Hi, I have been given an old archive project to remix,
it was created using Cubase SX3 (PC version).
I am wondering if it is still possible to purchase an license for SX3?
(I am hoping that this would be cheaper than buying a license for the latest version )
The situation may depend on any plugins used rather than the actual DAW version.
Cubase 6 can be downloaded as a trial if you have a Steinberg Key but if not, Cubase Elements can be used instead with the only (major) potential issue being use of Groups as opposed to FX sends.
If it is just audio that is involved you could simply import it into either C6 or Elements and mix using Cubaseā own built in plugs.
oh, donāt worry about FX and plugins,
what I really want to be able to do is just open the project the way it was,
and see where all the audio is on the timeline
(Iād probably then export it as stems and import those into another DAW )
I do have a license for Cubase 4 LE somewhere, but if I recall correctly, that LE version wouldnāt let me open an SX3 projectā¦ do you think the Cubase 6 Elements would open an SX3 project?
Nope, 6 elements will open 6 artist and 6 full projects but not older Studio or Full (SX) projects, You will be able to open 3 SX projects with the full pack and for compatibility sake you can download a version of SX 3 that works with the 6.5 license from the Steinberg server
I have not tried the demo version and thus cannot comment on if it will export, but it is worth a try
maybe it would be better to phrase my question like this:
whatās the cheapest Cubase license I can buy from Steinberg (for a 64 bit Windows 7 system), that will let me open and work with projects created in Cubase 3 SXā¦?
Indeed, is there a Steinberg āSalesā contact address? Cos this is really a sales query, not a support one!
This is a forum BTW, not the place to get steinberg support, and Steinberg does not sell directly -, see: Find a Steinberg Dealer | Steinberg
Presuming you are the same guy as is using that avatar on SoS you are based in the UK, Digital Village and the other mail order houses has a Cubase specialist that can handle your queries, alternatively call the English Steinberg support line at 0049-40-42236-115 to get the last word on this, they are quite helpful.
But you will need a full SX 3 or Cubase 4, 5 or 6 license for it to work
You might want to take a look at the second hand market, because of the dongle system it is easier to buy and sell Cubase than systems that use authorisation and the second hand market is quite lively, any of the above version will do
If it is just a one off project like you say you may want to ask a friend to lend you a key for a few days or do the conversion for you
Yes but why do end users have to keep hearing about it when there is a top notch solution already available, which is fully supported by the developers for a negligible cost?
I am not saying this person is using an illegitimate version or that their source is same but it begs the question about professionalism on Steinbergās part for even having that old rubbish still available.
We donāt. This isnāt the Cubase 6 forum. Thatās one of the reasons why the forums are only unlocked for users of that product.
I actually think is quite professional (and good customer service) to retain old updates and downloads. It shows that theyāre not going to fully abandon their old user base.
Besides, the cost of keeping the old stuff available nowadays is negligible.
Updates are way different from keeping a full version there for the sake of a few stragglers who are not yet ready (or willing) to get on board the barge called Steinberg and by having a demo available as indistinct from the proper version bar a few arguably unnecessary plugins means the gesture is now redundant.
A demo that is only good for 30 days for a product that costs $500.
Unless Iām mistaken, the download for SX3 (full version) still needs a license to operate.
Most of Steinbergās customers are businesses themselves. Businesses donāt upgrade if itās not going to make workflow more efficient and give them a better return than they are currently getting.
and while it may be true that Steinberg are continuously innovating and keeping their products compatible with OS developments, the same cannot be said for project compatibility as evidenced by the fact of history, ie even SX3 will not import VST 32 files, as something like Cubase Elements will not import so-called āfull versionā product project files.
From VST 32 to SX 1.0 Cubase got a new audio engine. They would have completely removed the old audio engine, thus making the old files unusable. If they HAD left the old engine, I can imagine it would have caused havoc.
A stripped down version of Cubase not opening the full versionās files?
Thereās X number of things that Cubase implements that Elements does not. Theyāre essentially two different programs. A more comparable question would be āCan Cubase Artist open Cubase files?ā
Again, itās more about which things wonāt appear but between Elements and Cubase 6 (Iāve tried both) they are pretty much compatible at all levels bar Groups/Effects.
Itās about coding changes. With programming, itās better to be sacrificial than nostalgic. Even one line of code from an old, outdated engine or something can wreak havoc on a programās stability and performance.
Which are stored within the project file, making a Cubase 6 project file have something that Elements doesnāt know how to handle.
Elements does load FX send channels, it only wonāt let you instance new ones.
The audio engine ācodeā is completely separate to mixer code, which is separate to VST layers etc, which is by (excellent) design and is essentially what makes Steinberg the DAW market leader.
Itās is purely a marketing decision on Steinberg part why they wonāt trail along the hold outās and other shady characters.
All I am saying is, having a version such as SX3 available for use/download is largely redundant due to the liberal approach of Steinberg towards demonstration software.