And all this is why I spent over 5K on a Macbook Pro M2 Max. Seemed like overkill at the time but I am very happy with the switch to a Mac.
Linux would be nice as I use it quite a bit for other things but am not holding my breath for Steinberg to port their products to Linux.
MS is already bugging me about having to upgrade my whole PC ( which is perfectly fine for audio use ) to use Win 11, not going to happen, ever. I’m done with MS.
Oooh I take it you were not a business major in college, because regardless of what you think goes on, it really doesn’t work that way in the real world..
This user has been suspended permanently.
Can you please take the insulting message down? I’d prefer not to get insulted in this forum.
Nice first post. I hope it is your last.
The best AD for Linux is W10-11…… And now you wont get security updates anymore.
Windows 11 Home and Pro, version 23H2 will reach the end of updates on November 11, 2025. This version was released in October of 2023.
This edition will no longer receive security updates after November 11, 2025.
So I’m totally moving to Linux for everyday work. Except for games I’ll keep my W10. But seeing CUBASE LINUX would be a very big deal.
Alright, where to begin.
Firstly to the people who are extremely anti-Linux and seem to get upset at any suggestion that a Linux port of Cubase wouldn’t be a terrible idea.
I’m not sure why you are worried, but could it be that you’ve heard terrible tales of the dreaded “Console” and think that using Linux is super complicated and dangerous, and every operation performed could brick your entire PC? If so, rest assured that most modern Linux distros do not require the use of the console except in unusual circumstances. Linux in 2025 has all the modern conveniences you could need, and in fact, installing something like Ubuntu, Linux Mint or Pop_OS! (yes, the exclamation is part of the name) is actually easier than doing a fresh installation of Windows 11.
Perhaps you ought to look into how Linux has changed since that one time you saw it in 1997?
Secondly, for anyone using their computer for anything more serious than web browsing or gaming, Windows is becoming a liability. Microsoft doesn’t care about system performance, or optimizing for speed and reliability. They are optimizing for “AI” and advertising revenue. Each new Windows update is a game of Russian roulette as to whether or not DPC latency will suddenly increase by thousands of ms due to Microsoft breaking something, or some unforeseen interaction between a new feature and some driver or other. And with Microsoft having effectively abandoned any pretense at being an OS developer, but mainly a software-as-a-service provider, Windows also becomes more vulnerable to exploits. Performance drops with every new update, to the point where even my 12-core Ryzen 9 7900 sometimes feels sluggish.
Steinberg: You are a company creating software for professionals. You’re not making “Rave eJay.” You make Cubase, Nuendo and Dorico. This is not software for children making tiktoks, it’s software for music producers and composers. The people who use your software doesn’t CHOOSE Windows… They are STUCK on Windows. But that’s not inevitable. YOU can change that. You might not want to believe it right now, but the writing is on the wall. Windows is progressing in the wrong direction, and more and more users are moving away. Even gamers aren’t dependent on Windows anymore, with things like the Steamdeck and Proton making it easier than ever for gamers to leave the sinking ship. It’s way better to be one of the companies leading the way forward, rather than ending waiting until most of the rest of the industry has moved, and then suddenly having to make a panic move last minute.
If the mighty Steinberg suddenly announced that they are working on a Linux version of Cubase, it would set a major precedence for the whole music production industry, and it would finally allow users to move to greener pastures.
For those who aren’t convinced, you should look into some of he options that exist with regards to audio on Linux. Lower latency than ASIO on Windows. The possibility to run audio connections via the internet, like it was a normal input in your DAW, allowing a performer in a remote location record to your project, with you in control of the levels, effects etc. And that’s without having to spend huge sums on hardware and software.
One thing in the right direction is that Steinberg have changed their license for VST3 and ASIO. VST3 is now MIT. About the Steinberg VST SDK | Steinberg
I am sick and tired of Windows after both they and Apple have concentrated on surveillance and sale of personal data for on-target marketing as well as alliences with the rotten eggs in politics, instead of consentrating on fair relations and user interests. The development of the internet goes ahead, but in the wrong direction. I am happy to see Linux growing, and so are millions of people out there who treasure the right to privacy and ownership to the software instead of software owning the user. The ONLY reason for me still being a Windows user, is that I need it for running Cubase. The sooner I am free of that dependency, the better.
I am not the only one who is uncomfortable with letting go of my privacy. I am sure that if Cubase turns towards the Linux user segment, it will be a good strategy. Linux is an efficient system for brilliant present hardware that now will have to be wasted because of the W11 introduction. But equally as important: All the bloatware and surveilance prosesses running on future Windows and Mac devices slow down the machines. The faster the hardware, the more silly software is gonna be preinstalled because there is room for it, so they can earn even more money on targeted marketing.
The learning curve for Cubase is steep, but once you’re there, it is worth it. There are other Linux compatible DAWs out there, and some are said to be good. Maybe I’ll be forced into using them if Cubase does not adapt to Linux soon. So far I cling to Cubase, it is the best DAW for my kind of work, it serves me so well.
100%
I’m willing to bet money that the majority of Steinberg customers are not professionals but hobbyists. They need to cater to their market if they wish to survive.
On a positive note, moving VST3 to an MIT license will surely affect the Linux segment positively.
this senario would be truly… truuuuly beautifull. All musicians (not juste like an hobby) are a few nerd on moment in their lives, and all problems we meet usually are because of windows or Apple. Just that. In the futur, if musicians could use informatique with garantee of no bug, I think everyone want would accept to use another OS than owne.
Héhéhé!
PS: Regarding about market share for Linux-compatible Cubase, I love Cubase. Since SX2.
