I have been using Cubase for 20 years or so, but know your pain well.
There are really two sets of questions, the ‘musical questions’ and the technical questions.
Musically you want to get on with recording, but you keep coming across new bits of tech you need to conquer before you can do abc the way you want.
Cubase is a very powerful program and it can handle virtually every task throw at it, therefore there are loads of buttons. gizmos and options. Trouble is, which one’s are for you? you cant tell until you understand them all… that’s the rub.
First thing is, you have to cool down the mind, so it can absorb. Don’t try and do it all with the band in the room, get some space on your own.
Read the operation manual. Slowly. Make some notes. If you don’t really know what MIDI or VST mean, go and find this out first.
There are lots of video tutorials on Utube. If you get stuck on a particular concept, google it and look for a video, chances are someone’s covered it. I like this way, as I am very visual in my learning.
You need a few months to aborb, to play and to tweak, make test tracks, try out ideas, mikes, set ups, after this don’t forget to make some music. Its easy to feel swamped and frustrated, especially at the beginning
Z