Cubase fans 3.1 full details...worth it?

[original flipper]

HI

Well why didn't you say that in the first place!!!

FWIW I uninstalled SXV3 a few days ago in a moment of wild and unrepressed 'cleaning' - I have not got anything much done with it in the year that I have been using it - I only purchased it as I have a dual Xeon DAW and it was the only host (bar Sonar) that could access dual cpu's at that time.

I had tried the Sonar demo just prior to making the choice along with a demo of SXV1 - believe it or not I could not get ANYTHING going in Sonar - I couldn't even load up a vst and play around - SX was not a lot more intuitive to be honest.

I am at quite a loss with a host - I am just finishing a 'BIG' remix project in XT, but I have found the automation and manipulation of audio to be totally unsuitable for my needs - which is a shame as XT's midi editing is fabulous, Jorgen the developer is also the most unbelievable dev - you can post a feature request at the forum in the morning and find a beta up in the evening with your FR included!!!

But I must be realistic, at this moment in time the program doesn't quite meet my needs, I am going to give LiveV5 a go next week when I start my next project and see how things go, I believe that I can get along in ANY host although there will always be an inclination towards one that does mostly what you need and in a comfortable way.

I think SX feels heavy - XT is under 1meg of code - you start it up and can be playing a synth in 10 seconds, I feel like I am loading up a hog with SX, the dongle is a pain at times (has locked me out for a whole day before) and (probably like Sonar) has become bloated with features that I not only don't need but am forced to use - look how much memory these 'big' programs use up!

So, there is a 'view' from a not so regular SX user - who would be most excited if Steinbergs next version of SX was a sripped down version, YES ... thats what I need , DOWNGRADES - the new upgrade for the MILLENIUM MAN (or woMAN) ... another 100 megs ripped out to streamline the program!!!

Flipper.

[jacobh]

Worth It? Of course it's worth it... it's FREE! And who is waiting? SX 3.02 is a great product and I'm making music right now!

Thanks for the "shootout" link. I too am always interested in big things going on with other sequencers as well. I actually started with Cakewalk as my first sequencer, but then switched to Cubase, and find it works better for me. A couple times I have tried to use Sonar instead, but the last time I did I found that I couldn't get as high of a track count with Sonar as I could with Cubase (using the same system), and the buffering system that Cubase uses has a much more immediate feel to it (no delay when you hit play). I also found my self missing several things, and couldn't find anything to fill it's place in Sonar. Rewire was a big one (I use it a lot), and at the time Sonar's implementation of Rewire was rather lacking in my eyes compared to Cubase. Both sequencers definitely have their advantages though! I just found that for me Cubase contained more time saving and creative features. Cubase tends to have a lot of interface features that aren't apparent on the surface, but once you learn them, they can make your workflow very smooth! Anyway, to each his own. Cubase seems to me to stay the most ahead on the features I'm interested in. Someday I may make another "shootout" my self, but as for now I'm happy making music with my last shootout champion, Cubase.

Cheers,
Jacob H.

[Bas]

Once the release is out, there will be a lot of discussion of the features and implementation. The trouble is that the features in themselves won't always click as being a 'great' feature, unless you understand the methodology used in a particular host. Tiny things like the crosshairs will make someone very happy, but as a user of another host that would not be on the list of important features to look at.

Yes there are some great features (does any other host allow delay comepensated external Midi devices controlled with the same ease as a VSTi? or External effects run with the same ease as VST effects? ) For many studio's with lots of external gear, those things are going to be a real boon.


I am sure there are other tools that will make it even better to use a host like this, but for some, the features of another host will rock their boat.

Personally I hate the DAW wars thing. I do not knock Logic, or Sonar, and certainly would not bother with ignorant 'organ grinder' comments, but that is me.

What I do believe is that all hosts could be used make music in one way or another, but certain hosts wil be suited to certain people's preffered methods. And even shortcomings of each host can be worked around, so the important bit is to get to really understand the tools and methods that a host provides, and then make them do what you want.

[christianmusicmaker]

So, there is a 'view' from a not so regular SX user - who would be most excited if Steinbergs next version of SX was a sripped down version, YES ... thats what I need , DOWNGRADES - the new upgrade for the MILLENIUM MAN (or woMAN) ... another 100 megs ripped out to streamline the program!!!

Flipper.

Thanks Original Flipper. Interesting.I think Cubase and Sonar may be creating a new category for themselves *the Super host*where just about every possible thing you could ever need is provided out of the box but may be far too much for many users.

I certainly prefer to have more than I need but I also know of many others who may never come close to using all the features in Cubase and Sonar.

Steinberg and Cakewalk offer stripped down versions of their flagship products, have you considered such a ready made option? Especially for Steinberg in your case?

Cubase tends to have a lot of interface features that aren't apparent on the surface, but once you learn them, they can make your workflow very smooth! Anyway, to each his own. Cubase seems to me to stay the most ahead on the features I'm interested in. Someday I may make another "shootout" my self, but as for now I'm happy making music with my last shootout champion, Cubase.

Cheers,
Jacob H.

Yes the shootout link is an interesting write up.

Good to see your happy with CubaseSX. I think once you start using feature packed hosts like Sonar and Cubase it can be very hard to change as it can be like learning a new language sometimes, even though they share many features.

