I’ve been using Cubase for about 15 years and i really enjoyed the software. But i’m just so frustrated with SDA (Steinberg Download Assistant) that i can’t even look at it!!! Not even for the Thousands of Euros spent on Steinberg products over the years i care anymore! Take care…
1 Like
(8_-(
Thanks for letting us know…bye bye! 
2 Likes
Sadly, these posts have just been repeated a few times. If you have a serious issue, I suggest you ask here for help , from Steinberg (but they take ages) and also YouTube is a great way to work things out. All the best.
1 Like
Steinberg’s system is so laughable. It has now become simpler, but there is still a way to go, such as bringing together in one less gloomy and more attractive software, the Steinberg Activation Manager, the (ugly) Steinberg Download Assistant, the Steinberg Library Manager and the My Steinberg Account, to finally know, in ONE PLACE, what the hell is going on with my Steinberg’s product. And how about getting rid for good of that Downloade Access Code?
1 Like
I have to agree that Download Assistant and Activation Manager are not very intuitive nor user-friendly.
Most other developers have more elegant solutions, surely Steinberg can do better?
Indeed, like the previous poster says, have everything in one app.
But as a longtime user I’m just happy they got rid of eLicenser, and not a moment too soon either.
2 Likes
I was walking down the street, minding my own business, and a total stranger came up to me, started shouting, “I’ve had enough of this town! I’m leaving!” Then he turned around and stalked away.
I carried on, shaking my head.
3 Likes
Maybe he was adressing you because you’re the secret mayor of hearts in town dear Googly 
1 Like
Ahh! You can be my friend! 
1 Like
I can’t help but wonder why someone would take the time and effort to come to this forum and create an account, just to say “I’m upset and I’m leaving!”
Like anyone cares.
It takes all sorts, I suppose.
Still, Antero_Ferreira1 has been in the town for 15 years using Cubase… and it doesn’t change the poor management of the Steinberg’s products as I mentioned before in my post.
Dunno, the download assiatant looks fine to me. I used it several times with minimal to no problems.
It’s not a reason imho to abandon a software which one has invested so much money.
Still, each to their own.
Steinberg should take a lesson from Arturia about this …
1 Like
why are you glad?..
Well, that’s what he says. Rather odd a 15-year veteran of Cubase would just now create a forum account and only to say he’s “leaving.” I’m using “odd” as a euphemism, of course. And for all things the “SDA.” @Googly_Smythe doesn’t use it at all and he’s a pro.
Pursuant to that thought, if the basis of you calling SB’s entire system “laughable” is because you think the download assistant is “ugly,” then I’d say you may be focusing on things that don’t matter . I mean, who cares what the SDA looks like? I run it twice a month maybe? You do you, obviously, and if that’s what is important to you, go for it. But it doesn’t really seem to be the best use of your time. I mean, I get it… I broke up with someone for using the sugar spoon to stir her coffee, but that’s obviously over the line.
I’m also a bit confused about what you mean by “what’s going on with my Steinberg product.” While the SDA takes a little getting used to, it’s certainly not rocket surgery… I’m aware of what I purchased, but maybe that’s just me.
Had this person been an active community participant for a couple of years then maybe their post would have some meaning. I think people miss that when they poo-post from new accounts. No one really bothers paying attention to that.
2 Likes
It is true that it is problematic
I think the most funny thing is that the OP dropped his little rant bomb and has not been seen ever since. Now we are at post no° 16 and counting…
In a weird way we love to react to posts like this even though it is clear that it can’t be taken too serious.
2 Likes
I’m willing to believe that the ugliness of SDA is a matter of taste, but the scattered components of purchasing, validating, activating and installing Steinberg products are not a matter of taste for a new or even existing customer. Why not stick to that, rather than gloss over the suspicious intentions of Antero_Ferreira1?
I’d be curious to know how many different screens and clicks one has to navigate without getting lost and tearing one’s hair out before finally using one or another Steinberg product compared to other providers…
I DIDN’T gloss over them - I actually called them out! 
I get the hyperbole, but “tearing one’s hair out” seems rather extreme. I just did a test using a brand new trial email account to test all this, and other than having to hit “retry” a few times because of ISP IPv6 shenanigans, installing the trial and getting up and running was literally trivial.
I also just spun up a new Win11 ARM VM using MacOS native virtualization, download the components all at the same time, and installed them. I logged on, downloaded N13 Arm, and installed and activated it without any issues whatsoever. It was, quite literally, trivial. My unsolicited advice would be to take a little time and work on what parts are giving you trouble and even take notes. Just work through it. Once you do that, it’s actually quite simple once you identify the approach.
If you want something to compare it to, then go buy yourself an Apollo interface and download the UAD components - and throw in LUNA while you’re at it. You’ll have to keep “UA Connect” running constantly, and when you close it, it will relaunch itself even when you’re in the middle of a DAW project and simply load a plugin. LUNA won’t even start without UA Connect actually running. If you happen to use SoundID reference, but havent’ purchased the UA plugin, THAT will launch every single time to even load console, and will silently apply your default system-wide correction without you even knowing it. You’ll then have to go into Console to identify which plugins you’ve purchased, and which ones are “free but will run in DEMO for 2 weeks;” but you still have to look at them. Or then go to UAD Control Panel to get DSP details. And that is high-end “Audio Pro” hardware and software. Steinberg SDA and Activation is a walk in the park compared to that. Or just buy a SWAM bundle and go through the updates for that, entering your admin password for each instrument pack over and over and over just to update. Or maybe purchase Vienna Ensemble products and try configuring your studio while juggling iLok Cloud Account logons. Or maybe SSL Complete and have to deal with 8 or 10 “updates” that constantly show as available but it’s only because they’ve only updated Pro Tools AAX components, but you have to go through every one of them to see what the update is. Did I mention iZotope yet? Don’t get me started.
That’s not me complaining about those things, that’s me identifying requirements and dependancies to operate my studio based on my specifications and choices. I mean, nowhere in this thread is “I’m leaving Cubase because its operation of X, Y, and Z and lack of A, B, and C prevent me from being creative, competitive, or productive.”
The “thought-but-not-replied” mindset I have is, “if these guys can’t figure out how to activate their software, how are they even using Cubase?” And I get it; it’s a horrible thing to think, and that may not be fair. Or it may be. Regardless, if Bon Jovi can say “100,000 fans can’t be wrong,” then it’s fair for Steinberg to say “2 million users can’t be wrong” and keep trying to create an environment where the common denominator can effectively use the product while also protecting their intellectual property investment.
Well, well, well… I just want Steinberg to protect its investment and intellectual property in a single place or software. Is that too much to ask? Even if there are worse things elsewhere from other vendors than Steinberg. There’s always worse elsewhere.
But I have music to make now. And I’m happy to be among the 2 million who use Cubase, Dorico, Halion, and SpectraLayers Pro. Did I just make an argument from authority?