Any Pros Using Cubase 4 for commercial work?

[shona]

after trying every DAW under the sun for the Mac, ive decided i like Cubase 4 the best. i like them all for different reasons, but for a strictly audio guy like me (not much MIDI), i think Cubase is a nice intuitive balance between logic 8 and pro tools LE.

i was wondering if there are any any pros out there using Cubase 4 for commercial work, any notable musicians, etc. ??

i'm just curious more than anything..

[Blenn]

Originally Posted by shona

after trying every DAW under the sun for the Mac, ive decided i like Cubase 4 the best. i like them all for different reasons, but for a strictly audio guy like me (not much MIDI), i think Cubase is a nice intuitive balance between logic 8 and pro tools LE.

i was wondering if there are any any pros out there using Cubase 4 for commercial work, any notable musicians, etc. ??

i'm just curious more than anything..

There are quite a few heavy hitters such as Bob Clearmountain who use Nuendo.

Same as Cubase really minus a few additional extras.

Paul

[BlueSprocket]

Indeed there are many a pro who use Cubase or some variant (Nuendo and Cubase have the same audio engine).

I myself run all of my projects in my facility via Cubase. From tracking to mixing to scoring, it handles them all beautifully. In fact, I'm planning to begin working on more video and surround stuff, which is causing me to sell my console (alas!). Cubase's workflow and new routing features are what are making this possible.

I keep a PT LE rig around these days to be compatible when I have sessions walk my way in that format. But those audio files quickly find their way into a my cubase rig. For the same price as a PT HD 1 system I've got a rig that I have NEVER come close to maxing out. So I'm a big advocate of Cubase 4, especially on the new Intel Macs.

[sodium glow]

Yes. I do and have been for quite a few years now. I mainly use Nuendo but also have Cubase. In fact I have Logic, Nuendo, Cubase, and Pro Tools. Being in Nashville I use Pro Tools a fair bit at many of the studios around here if I don't take my rig to the sessions but I use Nuendo for mixing.

[Farshad]

Harry Gregson-Williams, the composer of "Chronicles of Narnia".

[cane creek]

Hans zimmer done the 'Gladiator' soundtrack in Nuendo and ive read that Timbaland uses cubase not that im a fan of his music but i can appreciate the quality.

[AMMusic]

Originally Posted by BlueSprocket

I keep a PT LE rig around these days to be compatible when I have sessions walk my way in that format. But those audio files quickly find their way into a my cubase rig. For the same price as a PT HD 1 system I've got a rig that I have NEVER come close to maxing out. So I'm a big advocate of Cubase 4, especially on the new Intel Macs.

Do you mind if I ask exactly what you're running. I'm trying to get as many people's oppinions as possible. I am a windows/PT LE user right now. Sometimes it works, sometimes it gives me grief. I don't have a pro studio, so I don't see the need to go to an HD system, but I do record bands on occasion and if PT is being glichy, it can be a hassle. I've heard others talk about getting as good of sound quality and power as PT HD for less $ going with a native DAW. Just curious what you're using exactly. Thanks for humoring me.

[JPeters86]

If I'm correct Chuck Ainlay used Cubase/Nuendo on all of Mark Knopfler's solo albums.

[BlueSprocket]

Originally Posted by AMMusic

Do you mind if I ask exactly what you're running. I'm trying to get as many people's oppinions as possible. I am a windows/PT LE user right now. Sometimes it works, sometimes it gives me grief. I don't have a pro studio, so I don't see the need to go to an HD system, but I do record bands on occasion and if PT is being glichy, it can be a hassle. I've heard others talk about getting as good of sound quality and power as PT HD for less $ going with a native DAW. Just curious what you're using exactly. Thanks for humoring me.

I'm happy to answer,

My main DAW is a 2.66Ghz Quad Core MacPro. Its one of the earlier ones I believe. I have 4GB of RAM and I run dedicated SATA audio drives inside the machine. I have 2 UAD-1e cards, not becuase I feel I need the processing power of DSP, but rather because I LOVE the sound of the plugins.

