Is Studio 1 the only realistic alternative to Cubase ?

[EnGee]

You'll be at home with S1 coming from Cubase. The shortcuts about 90% the same. Most of the workflow can be replicated as well.

I thought to migrate from Cubase to S1, but for 2 reasons I didn't:
1. Cubase has more detailed tools (more options) especially in midi and composition.
2. S1 sometimes has strange glitches! Like a strange latency with my hardware synth. Playing with the Asio protection (or whatever they call it), resets it to normal latency (change it to maximum then back to minimum solved it!) There was about 100 ms latency!! In Cubase, Live and Bitwig it was the same (about 5 to 10 ms).

So, when I use S1, I find myself always checking with other DAWs when I feel something strange (in the past version, version 4, there was some slight midi timing inaccuracies. So, in the end I return to Cubase.

Live and Bitwig are excellent DAWs as well (I trust their implementation and midi composition, especially Live that I like it slightly more than Bitwig). You need to give them a patient and slow look. They are powerful tools and for ideas and overall workflow, might be faster than Cubase.

[jamcat]

Studio One is like a better Cubase.

You just need to unlearn some bad habits from Cubase… like all the stuff you learned to avoid because it crashes Cubase, routing from left to right only, etc.

[Trensharo]

I think Digital Performer or Samplitude Pro X are a better "replacements" for Cubase than Studio One, which surprised me with some of the features it was missing in relation to... a lot of other DAWs. I did get a crossgrade to DP11, but it is so buggy on Windows that I had to get a refund. Without the bugginess, I don't think I'd even have Cubase installed anymore. Unfortunately, I'm now waiting on Cubase Pro 12, because I just couldn't deal with the issues...

I have Studio One 5 Professional, and honestly it doesn't excite me. I actually think the issue (I have) with it has more to do with the user experience than the features I assumed it would have, but doesn't (which are annoying, but can be worked around). Something about the user experience is demotivating. It makes me feel tired just looking at it, and like I just don't really care to do anything productive. It feels like sitting in a college history class and falling asleep while taking notes.

It's hard to explain, but I have seen some producers on YouTube talking about something similar re: Studio One.

I attribute some of this to the color scheme and flatness of the UI. Most colors are quite muted, and the DAW has a weird "Very Light Grey to Very Dark Grey" color scheme which creates a weird contrast that doesn't help to keep me awake. Even the rendering of the Audio Waveforms isn't that great (compared to Cubase or Samplitude Pro X).

It has nice production features, but for some reason I literally fall asleep trying to use it. It's just "too boring." I really don't know how else to describe this.

People saying Studio One is "like a better Cubase," sound like they haven't used both of these applications. Cubase is far deeper than Studio One. It enables workflows that are practically impossible in Studio One, and where there are workarounds this usually results in more work on the part of the user. I don't agree that Studio One is a "better Cubase" any more than I agree that Bitwig is a better Ableton. I think this is just marketing jargon regurgitated by biased users. This is simply not how the reality of using these two applications pan out.

[THE INTRANCER]

Switching DAWs won't make you create music any faster, if you lack any desire to create music itself.

[cryophonik]

As a long-time user of both (but neither are my main DAW), I'd say Studio One is a good move. It's less advanced in some areas than Cubase, but you'd just have to take into consideration how important those features are (e.g., notation).

I know everybody here hates ProTools (including/especially people who have never even used it), but it's another option to consider, particularly if you're more into audio tracking than MIDI. It's similar to Cubase in that it's a linear DAW, but they do have different workflows in many ways, so the learning curve would probably be steeper than moving to S1. But I found it pretty easy to learn and there are no shortages of resources for learning it quickly. There are certainly reasons to not want to use it, but I wouldn't rule it out completely - it's a solid DAW.

[Trensharo]

As a long-time user of both (but neither are my main DAW), I'd say Studio One is a good move. It's less advanced in some areas than Cubase, but you'd just have to take into consideration how important those features are (e.g., notation).

I know everybody here hates ProTools (including/especially people who have never even used it), but it's another option to consider, particularly if you're more into audio tracking than MIDI. It's similar to Cubase in that it's a linear DAW, but they do have different workflows in many ways, so the learning curve would probably be steeper than moving to S1. But I found it pretty easy to learn and there are no shortages of resources for learning it quickly. There are certainly reasons to not want to use it, but I wouldn't rule it out completely - it's a solid DAW.

