CubaseSX not as difficult as I thought

[kritikon]

Finally my new PC arrived (at bleedin' last). So I had a new PC, new to WinXP, New to SX from VST5.1... and it really wasn't as difficult as I knew it was going to be. What a relief!

I can't say that I find SX particularly intuitive, but I got it up and running straight off. Installed SX2, installed the update to 2.2....even that went without glitches.

First thoughts.....

Can't say I had the problems Sascha came across. I had a fair idea what was what fairly quick. No problems setting it up with my soundcard etc. It seems stable so far.
Personally I feel SX tries to fit far too much in one screen - I'm not sure I like the idea of accessing absolutely everything on one screen - it just takes up too much space and clutters up the screen IMO. I preferred the idea of one page for the arrangement, one for the mixer (which I could have up without difficulty anyway.) I can barely see any of the arrangement because of all the crap on the inspector panel on the left! And the mixer doesn't have the basics easily accessible - that's a real step backwards from 5.1.

However...I haven't installed Acrobat reader yet (it isn't included with XP It was with 98SE..bah!) And you know what? Without any of the manual .pdfs - only the getting started manual - I loaded up an old song I was working on in 5.1, and could work with it and set up channels etc without much help. Cubase has still retained some intuitive factors, then. It's fiddly and tedious the way it sets up channels, inputs, outputs etc, but I'm sure I'll get used to that fairly quickly. It's just a matter of applying myself to it, I suppose.

I thought it was going to be a real nightmare, but as a previous 5.1 user, it wasn't half as bad as it could have been. Although I think they could have done it better by using the new sound engine and more features etc by making 5.1 more functional instead of remaking a somewhat unwieldy host as it is now...overall I kept my faith with Cubase.

So I don't like the GUI overly much, but what I do like is the full pdc, more sends/inserts, FX channels as complete mixer channels (which was what I really missed in 5.1), the sound engine seems clearer too. I'm not sure how much that is down to psycholgical stuff (i.e. I have an expensive new toy, so I imagine it sounds better because I want it to) but so far, the whole mix seems immediately to have more space in it - just that bit less muddy than in 5.1. And I can now use SIR reverbs as sends. Yippee!

So to cut a long story short...SX is OK. Some areas it's gone backwards, some areas it's gone forwards, but the whole package is overall just that little bit better. I didn't go bald scratching my head getting it to work either.

I am just sooooooo f**king RELIEVED. I can make music again at last.

[progfusion74]

I think I went from VST to SL without ever opening the manuals, sticking to the F1 help. In general in my case, I found SL easier to work with as I have saved layouts for everything I want (and tend to keep the inspector closed). Probably helps that I only used 5.1 for a year or so.

[dreammaka]

I used 5.1 for a while (about a year and half) but never liked it.

but when SX came out and whole thing changed.
It was not a difficult at all I think.
for me, it was easier to learn SX than VST 5.1.

and SX2 was much better.

[DevonB]

Logic Platinum to SX within an hour or two here. It's really not that difficult if you're already used to something else.

Devon

[bluedad]

Logic Platinum to SX within an hour or two here. It's really not that difficult if you're already used to something else.

Devon

alright, we can't all be f**king genius.
I had to crack the menu.

[cold c]

I don't like some aspects of the GUI either, I think it is slightly wasteful of screen space, but I don't think they should waste any time on what would probably turn out to be purely cosmetic changes.

I think they enlarged the mixer even further in SX3 (in terms of screen space).

If you upgraded to SX2 recently, (depending on the distributor in your country) you may be able to get the SX3 upgrade for much less (it's around £10 in the UK).

The mixers are relatively configurable, I prefer to keep them compact and use the channel settings window instead.

[DevonB]

I don't like some aspects of the GUI either, I think it is slightly wasteful of screen space, but I don't think they should waste any time on what would probably turn out to be purely cosmetic changes.

I only notice this issue when I'm working single screen. SX feels like it was really designed for dual monitor config.

Devon

[DevonB]

Logic Platinum to SX within an hour or two here. It's really not that difficult if you're already used to something else.

Devon

alright, we can't all be f**king genius.
I had to crack the menu.

I had to crack the menu too. Did you mean the manual?

Devon

[bluedad]

Logic Platinum to SX within an hour or two here. It's really not that difficult if you're already used to something else.

Devon

alright, we can't all be f**king genius.
I had to crack the menu.

I had to crack the menu too. Did you mean the manual?

Devon

well, what was on my mind!

yes I meant the manual!

[cold c]

I don't like some aspects of the GUI either, I think it is slightly wasteful of screen space, but I don't think they should waste any time on what would probably turn out to be purely cosmetic changes.

I only notice this issue when I'm working single screen. SX feels like it was really designed for dual monitor config.

I think they recommend dual monitors now in the recommended system specifications in SX3. I was using dual CRTs but I now use a single 1600x1200 TFT. [Insert obligatory covetous reference to Apple 30 inch 2560x1600 display here ].

[kuniklo]

I don't like some aspects of the GUI either, I think it is slightly wasteful of screen space, but I don't think they should waste any time on what would probably turn out to be purely cosmetic changes.

I only notice this issue when I'm working single screen. SX feels like it was really designed for dual monitor config.

Devon

I just set up a bunch of workspaces and bounce back and forth with hotkeys. I don't even have the mixer up unless I'm mixing.

[progfusion74]

I don't like some aspects of the GUI either, I think it is slightly wasteful of screen space, but I don't think they should waste any time on what would probably turn out to be purely cosmetic changes.

I only notice this issue when I'm working single screen. SX feels like it was really designed for dual monitor config.

Devon

I just set up a bunch of workspaces and bounce back and forth with hotkeys. I don't even have the mixer up unless I'm mixing.

Thats how I do it. Layout for tracking, layout for 1 mixer, layout for 2 mixers and so on

[klagga]

"I´m so f*cking talented that I never have to read any manuals."

Well, how impressive.

Steinberg, if you´re reading this thread, don´t take this like you don´t have to improve your manuals! They still have a lot to go before they are useful.

The GUI in the program should be as intuitive as possible, no question about that.

Still, there must be a good, clear, easy to grasp and well-arranged manual for reference to a huge program like Cubase. That is still not the case, I´m sorry to say.

The manual of Cubase SX takes for granted that you´re already familiar with sequencing and older Cubase versions.

[georgelegeriii]

I'm getting used to Cubase and Nuendo. I really like both, and still use both Logic, and Live 4.
I found it to be pretty simple to go from Logic to Cubase, they are both set up the same, more or less.

It's SX3 I'm waiting for. It's not arrived in LA yet...

George

[mauseoleum]

I can't say that I find SEX particularly intuitive

blame it on charlie.