Comments on: There Is NOTHING Complicated About Cubase

By: Deebo

Deebo — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 09:31:46 +0000

I'm teetering back and forth on agreeing lol. No, I have to say that I've been using LE 4 since last year and have made some progress audio wise. Recently, upgraded by adding monitor speakers and a mixboard (low end) and I'm still having problems with routing but I'm definitely getting a clearer signal. Hell, when I started, I just had a mic and a tascam us-122l. I live in Germany and as an American who frequents most english-speaking sites, the advanced features are a steep climb and I had trouble finding ANY American friends who were familiar with or currently using Cubase. Of course, you always have the tech heads who point you back to the manual (RDB: read da book) and it's frustrating to have to learn it all for 0. Cubase definitely isn't simple but it can be very rewarding. For about 30 tracks recorded, I've probably nailed 4 or 5 where I was seriously happy with the outcome of the mixdown. This isn't a fault in Cubase but due to my lack of knowledge. Thus, I agree with your statement about reasons why some say it's difficult. Still, thanks for relating to my frustration and sorry about this 'thesis'. Take care

By: DrWrencho

DrWrencho — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:21:59 +0000

Well interesting perspective, I have one of my own.
Remember Guitar processors in the 80's. You know the rack mount sob's that took 500 hours to program to your liking and gear. Well they looked sharp and they did everything. That is true if you were also a wanna be programmer. This is cubase in a nutshell. My girlfriend spent a better part of the day printing out the manual putting divider tabs and punching holes so i would have half of a chance looking stuff up. Now i bought cubase ai to take the place of fruity loops acid and sound forge. But I have not been able to produce one single tune yet. Why? well it fights you on everything. Read a 800 page manual are you nuts I just want to loop some flipping tracks!! the manual should be 50 pages max for the interface shouldn't take 800 pages to describe please............. if I hadn't spent 200 bucks I would smash it all with a sledgehammer!!!

By: Martin

Martin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:45:58 +0000

I have tascam us-1641 and Qubase 5
I think I have installed everything right. I can my project to record more than one track at a time as differnt tracks can anyone help

By: Lex Lutha

Lex Lutha — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:32:44 +0000

I use Cubase 4, Pro Tools 6.4.1 TDM Mix plus and Pro Tools Le. 8 As far as software goes these are all similar when it comes to basic operation. There are also special features in each of them. As far as Cubase being hard to learn, that's not true at all.

You must work at your own pace when learning a new software, think positively. read a little of the manual each day and execute what you learn day by day. Write yourself some notes. Don't try to take it all in in one day.

Good Luck
Regards
Lex Lutha

By: Soumitra

Soumitra — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:59:50 +0000

I am just beginning to use Cubase for a home project these days. I have no experience in Home Recording whatsoever so I will be learning everything from scratch.

I'll post my response to this thread in a few days.

Would like to add that I am extremely comfortable with using technology tools, and I figure out my way pretty fast be it computer hardware or software. So I'll be in a good position to judge whether Cubase is really all that non-intuitive that it is made out to be.

Till then.

Cheers

Soumitra

By: Kent Keller

Kent Keller — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:28:05 +0000

I agree that most things are not difficult when you know how to do them. My point is that Cubase is difficult to figure out and counter-intuitive. I purchased Cubase in an attempt to upgrade, not switch from software to software. Changing a patch on a single track is not a big problem, I just have to count all the blank options 1,2,3,5...49 Timpani, got it. No numbers, no patch names, not intuitive way to map the VST setting so that they show up in the menu, Tech support simply blames the VST even though it happens on just about all of them. Changing a patch in the middle of the score is not intuitive.

Again, "difficult" does not mean that the software is not powerful or that things can't be done. It just means that it is not easy to figure out. And, BTW, I spent alot of time reading the manuals. And yes, it is somewhat helpful, but alot is left out. The common wisdon is that you don't lear CUBASE by manual, but by forum, frustrations and hours spent.

By: brandondrury

brandondrury — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:45:09 +0000

I have used alot of Midi/Music software

This is something I never understood. Because all recording software has a learning curve, I never saw the point in trying out zillions of programs. Purchase recording software that does what you need and learn how it works. I'm not sure why a Logic or Pro Tools guy would even try out Cubase unless there was something limiting in Pro Tools or Logic.

People that try out all kinds of different software are typically the kind of people who have a new car and a new wife every time you see them.

Brandon

By: brandondrury

brandondrury — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:42:22 +0000

I don't agree. I think the documentation in Cubase SX3 is probably the best documentation I've seen in any high end software I've ever owned. The full blown manual is 1,000 pages. It covers EVERYTHING in detail. Of course,no one reads the 1,000 page manual. It's not intended to be read. That's what the Getting Started tutorial is for. I personally felt that MIDI editing was extremely intuitive in Cubase. I don't remember ever consulting the manual for that one.

Simple things like patch changes, moving musical line from one score to another, etc are not intuitive at all.

Are we talking about the same program? To change the "patch" of a VSTi, you simply click one button to change the patch within the VSTi. It's harder to tie a shoe. To move a MIDI line from one track to another, you simply cut the line you want and drag it down to a different track. I'm not sure how that could be any more intuitive either.

If you buy CUBASE, expect to spend hours reading documentation and being frustrated. Period. Cubase is VERY difficult, counter-intuitive, and poorly documented.

Well, I'm certainly no genius and I can honestly say that I pretty much had Cubase SX3 conquered in a Saturday afternoon simply by going through the included documentation. I consider it to be as good as anything else out there. Brandon

By: Kent Keller

Kent Keller — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:53:57 +0000

I have used alot of Midi/Music software and I find Cubase to be one of the most difficult. The documentation is incomplete, the commands are not intuitive. For simple audio recording...easy, no problem. Midi editing is nearly impossible compared to many simple midi editors on the market for alot less money. Simple things like patch changes, moving musical line from one score to another, etc are not intuitive at all. To simply say, "You just need to read the documentation" is simply avoiding the question. No one is saying that Cubase is IMPOSSIBLE or that it doesn't have the FUNCTIONALITY. What we are saying is:

If you buy CUBASE, expect to spend hours reading documentation and being frustrated. Period. Cubase is VERY difficult, counter-intuitive, and poorly documented.

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