavy projects (that didn't even use up the RAM) - I've encountered this a lot at client rigs. But I've never encountered the 3s delay on event edits.

Since I don't think you're joking - this would definitely be a huge showstopper for me.

My time machine says that you'll need to be to at least 9.5 to be happy.

Since I do consider the .5 versions to the the actual .0 version (read: how Cubase was supposed to be shipped), you may be right. Though maybe I will use the .5 grace period exploit as well.

Else, can I borrow that Time Machine for a bit? It sounds like it might be really handy.

9.5? Maybe 11.

Will you mark your calendar if it's actually happening, and then stop the pissing contest?
Just wondering.

... and then another 3 month until all bugs are fixed !

Minor ones, sadly yes. Major ones could take way longer.

It doesn't help that the maintenance update cycle currently is "once every other month". Unless it's a really important hotfix (which still takes a couple of weeks.



And thanks tristan for the coverage of the new features:

Editing in the Project window

The "Duplicate" workflow is something I missed from other hosts for years.

MIDI Editing

The "Drum Editor" overhaul could be used for Keyswitches of sample sets. A feature request that I've read a couple of times at this point. Only with the key editor: label specific keyswitches (it's still possible with other means - but labeling was never that great).

The MIDI editing was also long overdue. Though I still miss the "delete/slice" features from FL Studio.

Enhanced Chord Pads and symbols

Hm... so they started to include some sort of "Chordspace Playa" now... still looks generally off-putting IMO.

Accessibility and workflow 2

Okay, so the "Profile Manager" heavily reminds me of ProTools' I/O setup - only simplified. Since I use alone at my rig, I don't think I will ever use this.

However the video mentions, that the "Elastique" engine was finally updated (also a couple of years too late, but better late than never).

VST Transit

Now the cat is out of the bag. VST Transit (wasn't it called "VST Cloud" earlier?) is a fusion of various concepts from the past where Steinberg was involved in (anyone remembers Digital Musician Network? Which then spawned into VST Connect?). I think this is also an answer to "Ohm Studio" that OhmForce introduced a couple of years back and made it "free for everyone to check out".

Really don't know what to think of this to be honest.



Media Bay and Retrologue is nothing to waste sleep on. They're the weakest "sale reason" IMO.



Else yes, I do agree it's all down in the "workflow details".
But still - and taking the first leaked video into consideration - why were half of these "features" not included any sooner? Like: day 1 inclusion?

[FrankLaVerne]

Checking the videos, I am somehow torn back and forth between updating and waiting.

On the one hand, I have to admit that the project / midi editor functions (as well as a few other workflow optimizations) will be a REAL time saver for me. On the other hand, I personally think that other things than VST Transit, Profile Manager, Retrologue 2 or some cosmetic changes should've been addressed for this update instead.

To sum it up: It seems like a more or less decent update, but I am not really impressed (yet).

[zvenx]

Users have been wanting a 'rescan button' for ages, if not years....... I'll get it and hope v9 gets the rescan button.

Hi, what is this rescan button?
What would it do?
thanks
rsp

[Oliver.Lucas]

Okay, the videos are interesting.
I think the cloud thing is there just to pi** off AVID to show them how fast Steinberg can pll that kind of thing out of the hat. But the other features and enhancements are really interesting. As a freelancer, who works in many different environments I am really excited about the user preferences.

Ollie

[woodsdenis]

Looks good to me, lot of workflow stuff which makes it worth it.

[FrankLaVerne]

Site is back up everyone

[Compyfox]

I think the cloud thing is there just to pi** off AVID to show them how fast Steinberg can pll that kind of thing out of the hat.

It's been long in the making and IMO another evolution of "Digital Musician Network" (Steinberg's founder Karl Steinberg was heavily involved). That was released around 2006. So... 10 years in the making? With the one or another occasional update/off-branch called "VST Connect".

Again, IMO, YMMV and all that.

[JonSolo]

Sahul, it's 2015, nobody will put grundbreaking features in .5 update anymore.
I'm glad they keep improving MIDI Editors.

I would agree to a certain degree with that. However Ableton's most current .5 was enough for me to try it again, and it is awesome. Enough for me to grab a Push 2 and finish a half dozen tracks already (ok finish is a loose word...complete is a better word. The arranging and recording is done.)

Do I expect that with Cubase in this release? No. But I still like what I see enough to grab it. After all I mostly use it for larger orchestral tracks, or huge vocal projects.

Jon

[patchhunter]

Quick question, I registered a 7.5 license yesterday and was upgraded to version 8 yesterday. Do I qualify for a free upgrade to 8.5?

[Resonant- Serpent]

Quick question, I registered a 7.5 license yesterday and was upgraded to version 8 yesterday. Do I qualify for a free upgrade to 8.5?

According to the post by Steinberg on Facebook, anyone who activated after October 15 gets a free upgrade.

[noiseboyuk]

Well I would buy it, but the shop isn't accepting my login details. Same user name and password working fine for My Steinberg.

EDIT - turns out the shop is a different password (and in my case email address) to My Steinberg. Downloading now - pretty quick, only 876mb.