Cubase 8.5 here any day now...and the day has come

[lfm]

a docked transport would be my number one feature request i will admit, over any other docked item. Yes that would be good. And they can add that without any drastic rewrite.

Would be last on my list! And there's the conundrum for Steinberg... Who do they please? And not just this feature, eh?

Yup - have to agree. It's a keystroke away and besides what's in the full transport you need so much?

I don't get that either - what's in floating transport that is not to activate on toolbar transport?

But would be good to choose toolbar on top or bottom, though, as Sonar has.
I prefer lower toolbar.

What I really miss is key to just on/off Rack - not through the hiddeous menu that has a key option. But maybe I missed something.

[SJ_Digriz]

What I really miss is key to just on/off Rack

You mean open/close the rack? it's ALT+T .. or check your key commands setup if you somehow lost it.

You may want to toggle the transport keyboard if the command is not making it to the project window.

[SJ_Digriz]

FWIW, independant loop has been my on my main hit parade for many, many, many etc... years. I think I originally put it in the FR thread on the old board during the SX release.

It works exactly like I want it to.

Now, getting the metronome modernized so that the pre/post roll can have meaningful tempo hints for non-4/4 signatures would be nice. The setup of click patterns is about as obtuse as it is possible to make it. Although you can now have custom time sig clicks, it isn't in relation to things like pickup bars or have the ability to adjust to rapidly changing sigs.

They have finally started cleaning up the hover mess. That is a nice thing. Keycommand focus is still broken 4 years later.

They have finally started on supporting hi res monitors. Unfortunately the first pass only has some first wave retina support which I could care less about. Just give us proper 4k support.

Anyhow, not a spectacular update but interesting for sure.

[ObsoleteAcc99]

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[ObsoleteAcc99]

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[lfm]

What I really miss is key to just on/off Rack

You mean open/close the rack? it's ALT+T .. or check your key commands setup if you somehow lost it.

Perfect, thank you - it worked - saves key+click+esc every time.
Looking in key commands, I think I found that before, but since under section Editors I did think it was about something else, not about main window, arranger window or whatever they call it.

Using Alt Shift E - toggle editors, only chord pad comes up.
There are numerous editors obviosly - but no view menu simply listing them, and not in manual either. Fully custom menu sets would be nice.

I think it was 5-6 different recording modes, some for audio and some for midi. And this to compensate for not allowing audio clips to overlap and just be played - like Sonar and Reaper(play all items setting) allow. So to do loop recording with preroll is an undertaking the first time. Midi can overlap, but not audio so you need to use punch in/out points as well because of this - or preroll will not play or be silent by first take. They paint themselves into a corner, and then start climbing the walls to continue - instead of fixing original limitation.

Common recording modes - 4 different - regarding punch/start positon you record from - p227
Audio recording mode - 3 different - p233 - where none allow loop record and allow previous take to sound(I use for practising vocal harmonies).
Midi recording modes - 3 different - p241
Midi cycle recording modes - 5 different combined with midi recording modes - p241

Cubase is tough love. You can do anything almost, it's just how you have to do it.
Sonar and Reaper both are just whether to mute previous take/track or not, and new track or overwrite - done. No special consideration if clips on preroll is to be played.

I have a lot of reading to do...long term....and revert to original plan for now to use Cubase for scoring only and record mix in Sonar. I don't have the penetrating ammunition to break the code how Cubase is organized right now.

[SJ_Digriz]

where none allow loop record and allow previous take to sound(I use for practising vocal harmonies).

Back in the day I could lay down 6 or 12 or 18 guitar tracks, a couple of bass tracks some keyboards and some vocals without ever turning off the transport. I think this was broken in C4 when they started the new take system. I still prefer the old one.

However, you can use a combination of settings, a macro and Generic Remote to "move to next track". The combination of track versions, takes and the little "next track" cheater, it's actually pretty cool.

[lfm]

where none allow loop record and allow previous take to sound(I use for practising vocal harmonies).

Back in the day I could lay down 6 or 12 or 18 guitar tracks, a couple of bass tracks some keyboards and some vocals without ever turning off the transport. I think this was broken in C4 when they started the new take system. I still prefer the old one.

However, you can use a combination of settings, a macro and Generic Remote to "move to next track". The combination of track versions, takes and the little "next track" cheater, it's actually pretty cool.

I see, it used to be another way. Both Sonar, Reaper and even Mixcraft use lanes like tracks within tracks - no worries if overlapping, you can trim that afterwords.

Greatful for your tips, thank you. Macros can serve for many things.

I can sense too, plenty good stuff in Cubase- just that it feels like patchwork rather than well thought through solution.

I ran ProTools Express two months ago looking at that(later ran PT11 trial too) - and it's so much more together and manual is the best I ever saw. But not going Avid since they since two years left serious bugs in PTE - like metronome is not aligned with audio(hardware delays not considered) - and they leave at that. I don't need another can of worms to open. I mean PTE is current version shipped with hardware and they don't maintain it - WTF is that?

