Changing the GUI of a DAW is a very sensitive topic. The least important aspect of it are aesthetics, which can be argued about and boils down to taste.
But the most important thing for me is the ability to find things on screen and have something to look at that doesn’t strain my eyes.
Let’s look at Cubase 12:
My setup is dark.
There is depth, it’s relaxing to look at. The writing is mostly dark and doesn’t hurt my eyes. The colors are vivid but not overbearing.
Now, let’s look at Cubase 13:
My setup is still dark, but all the depth has gone. It’s flat and seems two-dimensional. The colors look aggresive and cheap. All the fonts have become white and painfully bright. Everything looks like a downgrade to me, including the faders. Even the menu bar has become white. Why?
Side by side comparison:
To sum it up:
I find the new look horrendous and while opinions may differ regarding taste there are some things to consider when it comes to how a working surface should look or not look like, apart from style, in order to ensure the users are capable of quickly navigating the DAW and being able to look at it with ease, especially over long periods of time. The new layout, in my eyes, doesn’t fulfill those needs and is a step backwards in most regards.
The solution to the problem?
Let the user decide what works best for them.
If you’re convinced the new design is so great, make it an option to change it in Cubase 13 instead of making it mandatory for everyone when upgrading from a system they know and have worked with for years. Give us the ability to customize the way things look, so we can make it the DAW we want and need.
Thank you.