OG parallel port Cubase user. Left back at version 6 if I remember. Remember Cubase SX? People clowned on that update. I really liked it. Anywho…
In my opinion, Steinberg ties updates to broken software in a way to profit off fixing a problem that should be fixed for free.
Not always. But sometimes you’ll be on version 11 with a LOT of problems…and nothing gets done…then version 12 comes out! Now all the bugs are fixed! But not really.
Anyway, I hope they stop doing this. Fix your issues. New updates are for new features only. Not for issues you know that are broken in software you sold before.
You get lackluster results when you have lackluster expectations and there is no accountability. At some point we all lose our way.
Maybe they would like to come back if Steinberg shapes up and takes performance and stability more seriously than they have been the last several years. It’s a real problem, and it’s why I picked up Bitwig and am diving back into Ableton 12.
Once I’m comfortable enough with one or both, I intend to move on. Steinberg seems to be heaving under some enormous tech debt they’re not willing/able to address, sadly.
No sense going there if you’re looking for better CPU usage. Unless you have small sets with less than 50 tracks and/or don’t use 3rd party plugins, the CPU meter in Live is waiting for your undying attention. I just came from that.
It’s at least been a bit less spiky for me so far, but I haven’t really hammered it yet. Just can’t believe we’re still in this situation with real time audio being so damn difficult to get right in 2024. All this vast technological improvement over the decades and little to show for it from an audio stream perspective. At least the DSP has gotten really, really good…
Hmmm…
In the Steinberg world an upgrade would be e.g. going from Artist to Pro.
Going from version 12.x to version 13.x is an update.
The free ones are called maintenance updates.
I think what @Amadeus-e.d.p is trying to say is that Steinberg rushes from one version of Cubase into another, introducing more new features, but without properly addressing the issues that are still existing? And I tend to agree.
More and more issues not solved in one version get carried over to the next without being solved. And this has been going on for some years at Steinberg.
I just recently left for the same reasons. Regardless of what anyone says, you are 100% right. Your choice is a wise one.
I’ve been experiencing some strange issues with cubase 13 on export. I had the 13.0.30 version. The problem that I was having was during export. The song did not sound the same when brought back into the session and compared to the original. I got a lot of push back from people suggesting it must be my settings, which is completely untrue. Its a system error. All they try to do is force a remote session to access your files in an attempt to fix a forced issue that has been fixed since 1995.
After complaining about it and receiving terrible advice/attitudes from customer support, I updated to version 13.0.4 and guess what? Problems got even worse for me. For example, Tracks were still playing sound even though the fader was turned down. Plugins were still active and effecting audio even though they were deactivated. And people just want to defer blame rather than accept the possibilities that can easily occur with software.
As far as the privacy policy. Its absolutely horrible. The software asks to record your screen, access files on your desktop and documents folder. The privacy policy does not explain to what extent the software can access your files, which is extremely vague and problematic for any who values working in private. No one wants to potentially disclose works in progress to a 3rd party. And they say you have to give the software access to for it to work properly. And even when you do give it access, you will still encounter issues. Its like being held hostage.
To everyone who comes to this forum to inform us that they have given up or are going to give up on Cubase. Please leave Cubase and Steinberg and also leave this forum. Your complaints and reasons for giving up are of no use. This kind of threatening notice has no impact…
Cubase doesn’t ask for any of that anyways. On a Mac it asks for the standard permission to use your audio inputs (or access external drives) like any other audio app that can record does.
That’s Apple’s doing has nothing to do with Steinberg whatsoever. Same with system permissions on Windows.
If that was a joke, I don’t get the reference. But nice one because it is funny. Partially because I saw this type of comment coming from 1000 miles away. Just waiting for it. These are the type of comments that make it difficult for creative people to complain about these type of matters. Attitudes need to change.
Let me re-position the context of the comment that you just made.
Okay, imagine that I am delivering a couch that YOU purchased to YOUR house, but you have to sign an agreement that gives me access to your house. The extent to which I can access your property is not explained in the agreement and leaves much room for interpretation. So, one day you come home and there I am in your kitchen with a fork, poking at a pie that you baked. Then, when you raise concerns about your privacy/safety, I simply say, “who do you think you are, Martha Stewart”.
