CUBASE SE 3 or ProToolsLE?

[liamkelly]

Quote:OTOH, if Cubase4 is going to help me produce broadcast quality more effectively, I'm willing to invest in it and devote myself to figuring out how to use it.HHey VikkiI have always been a Cubase user - I got VST 5.1 years ago, upgraded to SX3 a couple of years ago and got a present of an upgrade to 4 last Christmas. There is much more functionality with 4 and more plug-ins but I am no closer to producing broadcast quality than I was back when I had VST 5.1.Why? Because I still don't have the mixing chops. I don't think buying Cubase 4 is going to help you get to broadcast quality per se over other cheaper DAWs.Both Matt and Martin use older versions of Cubase than I do and their mixes are miles above what I can produce. And their success rates speak for themselves.Just my 2cHope you're well.Liam

[hummingbird]

Yep, I totally agree, I could spend all kinds of money on software and be no closer to composing good music that is well produced. However, I have had some forwards this year and (orchestral instrumentals aside), I am getting better at composing/producing.But I do need to decide whether to stick with Tracktion or move to something else. Matt makes a good point, if I don't know anyone using Tracktion for film/tv, then it's hard to ask for help when I need it. In addition, most of the reference materials I read - like articles in Recording Mag - have great examples of how things work... in CuBase & ProTools & Sonar... but not Tracktion. I'm checking with the CuBase folks to see if they will allow a competitive upgrade on my Tracktion2/purchased on-line.If not, I can upgrade my 'on-line' Tracktion2 to the Tracktion 3 bundle for $200, which will give me the full version... and then I can upgrade to CuBase 4 for $200... might be a plan...

[crs7string]

Vikki,At the risk of being a dissenter and adding potential confusion to the mix, have you looked at Sonar 7. There is a glowing review in this month's Sound On Sound. There are several very good software synths included as well as mastering plug in tools. I have used Sonar since version 1 on a PC and like all platforms it plays well sometimes and doesn't play well other times. I have found that when it isn't it is usually due to a vst plug in or a new version of a program. Stylus and East West Gold are very stable as are the Korg plug ins and EZ Drummer. MOTU Ethno Instrument is problematic.I am producing broadcast quality stuff with Sonar and like it's work flow.The lines are blurring on platforms, the major packages all are trying to keep up with one another in terms of features. One suggestion I would make is to visit the on line forums and see the tone of the folks using the various platforms. I know someone will most likely take issue with some of what I've stated. I am not emotionally involved with my DAW and feel no need to defend it. Chuck

[hummingbird]

Yes, I wondered about Sonar myself. I will look into it further

[hummingbird]

You guys are confusing me!!!!

[dgolding]

I started out with Cubase, and I've stayed with it. Although I'm still using V5.1, which is a couple of versions back from the current one, it does everything I need it to do, so I really see no advantage in changing. I did dabble a bit with Cakewalk, as it was called then, but to be honest I get frustrated when going around a learning curve slows down productivity.

[Casey H]

Quote:I should just MARRY an engineer so I don't have to worry about it. Sounds like the best solution!!! Hang in there, Ted! Your twisted friend,Casey

[chrisbee]

Hi Vicki - heck of a thread you started!!! You're probably getting more info than you need, but I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in anyway.I absolutely love ProTools LE. I started on Cakewalk many moons ago and have used more recent versions of Sonar too. Between my Cakewalk experience, which wasn't good, I went to CuBase for a few years. I didn't like CuBase because, to me, it's not very "Windows-ish". For a day job over the years I've done a lot of software programming for Windows based PCs and I was used to Microsoft standards for design. So I admit, I expect certain things from a program that runs on a Microsoft OS. Well, I found CuBase to be completely non-standard. It didn't flow like a Windows program - menu items and tasks in totally different places than what is normal and the help seemed VERY cryptic and hard to navigate. It was a weird atmosphere to me - I never got really comfortable. That was a few years ago, so maybe it's changed.I had a PC with an old version of Windows running on it and one day downloaded the free version of ProTools, just to see, and I loved it from the moment I started working with it. It is the most intuitive of the 4 softwares I've used - at least to me. I highly recommend it. I'm really not trying to knock CuBase. I just personally didn't like it at all - I tried, I really did. OK, I'll shut up now. cb

[gatorjj]

Hello Vicki! You've forced me out of the shadows after 2 years to stop lurking and post...we'll get to that formal intro some other time, probably in a month or so!I was a Cubase 3 user who switched to Tracktion 3 a couple months ago. Honestly I just got tired of losing all the windows all the time, especially in the heat of a mix so I started looking around.I tried the demo of Tracktion 3 and was blown away by the simplicity of it all and how everything stays in front of me. I bought it and can honestly say it's improved my workflow a ton over Cubase. That's not to say it would be the case with everyone (each user has a different workflow perspective and as such different strokes for different folks!), but if you like T2 I would at least recommend trying the T3 demo. FWIW I went with the skinny version, but get a lot of use even out of the limited extras.In the last 2 months I've been to both a Cubase 4 and ProTools 7.4 clinic locally put on by very skilled people. I like to go to these to see how others are doing their production, but I didn't see anything that would make me want to jump or jump back. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone out here!!! Cheers,J.J.

[hummingbird]

Quote:Hello Vicki! You've forced me out of the shadows after 2 years to stop lurking and post...we'll get to that formal intro some other time, probably in a month or so!I was a Cubase 3 user who switched to Tracktion 3 a couple months ago. Honestly I just got tired of losing all the windows all the time, especially in the heat of a mix so I started looking around.I tried the demo of Tracktion 3 and was blown away by the simplicity of it all and how everything stays in front of me. I bought it and can honestly say it's improved my workflow a ton over Cubase. That's not to say it would be the case with everyone (each user has a different workflow perspective and as such different strokes for different folks!), but if you like T2 I would at least recommend trying the T3 demo. FWIW I went with the skinny version, but get a lot of use even out of the limited extras.In the last 2 months I've been to both a Cubase 4 and ProTools 7.4 clinic locally put on by very skilled people. I like to go to these to see how others are doing their production, but I didn't see anything that would make me want to jump or jump back. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone out here!!! Cheers,J.J.Whoo hoo!!!! I'd already decided last night to buy the Tracktion3 upgrade bundle with all the bells & whistles and see how it feels. Your post confirms my thoughts. I like Tracktion for its ease of use and it is well-respected, just less well known. It's from MacKie, after all.