Hello! I decided to put money aside for a sequencer, and I'm almost certain it's gonna be Cubase. Now I checked on Steinberg's site, and I saw two new versions of Cubase will be released soon. Cubase Studio 4, and Cubase 4, one costing 400$, the other 880$. What exáctly is the difference (I can find a PDF with the difference, but most of the terms don't mean much to me), and which version would be best to buy for me (beginning composer). Is the 880 worth the extra money? -Stenny

if you'll be using it to record music then (for beginners) the differences aren't worth the extra bucks
but if you'll be using it to create instrumentals you definetly want to get cubase 4 else you can't use (software instruments wich is adressed as External Instruments and Effects)

so it depends on what you want to do
Record music - buy Cubase Studio 4
Make music - buy Cubase 4

Damn it, there goes my money xD. I guess I can start saving money :P

-Stenny

Quote: Original post by McSNK
if you'll be using it to record music then (for beginners) the differences aren't worth the extra bucks
but if you'll be using it to create instrumentals you definetly want to get cubase 4 else you can't use (software instruments wich is adressed as External Instruments and Effects)

so it depends on what you want to do
Record music - buy Cubase Studio 4
Make music - buy Cubase 4

I really don't know what you mean by "if you'll be using it to create instrumentals" and "else yo ucan't use (software instruments wich is addressed as External Instruments and Effects)". You can use either version of Cubase 4 for the applications you listed. They're both sequencers and allow you to bring things together and arrange your pieces as you see fit. If by software instruments you mean either VST instruments or DX instruments, then you're completely wrong. Cubase Studio 4 even comes shipped with a very small number of VSTi's. However, you are correct in saying that the Studio version does not contain the "External Connections and Effects" connections setup, but that's meant if you want to hook up hardware synths and what not and treat them like a virtual instrument. However, there's nothing preventing you from just connecting the outputs to your audio interface's inputs and just recording them like a line in device... more inconvenient, but sometimes you just have to work around those sorts of things.

Stenny, I don't know if you've seen this on the Steiberg Users site or not, but it gives a rudimentary set of guidelines for choosing between Cubase 4 and Cubase Studio 4:

Quote: 4. Which version of Cubase do I need?

That is the question, isn't it? Well, here are some things to keep in mind when making this decision.

Will you ever want to make a 5.1 surround mix? Surround is getting more and more common now, not just for film and television, but for audio as well. (Visit www.alanparsonsmusic.com for a shining example.) If you anticipate even dabbling in 5.1 surround, you will want Cubase 4.

Are you in a band, or do you record bands? Cubase 4 is the only version of Cubase with "Virtual Control Room" which allows you to route up to 4 separate headphone mixes, so in a live recording each musician or group of musicians can have their own appropriately adjusted headphone mix.

Are you a plug-in junkie? Cubase 4 has 4 new VST instruments and 50 VST plug-ins, while Cubase Studio 4 comes with 2 VST instruments and just over 30 VST plug-ins.
Plug-in List for Cubase 4
Plug-in List for Cubase Studio4

If you answered "no" to the above questions, then Cubase Studio 4 will probably be everything you need and more for your projects. However, do keep in mind that one day in a professional studio can easily run you $400 or more (and who has ever completed a project in one day?). Paying for the above-mentioned features once and having them for yourself sure beats paying someone else for them over and over.

I'd say unless you're doing multi-channel audio or there's a specific feature from Cubase 4 you need, I'd save the extra money and get the studio version. I personally have the full version, but I ended getting a good deal on it. Had I not been lucky, I probably would've just gone with the studio version as it has the features I need for audio production.

Wow, thanks romer. That's quite some information :)

Quote: Will you ever want to make a 5.1 surround mix? Surround is getting more and more common now, not just for film and television, but for audio as well. (Visit www.alanparsonsmusic.com for a shining example.) If you anticipate even dabbling in 5.1 surround, you will want Cubase 4.

Not Anytime soon. I realised I needed to get somewhere started and the sequencer is just my startpoint of becoming professional. After that I'll need to learn about VST's and other plug-ins, and of course get to easily work with Cubase. Before that time has come, I'm not gonna even think about 5.1 surround mixing. Whatever that is...

Quote: Are you in a band, or do you record bands? Cubase 4 is the only version of Cubase with "Virtual Control Room" which allows you to route up to 4 separate headphone mixes, so in a live recording each musician or group of musicians can have their own appropriately adjusted headphone mix.

Nope. I'm not in a band (I'd like to though), and most certainly haven't got space for recording, so...no

Quote: Are you a plug-in junkie? Cubase 4 has 4 new VST instruments and 50 VST plug-ins, while Cubase Studio 4 comes with 2 VST instruments and just over 30 VST plug-ins.
Plug-in List for Cubase 4
Plug-in List for Cubase Studio4

Ok, so this might be the only reason for me to consider Cubase 4? And after I bought Cubase (studio 4) I most certainly haven't got the money for any VST (instrument)s. I might need those VST's, but 480$/€ is quite much for 2 VST instruments and 20 VST plug-ins, right?

I think I'm gonna go for Cubase Studio 4. When at the time 5 comes out I can always go for the 'not-studio' version upgrade...

-----
Also, I have some questions. If someone could answer them, that'd be great :D!
In the .pdf with the differences between the two versions, there are some points of question.
- It says Cubase Studio 4 only has Full mp3 Fraunhofer encoding. What's that? Does it affect the ability to export mp3's or something?
- Also, it says that Cubase Studio 4 has 600+ Instrument Sounds included, and Cubase 4 1000+. What are these Instrument sounds?
- What is a/the MediaBay?
- What do they mean with External Instruments?

I hope one can answer these :)

-Stenny

You might also consider this alternative. I don't know what type of music you'd like to make, but if you're just starting out, and you plan to record something like guitar or any other acoustic instrument, you can also look into getting a smaller Firewire or USB audio interface. I know Presonus' Firebox comes with a free copy of Cubase LE, and so does Focusrite's Sapphire LE. These allow you to hook up microphones, guitars, or other line level instruments and record them at low latencies. This is how I started off (since I initially wanted to record electric and acoustic guitar), and Cubase LE definitely was fine for me initially. Only as my needs grew did I start saving up for a copy of Cubase with its full feature set. Most of these audio interfaces can double as your sound card also, which is a nice feature. I think both the Firebox and Sapphire LE sell for around $300 and, as I said, both come with copies of Cubase LE.

As for included VST instruments and plugins, I wouldn't look at that number too much. Sites like KVR have an enormous database of free VSTs that you can use. The number is staggering. There are some that are great for when you're just starting out, and when you eventually start to outgrow them, you can start saving up for commercial instruments and plugins you might want. Also, if they sell it in your area, you might want to pick up a copy of Computer Music magazine. Each issue comes with a DVD full of VST instruments, samples, and effects that you can then use on your projects. They bundle it all together in what they call the CM Studio, which is only available to those who purchase a magazine with the DVD.

Hmm...Well I've been using 'Guitar Pro' for many years now, and I decided I really wanted to do this (becoming professional). Also, I don't want to record just an electric guitar or another single instrument, but my generally seen my pieces include a lot more (quite orchestral). Thanks or the tip on Computer Music Magazine, I've heard about it before, but never actually got deeper into it :). You say there is a DVD with VST's included with each issue? Nice [smile]!

-Stenny