The only reason I'd advise against Pro Tools is the yearly support contract model, which can be problematic for people who don't want to be forced into upgrading every year, or face drastically increased pricing (when Avid decides to allow people to re-up expired support contracts). That is the biggest issue I have with Pro Tools.

Other DAWs, you can just sit on your version until enough changes have happened that make it worth upgrading - often at lower prices during promotional periods. Avid NEVER discounts the perpetual Pro Tools licenses, and the subscription is simply too high - particularly if you aren't willing to go with a yearly contract.

Perpetual is available, but it carries its own risks and becomes a subscription de facto if you choose to eliminate those risks.

Beyond that, it's totally viable and Pro Tools gets exponentially more slack than it deserves (as do many DAWs that aren't chique new kids on the block).

I really hate the window management in Pro Tools on Windows, though. I'd personally avoid it for that reason alone. I can't believe AVID hasn't fixed that. But I prefer Samplitude Pro X out of the Audio-focused DAWs due to its fairly deep MIDI Sequencing functionality - on top of the audio prowess - and the fact that it is really good at compartmentalizing everything into objects including FX, routing, automation, fades, time stretching, pitch shifting, etc. which are contained in the object container - so you can just move everything around and never have to worry about it. That's all really good when producing using a lot of samples. I really love the way it renders audio waveforms (in addition to Comparasonics). However, their upgrades are pretty expensive, unless you can catch one of the sales that lowers it down to $149 (Suite SKU).

It wouldn't be my first choice for scoring work, though. I'd probably stick with Cubase or DP (macOS), there... maybe even Logic Pro.

I've actually been avoiding some of the peripheral QoL features in Cubase/Studio One because I find some of it provides more distraction than anything. Sometimes, I prefer to work with a DAW that has a more focused workflow, without such a surplus of "accessories."

[jamcat]

People saying Studio One is "like a better Cubase," sound like they haven't used both of these applications.

I used Cubase from VST 3.5 through SX and switched to Studio One when version 1.0 came out. That's more than 10 years on each.

Studio One's workflow, mixing and audio engine is vastly superior to Cubase's, at least up through what I used. Cubase was always very unstable and had arbitrary limitations imposed by a poorly designed audio engine.

You have yet to articulate what "depth" Cubase has that Studio One doesn't. Certainly not anything that I've ever needed to write and record and engineer music. But I really don't use much in the way of crutches either.

And if you're falling asleep regularly in front of your computer, that's not normal, regardless of what software you're using. You should get that checked out.

[mtelesha]

Any DAW to another DAW is a relearn I went from Nuendo to Cubase and that was not an easy switch for me.

Now there are linear and "Live" based daws Cubase vs Bitwig or even old-school Trackers. Nothing is an easy switch and a relearning process. Sometimes drastic changes make it easier in the end game.

[Trensharo]

People saying Studio One is "like a better Cubase," sound like they haven't used both of these applications.

I used Cubase from VST 3.5 through SX and switched to Studio One when version 1.0 came out. That's more than 10 years on each.

Studio One's workflow, mixing and audio engine is vastly superior to Cubase's, at least up through what I used. Cubase was always very unstable and had arbitrary limitations imposed by a poorly designed audio engine.

You have yet to articulate what "depth" Cubase has that Studio One doesn't. Certainly not anything that I've ever needed to write and record and engineer music. But I really don't use much in the way of crutches either.

And if you're falling asleep regularly in front of your computer, that's not normal, regardless of what software you're using. You should get that checked out.

What good is articulating anything, if the response is going to be a predictable "I've never needed that to write and record and engineer music, but I don't use much in the way of crutches either.

I'm not going to type up two pages to deal with that

I'd rather play it even. "Stuff I need isn't there. Stuff you need is. Bravo to you." I don't even [care to] come here often enough to entertain those types of discussions, particularly when those participating have no intention of being objective.

It puts me to sleep because it's boring to use, for me. It's like reading War and Peace for the 5th time. There is nothing pathological about that.

Bye, now.

[LeVzi]

Yeah Studio One looks like the obvious choice, only thing that worries me with S1 is stability.

I was never able to get it running in demo mode when I tried it, this was a while ago, but Cubase has been rock solid of late.

I don't want to move, but the impending shift from VST2 to 3 only worries me i'll lose a lot of essential plugins.

