Is there some way to access Cubase 12 elements after I already upgraded to Cubase 12 Artist? If so, how can I do that?
Hi @donaldlof,
first of all: welcome to the forum!
yes, you can also use Cubase Elements with your Cubase Artist license. Regarding Cubase’s license hierarchy, you can open / use any minor version (of the same generation) by owning a personal license for its respective higher version(s).
→ Cubase 12 license hierarchy:
Pro → Artist → Elements → AI (non-retail) → LE (non-retail)
So, if you own a license for Cubase Pro / Cubase Artist, you can also open Cubase Elements, AI or LE.
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BUT it’s not as easy as - for example - with Dorico (Steinberg’s music engraving software), since with Cubase there are two different installer packages:
- one for Pro / Artist, and… -----> (ca. 605 MBytes ZIP file on hard disk)
- another one for Elements / AI / LE -----> (ca. 470 MBytes ZIP file on hard disk)
Within these two groups, you can use the LEFT mouse click + left ALT key combo to be offered the choice to open its respective minor version(s).
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[-A-]
If you have a Cubase Pro license and also have the Cubase Pro / Artist installer package installed, you can use the left ALT key right after clicking the program icon, and you’ll get this tiny pop-up window which gives you the choice to either open Cubase Pro or its “daughter version” Cubase Artist.
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[-B-]
If you have a Cubase Elements (or any higher) license and also have the Cubase LE AI Elements installer package installed, you can use the left ALT key right after clicking the program icon, and you’ll get this tiny pop-up window which gives you the choice to either open Cubase Elements or its “daughter versions” Cubase AI or Cubase LE.
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Conclusion:
To be able to start and use Cubase Elements as a Cubase Artist license owner, you need to also download that other Cubase package via Steinberg Download Assistant (SDA) and install it to its own folder (if you deinstalled it after upgrading, that is).
Its exact name currently is Cubase LE AI Elements 12.0.60 - Application (required), its size is considerably smaller than the Pro / Artist package (ca. 470 MBytes ZIP file, versus ca. 605 MBytes ZIP file)
In the end, you should have one start icon for Cubase Artist, and another one for Cubase LE AI Elements - in your start menu and / or at your desktop.
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Here’s another (much simpler) Example (“just for the record”):
Summary
In Dorico, you have one and the same installer for all three versions:
Pro, Elements, SE (free).
After install, you can decide to open both minor versions by pressing…
- the left CTRL key right after clicking the program icon for opening Dorico SE, or by pressing…
- the left ALT key right after clicking the program icon for opening Dorico Elements.
Cheers,
Markus
(-edited: typos, readability-)
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Why do you want to do that, what do you hope to achieve? Everything in Elements is in Artist - there’s no advantage in using Elements.
But there is. If you want to help someone who is on Elements, you would be able to give more relevant replies.
True, but what do you reckon the odds are that that’s the situation here? I’m thinking really really really close to zero.
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How about a remote musician that wants to record a track to send for adding to the project? They may not want to purchase Pro or Artist.
If you are saying they are on Elements there is no reason to - Projects will open in whatever version you are licensed to use, independent of the version used to create them.
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