I wanted to start a topic, don’t know if it’s already out there but here it is. As the title states, Are there any Concert composers that compose only on Cubase? That doesn’t include creating the sheets for the musicians, I mean Creating the music. I have both Cubase and Dorico Pro and find myself going back and forth. But i still prefer Composing with Cubase but i like the way Noteperformer now has those great Playback Engines that are compatible with Dorico.
I’m just starting this topic to see If you guys like composing Concert music on Cubase and what’s your way around assigning sample techniques and applying dynamics to individual instruments and such. Because it can be very time consuming compared to Dorico which it can be done and copied to many instruments in a few seconds.
Hey! Could you clarify what you mean by ‘concert music’? Are you referring to orchestral music, chamber music, or a broader range of genres intended for live performances?
There are composers using Cubase as an aid for orchestral compositions. My gut feeling tells me there are more composers that uses Cubase for movie score compositions than there are ones that composes for the concert halls.
This thread is pretty open ended, what specifically would you like to discuss?
Yes, I compose only on Cubase, with the help of the Score Editor, Expression maps, Drum maps and CC Automations for the dynamics of VST Orchestral Instruments.
I would like to see “Doric” improvements in the future version 13.
Just basically if anyone here who composes classical genre music on cubase and why they would prefer it to using notation softwares.
I know i go back and forth in thinking one tool for composing is a sharper tool for the workflow. For me for instance, i like seeing the entire spectrum of instruments used on the piano role. There is something beautiful about seeing all those dashes (midi notes) spread across the editor. And would love some input from others.
I try to manage the composition in the following way:
AUDIO:
For the Dynamics I use the Automations (more precise than the Dynamics present in the Key Editor lanes, thanks to the Bézier curves).
For Note Articulations I use Expression Maps.
SCORE:
For the Dynamics I insert the Symbols (I prefer to insert them from the Key Editor).
Note Articulations are automatically derived from Expression Maps.
Can we do differently to streamline the workflow? Maybe yes, maybe in the future, but currently it seems like a good procedure.
Hi NiXJC. I wanted to share my experience with using Nuendo for composing since you mentioned it in your post. While I occasionally write notes on notation software, I always end up using Nuendo for the notation, execution, mixing, and mastering of my compositions.
Nuendo has proven to be an invaluable tool, especially when aiming to create music that emulates the sound of a real orchestra.
When working on orchestral compositions or pieces that require a realistic orchestral sound, Nuendo and a good arsenal of VSTs are indispensable. You’ll find that editing CC, volume, effects, and reverb/convolution for each instrument or section individually is essential to achieving that lifelike quality.
Additionally, for those who prefer using notation softwares, it’s entirely possible to compose in such softwares (like Sibelius, Finale, etc.), export the piece in MIDI format, import it into Nuendo and then work in depth on each section or instrument; it’s one of the best ways to achieve exceptional results.
If you’re interested, I’ve put together a playlist showcasing some of my work, and every piece has been created entirely using Nuendo. You can check it out here: (6) Instrumental / Karaoke - " Sogni " - Sarah Brightman ft. Vincent Niclo ( Teddy NASR ) - YouTube
Feel free to ask if you have any questions or if there’s anything else you’d like to know about composing with Nuendo.