Like people have mentioned any DAW is going to be a learning curve, if you're switching DAWs you would expect that it might take some time to get comfortable.

In terms of features, Studio One, Digital Performer, Cubase and Reaper all are capable. In terms of stability, I think maybe you're running into configuration issues, your specific system setup had conflicts with Studio One at the time you tried it. DP has this issue on PC, it either works perfectly or it conflicts with something in peoples set ups.

Truth of the matter is VST2 support is going away though, reports are Steinberg are actively pulling any future development of VST2 ports to the Apple M1 platform in order to force everyones hand, so I'm not sure moving to a new DAW does anything more than buy time. But my choice is DP, it's great.

This is the issue , and one I guess we will have to see about. Steinberg are pulling the plug on VST2 , that's a given. I just wonder if the other DAW's will rule it out too ?

I really don't see the harm in VST2 still being allowed, but I guess its all down to the mothership pulling the license.

I will be gutted to lose some of the VST2's that are no longer supported but still work well i.e. Camelphat and Camelspace among others.

I was hoping for a stable wrapper for VST2 to 3 , but that's been shot down a few times.

[LeVzi]

I dunno why this is going that way, but I am not struggling for inspiration with Cubase.

This is only down to the VST2 change and that S1 might still use them, but even that might change from what i've read here.

Cubase is 100% stable for me and I am very used to it. But S1 would be the logical choice should I need to shift.

I won't move DAW's unless I am forced to.

[kanoharuayu]

I tried to use studio one before, but it was like a kids version of Cubase, it looked neat and clean, but I needed the more powerful features.

Studio one is like riding a honda grome
sure you can go up to 80mph, pop a willy or two



but if you want a real bike to get you places you need Yamaha's Cubase







Besides, Cubase sounds better.

[sqigls]

For me, a seasoned Cubase user, Studio One is no replacement for Cubase.
As much as i hoped it would be.
And as much as i hate Steinberg... and the shitty glitchy audio engine.
It just doesn't quite do it.
On the new M1 Macbook, using Cubase 11 (touch wood) have not had a crash yet
(that wasn't simply due to a poorly coded plugin).

the last few days i've been writing a few ideas in Logic. It doesn't really do it for me either.

[Atlatnesiti]

Studio One is like a better Cubase.

You just need to unlearn some bad habits from Cubase… like all the stuff you learned to avoid because it crashes Cubase, routing from left to right only, etc.

Err, No
…and for second paragraph:
Err, No
Studio 1 will not reach the level of sophistication of Cubase for many more years I’m afraid
But as they say each to its own.
If you’re happy with and comfortable making music in any DAW of your preference, just enjoy it and don’t try to justify it - you don’t need to. Be happy with what you have
Btw; You now what? Sometimes I wish that that Steinberg could re-release Pro-24 or even Cubase 3 from Atari ST days for modern computers of today…

[AdvancedFollower]

You'll be at home with S1 coming from Cubase. The shortcuts about 90% the same. Most of the workflow can be replicated as well.

I thought to migrate from Cubase to S1, but for 2 reasons I didn't:
1. Cubase has more detailed tools (more options) especially in midi and composition.
2. S1 sometimes has strange glitches! Like a strange latency with my hardware synth. Playing with the Asio protection (or whatever they call it), resets it to normal latency (change it to maximum then back to minimum solved it!) There was about 100 ms latency!! In Cubase, Live and Bitwig it was the same (about 5 to 10 ms).

So, when I use S1, I find myself always checking with other DAWs when I feel something strange (in the past version, version 4, there was some slight midi timing inaccuracies. So, in the end I return to Cubase.

I recently switched from S1 to Cubase for the same reasons you mentioned (strange glitches and bugs in S1 that go unacknowledged for months/years until the complaints in their forums get loud enough).

I agree the two programs feel very similar. I think there are some ex-Cubase developers working on S1 and it shows. They are organized in a very similar way and most things work the same. I even find myself using learned S1 shortcuts without thinking about it, and most of the time they work.

There are some things that are different - for example the "fold-out" mixer in S1 is fully featured where as in Cubase it's some kind of bastard child that only has part of the features from the "full" mixer (F3), and you have to keep switching tabs to see sends and inserts. It also drives me insane that there's no context-sensitive right click menu for items like audio files or MIDI clips, which means you have to learn the shortcut or use the menus at the top for things like Glue, Separate Shared Copy etc.