Cubase integration

[UdoBehm]

Hey Steinberg,

I’ve finally jumped up on your suggestion to use Cubase for editing and song composing - what a wonderful app compared to VST Live… It can be quite well seen that Cubase is out much longer and has a much bigger development behind…

Besides the audio engine that interestingly seems to work better for me (with less dropouts and less glitches and a much smaller CPU usage) in VST Live (still figuring out why this is so but this is not what this topic shall be about) Cubase really impresses me what I can do!

Unfortunately when it comes to import Cubase projects in VST Live I’m not so happy with the integration there and how the Cubase project can be used in VST Live:

First of all I (still) don’t understand why I’m not getting the track volumes here for MIDI tracks but instead I see the MIDI volume sliders:

Then I had to figure out that all my volume adjustments that I made on the tracks in Cubase are not overtaken:

In Cubase it looks like this:

Most sadly the markers and especially the arranger markers are not transfered.

I totally do not understand why you cannot implement the Arranger track from Cubase and replace the Song track in VST Live with it and also add the Cubase Arranger Editor in VST Live that in my opinion is so much more powerful compared to the poor Song track and possibilities that this track offers in combination with the FlexLoops function.

The Cubase Arranger would fit much better into VST Live in my opinion and would give much more control and advantages compared to the FlexLoops function…

Next I’m not so happy with that I need to export the cubase project in Cubase first and after have to import it in VST Live.

I wished there was something like a UPDATE PROJECT button in VST Live that would auto communicate with Cubase and would quickly update the whole song when I make any changes to it in real time!

This, missing track volumes adoption to the Cubase settings and the missing Arranger in VST Live that not automatically creates the song parts…

… but also would add the correct starting points (as they already exist in the Cubase Arranger (track))…

… is something I’m missing in VST Live.

[UdoBehm]

Cubase by the way also has something, that I wished VST Live would have it: An All MIDI Inputs option:

This would solve my problem that I can only connect one hardware input to one visual port if I suddenly could connect all my MIDI inputs to one visual port here:

[UdoBehm]

Finally I wonder: Are you still working on my other issues/problems that I have in VST Live that I’ve told you (some of them) years ago and that still don’t seem to be solved?

Talking about issues like that:

Layer’s input devices are not saved in song [2.2.57]

I confirm. It’s also in a field of Stacks. Strange things happening after full Moon and Perseids.

Layer's input devices are not saved in song [2.2.54]

Pls try todays’ version to come, then if it persists open a new thread, we can’t keep up otherwise.

When I load a new song why is it inserted above the current song?

…there seems to be no way to drag a song to the very end of the song list on the left side of VST Live

Shared Layers still do not work properly

And why should a shared layer become unshared when saved as a song? This totally makes the existence of shared layers unnecessary to me…

Missing a song transpose function

Well, if you ask for my personal opinion here: I would describe this as something that could help many users. Maybe some who even think that such a feature exists would begin using it when it was there… To me I plan on creating worship tracks using in church… And it happens quite a lot that the band or the band leader decides to quickly transpose the song so it can be better sung by the congregation. So this feature was a big plus and a big help to me if I didn’t have to transpose each layer an…

How can I add a sound to a track?

Good ideas, we’re checking what can be done.

Why is the MIDI volume slider shown here in the Tracks MIDI tracks?

This is a good point. Also wondered whether automation could do the trick here (I’m not getting quite well along with the automation as it is currently implemented in VST Live… would rather like being able to directly automate the instrument that I’m working on, not having to go in the Actions and Shortcuts menu… but so far I automate them with CCs)… Concerning your concern: There are already two faders for the MIDI volume control AND for the Audio output: [image] I just would like having th…

Bugs in the audio controls for shared layers

Yes I meant layers (oops). From the top down in a song:- Global Layers are available in the entire project. You can show their settings in a Parts Layer but any changes you make are global. Effectively, showing Global Layers in a Part is a convenience - it just duplicates the controls for the Globals Layers. They can be automated by a Part using a Track. Shared Layers are available in the Parts you put them into - they are the same VST instance underneath, but the Layer controls are stored …

Show lyrics and chords combined

Hi @UdoBehm ! This is a nice idea, have to admit, but you need to know, Developers did their best in the last months to join chords and lyrics columns to one sheet (in iOS app too) after user requests. Everyone is happy now, let us - users - stay a bit happy with the current solution, please, bagging you!

