Cubase artist/cubase essential

[kwpv356]

first, I'm a music teacher so my recording is definitely "sideline." [read: cheap]

I have acid music studio (cheap), but it's bogging down with all of the plugs i'm trying to run and it's starting to hiccup in midi tracks too.

Just thinking about going cubase. (or sonar! but that's a different forum,eh?)
But, I'm just entry-level so any advice on Artist vs. Essential? they're both budget-friendly and I even get a educ discount. Nice.

So, Artist or Essential...or Sonar??? Or save my $ and get a "real" DAW!?

Kurt w

[brandondrury]

[read: cheap]

That's a good way to describe my musical knowledge, too. That's why I just make noise.

I have acid music studio (cheap), but it's bogging down with all of the plugs i'm trying to run and it's starting to hiccup in midi tracks too.

Feel free to shoot the messenger. I don't think Cubase is going to solve this problem. It may make it worse. Switching from a Honda Civic to a Mercedes probably won't save you any gas and that's kinda/sorta what we are talking about here.

If you decide that Acid isn't for you (it started out more as manipulator of loops, but it's my understanding that it's evolved into more of a DAW) that is fine, however it needs to be for very good reasons that you could easily specify. Your computer problems are an issue of demanding too much from your computer's CPU and RAM from either your recording software or inefficiencies from a dirty operating system. Recording Computer Troubleshooting: Is Your Operating System Clean? Mixing at super low latencies (assuming you have an audio interface with buffer/latency options) is another major culprit.

Sonar, Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Digital Performer, Reaper and many others are all making prime time software. I can't say much about anything but Cubase. I'm a big fan of Cubase. It does everything I need it to do and I generally have pretty aggressive needs as I may be doing hip hop one day, death metal the next, and folk the next.

In most cases I recommend finding a good audio interface that comes bundled with an LE (cheapo) version of Cubase and upgrading from there. It's generally quite a bit cheaper to upgrade from LE than it is to buy the software outright from the beginning. Whether you need an audio interface is another can of worms. I cover that issue in great detail here: Killer Home Recording: Setting Up

There used to be comparison charts showing the features of all the Cubase versions. I'm having trouble finding anything current. The general trend in recording software has been to empower the bottom of the line quite a bit. The tip top versions usually have a handful of features that only idiots like myself need and we get hammered pretty hard for it. The cheaper versions are often quite good these days.

Brandon

Brandon

[tacman7]

Yes Interface.

I'm thinking they make audio streaming easier on the computer.

But the thing you're running up against is horsepower.

No matter what you have it will have a point where you've added too many plugs/instruments etc. and it can't do it.

You can upgrade the computer or go to powered processing or outboard synths etc.


I don't know... I would think the cubase might be more efficient in everyday tasks than Acid, but just a guess.

You can get a pretty good version of Cubase with an interface.


I'm looking at this one for my living room right computer right now:

Native Instruments Komplete Audio 6 | Sweetwater.com

One Salesman was telling me the latest ones have LE 6, even though the box still says LE5 on it.


Also the lower the latency setting, the harder the computer has to work.

[kwpv356]

Thanks for the advice…let me clarify:
1. Acid is a loop player. Acid music studio is entry-level and about $40 and comes with zero plugs/loops/anything. All of the plugs I’m using were also free. You get what you pay for sometimes.
2. Even the Sony forum site has complaints about trying to get Acid to perform as a DAW. It is 32-bit, has issues with 64-bit plugs, and sits kind of between XP and Windows 7 (Music studio 8 came out just as Windows 7 was being introduced).
3. I learned looping/plugs/computer multi-tracking on Acid, so I know how to get around some things and I’m very used to using and comfortable with Acid. Example: often you have to record a single midi track as audio, then Acid can play is as a “loop.” I have to record it then kind of re-mix the sound. This is a real hassle w/drums . Nonetheless, I have 99% success—after a day or three of thinking!
4. My computer is less than a year old and, as Brandon has suggested in Book One, it is dedicated to recording only (no internet, extra programs, etc.). I cannot conceive the computer being an issue.
5. I’m wondering, then, if it would be a good idea to switch to a more legitimate DAW; I want to be able to lay audio/midi tracks without having to reroute (so to speak) tracks/plugs/vsti’s/etc.

Would an entry-level version of Cubase afford me a workstation that would be more stable for midi tracks and basic multitracking?
Also, would I need an upgrade on my behringer $30 interface? There’s a native instruments interface that comes with cubase le that might also suit my needs.
Thanks10
Kurt W

[tacman7]

Would an entry-level version of Cubase afford me a workstation that would be more stable for midi tracks and basic multitracking?
Kurt W

Acid is a great program, used it for years. I know people who use it as a DAW. It was made for audio, midi is new but I didn't know anything was wrong with it, just a hassle compared to a real DAW.

You don't say what your interface is. I assume a stock sound card. Hiccups in midi usually means too much load on the computer trying to do virtual instruments. That could be because you have the latency too low. Doesn't matter if you buy a new computer today, you can overload it and get it to hiccup.

A good interface is more of a change as far as allowing you to do more with audio/latency, I would think.

Learning a real DAW is good to do for it's own sake. Maybe they can process audio a little better but I don't know. The main thing they do is give you freedom to work however you want. Steep learning curve so better to jump in.


If you're going to get an interface I would get one with cubase, they can be in the $99 area. About the same price you pay for an entry level version of cubase. The one you buy would have a very few more features but probably not something new to DAWs would use. I can think of only one, the arranger track(used to be called play order)

[kwpv356]

I like the idea of starting with the native instrument interface. I get cubase "lite" and a decent piece of hardware. Now I have a summer goal while school is out.

thanks, all!

[z1mmy244]

I have a few questions on Cubase ARTIST 6 before I buy it. There's just a few things I'm looking for in the software that i'm not sure will be available.

1. The ability to change tempos and time signature in the click track?
2. Be able to add insert effects to the input channels?
3. Automation on tracks such as EQ and Insert effects and volume?

I appreciate the help, Thankyou

-z1mmy244

[tacman7]

I'm thinking it does everything you want it to do.

I have 6le and the installer was for LE, AI, and artist. Artist has arranger tracks where le doesn't I know.

Dive into the manuals to check the details.