Cubase 2 vs 4

[Liquid Len]

I am running Cubase 2.2.0 right now and am upgrading to a faster computer. Given that I have ZERO interest in new features (I know my way around Cubase 2 and don't need any more functionality than a tape-recorder, I want to make music not frig with computers) would there be any point in upgrading at all? I know there is some instability in Cubase 2 but I can't see Cubase 3 and 4 being 'bug free' any more than was sx1, vst 5.1, vst 5, etc, etc.

[Fluxpod]

For what it helps,i use sx3.1 for years and it has been very very stabile and bugfree aswell.I know cubase4 and i do like the routing but right now i dont really need it as i mix in scope anyways.

[Shroomz~>]

Still using SX2 here without any problems. It does exactly what we need, which is good midi & multitrack audio recording/sequencing. If you're prone to mixing in cubase & using large quantities of FX in cubase (which I don't) you might well see a worthwhile performance gain from moving to SX4 on a new computer, but if you only use cubase for recording & do your mixing in Scope it may not be worth the investment. Personally, if I had money to spend atm I'd rather spend it on something like fxpansion's BFD2 that's being discussed in another thread here in off topic.

cheers,
Mark

[braincell]

Cubase 4 is way better. I would hate to go back to version 2. There is no comparison and the upgrade is a great value. I went from SX 2 to Cubase 4 at a cost similar to one new Scope module. You get almost all new effects which are superior and new and improved synthesizers. The upgrade makes a lot of sense. It is important to get the latest versions as well. I think it is up to Cubase 4.5.1. These are not just bug fixes.

[Liquid Len]

"These are not just bug fixes"
Exactly what I'm trying to determine. After going crazy in an office for 8-9 hours, the last thing I want to do is come home and learn NEW software. I want to FORGET about computer issues! Please, please, no more! Cubase 2 does everything I want it to - playback of audio and midi, and some small amount of VST effects (I have a UAD card). Once I learned how the program works, where the menus are, then I don't spend so much time on the computer side of things. There's lots of things I do want to learn - and in the field of music, ones at the top of the list are related to things like mixdowns and songwriting issues. I don't think these will be any easier with 'more effects' - if anything, I need less effects and more concentration on basic material. And technology-wise, I could use better monitors more than any new instruments of any sort.

[braincell]

It's not just new effects. The old effects have been made to sound better, much better.

[Liquid Len]

It's not just new effects. The old effects have been made to sound better, much better.

Interesting. I'm taking mental notes, even if I stay with Cubase 2. Because I NEVER use the native effects anyways. Unless the audio playback is noticeably more stable and synchronized with the MIDI (this is the key concern), I have no reason to upgrade.

[ReD_MuZe]

not a regular cubase user myself (logic here),
but imo what makes the later cubase versions much better is the work streamlining.
its just much faster to work on cubase 4 than on cubase 2. and thats pure musical benefit.
it might take you a while to adjust to the new features...

besides that cubase 3 has adopted many missing studio standards, like having mid eq at 1k and a correct curve for the mixer faders and so on. this will make it easier for you to learn other daws, and studio set-ups.

[Shroomz~>]

Len, if SX2 does what you want it to do like it does for me, why upgrade? Ultimately if I find a reason to upgrade to SX4, I might well do, but the fact that the built in FX & synths sound better doesn't do it for me. Nor does the addition of a few new synths & FX. I don't even need improved routing, since SX2 has enough routing capability for what I want/need to do in combination with Scope. If there were some revolutionary new midi related features, I might actually consider it, but there aren't since those have barely changed in WELL over a decade of cubase development.

[Shroomz~>]

not a regular cubase user myself (logic here),
but imo what makes the later cubase versions much better is the work streamlining.
its just much faster to work on cubase 4 than on cubase 2. and thats pure musical benefit.
it might take you a while to adjust to the new features...

besides that cubase 3 has adopted many missing studio standards, like having mid eq at 1k and a correct curve for the mixer faders and so on. this will make it easier for you to learn other daws, and studio set-ups.

That doesn't convince me Red.. maybe it will for Len, but it's not enough for me to want to pay to move to 3 or 4.. no way, when 2 does a great job already.

[garyb]

if you have the money, great!

upgrading hasn't been NECESSARY for a long time.

[braincell]

It's like buying a new computer. They get a little better every year so if you wait 5 years there is a big difference. I had a problem with Cubase until Cubase SX. That is when it started to get good for me. The overhauled it then.

[braincell]

Perhaps for you.

[braincell]

Vaporware lol j/k

[Shroomz~>]

The upgrade fee at Steinberg is 159 Euro.

To upgrade from what?

[Mr Arkadin]

I had a problem with Cubase until Cubase SX. That is when it started to get good for me.

i found the opposite. SX was when it started getting bad for me.

[Liquid Len]

Len, if SX2 does what you want it to do like it does for me, why upgrade

This is what i'm getting from reading the posts here. I don't need no more routing or processing. I don't need no mind control. I just want faster, stabler, and from what I can tell, that's the computer I just ordered. I get enough of this upgrade BS at work. Interesting that MS made their Office 2007 release not backward compatible as usual, but this time in a way that makes it impossible to use some key features in browsers (without buying their expensive software layer to do that, that is). I like some MS products, Excel by itself, SQL server by itself, C# by itself (as long as you realize it's a compromise and really just the equivalent of VB), but their server software in general is a Chamber of Horrors. Anyone ever hear of SSIS? I see a LOT of time wasted in any office over stupid computer issues like this, but heck, they pay me to fix it.

[Shroomz~>]

I had a problem with Cubase until Cubase SX. That is when it started to get good for me.

i found the opposite. SX was when it started getting bad for me.

VST was the dogs, but ultimately killed more than the hardware market; It killed Cubase development as well (from a certain perspective).

[Shroomz~>]

Len, if SX2 does what you want it to do like it does for me, why upgrade

This is what i'm getting from reading the posts here. I don't need no more routing or processing. I don't need no mind control.

It's your choice. It certainly sounds like you don't need SX4 unless you're having 'showstopping' problems with SX2 with regards to what you need it to do.

[JoeKa]

It's like buying a new computer. They get a little better every year so if you wait 5 years there is a big difference. I had a problem with Cubase until Cubase SX. That is when it started to get good for me.[...]

It's been the opposite with me, I didn't upgrade to any SX version cuz I never liked the interface or the fact that a lot of things that I've been used to with VST3.7 and 5.1 for many years were put upside down in SX. So I stayed at VST5.1 until just a while ago, then I thought to upgrade to Cubase 4. ha-ha, nice try. Steinberg did not offer any deal for VST users anymore. Buy it all new or don't, it was. No matter I payed 1400 marks (nearly 700 eus) for my VST back some years. Screw them!
Thing is, Magix offered a decent crossgrade deal to me, Sam 10 at just about half the price, for the fact I switched from VST to their product. Whaddaya say? Cool deal! And I don't regret switching away from Cubase for my studio purpose (focus on multitracking) as Sam performs _brilliantly_ there. I kept my VST5.1 for the external midi so far, but I bet it's just a matter of time until sam will offer the better midi as well. No going back to Steinberg!