Freeze function for MIDI tracks

Why can VST Live not have that? I think it woulnd’t be too hard if implementing this function. Doesn’t it exist in Cubase as well? To me it seems way too complicated and inconvenient of having to do this externally in a DAW. One click on the track - freeze - one more click - unfreeze. That would make things quite perfect for me, as I could do in Ableton Live…

Adding new layers is weird

Usually you custom-label your LAYER’s anyways, as you do with STACKS and MODULES, also depends… in those views you can list GLOBAL and non-GLOBAL instances too… for now try to enjoy the app as it is and belive, developers are working like craisy to make this app better and better. And for sure they welcome any ideas, but first please check if your idea or question is discussed before posting, to avoid duplicated threads

Export and import function for global layers

@musicullum - this is close to what I was trying to explain back here 4 last Midi playback issues - #11 by CliveJ Thank you @UdoBehm

Save dialogue using arrow keys?

One more small thing: I miss being able to “scroll through” this dialog with the arrow keys left and right, and then selecting “no” with the keyboard (which I would also prefer if it were preset, but okay…) [image]

Tap tempo button

I know I can assign tap tempo in the Actions & Shortcuts menu. Since I do not use an action or shortcut for this, I would prefer having a tap tempo button visible in VST Live all the time…

Klick and hold for changing settings

I miss the option of being able to click on control elements like these with the mouse or with my finger (on a touchscreen), hold them and change values quickly and easily by moving them up or down. [image] [image] I also miss keyboard input for layers, so that I can quickly and easily remove new layers using the delete button, for example. In some menus, e.g. the Actions and Shortcut menu, but also when selecting parameters in Automation, it would be useful to be able to press the Escape ke…

[ArthurNeeman]

You are at the same place some of us stood with thoughts, hopes, individual needs and dreams…

Think wider! You are one of hundreds and put ten needs in list. The list is growing faster than they can manage priorities. (Probably it’s not just a lyric)

I also was thinking about integration of all Steinberg products as modules into one core system…

I would be happy to have Steinberg Core with loadable modules - Cubase, Dorico, Live and tools also as modules - WaveLab, SpectraLayers etc. At the end I would have one project folder and 100% convenient workflow - compose, mix, master in Cubase, open Live module (I mean VST Live) and it has the same project with all tracks and routings… Without leaving Core program..

But wait, Cubase have one song while VST Live have a list. This means that Core could manage project where are many songs - the same list we have in VST Live, but for every song we could open Cubase for composing and mixing or WaveLab for mastering, then run Live and have the Core list and go on stage after unloading all unwanted modules to free CPU.

Nice dream, isn’t? I would start to program Steinberg products right with this view and dream.

Let’s wake up and continue working on our small and big projects.
We have the tools for today and they are working. Those tools are made by different teams and every team has different view and experience in music creation and programming.

But bugs are creatures without which we wouldn’t be able to meet each other virtually.

[musicullum]

@UdoBehm

Most sadly the markers and especially the arranger markers are not transfered.

I totally do not understand why you cannot implement the Arranger track from Cubase and replace the Song track in VST Live with it

You need to activate the according options when importing the mediaproject in VST Live.

[UdoBehm]

where do I find these?

[fkalmus]

@musicullum

options when importing the mediaproject in VST Live.

There are checkboxes as options, right on the bottom row in the file-navigator…

[UdoBehm]

You mean these?

I neither see according options there, nor could I figure out a way to import the Cubase’s Arranger track that I desperately need

[UdoBehm]

Automation is getting lost too from Cubase

[sergeantt67]

Why do you think automation should be preserved when exporting from Cubase? Is it stated as an option?
In Cubase, automation is part of a track, but in VST Live, automation is a separate unit.
“Your expectations are your problems,” of course, it doesn’t hurt to dream, but obviously, Vst Live will never become Cubase; it’s a completely different approach to implementation.

P.S.
They could at least make the Cubase export function properly, which still doesn’t work. And you’re still dreaming about exporting automation bloat.

