I’ve just come back to Cubase (now v12) after 1.5 years absence I find myself, either due to ignorance or irritability (I am pissed it’s true ) unable to do anything. I have mostly given up on Cubase, I think due to the unnecessary complexity (It is trying to do too many things, 98% of which I don’t need). I just want to record some tracks, 90% MIDI, and edit them. Please, hold the snark if it is obvious.
What happened to the track editor where you control what the instrument that the midi data is routed to and a lot of other important stuff. All I can see is like the attachment :“Visibility = Track Zones etc” HOW DO I GET BACK TO THE TRACK INSPECTOR FROM THIS? I SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN THIS BASIC TECHNIQUE. ICANT DO ANYTHING UNTIL I SORT THIS OUT. Cubase is to complicated in spite of having used it since rls 4.
2) Can anyone recommend a simpler alternative to Cubase? Its very powerful but I dont need all these features and I’m at my wits end. Pls no “Haha stupid newby” snark . I’ve been condescended to too much already. There seem to be a lot of people on this forum just trying to show how clever they are.
Hard to know exactly based on your description. What version of Cubase is this - it looks like you are using an older version of Cubase before it had 2 Left Zones. But I think your issue is because you don’t have a Track Selected. While you do have a MIDI Part Selected, no Tracks are.
If you are looking for simplicity in workflow you might consider switching from MIDI to Instrument Tracks.
I have real respect for (some) people working the beats., but I’m old school, as in Dylan, Paul Simon., not to compare myself to them on merit, just style. I was just providing info.
If you aren’t on a Mac, there is no better time to switch. Get a new M4 Pro Mac Mini (or even the non-Pro model but with perhaps 32GB of RAM) and you will be set. Absolutely killer, silent music computer (that fits in the palm of your hand) and an outstanding free DAW that comes with excellent instruments and sounds (also free) and tons of great loops. What more could you want?
You won’t need a new music computer for probably 10 years (and maybe ever if you are willing to disconnect it from the Internet after Apple eventually stops supporting it with OS/security updates).
Hi,
these days you can install trial versions of almost every DAW out there. I think it is impossible to give a recommendation, you need to check them out for yourself.
I have been working with Cubase since version 1.0, too. I think they managed to keep it as intuitive as possible when it comes to the overall handling. Cubase is still mirroring the workflow of an analogue console for the most parts. There are definetly DAWs out there which are much simpler but this comes at a price with limitations and restrictions on many levels. But that’s just me. Again, check out what alternatives are out there (trial versions) and if something is for you.
And if you want to stick with Cubase:
I would watch some tutorials to get the idea behind the new stuff if I were you. Or ask for assistance in this forum if you are stuck - @raino already offered constructive help. But that’s all up to you - whatever floats your boat!
Bingo, Bullseye!! That’s the correct answer. I can’t thank you enough, 1 Million blessings on you and yours. Call this thread closed, except I expect there are possibly 1000’s more suffering from this piece of so-called design.
What do you think of mac Pro mini and Logic together? Is Logic simple and with a short learning curve for someone who is generally knowledgeable about music production?
People vary in whether they find Cubase or Logic Pro more intuitive. I’ve used both over the years but usually end up back with Cubase. I don’t think there’s a demo for Logic - however, if you’ve got an iPad, you can get a 30 free trial of Logic Pro for iPad which gives a good idea of the workflow. It’s worth checking out the Logic Session Players - great for songwriting.
I used Logic (starting with C-Lab Creator on the Atari) for nearly 30 years before switching to Cubase because I foolishly switched to a PC for a number of years. So I know Logic very well. It’s an incredibly powerful DAW.
But that’s the problem. It’s almost too powerful. While there are ways to use Logic on a more basic level, the complexity is always lurking just beneath the surface. If you find Cubase has a lot of features you don’t need, Logic is likely to be doubly so.
Out of all of the standard, primarily “linear” DAWs (Cubase, Digital Performer, Logic, and Studio One) I would say Studio One is probably the most straightforward. It too has a non-trivial learning curve. But it’s more modern and hence somewhat leaner than these other DAWs and doesn’t suffer from as much legacy bloat.
Since Studio One is cross-platform, you can try it out even if you are currently on a PC (and can of course continue using it on a PC if you choose).
I think that’s your best alternative for a slightly simpler DAW compared to Cubase and Logic. That’s just my opinion, of course.
I tried Tracktion several years ago. I really wanted to like it, but I kept having problems getting my devices set up correctly. Except for that, the interface is very cleverly designed.