Up until purchasing the Mac Pro, I used RME HDSP 9652 Cards to get in and out of my AD/DA converters via Lightpipe. Since RME was not making a PCI-e card at the time, I purchased an M-Audio Lightbridge interface to give me 32 ch i/o via Lightpipe. I was hesitant at first about the M-Audio, but it has proved to be a solid interface, and it does not give me any problems. The entire system is clocked off a Lucid Genex Clock @ 48K. I've just added new Aphex converter units to my rig, and they sound quite nice. I'm considering moving to an RME Madi card, as I am slowly needing more I/O options.

My previous Cubase rig on a G4 was lugged in and out of studios in Nashville and I've used everything from Radars to Apogees to get in and out Cubase at any given time.

Ive mixed on consoles with my rig(s), and I've mixed countless session ITB with the same rig(s). They have been smooth and pleasant each time. And some of the editing features unique to Cubase/Nuendo have become so ingrained in my work that I feel lost without them when I'm on other systems.

I'm currently mixing a live album (with a very possible DVD mix coming up soon) that is running 24 tks @ 1.5 hrs long w/12 ITB send FX, my UAD cards are maxed out, I have 25+ instances of Waves plugins running, another 15 of Wave Arts and Steinberg Plugins (the envelope shaper plug is the next best thing to a transient designer), and I'm integrating hardware comps and verbs into the project as well. This is all Latency Compensated automatically. Runs like a champ.


My quick figuring (not counting the cost of the computer, which you have in an HD system anyway), I believe I have $4500 in my rig that gives me 32 channels of I/O and plenty of horsepower. With the computer I'm still well under $10k. thumbsup

If you have any more Cubase questions I'm happy to answer them.

[DrSax]

Yup - I record and mix in Cubase.... lots of contemporary jazz, pop, R&B - have had some #1's (Billboard & R&R). I've got 3 or 4 productions/mixes on the R&R charts right now.... all done and mixed in cubase 4. I'm very happy with the sound of Cubase..... if I did stuff for TV or film - then I'd use Nuendo for the extra features..... but I just do records right now - so Cubase is plenty and uses the same audio engine too. Just mixed a couple fairly high profile projects in Cubase - the labels and clients are extremely happy......

I've worked with Pro Tools, Sonar and Cubase extensively - and prefer Cubase for the stuff I do......

[soundseeker]

can somene say what are the practical benefits of cubase studio v cubase essential??? (apart form about £200s.) and why do I hear that cubase is "not optimised for macs"

[DrSax]

Oops - I didn't answer the original question....

I have used Cubase with many well known contemporary jazz artists.... Dave Koz, Wayman Tisdale, Kirk Whalum, Jeff Lorber, Bob James, Brian Simpson, Eric Darius, Jay Soto, Jonathan Butler, and others......

I just produced and mixed a new tune for Wayman Tisdale and Toby Keith - all done in Cubase........ It was released on a Circuit City compilation named "Lovers Rendezvous" - a remake of an old Barry White tune...... a lot of fun....

anyways - that's some of the people I have produced and/or mixed in Cubase......

[Matt Biermann]

Yes. I use it to edit and master audio for video and live recordings for my video production team at the University of Missouri. Everything from Governor speeches to celebrity Q&A's to simple cleanup jobs. It's a helluva lot better than SoundHack Pro that comes with Final Cut. Very professional software... when it works

[soundseeker]

ok guys

But does it work well for macs
- an easier workflow than logic???

[richardswag]

Long time Cubase user here. I don't evangelise about it, but the things I'd dearly miss if I had to use another DAW would be:

The fantastic new routing and sidechaining features.

Easy implementation of outboard gear.

PDC across evrything (including the outboard).

Workflow (although to be fair that's probably just because I've used Cubase for so many years).

I don't think that there's anything else that does all those first three, making it the best choice for mixing ITB IMHO.

[tazman]

SONAR does!!!

Originally Posted by richardswag

Long time Cubase user here. I don't evangelise about it, but the things I'd dearly miss if I had to use another DAW would be:

The fantastic new routing and sidechaining features.

Easy implementation of outboard gear.

PDC across evrything (including the outboard).

Workflow (although to be fair that's probably just because I've used Cubase for so many years).

I don't think that there's anything else that does all those first three, making it the best choice for mixing ITB IMHO.