I was looking at Cubase external instruments too, I thought it would be useful like I found in Samplitude - when selecting an external instrument in a project it reserves certain hardware inputs for that as defined and you can benefit from calibrated delays for that instrument etc - but it seems that Cubase reserve those inputs permanently when defining, whether using them or not. Cubase is good thinking in a way, thinking you have a rack that is always connected - both regarding external effects and instruments. But unless you run a bigger venue this does not fit so well. I have a patchbay that I connected to six inputs in various ways as I need them.

Will see if "not connected" for external instrument can still serve in a way that I have calibrated delays selecting an instrument and just select which inputs to use anyway. Or I just use the excellent delay setting for each track and have to remember which delay for organ, piano and synth.

A lot of things I like too. LIke abilities to adjust to tempo afterwords, you can just run a recording and play around and take up on ideas. So far I just moved projects from Sonar and Reaper, not so much recording - and it run just fine. I like the stationary cursor and how smooth it runs. And Cubase is among the few that really support Waves Tune and all other plugins too. And the battles I had with Syncrosoft key is gone, they really fixed that the last five years - and didn't have to do anything, all transparent. You used to have to download eLicenser and install, and then update license databases and I don't know what. Now I installed Cubase on a second computer too - and just inserted key and ran it - really smooth.

And will make a quick guide which recording modes I really need - and doing that a couple of times it will be good once in my backbone. I guess a fully fledged daw like Cubase takes some time to learn - even if you ran many before the last 15 years.

So today is testing and calibrating external instruments...

[SJ_Digriz]

I can sense too, plenty good stuff in Cubase- just that it feels like patchwork rather than well thought through solution.

In some cases I agree. In the case of the recording options I don't. There is a reason for all of the combination of MIDI and Audio recording settings. But, the vast majority of people will pick a combination that works for there type of recording and leave it that way. Doing live desk mixdown, post work, stem recording, voice over, multi-track etc... are completely different. Too many of the DAW treat them all the same.

I was looking at Cubase external instruments too, I thought it would be useful like I found in Samplitude - when selecting an external instrument in a project it reserves certain hardware inputs for that as defined and you can benefit from calibrated delays for that instrument etc - but it seems that Cubase reserve those inputs permanently when defining, whether using them or not. Cubase is good thinking in a way, thinking you have a rack that is always connected - both regarding external effects and instruments. But unless you run a bigger venue this does not fit so well. I have a patchbay that I connected to six inputs in various ways as I need them.

There has been a lot of discussions about this. There is a standing FR for external instrument presets. However, even if you re-patch it is nothing more than clicking on the ping button to get the delay compensation correct. I'm in your boat. I have a small studio where I patch a lot effects on a per track basis. So the chain is constantly in flux. The Ping button work. I'd prefer a preset for a given chain.


So using Reaper as an example, you have an extremely powerful DAW with a very small footprint. There are dozens of little features that I wish were in Cubase, including some MIDI ones. However, the interface is an absolute mess. It requires far too much tinkering to get it to function in a reasonable fashion while accessing all those powerful features. The action list is unparalleled as far as I can tell, but it's only as good as the hours you spend trying to find actions that do what you want.

IMO Cubase is cleaner than Reaper and Sonar. But, it definitely has its warts and missing limbs. If there was a hybrid combination of Samplitude and Digital Performer I think that would hit my sweet spot. Cubase is almost that, but not quite.

[Daverock]

rex files to tempo in mediabay - please fix

[ObsoleteAcc99]

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[egbert]

where none allow loop record and allow previous take to sound(I use for practising vocal harmonies).

Back in the day I could lay down 6 or 12 or 18 guitar tracks, a couple of bass tracks some keyboards and some vocals without ever turning off the transport. I think this was broken in C4 when they started the new take system. I still prefer the old one.

However, you can use a combination of settings, a macro and Generic Remote to "move to next track". The combination of track versions, takes and the little "next track" cheater, it's actually pretty cool.

I read a forum post (elsewhere) from a guy who plays multiple wind instruments (brass, reeds). He used a long loop record setup to record whole horn section parts with the transport running continuously and punching in on a new take or track with each successive part. He left himself enough pre-roll to swap horns and warm up his chops for the next pass.

I wondered how to do this in Cubase. Is is possible to get the recording to jump automatically to record on a new track at the end of each loop and have the previous takes/tracks all sound (sort of like lfm's vocal harmonies idea)?

[lfm]

There has been a lot of discussions about this. There is a standing FR for external instrument presets. However, even if you re-patch it is nothing more than clicking on the ping button to get the delay compensation correct. I'm in your boat. I have a small studio where I patch a lot effects on a per track basis. So the chain is constantly in flux. The Ping button work. I'd prefer a preset for a given chain.

Thanks for the Ping idea - but cannot find it for External Instrument even though manual states you should rightclick on delay column Check User Delay.

I find it for external effects though.

I spent all yesterday to experiment, and found external instruments is not useful for my purposes. Easier to just make track archives that I reuse in new projects and sets of normal midi and audio tracks.

So using Reaper as an example, you have an extremely powerful DAW with a very small footprint. There are dozens of little features that I wish were in Cubase, including some MIDI ones. However, the interface is an absolute mess. It requires far too much tinkering to get it to function in a reasonable fashion while accessing all those powerful features. The action list is unparalleled as far as I can tell, but it's only as good as the hours you spend trying to find actions that do what you want.