[UdoBehm]

So let me dream: Automation becomes available and gets connected automatically from Cubase or other software in VST Live. I think it’s ridiculous that this doesn’t work automatically as well as the volume sliders to be restored as they were in the Cubase project

[fkalmus]

@UdoBehm

. I think it’s ridiculous that this doesn’t work automatically

Oh yes…

[musicullum]

@UdoBehm

I neither see according options there, nor could I figure out a way to import the Cubase’s Arranger track that I desperately need

It will create a Part for each Arranger item, and with FlexLoops even gives you realtime selection of those.

What more could it be that you expect?

[UdoBehm]

I would appreciate if you replaced the Song track and the FlexLoop function with the Arranger track and the Arranger Editor of Cubase. Not only that the Arranger and the Arranger Editor already exists in probably your most important Steinberg product, it works much better than the Song track and FlexLoops as it has all the functionality that I would need in VST Live. And since I anyway can create an Arranger track in Cubase why not using this function also in VST Live??

I love that I’m able to drag flexbible beginning and end points of the Arranger events in Cubase, that I don’t need to begin at bar 1.1.0 that I can even add two events during the same time, that I can use the Arranger Editor to select which part playes when, how often it is repeated and of course that I can also re-arrange the whole song with the help of the Arranger Editor. Furthermore all of my allocations are made in Cubase when one Arranger event starts and when it ends. When I import the project in VST Live all of these information are lost. The only thing remaining is the song parts on the left side that are no more connected to the events in the project though. I need to do all of my allocations again, which bothers me a lot and is so much time consuming and in my optinion totally needless if you could just use the Cubase’s Arranger track in VST Live too.

So this is kind of my point of view, Mr. Spork

[sergeantt67]

Have you considered that this is impossible for several reasons?
Most likely, the software engines are different, so you’d have to recreate everything in the program, and I think it would be oh so difficult to recreate all the functions of the arrangement track to be exactly like in Cubase. Because then the development team would probably have to be as large as in Cubase (the price of the final product would increase, since they’d also have to be paid).
And then you’d have to set up export from Cubase to VST Live and make it work, when even simple export still doesn’t work (A year and a half has passed, and the situation is still the same), so it’s out of the realm of fantasy.
So, you like Cubase—it’s a wonderful program, so try organizing your performance in it. What’s stopping you?
That no one here implements it for you, that’s 100% true.
And they’ll tell you something like: these are Cubase features, and VST Live won’t have them.

[UdoBehm]

I’m definitely willing to pay more for VST Live if it was able to do more what I would like it to be able to do

[sergeantt67]

Yes, I’d also like a lot of things, but here’s an example: Feature Requests - #455 by sergeantt67 and the response: Feature Requests - #456 by Spork
What matters isn’t what we want, but whether the developers are ready to implement it!

So come down to earth and get creative.

[OleganB]

@sergeantt67

So, you like Cubase—it’s a wonderful program, so try organizing your performance in it. What’s stopping you?

Work that has already been done in VL and needs to be redone, and remains of hope.
But it’s coming from everywhere: “Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch’entrate”

[musicullum]

@UdoBehm

it works much better than the Song track and FlexLoops as it has all the functionality that I would need in VST Live.

What is it that it can’t do?

[UdoBehm]

As said before: No need to start at bar 1.1.0. Ability to place overlapping events

The Arranger Editor that allows to quickly arrange or re-arrange the song structure, also allowing to define in advance how ofter song parts shall become repeated

…the ability to quickly change all of that (also change the song order)

Very important the ability to add song parts that are before another song part in the timeline that will be played after another event that comes after in the timeline has been played (e. g. play the intro after the chorus - how would I achieve this in VST Live so far as a pre-defined arranged structure???)

Ability to create several playback sequences and quickly recalling and restoring them, ability to convert the playback sequence (re-arrange them in the Cubase track view).

I basically love everything that the Arranger track and the Arranger Editor in Cubase has to offer. It also seems to work a lot better than the FlexLoops function currently does in VST Live.

So for me I would like having the Song track and the FlexLoop function in VST Live completely replaced with the Arranger track in Cubase. At least it would be a help if all of my events set in the Arranger track in Cubase would at least become converted in VST Live. But still I would miss all the other great functions that the Arranger Editor in Cubase has to offer…