Thinking of migrating from Cubase 7.x to Live 9

[SODDI]

Will it be a huge disruption in my "workflow"? Steep learning curve? Arguments with my VSTs?

Last week I got a very serious recommendation for Live from artists I really respect who run Live, well, live. I do not do live, any DAW is strictly studio. Plus they run on Apples - my studio is PC-based.

Ableton does not seem to run any crossgrade offers but they seem to run the occasional 25% off sale.

[fgimian]

Yes it will be a huge disruption to your workflow and depending on what features you use in Cubase, you may be back on Cubase before you know it.

Live is a completely different workflow for the most part. Just as a starting point, there are no tools, the arrange page is not the primary focus-point of the app and the way inserts are presented on the mixer are totally different.

I strongly suggest demoing it yourself to decide. I know many great producers that use Live, Cubase and Logic, but that doesn't mean I need to switch.

Cubase is generally a more fully featured DAW than Live in terms of orchestral work, MIDI editing, audio editing, automation (the automation in Live is .... not to my taste ....) and the arrange page. However, Cubase doesn't have a session view and some of the cool creative features Live has (e.g. instrument stacking, integrated sampler, integrated drum machine, really good in-built effects .etc).

Once again, I highly suggest trying it yourself.

[Mister Gibson]

Yes it will be a huge disruption to your workflow and depending on what features you use in Cubase, you may be back on Cubase before you know it...I highly suggest trying it yourself.

+1

I'd Rewire Ableton to Cubase.

[flugel45]

Last week I got a very serious recommendation for Live from artists I really respect who run Live, well, live. I do not do live, any DAW is strictly studio. Plus they run on Apples - my studio is PC-based.
...

Why is it a "very serious" recommendation? You haven't stated one reason for jumping ship (other than maybe peer pressure which I wouldn't call a good reason). Plus you've provided two reasons why it's maybe not a good idea.

Is there something about Cubase 7 that's killing your workflow?

[MarlaPodolski]

I haven't used Cubase since v5.5, which was a very buggy, freaked-out period. It's worlds better now - 8.5 looks to be awesome - but I moved on long ago. I'm much happier in the Samplitude/Sequoia world nowadays.

But I use Live 9 a lot for alternate creativity and stimulation and love it.

As said, Live is very very different than Cubase. Why not try it and keep BOTH - that is, if you find you like the very different setup and workflow of Live. It could be the best of both worlds for you, and it might bring out things in you and your music like never before. Most of the truly serious in this software world have at least two DAWs going these days, sometimes more. I'm also back with Harrison, now that 32C has happened and Harrison has much of their earlier issues fixed. Still, the point for me is: at least one good "conventional" DAW (Cubase, Samp, Reaper, MixBus, whatever) and one creative alternative (Live, Bitwig, etc.) Hard to go wrong, really. Do demo Live well, first. Give it a real chance, then you'll know. Good Luck!

[Orbit-50]

Yes it will be a huge disruption to your workflow and depending on what features you use in Cubase, you may be back on Cubase before you know it.

Live is a completely different workflow for the most part. Just as a starting point, there are no tools, the arrange page is not the primary focus-point of the app and the way inserts are presented on the mixer are totally different.

I strongly suggest demoing it yourself to decide. I know many great producers that use Live, Cubase and Logic, but that doesn't mean I need to switch.

Cubase is generally a more fully featured DAW than Live in terms of orchestral work, MIDI editing, audio editing, automation (the automation in Live is .... not to my taste ....) and the arrange page. However, Cubase doesn't have a session view and some of the cool creative features Live has (e.g. instrument stacking, integrated sampler, integrated drum machine, really good in-built effects .etc).

Once again, I highly suggest trying it yourself.

Excellent post.

[pdxindy]

Will it be a huge disruption in my "workflow"? Steep learning curve? Arguments with my VSTs?