IMO Cubase is cleaner than Reaper and Sonar. But, it definitely has its warts and missing limbs. If there was a hybrid combination of Samplitude and Digital Performer I think that would hit my sweet spot. Cubase is almost that, but not quite.

Reaper is surely impressive in many ways - really good thinking about folder tracks and busses available in mixer as well is one, performance is another. But find the resampling algos are the same as stretching algos which is much worse quality(maybe not immediately audible but after processing much more artifacts are there). Same thing with Samplitude at import when just needing to convert sample rate, you have to say no to any conversion and do manually using the high quality algos in Samp, which are very good. So I use Samp to convert Reaper projects in EDL to export as OMF to use in Sonar or Cubase.

But there are bugs in Cubase regarding OMF import - track names and clip names are off by one track in some circumstances - you get wrong clip name with track name - track name is correct with what is sounding.

Samp is quite good regarding gui and assistance in working, a lot of presets and resuse of ranges I find useful. Also a lot of options how to monitor mixes while recording, a bit to read up but still good once getting it. Help system is quite good, but manual not so good. For me maintenance is one of the biggest issues - I trust Cakewalk and Steinberg more regarding this. I just had Waves remote my daw and find that VST3 scan crash it - again. We just had a fix where old crash(six months since last update) on exit if using VST3, and now this again - when will they learn.

Regarding given a good chance to help yourself - manual and context sensitive help right there - Cakewalk Sonar and Avid ProTools excel in my view. Cubase has far to few help buttons and no context sensitive help - so over and over you have to exit a dialog to open reference manual and read up on things. So it makes learning it is a uphill battle since manual is not that good either in Cubase, not the worst though, but very scattered snippets of info too many times.

If I trusted Avid for maintenance I would go ProTools. I found these showstoppers I mentioned above, and also the VCA's unusable at release this fall(if it was 12.1) took them 6 weeks before 12.2 and it was fixed. Is this the level of maintenance professionals go by - not able to use VCA's for that long. I mean Cakewalk provide a fix in a week for such serious matters.

I read someone mention problems in Cubase VCA's too earlier, but have not tried yet. Not at final mixes yet in Cubase, just trying to get organized so far.

But really like working in ProTools. I feel in control and like the way delays are presented in mixer, what delay is on each track, and what compensation is used on the whole, and ability to fix right there. Context help everywhere, excellent manual and good overview with loaded inserts and sends even in track view. A little limited and viewing sends with controls with only one slot at a time, but nothing major since I seldom use more than one send anyway. But cue mixes may have to use sends. I feel Sonar, Samp and Cubase is preferred regarding this having multiple sends with controls in sight at the same time.

If Cakewalk really take up on most wanted voted for - like notation improvements and arranger tracks - I'll go Sonar, I really like the way Cakewalk work as well. Otherwise Cubase is my strongest candidate and probably is worth the trouble learning in depth. Either way Cubase will be for notation, really allow to make it look right without changing midi.

Digital Performer - I can't stand the way midi is implemented with loosing the clip containers and learning so many key commands to quickly select what you need. But as I understand notation is really good, and like the thinking with chunks and VRacks.

So yes, in these times of christmas we have the term smörgåsbord in sweden, a palette of dishes to pick and choose from. Wouldn't that be great for daws.

[lfm]

I wondered how to do this in Cubase. Is is possible to get the recording to jump automatically to record on a new track at the end of each loop and have the previous takes/tracks all sound (sort of like lfm's vocal harmonies idea)?

I experimented a little being interested myself.

Short answer is no for audio, but hitting one key in between looping, you can do it.

This is the way I found working:
Did a macro

Edit - Monitor
Duplicate Tracks
Up
Down
Edit - Monitor

So assign this macro to one key of choice
Prepare punch in and punch out and activate.
Select locators one bar outside punch points on each side
Record mode replace+keep history or just replace should work - I did former
Prepare a track and arm for record and monitor

EDIT: Note - I have set monitoring to manual. If another monitor mode Monitor rows for macro might not be needed.

Start recording - and in the punch out interval hit macro key
It will create a duplicate track that will sound when played next round
It loops back and records second run and hit macro key
and repeat until satisfied

To hit macro while record is not activate seems to be needed, thereby the punch out point. While recording I found macro does not run, maybe there is a way.

And why up and down is needed, seems to be that Cubase is unsure about active track, and jumps up two tracks and up arrow key.

And monitor off is needed for track to play existing clips.

I assume you can assign a midi key to execute macro, not sure. Thinking using sustain pedal or something would be handy doing guitar takes.

For midi there is no problem and need doing this, just select mix stacked midi cycle record.

The key command assignements in Cubase are the best implementation I've seen in any daw. Very intuitive and easy to replace one assignment, and macro abilities - very nice.

[egbert]

@ lfm Thanks for the Macro - will definitely try that.

If the MIDI key can be assigned I guess you could record a MIDI sequence on a MIDI track with just this key playing at the correct time and it would trigger the operation on each loop. I can't test this at the moment but if it works it might be the ticket.