Is Cubase the most frustrating DAW ever created?

[EfreetiSultan]

The only thing I really miss is a complete overhaul as to not cause bugs.

Sometimes I find I have to delete some xml file like "preferences.xml".. To clear a bug and lose some settings..

[rod_zero]

Program is so old there is a lot of old stuff hanging around and new stuff just to sell more, it is like that Homer car

[machinesworking]

The only thing I really miss is a complete overhaul as to not cause bugs.

Sometimes I find I have to delete some xml file like "preferences.xml".. To clear a bug and lose some settings..

I had to do that once in DP11, I'm not OK with that, they (meaning the developers of DP and Cubase etc.), need to figure out how to not write traps into preference files.

I like these older DAWs for some of the better CC, NRPN, older hardware support etc. they have, but the fact that you report Cubase occasionally trashes it's own preference file like DP did, and a hanging AUv3 in Logic cost me an hours time trying to figure out how to delete it, because Logic wasn't going to start until it was deleted...

[PAK]

And why does Cubase not let go of some audio when trying to quit the program, always having to 'end task'

I was displeased to find this bug had managed to carry itself across to the Apple Silicon port. A lot, if not the majority, of Cubase crashes, sudden exits, and failures to close, are related to buggy plugins. Many plugins aren’t the best in terms of coding practices. Often devs just tick the “export to VST3” option with JUCE etc and call it job done. They do NO proper testing inside of Cubase. So, if it’s happening often, you need to start looking at the plugins you use.

If you leave plugins running for many days of uptime it also reveals just how many have issues. Wrapped plugins, and tickbox exporting to VST3, tends to do worse in terms of longer uptime stability. But even Steinberg’s own VST3 plugins are guilty - EG I’ve had Backbone bring down Cubase 13, and I’ve seen many complaints about Groove Agent 5 in their forums. Plus they’re in no position to tell devs to write to VST3 natively when even Steinberg wraps (Their AU plugins are really wrapped VST3’s).

Whilst you can blame the plugins, and be correct, the fault is really with Cubase IMO. It’s failing to properly isolate itself from plugins crashing and causing other weird bugs (like difficulty exiting, likely due to things like being unable to deallocate memory). This is my main gripe with the program, and I really don’t get why Steinberg haven’t made major changes already, instead of spending resources working on native Windows on ARM. You’d think fixing the basic stability of their host would be their top priority, but apparently not.

Most users will blame the host for any crashes. So, ultimately, it only makes Steinberg / Yamaha look bad.

[bibz1st]

I think in my case it is the unallocating of memory simply because as it tries to shut down, showing messages saying unloading this and that, it is always on unloading an audio part that it just stops, never on a plugin. In fact the only plugins used. except for omnisphere, are native cubase ones inc groove agent, but its always the audio that struggles. I should add it doesnt mess up the audio just wont let go of it seemingly.

[PAK]

I think in my case it is the unallocating of memory simply because as it tries to shut down, showing messages saying unloading this and that, it is always on unloading an audio part that it just stops, never on a plugin. In fact the only plugins used. except for omnisphere, are native cubase ones inc groove agent, but its always the audio that struggles. I should add it doesnt mess up the audio just wont let go of it seemingly.

If Cubase can manage to generate a log file sometimes it’ll tell you what it’s sticking on, so that’s what I’d check if you can. Not sure what platform you’re using, but I can say I’ve definitely noticed an improvement (less general bugginess) on Apple Silicon VS X86 too. But that’s pretty bad if it’s hanging even on its own processes. It just seems like this sort of thing is not getting the attention, from Steinberg, that it should.

[bibz1st]

Yea I'll def look for some kind of log file, good idea

[Gam456]

Too much frustration here

Here my thoughts about Cubase

+
Great DAW for compositor, film, scoring etc
- propably the best arrangment tool on the market
- chord track
- Melodyne like
- chord pad
- great instrument package
- tempo detection
- signature track
- track tempo
- score editor
- accelerated video by GPU

-
poor DAW for modern music
- non scalable UI in 2024 ? Move your ass Steinberg
- missing a session clips/loop mode
- missing a lot of useful midi utilities
- missing modulation such Bitwig
- Iconica with locked reverb ? Really ? What's the point?
- We want Spectralers Pro included in the package
- drum editor must be rewrite from the ground
- stop providing compressor, eq. It's enough

[elassi]

Here my thoughts about Cubase

- missing a lot of useful midi utilities

That's surprising. Cubase has a strong reputation when it comes to MIDI.

Guess you refer to the 'modern' MIDI tools approach in Ableton Live 12, which is a tool-set for ITB-musicians who only touch a keyboard for pressing chords.

[rageix]

- non scalable UI in 2024 ? Move your ass Steinberg

Not sure what you mean by this. Cubase has been ahead of the curve generally when it comes to high dpi interface. I guess there is no scale factor setting, but it will scale to a proper size for what resolution you are using. Unlike Pro Tools on Windows which looks like some ghetto Windows 7 application.

Also Cubase has been one of the best when it comes to handling 3rd party plugin scaling on Windows with a high dpi monitor.

[Gam456]

Here my thoughts about Cubase

- missing a lot of useful midi utilities

That's surprising. Cubase has a strong reputation when it comes to MIDI.

Guess you refer to the 'modern' MIDI tools approach in Ableton Live 12, which is a tool-set for ITB-musicians who only touch a keyboard for pressing chords.

Indeed, Ableton and Bitwig have a lot of useful tool for midi.

Cubase have a great midi editor, but is poor in midi utilities, such randomize, lfo, repeat, transpose, delay etc..

- non scalable UI in 2024 ? Move your ass Steinberg

Not sure what you mean by this. Cubase has been ahead of the curve generally when it comes to high dpi interface. I guess there is no scale factor setting, but it will scale to a proper size for what resolution you are using. Unlike Pro Tools on Windows which looks like some ghetto Windows 7 application.

Also Cubase has been one of the best when it comes to handling 3rd party plugin scaling on Windows with a high dpi monitor.

3rd plugin scaling, Yes, but none from Steinberg
Even the new the Pultec EQ have only one scale !!!

[elassi]

Cubase have a great midi editor, but is poor in midi utilities, such randomize, lfo, repeat, transpose, delay etc..

True, Gam456, Cubase is much more 'classic' in that regard.

[masterhiggins]

Not really used cubase much, but I recently updated my padshop license to their new authorization system and it was a f**king pain in the ass. When Arturia and Waldorf migrated from elicenser to their own CP they didn’t require me to f**k with the bullshit steinberg did. I’ve never seen such an untrusting developer.

[Gam456]

I never had any issue with their licence system

[billcarroll]

Cubase have a great midi editor, but is poor in midi utilities, such randomize, lfo, repeat, transpose, delay etc..

True, Gam456, Cubase is much more 'classic' in that regard.

Have you not seen the Logical Editor in Cubase?