Which one: Cubase Studio 4 or Ableton Live 6???

[fabofrank]

Hi Guys,

Urgently need advice! I'm about to dump a sizable amt of cash to purchase a full version software but can't decide which is better to buy, and more importantly, learn: Cubase Studio 4 or Ableton Live 6?

My primary use is for home studio recording so nothing too complex or fanciful.

I know the guys are about to start an article on "Music Recording Software" but can't wait that long. So any advice from the administrators or seasoned veterans out there will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[malibu43]

Originally Posted by fabofrank

Hi Guys,

Urgently need advice! I'm about to dump a sizable amt of cash to purchase a full version software but can't decide which is better to buy, and more importantly, learn: Cubase Studio 4 or Ableton Live 6?

My primary use is for home studio recording so nothing too complex or fanciful.

I know the guys are about to start an article on "Music Recording Software" but can't wait that long. So any advice from the administrators or seasoned veterans out there will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

I'm pretty new to this stuff too, but I have Live 5 and you can't record multiple tracks at once, which doesn't work for me. If that is something you will want to do, keep that in mind.

[brandondrury]

If it was me, no doubt it. I'd go with Cubase 4 Studio.

Brandon

[fabofrank]

Looks like Cubase is the way to go!

In fact, for all the guys that's reading this thread, just found out from the Steinberg website as well as a phone call to their local distributor that they are actually having a Summer Sale on some of their products, including Cubase 4 and Cubase Studio 4 (approx USD$300 for Studio 4)!

The decision to buy Cubase was the easy part. Now, for the harder part..... learning how to use it!!! (The detailed ops manual is 588 pages!)

Thanks guys!

[Hot pocket]

Hey Fabofrank
I think you will be rather surprised at how quickly you will learn to maneuver in C4 studio. It does a lot, and will take years to learn all that it can do.(I have been with Stien Berg since cubasis) But learning to do what you want it to do will be relatively simple.
Good luck.

[brandondrury]

Don't be intimidated by the users manual. The getting started guide is less than 100 pages of huge Adobe Acrobat font and pictures. You can get through it in an afternoon.

Cubase is an EXTREMELY well thought out program. They've thought of just about everything. Seldom do you need everything, but it's nice if it's there. Today, for example, I used their video feature. A buddy and I are putting together a presentational video for a new site launch with voiceover and a bunch of dumb audio effects. Anyway, it was great having the video play along in Cubase. When buying Cubase orginally, I wouldn't have thought once about searching for a sequencer with video capabilities.

So, there is an entire chapter on "Video" in the huge manual. I never even knew it existed until today.

Brandon

[Hot pocket]

A few of my friends back home use Cubase either SX3 or C4,
What always amazes us is the fact that we all use the same program to do the same things differently. Cubase is very well thought out, C4 does have some bug issues but all software does. I haven't had 1/3 of the problems I hear most people having. The most important feature that I love about cubase and hate about others namely PT is that Cubase does not limit you. I don't have to keep buying additional software to do more tracks, nor do I have to buy an additional bundle to do video, and I don't have to a specific piece of hardware to run it. I could go on and on but I won't.

[brandondrury]

The most important feature that I love about cubase and hate about others namely PT is that Cubase does not limit you.

I'm the kind of guy that will shell out $800 for mega software when I'm ready to pull the trigger, but there is no way in hell that I'm paying $20 per month for anything I absolutely need.

Pro Tools doesn't charge $20 per month, but I've heard from many Pro Tools users that upgrades are VERY expensive. The OMF export function (to use Pro Tools sessions in other recording software programs) costs several hundred bucks. That's just stupid. It's in Cubase for free.

The list of this sort of thing goes on and on. In fact, some plugin companies have jumped on the bandwagon.

----

The other interesting thing. I don't hear people complaining that they can't do X in Cubase. So if Pro Tools is required for "pro" recordings, why are there so many happy Cubase users?

[Hot pocket]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Pro Tools doesn't charge $20 per month, but I've heard from many Pro Tools users that upgrades are VERY expensive. The OMF export function (to use Pro Tools sessions in other recording software programs) costs several hundred bucks. That's just stupid. It's in Cubase for free.

The other interesting thing. I don't hear people complaining that they can't do X in Cubase. So if Pro Tools is required for "pro" recordings, why are there so many happy Cubase users?

Case in point! Why do I with PT have to spend $400+ to add 16 tracks to my DAW. To get 48 tracks is an upgrade. Cubase SX3 and above unlimited. As is a few other DAW. To me it's not pro tools it's Ho Tools! Sorry just my foolish opinion.

I knew a guy who swore by PT, and I would ask him, "What can you do, that I can't do in Cubase" for months everything he bragged about on PT, I could do in Cubase SX3. And to add injury to insult, he had an HD rig.

Stienberg has it's flaws like everyone else, but pound for pound it can't be touched!

Last thing and I'll shut up!
I am an advid Yamaha motif fan! I have 2 of them. 1 61 for the road and a es rack. When I upgraded to C4, and began playing with Halion. I realized that a lot (not all) but a lot of the sounds in my motif board (older model) were in the Halion, but the kicker is this.....I preferred the ****th and body of the sounds from the DAW over the sounds from the board. No lie, and no exageration. Shocked the hell out of me.

[jdaug]

Agree with everyone below. Ive never used anything other than Cubase, but its awesome. I have C4 studio, and i had it installed, configured, and was recording on it in a half day (not very well mind you, but I had the basic functions down). This with no previous DAW experience at all. Its pretty intuitive and has all the functions that any small studio (or maybe large studio) would ever need in a DAW.