Hi Alexis. In Windows, it is standard practice to enable screensavers so that after a period of inactivity (keyboard presses, mouse moves, etc.) Windows locks the machine and puts your monitors to sleep, requiring you to enter your password (or other credential) to unlock the machine to continue working. You can, of course, lock your machine manually very easily every time you walk away from your machine, and turn off all your monitors (I have 3) to conserve energy (and their life). Nobody chooses that over the automatic feature.
In a home studio, auto-lock makes more sense, since you have a certain level of “home security” already built in, so you can feel comfortable getting up from your workstation for dinner, knowing that the machine will lock in a few minutes automatically. But what Cubase does every time you launch it is TURN OFF the automatic locking functionality the user has established (and expects), WITHOUT informing the user. I learned this soon after purchasing and installing Cubase by returning to my PC and finding it unlocked and all three monitors on full blast. It had been that way all night. My workstation’s cooling system was also running much harder than necessary since Cubase was keeping it in an alert state, all of which is a huge, unnecessary waste of energy.
Perhaps in a busy studio setting that operates 24/7, or in one where security of the client’s assets aren’t a concern, or where the cost of electricity is small compared to vast profits, this isn’t a big deal. Notwithstanding the security hole, if you have a console and a ton of outboard gear using MWhs of energy a month, you might not blink. But for the typical home studio, it doesn’t make sense for Cubase to hijack a user’s system security and power management in this way. As I said, no other DAW does this. The excuse being used by some, that it prevents the system from interrupting tracking sessions, is complete bunk. It might have been necessary in Windows 98, but it is completely unnecessary today.
So, basically, whenever you have Cubase running on your PC, the following is happening: Your preference to use auto-lock is disabled without warning, your monitors will stay on full blast all the time, and your machine will run at highest capacity, taxing your cooling system, all because Steinberg chose to continue an outdated programming practice no longer required and, worse, not making it optional. Hope that helps. Cheers.
I made mixes on a Tascam Portastudio which is also collecting dust. The masters went on a Realistic Hi-Fi stereo VHS recorder. lol oh, the days! If only then we could see us now!
