Cubase’s current folder-based group editing is a useful tool, but it has long-standing limitations that make it unreliable for professional multitrack audio workflows – particularly with drums, live band recordings, dialogue, or large orchestral sessions where event structures often differ across tracks.
Key limitations:
Structural dependency: Group edits only propagate reliably if events across all tracks are identically structured (same splits, lengths, comps). Mismatches cause silent failures, risking unnoticed phase and alignment errors.
Spatial coupling: Tracks must be physically inside a folder, forcing rearrangements that disrupt logical track hierarchies.
No support for multiple, overlapping groups with flexible assignments that can be toggled instantly.
By contrast, Pro Tools’ Edit Groups are an abstract, timeline/cursor-based system:
Independent of folders and track order.
Works reliably even with differing event structures.
Allows multiple/overlapping groups per track.
Instant toggle on/off.
This abstraction has been a core editing fundamental in Pro Tools (and similar in Reaper/Studio One) for decades and is table-stakes for confident, efficient multitrack editing.
Here’s a clear demo of the feature in action:
With Cubase 15’s focus on workflow enhancements (expression maps, stem separation, etc.), this would be a hugely valuable addition for audio-heavy users without compromising Cubase’s strengths in MIDI and composition.
Personally I feel disinclined to keep purchasing updates containing new plugins until fundamental workflow features such as this are finally implemented.