Do I need mastering software?

[lilcbcoach]

A couple questions here for you guys.
I have the Presonus Firebox with Cubase LE. I'm having a blast learning everything that I can do with it and I'm getting some great guitar tones. (Using a Schecter C-1 Elite with JB bridge,SH-2N Jass neck PU"s,Exotic AC Booster into the clean side of Fender HotRod Deluxe.Sennheiser E-609 2 inches away and SM58 'bout 8 inches away, both panned hard.)

It has been my plan to get Cubase 4 studio after learning how to get around Le. I guess my questions are: What all will studio 4 do for me that I cant do now with LE. Will I be blown away by it or is it just a small step up?

Will Cubase 4 studio fill my mastering needs or will I still need something like Wavelab?
This site has helped me a great deal already, thanks. Terry.

[brandondrury]

This site has helped me a great deal already, thanks. Terry.

Glad to hear it, dude. We'll always be here as you progress as a recording guy.

It has been my plan to get Cubase 4 studio after learning how to get around Le. I guess my questions are: What all will studio 4 do for me that I cant do now with LE. Will I be blown away by it or is it just a small step up?

This depends greatly on your needs and expectations. Maybe this is a better question: Do you feel limited by Cubase LE? If so, in what ways?

Here are a few comparison charts. Cubase 4 is a new product (replaced Cubase SX3).
http://www.steinberg.net/1050_1.html
http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/page/s...a/news_id/e/52

Will Cubase 4 studio fill my mastering needs or will I still need something like Wavelab?

Good question. Let me try to dig up a big thread I wrote yesterday.

Thoughts on IK T-racks?

Brandon

[lilcbcoach]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

This depends greatly on your needs and expectations. Maybe this is a better question: Do you feel limited by Cubase LE? If so, in what ways?

Im certainly not limited by LE yet as Im still learning all it can do. I would like to be able to do more with drums. I dont know if 4 would cover all i need for drums or if I would need a seperate drum sampler/software?

I will say that LE has surprised me so far. For a bundled software it is very powerful.

[brandondrury]

Im certainly not limited by LE yet as Im still learning all it can do.

There will probably be a day when you want a certain features. Cubase LE is lacking on a few things (mostly in quantity of certain things) that just wouldn't cut it for me. If you don't notice the difference, there is no problem.

I would like to be able to do more with drums. I dont know if 4 would cover all i need for drums or if I would need a seperate drum sampler/software?

Cubase isn't the problem. It's your lack of midi instruments and samples.

Cubase is really meant to be just a sequencer / multitrack recording thing. It won't have every sound you are looking for included by default. The included LM-9 or whatever it is was not bad for Tone Loc when doing rap in '89 but isn't much good for anything else.

I use Toontrack's DFH Superior for programming real sounding drums. I do all my programming in Cubase, but in the midi instruments menu (F11) I select my DFH drums instead of selecting the LM-9 or whatever.

I also have Native Instruments Battery which works the same way. Battery is good for more techno, industrial, and rap type drum sounds but also has quite a few acoustic kits as well.

I also have Native Instruments Kontakt 2 which is one of the most powerful samplers out there (which I run within Cubase as well) that has sounds for just about anything a person coud think of. (drums, orchrestra, people humming, ethnic instruments, sound effects).

Again, I do all my programming in Cubase and just select these various samplers / VST instruments in the midi instruments panel (F11).

Brandon