But despite that, I occasionally check out what’s happening on the Linux open source side. And it’s not because I don’t want to pay (once you’ve bought the Cubase licence, occasional updates are very affordable in my opinion, and what’s more, they’re not mandatory, which suits me fine. I just like the constant improvements they offer). It’s to switch to Linux.
Let me explain: Many of us invest a lot of money in high-performance PCs for our home studios. However, the intrinsic functioning of Windows or MacOS significantly hinders this performance due to internal processes that consume a lot, and I mean a lot, of resources.
Taking this reasoning further, there would be a huge financial gain to be made by reinvesting in a machine solely for Cubase (under Linux), if people don’t want to use Linux for anything else. Because for half the resources, they would end up (under Cubase Linux) with a machine that is just as powerful and more stable.
In short, I know that many people are afraid of Linux, but I believe that many of us are primarily looking for a home studio solution that is truly a solution (and not one that creates problems).
I’m closing in on the point where i have to get a new computer, this one doesnt cope with my arrangements anymore.
The only thing i use windows for anymore is Cubase. So i’m at a crossroads and have to decide to either:
a) Get a hefty windowsmachine, stick with window and endure the OS encroaching more and more on my privacy, integrating AI and stuff like that, and continue running cubase. But i’m getting tired of windows (non)handling of aggregate devices. It’s silly. But at least i get to continue using Cubase.
or
b) Get a mac studio, and get a slightly more sane operating system, but still with privacy and autonomy concerns, and also, but then i’m confined to Apples walled garden and have to be content with the fact that a 5000USD machine cant be tinkered with or upgraded, but at least i get to run Cubase.
or
c) Buy the aforementioned hefty windows machine, install a suitable Linux (I’m a reasonably proficient Linux user), and i get a sane operating system (From my POV), no privacy issues, no AI, no featurebloat unless i wish for it. But then i cant used my beloved Cubase, and i have to start over learning Bitwig or Reaper, which imho isn’t as fully featured.
I’m putting this choice off as much as i can, and keep pushing it into the future. But Cubase in Linux would be paradise for me.
Hello,
As of today, I use Windows 10 with Atlas installation. Atlas is an… like a “distribution” (that we have on Linux), but, for windows.
Atlas will uninstall few useless services , processes, to lighten Windows.
I use Windows Atlas on all of my computers now. Atlas is installed on a new installation of windwos (activated).
It’s a few but real differences: my RAM consumption is reduced quite clearly, as is the number of open processes.
In my use I don’t know if Atlas has any flaws with Cubase, but I haven’t noticed any visible ones.
I will join this discussion once again…
The long story (I have already explained somewhere above in this thread) short…
No doubt the best alternative from the developer’s point of view would be not Linux, but FreeBSD.
Why FreeBSD?!
In case the guys at Steinberg decide to support Linux, well… most probably the right choice will be a Debian-based distro, as it’s the most widely spread platform among the Linux distros.
Another approach could be taken if FreeBSD, or Debian is chosen:
No doubt one day Steinberg will take this step towards BSD, or Linux.
Personally once they did it, I will move to BSD, or Linux again. The music software was the only reason for me to move to Windows long ago…
Best regards,
Thurisaz
Nice idea. I didn’t know really Freebsd for this used.
All of this is becoming litteraly interesting. And real. Mister Steinberg, if you’re listening.. héhé
+1
I would LOVE to be able to move away from Windows (and MacOS), but Cubase and Dorico are keeping me there.
Hi @NitroPalace
Well, FreeBSD itself is more server oriented OS, but I used it as a Desktop for many years.
Nowadays there are few Desktop oriented FreeBSD distributions, but still I would prefer FreeBSD itself as it’s more secure and stable. There are native drivers for the professional class NVidia Graphic Cards.
FreeBSD is far easier for maintenance than Linux, especially if one needs to re/compile the kernel - just edit the kernel file, perform two commands and restart the computer.
Best wishes,
Thurisaz
I understand your fascination for FreeBSD, it is a very mature operating system.
But you mention the reasons why it can not be used for applications like a DAW yourself. It is a server operating system and there is sometimes the need for a recompile. No standard user will be doing this, users want to avoid that kind of deep level access to system internals.
Linux system don’t need that anymore these days, the typical user oriented distros all use graphical update processes, like MacOS or Windows, and the update includes the kernel. I haven’t recompiled a Linux kernel for years and there is no need for it anymore.
Maintenance in Linux is the same as Windows or MacOS, easy and grapical.
Well, the last version of FreeBSD I was using was 6.x something… So, I believe it evolved a lot since then. Version 15 is on it’s way to be released.
Still no matter how many graphical tools you have, to dive deeper into the administrative side of the BSD, MacOS, or Linux… you’ll need the root access and the terminal.
Since there are Desktop oriented FreeBSD distros, which provide GUI tools for pakage installation and some management, probably they are available for FreeBSD, too.
I have years of experience with all the mentioned OSes here, as system administrator and power user… I could honestly say that nothing is easier for maintenance and more straightforward than FreeBSD. When I moved from Debian Linux to FreeBSD as a Desktop, I needed just less than a month to get used to BSD logic and organization on an administrative level.
Having a bunch of graphical tools doesn’t mean the system is easy for maintenance and well organized. No matter how many years I’m using Windows, because of the music software, still I find it very chaotic. I’ve spent some time with MacOS, too. It’s has better organization but still not as easy and straightforward as BSD.
If I would rate those OSes I’m having experience with:
FreeBSD could be an excellent OS for both servers and desktops. The rest is GUI - Gnome, KDE, MATE, Cinnamon… most probably they already have most of the needed graphical tools.