This topic is addressed to Steinberg and to all those who compose and/or use Score Editor. The dilemma is simple:
Dorico, Notation software, is growing with more and more DAW functions. Cubase, DAW software, is letting Notation die.
Why is the Score Editor not adapted and updated? Why is Notation no longer considered in Cubase?
Dorico has no why! Dorico is increasingly launched towards Audio finalization! Ok, Ok, 70% for Dorico could be a good investment for the future! But for those who compose with Cubase for a long time, accessing the new “DAW” Dorico, will be a hard blow and a start over, a new software / workflow. When it would be enough to support Cubase users by updating Score Editor.
We know that Dorico starts from Notation and Represents Audio: we appreciate the update in this direction: to improve Audio finalization.
We know that Cubase starts from MIDI and Represents Notation: here no update, there is stasis: it does not improve Notation.
Use them both!.. But it is not the same as using a single application! Working only with Dorico or only with Cubase you have Notation and Audio AT THE SAME TIME AND IN A SINGLE PROGRAM!
Using only Dorico: Notation 100% ok, Audio finalization 90% (correct this data if you think it is incorrect)
Using only Cubase: Audio finalization 100% ok, Notation 30% (correct this data if you think it is incorrect)
Let’s use them both to get 100% of each of them:
But the work will no longer be addressed homogeneously and AT THE SAME TIME:
Compose with Dorico and then finalize the Audio in Cubase.
Compose with Cubase and then finalize the Notation in Dorico.
Will it be possible to work natively and SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH BOTH?
Finally, back to the main question… Is Steinberg planning to update the Score Editor?
I don’t know anything about Steinberg’s plans. But the Score Editor was created and maintained by a single person who is on the verge (or maybe already has) of retiring. So I wouldn’t expect it gets much future attention. This is pure speculation but they could create an Extension-ish mechanism to integrate Dorico into Cubase.
Better to switch to Dorico now (with 70%) and wait for the “famous” integration?
I’m not worried about switching to Dorico… I’m worried that, by going back and forth between Dorico and Cubase with XML, the processing time of a project increases, to get to the finished Notation and Audio. More work will be done to fix many issues between imports and exports.
I know that no one here can answer for personal workflows or for future events on Score Editor (Steinberg are you there?). But Score Editor is integrated, and needs a shower and new clothes!
I don’t think there is a single program out there that will give you a 100% satisfactory audio representation of your music AND be a fantastic scoring program.
Personally, I work on music in Cubase first and never export MIDI for the scoring program, unless I am 100% happy with the composition.
I need the composition to sound as finished as possible for directors and people who commission me for orchestral works, so, I have no choice but to compose the music in Cubase first.
I really like that Dorico has MIDI editing facilities, but for me, this function is there to tie up any loose ends, rather than it being there to be close to what Cubase does, in terms of production.
I’d think they’d just leave it as is for compatibility with older Projects - kind of like Generic Remotes are now. It’s not like it has seen a bunch of development lately anyway. Back when Dorico was first released, even then, there was speculation that it would someday be integrated with Cubase. But Steinberg always stays mum, so who knows.
The Dorico PM has acknowledged that the intention already some years ago was to have the Dorico team take care of the score editor in Cubase as well. There was no projected timeline communicated, neither any details in what way the score editor in Cubase will be modernized (continuous development of the current code, complete replacement of the current code, or offer a score editor as a external software → tight integration between Cubase and Dorico (SE)).
We only know that Steinberg had the intention of working on the score editor for Cubase and that it was a rather major project.
That’s why we expect an integration, or an acceptable and time-saving workflow, between Dorico and Cubase, or between Cubase and Dorico.
I work like this too, and I currently export (rarely, because I compose directly with Score Editor) to MuseScore 4.4 for the Notation to be presented, so two software, and in any case MuseScore is free!
If this dialogue between Dorico and Cubase did not happen over time there would be no need to buy Dorico now… there is Score Editor (waiting for rinsing) + MuseScore.
However, if this dialogue were there (example in Cubase 14?), the 70% offer is tempting, but always hoping not to keep Dorico closed in the drawer waiting for the integration.
I’m starting to doubt it too … I think I will join the offer… as a future investment… let’s hope!"
“Waiting for a tight integration, the one needed to not do the job twice, or to eliminate repetitive or slow-down operations, I thank you for all your contributions!”
I think we can see that Steinberg puts an emphasis on notation. A company that has no interest in notation would send different signals (Finale, ProTools, Ableton Live, Bitwig, Reason, Reaper, etc.). They communicated that they are aware of the stagnation of development of the current score editor inside Cubase and what they would like to do (rudimentarily only but hey, at least something). So it seems it is “just” the issue of having to do the job and from my understanding it is by no means a small job.
So, yeah, all we can do is sit and wait.
… I think I will join the offer… as a future investment… let’s hope!"