Stream Deck and Cubase ( a love affair)

Cubase
1

Here is a look at some of the ideas that are possible with Stream Deck and particularly the plus versions with dials.

Here is my setup.

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and some screen shots of various dials.

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these dials are on my main Cubase profile. Couldn’t live without horizontal zoom now I have it. Transpose is pretty nifty too.

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The next set automatically appear when I double click an audio part. The side stream deck changes automatically to a drum profile or midi profile when those parts are opened. Didn’t bother showing these.

The credit has to go to Chat GPT which wrote the codes and produced the graphics.

All you need is a little time and perseverance.

2

Yep. Stream decks great for using with Cubase or any software. I’ve been using the 15-button version for ages, and I love it. I’ve got three modules as well, of different sizes 6,15 and 32 that I’m planning on building into a rack-type thing when I get a spare moment.

3

I would LOVE to hear feedback from any Cubase user who has months or better yet, YEARS experience working with both Streamdeck and Metagrid. Unfortunately, I doubt many users of both exist?

Forget the obvious comparisons such as configuration of infinite buttons and pages etc. I’m more focused on workflow.

As a first generation Metagrid user about 7 years ago, I know Metagrid was much “better” for myself.

But Streamdeck has made lots of advances. So has Metagrid, however with those advances in Metagrid, it seems like every update or new feature I’m an expected beta tester. IMO they release updates without much testing because they know we got…us.

Maybe I should ask, what workflow advantages does Streamdeck have over Metagrid?

Anyway, if anyone has years of experience with both Metagrid, and Streamdeck(s) please chime in.

4

Physical knobs & buttons vs. virtual knobs & buttons.

5

Interesting. I was looking closer at these for the first time last year at Namm. I’m a bit torn on how I’d use them with Cubendo.

Plus, the op pic shows all these little mis-matched size “boxes” cluttering up a desk. That’s no slam…I love colorful buttons…but bunches of little clutter boxes on a desk just mess with my creativity mindset. We’re all so different.

I still have a faderport 16 I bought new several years ago that’s never been out of its box because I sense too much a clutter factor at the computer area…which is just left of my console area.

But gee…in looking at the op pics, my mind is back to thinking how these may be a welcome addition to my workflow. I pretty much only do surgical things on Cubendo after dumping tracks in from the 24trk machine.

6

Sure, the obvious. I know you used to use Metagrid Legacy. Are you still using it or switched to something else? I upgraded to Metagrid Pro, however I still use a lot of the Legacy functionality plus dozens of improvements in Pro since Legacy.

Stream Decks of all versions are pretty small aren’t they?

I know Metagrid Legacy is for iPad, and you can run Metagrid on very old iPad generations and size generally 8 to 13 inches?

And of course…only on iPad, but under Metaserver any PC user can use it.

I wouldn’t confuse a DAW controller such as PreSonus with Metagrid or (I’m guessing based on other feedback) any Stream Deck. In my world at least, they are very different tools.

What has happened of course, is many DAW controllers attempt to achieve tasks that original controllers could not achieve. Just one example is an old Icon Pro, and it’s ridiculous method of scrolling through all your VSTs, and automatically opening a VST if you pause more than 2 seconds without scrolling again. Sure, some have come a long ways since then, but the push to make a DAW controller do everything that everyone wants is never-ending. The better ones are more expensive. Then again, taking a mouse to a EQ graphic is often faster than grabbing knobs.

On the flip side, I notice newer features of Metagrid attempting to expand beyond what it was originally designed for, and implementing, or attempting to implement tasks where (IMO) a DAW controller is still the best tool.

Still, and without every using a Stream Deck and just watching videos, I would guess Metagrid is much more flexible and powerful. But I would guess a steeper learning curve also accompanies that. For example, if you implement the most recent Metagrid feature such as dedicated 1-button to make any VST appear in a Cubase slot, you will be a beta tester.

It seems control developers of all background types are attempting to be all things to all users and I don’t like that. I prefer a dedicated midi controller, a dedicated DAW controller, and Metagrid. And yes, it may look cluttered or at least…not pretty.

I would still love to hear from anyone who has extensive experience with both Stream Deck and Metagrid.

7

I never migrated to Pro. It’s been on my I Should Do That list so long that it’s now on my That Ain’t Gonna Really Happen list.

