Steinberg has released Cubase 14

[sqigls]

The reason i don't use Bitwig is the probably the same reason i don't use modular synths. I could be there forever making sounds and not writing anything. I'm bad enough at this as it is
Definitely powerful. Adding subtle modulation here and there would definitely be handy also. The Cubase 14 demo is a generous 60 days so I'll try to give the modulators a fair go.

Not to sound like an old bastard set in his way, even though i am , I really don't have enough DAW time as it is, so when i'm writing i just try to plow through as much as i can while i can. I find I'm using Sundog Studio more than anything now, at least in the early writing stages. I'm more interested in getting a good chord progression than sound design. If i form a strong MIDI backbone first - the sound design and mixing feels easier and more exciting. and the Cubase MIDI editing, logical editor and such, is just so powerful, and time saving.

[xbitz]

^^^ The problem is, you don’t even need Bitwig for this; with just a cutoff mod + a note-triggered envelope, and the velocity modifier at top of it, I’ve added here viewtopic.php?p=8994061#p8994061 , you could go on forever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfSjyfJdjes

'It’s a trap' We are living in dangerous times.

[cnt]

VST2 seems to works fine after enabling the support, I can open old projects. I dont know if it is possible to modulate VST2 plugins though.

I tested the new modulation system a bit, it works, but of course it feels more clunky than Bitwigs mod system.
Fine-tuning settings and parametres is not as nice as in Bitwig. It feels less snappy and accurate.

Choosing what plugin/parameter to modulate is also a bit strange and clunky compared to Bitwig.
Tried using snappy envelopes and LFOs at 1/16th notes, but the sync didn't seem 100% sample-accurate when playing back the project. It has some small annoying details that makes things feel sub-optimal in the workflow.
I don't think Steinberg can do it much different though, Cubase wasn't made with the same intent as Bitwig... so it's hard to move from a classic daw with all it's legacy stuff and not upset people that use it for mostly traditional production, recording and mixing.

A lot of things in Cubase feels like addons and not integrated in the workflow as it could be.
Anyways, I will still use both Bitwig and Cubase for different tasks.

And to be clear, I'm not disappointed with the update so far, I pretty much know what to expect and what not to expect regarding new features in Cubase.

[SLiC]

OK, I demoed (first time back with Cubase since switching top Studio One...I was with Cubase from VST to V8)

I really don't like it, a lot of the same reasons I left. Don't like the GUI (so ugly, unpolished, different fonts , ugly pop up windows, cluttered. I just don't get Steinberg's GUI design, I put up with it in Halion....but its a real turn off for me, tiny dark grey fonts, way to many windows...just no need to be so FUGLY in 2024!

Workflow as I remembered, but often 2 or 3 clicks to do something simple and still hate the media bay bit. Also too many tabs in my opinion -Modulators good, but nothing beats the VST/FX/Modulators in rack like Live/Bitwig other workflow is never going to be as good. Drum machine and pattern track also good (but need to be on the same screen not tabbing between them!)

Cubase is obviously very, very powerful (as it always has been) and lots of new toys (if a bit 'bolted on'). For me its just 'too much at at once'- In my opinion Studio Once features are just more 'integrated' and easier to use- drag and drop etc- just 3 splits on the screen...less cluttered. Everything just seems to have a more streamlines workflow- like putting the drum machine next to the pattern editor!

[Charlie Firpo]

Do the new modulators retrigger function work for you guys? For example, i can't get the new lfo modulator to retrigger on midi key trigger. I've select "midi" on the retrigger option. But the lfo is always freerunning.

[xbitz]

Do the new modulators retrigger function work for you guys? For example, i can't get the new lfo modulator to retrigger on midi key trigger. I've select "midi" on the retrigger option. But the lfo is always freerunning.

as I see it needs an auxMIDI track and per slot per track direct MIDI routings from MIDI Sends

Screenshot 2024-11-12 at 12.48.51.png

[Charlie Firpo]

Thanks Xbitz! Appreciate that, Will try it.

[_leras]

But 14 does look tempting, despite that I thought 12->13 was a bit disappointing. If I go for this, then I'll probably leave 15 and 16 at least, as it really isn't good value unless it's a big update. I think my upgrade path has been something like Cubase 1 > 3.5 > SX2 > 10.5 > 12 > 13. If I add it up I would have spent bucketloads more doing every version, and a lot even going every second version (though I had to buy full new from SX2 into 10.5).