[soundseeker]

Originally Posted by tazman

SONAR does!!!

are you both mac or pc?????????????

[BlueSprocket]

Originally Posted by tazman

SONAR does!!!

I have not played with Sonar for quite some time. But, I will say that when I have gotten a chance to sit down with it, it has seemed a robust and feature rich application.

However, the one major downfall to Sonar (in my opinion) is that it is Windows PC only. Cubase is one of the very few applications that runs equally well on a Mac as a Winbox. This might seem a small thing, but for me its a huge selling point. I work with a variety of clients, many of whom want to have a home setup where they can work on ideas. I am able to help them setup a Cubase system based on their preference to Mac or Windows. When they've reached a point in their project where they want me involved, they can simply bring their Firewire HD to my studio, I can load their session and we can proceed from there. Beautiful workflow. Other than Cubase, Pro Tools is one of the only other apps that will do this, and I also have clients who perform this way with PT. But those sessions find their way into Cubase quickly once they're in my hands. I know there was a time when the steinberg apps ran appreciably better on Windows, that is now NOT the case.

Certainly not a shot against Sonar, its a nice app. But seeing as this is a "Who uses Cubase..." thread. Let's continue on that path.

[BlueSprocket]

Originally Posted by soundseeker

can somene say what are the practical benefits of cubase studio v cubase essential??? (apart form about £200s.) and why do I hear that cubase is "not optimised for macs"

From looking at the feature-sets. It seems to me, that if you don't need the surround mixing capabilities of Cubase4, then Cubase Studio4 is your best value. With Cubase Studio 4, you still get the same basic app as Cubase4. The editing is still there, the mixer is still there. You get fewer plugins (both VSTi and VSTs) in Studio 4, but the important ones are still there. Many non-pros can live without the offline process history for 3rd party plugins, so you wont miss that.

Cubase Essential strikes me as a "drink with a hint of what you wanted a shot of". I've never used that version, but I'm sure its useful to a hobbyist who just wants something to mess around on. But for any serious songwriting/editing/mixing you would at least want Studio 4. As with anything in life, you get what you pay for.

As for people claiming its not optimized on macs, well...I disagree. I feel many people are hardheaded. They may have seen the app when it really DID run better on a PC, but have not tried it since. At the last AES NY, Cubase 4 was running on Macs @ the Steinberg booth. Just a little food for thought. My rig (see post above) runs flawlessly and the only thing I'll replace it with, is another Mac Pro (or whatever Apple chooses to unleash on me next).

Hope that helps.

[Darth Fader]

Yes.

Mainly indipendent rock. And lots of film scoring.

Track count >100, 2 UADs, 1 Powercore, some outboard.

Never felt the urge to get PRO-er tools. I prefer to spend money on analog outboard. If anyone wants me to mix a digi project I ask for OMF.

[garymusic]

I have been using Cubase since SX1. It is a good software but Steinberg is very slow with updates. Tne newest release, 4.1.3 seems stable. There are several functions that have bugs in them like the freeze function. There are work arounds to freeze so you just need to avoid them. I like it because it works well with my Yamaha 01v96 mixer. I and use a combination of Cubase and the mixer to give me the features I like.

I have been playing with Reaper and that is going to pass up a lot of DAW's out there. Try Reaper out first. Also, DP is good too.

-Gary

[Bitfiend]

I'm running SX3 and Live 7 on a dual, dual core AMD PC.
Love SX3. However, i primarily work ITB as my productions are all techno. I have started to delve into recording the band i am in but it is all pre-production, to sort everything out before we go into an actual studio.

work flow is great in SX3. i , up until about a week or go i was using only my keyboard and mouse. i've started playing around with a control surface now.
i know a lot of producers in the techno industry that use only Cubase on either PC's or Mac's and love it.

I am thinking about switching to Nuendo but have to research it more.
That said i'm also looking into Digi003. Price wise it's a big jump from Cubase. But PT is the standard in just about any studio i walk into (not that it makes it the best or most correct option). I'm kinda thinking, why not be on the same learning curve as most of the majors and minors are....?

[MarkRB]

David Kahne uses it.
Pretty heavy hitter.