KVR Audio

anzoid · Post by **anzoid** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 3:01 pm

I started making music on my PC back in 2005 with Cubasis VST 5.0 - I have a bunch of .arr and .all files from those days that I would love to be able to convert into midi files - just so I can see if any of it was any good.

Does anyone have a working copy of Cubasis VST 5.0 that they could bear to part with at a reasonable price, or know a way I can convert these files to standard midi files? (I'm not too worried about what VSTs were used, just want the notes...)

I have found a copy of Cubasis VST 5.0 SE for sale but don't know if this would open the files...

Reefius · Post by **Reefius** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 3:09 pm

You could try a trial of the latest Cubase Elements, which uses soft-eLicenser so no hardware dongle needed. Trial versions of Cubase are fully working for 30 days.
It's free so you've got nothing to lose

anzoid · Post by **anzoid** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 3:44 pm

Thanks Reefius - a bit of searching the Steinberg site turned up the following: https://www.steinberg.net/nc/en/support ... t-cpr.html - looks like after Cubase SX3 they ditched any kind of support for .arr and .all files. And I can't imagine there's many people around running such old versions. I might have to take a punt on that SE version and hope it works...

Romantique Tp · Post by **Romantique Tp** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 3:58 pm

People already answered you 5 years ago.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=362935

Get at least Cubase Elements and you'll be able to run Cubase SE 3, which can convert these files to modern Cubase project files or MIDI.
https://www.steinberg.net/en/shop/buy_p ... ts-95.html

Cubase has improved tremendously in the past 18 years, and is a much faster and more powerful DAW now. Even the cheap Cubase Elements is in most ways more powerful than Cubase VST 5.0, which is the full version of Cubasis VST.

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:05 pm

Romantique Tp wrote:Get at least Cubase Elements and you'll be able to run Cubase SE 3, which can convert these files to modern Cubase project files or MIDI.
https://www.steinberg.net/en/shop/buy_p ... ts-95.html

But having a license for Cubase Elements doesn't give you a free copy of Cubase SE 3.

Romantique Tp · Post by **Romantique Tp** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:08 pm

Cubase licenses allow you to run all previous versions of the same tier or lower released in 2002 or later.

T-CM11 · Post by **T-CM11** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:12 pm

Romantique Tp wrote:Cubase licenses allow you to run all previous versions of the same tier or lower released in 2002 or later.

Yes, but only if you already HAVE that previous version. (=the installation files)

Romantique Tp · Post by **Romantique Tp** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:28 pm

Which are right here.
ftp://ftp.steinberg.net/Download/Cubase ... onversion/

You can download all previous versions from either Steinberg's site or by contacting support.

anzoid · Post by **anzoid** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:34 pm

Romantique Tp wrote:People already answered you 5 years ago.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=362935

Wow, had completely forgotten that

Ah well, the situation hasn't changed much since 2012... not really interested in having Cubasis for anything other than looking at the old files. I've got a Cubase Elements license kicking around somewhere so could try that and there is an installer for SX3 available on the Steinberg FTP site so that might do the job... will report back if I have any luck (and discover all those original files were rubbish anyway

)

anzoid · Post by **anzoid** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 4:36 pm

Ah... just re-read "same tier or lower" - and SX was the top tier compared to Elements... but SE3 is available.

anzoid · Post by **anzoid** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 7:08 pm

Reporting back:
Installed and activated Cubase LE AI Elements 9 - all good there (nice DAW, might need to get to know it better

).
Installed SE3 from the Steinberg FTP site. Ran it and it refused to start because there wasn't an active license on the eLicenser... so that kinda finished things

Any other suggestions welcome, but I think I might just have to consign those files to the dustbin of history and write something new.
Thanks for all the help.

jonljacobi · Post by **jonljacobi** » Sun Dec 31, 2017 7:29 pm

Ask support about it. Also, there are ways, so don't give up. Just dig a bit harder. I've had to deal with the same thing all the way back to Pro 24 on the Atari ST.

Romantique Tp · Post by **Romantique Tp** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:26 am

anzoid wrote:Reporting back:
Installed and activated Cubase LE AI Elements 9 - all good there (nice DAW, might need to get to know it better ).
Installed SE3 from the Steinberg FTP site. Ran it and it refused to start because there wasn't an active license on the eLicenser... so that kinda finished things
Any other suggestions welcome, but I think I might just have to consign those files to the dustbin of history and write something new.
Thanks for all the help.

Sorry but I forgot to mention, at the time Cubase SE 3 was using the hardware USB eLicenser dongle so you'll probably need one to run it with your Cubase Elements license. Programs made for the USB eLicenser don't check for a software eLicenser, which I think didn't even exist back then.

But hey, at least you wont have to wait for shipping if you ever feel like upgrading to Cubase Artist or Pro.

JerGoertz · Post by **JerGoertz** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 1:58 am

Dumb question, but did you try opening the old VST 5 files with the Cubase Elements you were able to install and activate?

Romantique Tp · Post by **Romantique Tp** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 2:27 am

JerGoertz wrote:Dumb question, but did you try opening the old VST 5 files with the Cubase Elements you were able to install and activate?

No, you can't open these ancient files with modern Cubase. You have to open them in Cubase SX/SE 3, save them as a Cubase project (.cpr), then you'll be able to edit them using the latest version.

Cubasis VST 5.0 - reading old files...