Good question.
I suppose you have to define workflow. For myself this person represents the direction I wish Cubase workflow would go:
( he has lots of other videos all very impressive if you value finishing a song)
But the problem is Cubase is still dominated by casual users because that is where the money is. Yes, you could even say PT is too, but they hang their hat on the fact that people with success (pros) don’t change their tools unless there is a good reason. Adding bedroom beating features or a VST isn’t going to alter that. Being able to send a the PT format to any other professional studio with consistent reliability makes it for what it has become.
Lets take Sychophants love of circle of 5ths and chord editing. That is nothing an engineer would want, but perhaps a composer would want it. But how many composers will use it? Most composers I know have a formal music education background or have learned on their own through their lifetime. For myself it’s interesting, maybe helpful and inspiring, but ultimately I see it as a distraction. Does it take me toward my goal of a finished professional track quicker? No. It distracts me from my goal…just like trying to learn hundreds of other software applications if I’m not self-disciplined. This is a huge distinction I have seen between hobbyists and every-day users who have goals and deadlines. There is a trade-off between knowing your tool and using it for maximum benefit.
In my project studio I have 4 video monitors, 3 of them dedicated to the mix console, and one for the project page. I use 4 MOTU Timepiece AV’s for a total of 32 MIDI in/outs for lots of hardware synths etc. I use a QconPro and try to exploit key commands, micros, and the logic editor as much as possible.
So what hinders my own workflow compared to Cubase 6?
There has never been a KC to close the History Window. As a matter of fact with C8 you can’t even use up/down arrows any longer. You have to use the mouse. That is a huge regression!
How about clicking and holding for a different response on a few functions? That wastes time. Mouse hovering…that wastes enormous time especially if a KC is not available for it! Again, its about core functions and workflow for me.
Simple things IMO that should have been addressed WAY before Cubase 6. How about mixer volume undo’s? Thats a huge void that would greatly help workflow and is available in many other DAWs. Drum editor improvements so the user can delete tracks, and move multiple tracks up/down is still missing. I spend way too much time customizing the drum editor after opening a drum map.
I do think C8 represents a shift for the better based on their new features because bounding/rendering and VCA’s can definitely help workflow. Midi tempo detection is another DAW core function that can help workflow from a composition standpoint.
All these things that some will say I complain about, add up. It adds up to more unnecessary clicking and moving a mouse over 4 video monitors.
Engineering and tools have definitely improved with more learning with each upgrade. But getting the work done, not very much. I think my songs from the Atari age are better songs.