[griels]

Have you tried the Cubase SX plugin called Q? It's a new EQ plugin they implmented a while back, and to me doesn't sound harsh at all. This basically is their reply to a "high quality mode". It sounds very smooth! If I remember correctly, I think this plugin they use double the sampling frequency to get it sounding as good as they do...

Cheers,
Jacob H.

Cheers, just a shame you can't replace the standard Track EQ with that... Still, it only takes a second for to insert...

May I reiterate, I'm actually quite happy making music with Cubase, although there is of course plenty of room for improvement... In terms of stability I'm pretty happy, the only crashes I seem to come across are from unstable plugins such as Kontakt 2... The main thing for me would be a more compact UI and some other window management options (would be nice to have multiple track parameter editors open simultaneously, for example). I guess the main thing that keeps me locked to SX is that I know the app well, and I love the flexibility of the drum editor and the midi manipulation functions.. If I could find a replacement for that I might consider switching to something else, although it could be a lot of effort to get up to speed in terms of workflow in another host.

[Jaeson Merrill]

.... is it ever worth it? has it ever been? ...

[CANE CREEK]

well where is the cubase update , its supposed to be released in august ? , they are cutting it fine.....

[replicant]

They always cut if fine

[HouseMusicMan]

For me Cubase SX needs more quality synths and effects that new functions, in this question is very poor cubase sx.

[griels]

TBH I virtually never use any of the inbuilt Cubase synths/effects, not even the EQ or compressors, simply because I don't like to tie myself to a host unnecessarily when there are so many great freeware VST plugins that can be used in any host.. In fact I happen to think some of the bundled FX/VSTis are very good, for example, Tonic, the Phaser, daTube, the Overdrive, and A1 (a much underrated synth I believe!), but tend not to use them for this reason.

This also makes it easier for me to collaborate with other sequencer users. For me the most important field in which SX could be improved is ergonomics and resource usage.

[HouseMusicMan]

TBH I virtually never use any of the inbuilt Cubase synths/effects, not even the EQ or compressors, simply because I don't like to tie myself to a host unnecessarily when there are so many great freeware VST plugins that can be used in any host..

This is because the cubase sx synths and effects are very poor, the are best effects and synths free that the cubase included. And the more important cubase is no free you have to pay a lot of money for it.

Tonic, Roomworks are very good but the rest are very normal or very poor.

The logic audio synths and effects are 1000 times better that cubase plugins you can to create a complete track with it but in cubase is a impossible.

[griels]

This is because the cubase sx synths and effects are very poor, the are best effects and synths free that the cubase included.

No, some of them are s**te, but quite a few of them are very good... As stated, I don't use them because I don't like using host-tied fx/instruments In terms of synths my favourites are things like Minimonsta, z3ta+, Polyiblit, etc etc

I'll take my hat off to eMagic and say that the inbuilt Logic instruments/FX are top notch though, not that I'd use any host-tied stuff if I could easily avoid it

[Sascha Franck]

I'll take my hat off to eMagic and say that the inbuilt Logic instruments/FX are top notch though, not that I'd use any host-tied stuff if I could easily avoid it

Don't even freaking tell me!
90% of my stuff is based on Logic instruments and plugins and I wouldn't happen to have the slightest idea about how to ever transfer them to any other host without going through major hassles.

[griels]

Don't even freaking tell me!
90% of my stuff is based on Logic instruments and plugins and I wouldn't happen to have the slightest idea about how to ever transfer them to any other host without going through major hassles.

Aye, I'd rather spend the money it'd cost to go Mac on the equivalent VST plugins, and still have money left over Although it might be hard to find a B3 emulation as good as EVB3...

[Compyfox]

I found this doing a simple google search...

http://www.ocremix.org/phpBB2/viewtopic ... 7&start=15&

Scroll down for a pdf download with details of the full Cubase 3.1 update.

Haha... yet another one who went to OCR for these "old" news (who already were in like... a handful of music mags?!). However some "clown" was so funny and only ripped out the link to the PDF (which leads to my page, which was mirred from the Steinberg Press server - so it was freely available before), posted it over at the Cubase boards and was like "OMG LOL S0MEONEs LeAKED OUT INFORMATION!!!!1111one!".



Yeah I'm not too happy about the Steinberg philosophy that they do for a couple of years now either. Personally I think this update could have been handled earlier (or from the start) as the "pay update" from SX2 to SX3 also wasn't needed in my opinion. You pay for a naked tool in the end (lots of money) and still have tons of bugs.

No wonder that there're flamewars, though I don't know why everyone is so bitchy about Cubase (for example HanafiH, as if everything else is better!!!). I mean... without Cubase or Logic, tools like FL, Sonar or even Samplitude wouldn't even exist. It's just that Steinberg still doesn't realise what Cubase really needs:

No new "knick-knacks", but better bundled software. Logic has the Space Designer (even if it's just a demo), others have rundown pro plugins (full version). And Cubase, nothing. You have to pay extra! They should add better plugins (especially reverb, why not WizooVerb for free?!) and then they're back on the race.

But nah... We get a stripped-down sequencer full of bucks and have to pay for every update with even more bugs. And then they're all like "it's new, it's innovative" and you have to start orver to master the "new cubase" where it took like half a year to finally learn the version before, though now it's useless as the functions and hotkeys totally changed...

God I miss the times of VST3.7 and VST5.x