Cubase Elements and MIDI plugins

Cubase
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#1

Hi, I’m considering purchasing Cubase 10 after previously using much older versions. Just looking at the version comparison to see which version I would need.

https://new.steinberg.net/cubase/compare-editions/

It looks like Cubase Elements has 99% of what I need which is great news. The only thing that slightly worries me is that it lists zero for VST MIDI effect plug-ins. I don’t use those a lot, but I do fairly often use a MIDI plugin to transpose parts up or down an octave or two, eg if I decide to switch to a different synth patch. I also very occasionally might use one to modify the velocity range after recording.

Does Elements actually support MIDI plugins but just not come with any available? In which case I might be able to install some separately and restore that missing functionality? Or does it just not even have MIDI plugin slots?

#2

You don’t get the insert slots for midi plugins - and not much out there 3rd party that support Steinberg scheme anyway.

But using VST midi plugins is all fine - like Insert Piz Here free collection - as a synth/instrument and concanate a couple of those. Routing one synth from output of the other and such. These are like any VST instrument - just having midi in and out.

For convenience I use a plugin host like BluecatAudio Patchwork to route everything inside, as well as instantiate instruments I want.

What I missed the most running Cubase Elements 7 and 8 - was track lanes, so everything recorded in a loop can be expanded and in lanes below. In Elements I would get stacked takes on top of each other, and create empty tracks below and drag each take there. things can have changed in these 5 years regarding this - so check out manuals is what I would do.

#3

Oh ok, thanks a lot for the info. Well, looking now at the price difference I see that Cubase artist is 3 times the price of Cubase elements. So I’m not going to pay that just for the sake of a single midi plugin I use from time to time for convenience, even if there are no insert slots for midi plugins. I can just select all the notes, hold shift and use arrow keys to transpose an octave at a time. Much cheaper solution!