Last week I got a very serious recommendation for Live from artists I really respect who run Live, well, live. I do not do live, any DAW is strictly studio. Plus they run on Apples - my studio is PC-based.

Ableton does not seem to run any crossgrade offers but they seem to run the occasional 25% off sale.

Really depends on why you received the recommendation and what you want to do.

If you were to go the route of Live, I would suggest that a Push 2 should be considered essential. They work together so well and offer something you will not find with other DAW's... a fluid hands on creative environment where the DAW feels like an instrument.

But again, it depends on what is your workflow and what you expect. And if you find Cubase fits your needs, why switch at all?

[bluedad]

I've used Cubase since VST 5, and Live since v3. Live is very much a different paradigm from Cubase, and that is why I love it
as much as Cubase. I'm as apt to boot up one as the other. Make no mistake, there is a learning curve; but you know the drill man, demo it! Follow the tutorials.
Some might say the arrangement view in Live is like working in Cubase, but I'd disagree, it feels clunky.
Why not both?

[Robmobius]

Live itself is quite simple and intuitive.

However, when you drilled into using another DAW it takes time to get your head around it. It's got a very fast work flow as well (once you start using it).

[sqigls]

depends what you use… the MIDI editing in Live is primitive and frustrating, but as people have said, easy to get ideas going. In the recent past I've generally started in Live, got a good idea, exported MIDI and preset to Cubase and finished the song. Then cut up chunks of MIDI and audio to export back to Live to play out… I personally can't write tracks in Live, it feels MEGAwack.

[twolegstoneworks]

I'm a non-performing Cubase-guy with one foot in Live, now nearly both feet. I've had Live for years but barely used it.. I decided to give Live one final try with a second-hand Push 1 controller. That nailed it for me completely. I now do nearly all the composition and arranging in Live and then Cubase is used for the final mixing and mastering.

My advice is, if you want to get into Live, get a Push. Push 1 controllers can be found cheap second-hand.

[Elektronisch]

Last week I got a very serious recommendation for Live from artists I really respect who run Live, well, live. I do not do live, any DAW is strictly studio. Plus they run on Apples - my studio is PC-based.

They recommend because they are used to Live, but to tell the truth Cubase is much more advanced in alot of ways then Live.

This is the reason why i encourage you to not listen to these respected artists.

...but if curiousity leads just demo live and try to make a full track and see if it works.

[ghettosynth]

I'm a non-performing Cubase-guy with one foot in Live, now nearly both feet. I've had Live for years but barely used it.. I decided to give Live one final try with a second-hand Push 1 controller. That nailed it for me completely. I now do nearly all the composition and arranging in Live and then Cubase is used for the final mixing and mastering.

My advice is, if you want to get into Live, get a Push. Push 1 controllers can be found cheap second-hand.

I agree, live arrangement view is not Cubase and it is clunky when it comes to that, as well as mixing and mastering. I have Cubase, 7.5. I haven't upgraded since because I just don't use it much. I've replaced Cubase with Reaper. I use live/push for almost all composition but then switch to Reaper to mix/master.

[SODDI]

(snip)Live is a completely different workflow for the most part. Just as a starting point, there are no tools, the arrange page is not the primary focus-point of the app and the way inserts are presented on the mixer are totally different.

I strongly suggest demoing it yourself to decide. I know many great producers that use Live, Cubase and Logic, but that doesn't mean I need to switch.

Cubase is generally a more fully featured DAW than Live in terms of orchestral work, MIDI editing, audio editing, automation (the automation in Live is .... not to my taste ....) and the arrange page. However, Cubase doesn't have a session view and some of the cool creative features Live has (e.g. instrument stacking, integrated sampler, integrated drum machine, really good in-built effects .etc).(snip)

This is the kind of info I need. Thank you.

[SODDI]

Is there something about Cubase 7 that's killing your workflow?

Yeah. Steinberg - but that's a separate issue.

Cubase 7.06 is aging (and has many well-known flaws) and I would like to move to something more fluid.

Thanks!