Hi, Cubase has been crashing whenever I try and move note data from midi tracks to newly created instrument tracks. This issue didn’t used to occur but now whenever I work on any new or existing files or projects, I can’t work longer than a minute without Cubase freezing then crashing right after. I primarily have been trying to import projects from Finale using XML files and Cubase defaults the newly imported project note data into midi tracks, which I then need to copy over to instrument tracks to have the notes playback with my chosen sample libraries. I mainly use BBC Symphony Orchestra from Spitfire for my sample libraries, this issue has also occured with different libraries and different project sizes.
I haven’t been able to find any solutions that work online, and I have also tried deleting and resintalling Cubase and the issue persists. I also have tried contacting Steinberg support and have given DMP files, but they haven’t been able to help me come up with a solution. They also no longer respond to my emails and it’s been months since I have been able to use Cubase due to these crashes, so any help or clarity on this issue would be immensely appreciated!
Cubase Pro 13.0.55
Computer specs:
PC Windows 11 Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop
64 bit operating system and processor, 11th gen Intel core i7, 16 GB of ram
Yes this started happening within the last several months randomly. I hadn’t noticeably changed anything to my computer system or settings, and I don’t remember if I had updated Cubase before this started occuring. My computer and the drivers are all up to date, along with Cubase. It may have been around the time Cubase 14 had come out that this all started happening, which shouldn’t affect anything with Cubase 13 though. Only other thing I can maybe think of is that I had downloaded a few more sample libraries into Kontakt and Sine player before this all started happening and maybe it’s somehow too much for it to handle possibly. I don’t see how that can be the case though since I have heard of people using tons of different sample libraries and having no issues like this.
The crashing will specifically occur usually after I have tried opening my sample library, like BBC Symphony Orchestra, to assign an instrument to a newly created instrument track with copied note data from a midi track. Usually if not after the first time, when I try opening the player a second time it will always freeze then crash when trying to assign a different instrument to another track, before the sample library can even open.
I had an issue a little while back with the template that I used to begin new projects. I rebuilt the template and haven’t had an issue since. Do you use a template?
Nope, I have tried existing projects and new projects from scratch that don’t use any templates, and still have the same result. Crashing doesn’t occur in new projects until I add midi tracks, which I only added to test if it was causing the crashing. I wouldn’t even use the midi tracks if it weren’t for the fact that Cubase defaults imported XML files to midi tracks for the note data, which I have to copy over into instrument tracks.
Well like I said, I tried making new tracks from scratch and moved the data between midi and instrument tracks and it still would crash, so I don’t think it’s anything to do with imported tracks specifically.
I’m not sure what type of imported midi file you are using, but I have tried playing/recording notes into a new midi track, and transferring that between an instrument track. I usually need to have at least two or three different midi tracks created that I move data from into instrument tracks to have it crash. I also delete the midi tracks after copying the data into the instrument tracks since I only need the instrument tracks, not sure if that could also partially cause problems or not but I doubt it.
I attached a DMP file for a new random project I made to test the crashing, to see if anyone can take a look and see anything that’s specifically going on. Cubase 13.0.55 64bit2025.4.3 2.05.04.431.dmp (1.0 MB)
Update: I was able to figure out a solution finally. Apparently I needed to delete the Cubase preferences folder after I uninstalled Cubase, and then when I reinstalled it, it made a new folder and it no longer crashes anymore. I’m not really sure what in the preferences folder was corrupted or causing the crashing when doing the steps I mentioned in my comments above, but I’m just glad I can finally use Cubase again after months of not being able to find a solution.