Do you see how ridiculous that sounds?
It’s not about who I think I am. I am nobody. Additionally, me raising a concern about privacy and security with my property doesn’t make me pretentious in any way. So don’t try to spin it like that.
Weightless intellectual property is as real as the pie in your kitchen. Would you want to give random people the right to go into your house and cut a slice without you having to be there because you agree to vague terms and conditions?
Personally, it could be a pie made out my dog’s turd, I still wouldn’t welcome the intrusion. You wouldn’t either.
Where do you even get this stuff?? If you are talking about MacOS permissions, you must not use a lot of other software as just about everything since MacOS Monterey/Ventura is asking for permission to do anything in the name of security. Hell you cant even plug in a USB hub without having to grant it access. NOW BELKIN IS TRYING TO INVADE MY PRIVACY AND STEAL MAH DATA ERMMAAGAAAAHD! Try denying all the permission to Cubase and watch it not be able to install its content, create the user folder in your Documents where it saves the presets you export, save your songs to your audio drive, even record a single track of audio, etc… If anything the system is MORE secure now because YOU are the one responsible for granting anything access to it. Nowhere does it say that Steinberg wants access to your data or files. Its asking for permission to access a folder or a drive so it can save stuff there just like EVERYTHING ELSE on MacOS does now.
Monotremata said it best… this is just standard modern software engineering best practices, not anything nefarious. Cubase needs access to the filesystem for all CRUD (create, read, update, delete) operations. They’re not siphoning your files off to some remote server hidden away in the German woodlands, where Steinberg employees hold office parties and cast humorous judgement on all our works in progress. You can disconnect from the internet entirely and still happily use Cubase without issues. Though you will have to re-connect to the internet every 30 days for your software license to be re-authorised.
Relax. Make music. The grass is never greener on the other pasture. The best DAW is the one you know best.
I’m not wrong about this. Maybe they are targeting certain users and not all users.
If you scroll to the top of this post, you’ll get to see the same message that I see.
It’s not uncommon for companies to try to identify their “super users” and try to understand their usage. But at some point, the effort are just plain invasive.
It’s different with a usb storage device that isn’t connected to the internet or collecting analytics and data to try and understand how you use their software to create your intellectual property. There is a possibility a conflict of interest here if you can open your eyes and see it.
Sure I’ll admit that Cubase needs to save files in certain folders. But that is very one directional. When the program prompts for you to allow it to record your screen while asking for “access” to folders, things become a lot more concerning to me. This is just common sense.
The terms need to be further clarified and defined in this situation. Other policies clearly state what type of access they have, what type of information they collect and what they use it for. Or, they will state if they don’t collect anything at all.
But you can interpret it in whatever blindly faithful way you’d like to.
I used to say that as well. But unfortunately the best Daw is the one with the best privacy policy. It’s just good business.
In 2024, companies know more about individuals than their relatives do. We are entering into a new era of business, data, analytics and information. You’d be very surprised how much companies want to understand about their customers and the extent to which they can extract that information.
This is exactly why attitudes need to change about software that is used to create intellectual property. There is a potential conflict of interest. If terms are not clearly defined and communicated, it can become problematic and dangerous for the public. There are so many examples of this in recent times in the news
You can interpret “access” in whatever way you like, but it is probably more wise to have it clearly spelled out and defined in this situation. Yet, it is not. Transparency is really important.
Also, the software asks to record your screen while asking for access to your folders. Why in the world would the software want to record your screen? For who? The logical answer would be so that someone can view it. I’m not recording my screen, the software is asking to. If I allow it to, where is the recording stored? Probably on some server in Germany somewhere giving away insight about our works in progress. From my perspective, it is possible that they are doing exactly what you say they aren’t.
Cubase is asking for screen recording? I have never seen a request like that, you should scan your system for malware and that is not Cubase.
If you are concerned about software phoning home, shutdown your computer, do not use MacOS or Windows and disconnect your smartphone. They all call home, constantly.
Cubase never sends any data to any server without asking for your consent.