Yeah don't save too much by skipping versions with Cubase. I'm had more than needed, but probably waited for sales since I've become a Bitwig user.

Last version I installed was SX3...!

(but that was to try to load some old files.)

[_leras]

The reason i don't use Bitwig is the probably the same reason i don't use modular synths. I could be there forever making sounds and not writing anything. I'm bad enough at this as it is
Definitely powerful. Adding subtle modulation here and there would definitely be handy also. The Cubase 14 demo is a generous 60 days so I'll try to give the modulators a fair go.

The grid in Bitwig is modular and yes, if so inclined could spend lots of time with it. However it's tucked right out of the way. You don't have to use it. I rarely do.

The modulators and macros and plug in, channel and global levels however are right there, and very easy to use.

It's great Cubase have added a version of this but no way it's as slick as in Bitwig.

[xbitz]

^^^ ok, but in Bitwig, for example, you can put together all kinds of fun devices(not just modular stuffs), like independently triggerable note choppers lines(like Nora was); I just dug this out for a colleague from the past.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH6uiArjtk8
let's just say it's a niche need, but possible, I think back then it was envious of Renoise-style pattern retriggering

[PAK]

Workflow as I remembered, but often 2 or 3 clicks to do something simple and still hate the media bay bit. Also too many tabs in my opinion -Modulators good, but nothing beats the VST/FX/Modulators in rack like Live/Bitwig other workflow is never going to be as good. Drum machine and pattern track also good (but need to be on the same screen not tabbing between them!)

Design wise, Steinberg does seem to want users to use the split screen view, and tab between stuff at the bottom “Lower Zone”. (EG Modulators default to this, and won’t show you full details inside of the plugin window).

But it’s optional. So you can put the pattern editor and drum machine on the same screen. Just “Breakout” out the pattern editor window (Arrow pointing North East), from the bottom, and set to always on top. Or vice versa. Or break out both

I will say, if you’re using a 1920x1080 resolution, things can start to feel a bit cramped IMO. Cubase really benefits from a higher res like 2560x1440, or dual monitors.

[dionenoid]

I hope at some point the modulators have a midi learn, so that you can control them from a keyboard controller with CC;s.

Right now the midi learn points to the destination, but it would be great if there was one that points to the source (as a destination) as well.

You can add any function of any modulator to a Quick Control (either the Modulator QC's, or the Track QC's). And the QC's are ofcourse assignable to Midi CC's.

[cryophonik]

OK, I demoed (first time back with Cubase since switching top Studio One...I was with Cubase from VST to V8)

I really don't like it, a lot of the same reasons I left. Don't like the GUI (so ugly, unpolished, different fonts , ugly pop up windows, cluttered. I just don't get Steinberg's GUI design, I put up with it in Halion....but its a real turn off for me, tiny dark grey fonts, way to many windows...just no need to be so FUGLY in 2024!

Workflow as I remembered, but often 2 or 3 clicks to do something simple and still hate the media bay bit. Also too many tabs in my opinion -Modulators good, but nothing beats the VST/FX/Modulators in rack like Live/Bitwig other workflow is never going to be as good. Drum machine and pattern track also good (but need to be on the same screen not tabbing between them!)

This pretty much summarizes my thoughts on Cubase as well. It was my very first DAW back in the early 2000s, but I quickly replaced it because it seemed so unintuitive, convoluted, and unnecessarily difficult to do the most basic tasks, not to mention that it was always a crashfest for me no matter what computer or OS I was using. I still continued to use it and occasionally update it over the years because I collaborated with a couple of Cubase users, but that ended years ago and I stopped updating at v9.5. I was pretty excited about giving Cubase 14 a go as my secondary DAW, but nope, it's still not the DAW for me. Oh well, at least it seems like a great update for Cubase users.

[boxofsparklers]

Workflow as I remembered, but often 2 or 3 clicks to do something simple and still hate the media bay bit. Also too many tabs in my opinion.

I think a lot of people who don't like Cubase are "mouse clickers", and a lot of people (like myself) who like it are "muscle memory keyboard tappers". The only thing I use my mouse for in Cubase is for range selections and automation curves - where there is no need for more than one click most of the time.

And the tabs are completely optional. I happen to like tabs for small screen work, but don't use them when I have two big monitors.

[xbitz]

^^^ There’s a thread about the new shortcuts; they’ve added a couple of good stuff, just saying, C14: The New Key Commands Topic https://forums.steinberg.net/t/c14-the- ... c/949344/1