I came to realize my Metagrid button placements needed to be rethought from the ground up to better fit my workflow. I also have Cubase IC Pro on the iPad which I can use for Transport control from across the room - which was the most important task for me. Basically Metagrid wasn’t really working for me because of the way I’d configured it & not the software itself.

With Stream Deck I decided to try it out on my office PC with a small deck (8 buttons, 4 knobs) and if I liked that (which I do) get a bigger one for the DAW. Currently I’m waiting (procrastination is my middle name) to see if the deck I want goes on sale.

8

I have a question for anyone using a Stream Deck with Cubase. Stream Deck can be set to automatically switch layouts based on what currently has focus. So you see one set of buttons in Outlook and a different layout in a browser.

In Cubase if I have a VSTi from somewhere besides Steinberg, for example Kontakt; if I change the focus from the Project Window to Kontakt can the Deck detect that change or does it still think Cubase has focus because it’s the host? I wonder if the Always On Top setting might impact the behavior.

9

I think this is one of things the OP conymcc has said he is able to do.
His streamdeck changes automatically when drum or midi pages are opened, so I’m guessing this is based around window focus and should also work for plugins.

conymcc - if you could post the code used to make this happen that would be really useful - I’d love to give this a go.

I’m currently using some of sideshowfx’s work on my xl+ They have figured out quite a lot of plugin integration (loads of Kontakt, Halion, Arturia etc) including what I think is known as the ‘Ai’ wheel - where you hover the mouse pointer over any knob, and the streamdeck knob instantly picks it up and controls it.

10

Yes it is a plugin within Stream Deck called Automatic Profile Changer (snappy eh ) it looks at the windows title in the left corner of the editor and instantly changes the Stream Deck profile as I have programmed. So I have setup 3. My setup keeps the same base profile on the main deck switching only the rotary knobs as this gives muscle memory. The side profile changes completely giving a complete new palette for each editor. I contacted the developer as currently it only works on one Stream Deck he was extremely responsive and helpful sending me a beta that works on two Stream Decks. This is passing through Elegato’s approval process but I can confirm works 100%. It may not be what you want. Cubase tells Stream Deck not the other way round. I am more than confident that if you were to put your faith in AI to do what you want it will figure it out. If you simply wish to have controls for each plugin appear on your Stream Deck knobs and buttons it will be down to Automatic Profile Changer seeing a recognisable title in the plugin. I am not near Cubase today but will give it a spin on a VST on Monday and report back.

Yahoo Mail: Search, organise, conquer

11

Another long-time Cubase/Stream Deck user here. It’s my most used control surface. The ability to create strings of commands saves me a lot of time in a day, but just having the transport controls right there on physical buttons is as good as anything. I guess my most used buttons are for mixer views. I really wish Steinberg would give us more than 8 view configurations.

I use a 32-button XL in the studio, but I take a 15-button around with me. The virtual Stream Deck can be useful, especially for pulling up my 32-button profiles from my 15-button physical device. No way am I paying a subscription for the mobile option - it should be free to hardware owners IMHO.

And, of course, the SD is useful in so many other ways, from sequentially powering up the studio to changing the colour of the lighting. I wouldn’t be without it.

12

I am please to say it does open a chosen profile when a vst instrument or vst insert is opened. In the case of instrument I trialed an instrument which shows “04 - Piano (upright)” in the top right corner. Not sure what the 04 is it looks like either the track number or vst number either way its not needed because It does open a different profile with just “Piano” so I think the world is your oyster here. Perhaps incorporated with quick controls would be very powerful. VST inserts were easier as there are no numbered prefixes. So Vinylizor that is changing a Stream Deck profile from a Cubase VST sorted. I can see that for me a useful addition will be to choose a VST track preset from an array of buttons, press and the track be instantly added to my project. Working on this now. With a bit of forethought these would tied to a profile as well, though I do not need this at present.

13

This may change, but this is the set I’m planning as soon as I get around to building a frame for them. Then it just needs a USB hub to tie them together. I’m still toying with what to make a frame out of: a 3D print or nice-looking wood.

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14

Me and my new friend ChatGPT have just produced a Stream Deck button that opens a track preset by name. It is using auto hot key to locate the Add Track button using it as an image not a mouse co ordinate. This avoids issues mismatches. I am now free to start a Stream Deck Profile with buttons for all my Track Presets (which seem to get lost in Cubase)

15

I’ve had a Stream Deck for about 5 years and used it extensively with Adobe video tools but never managed to get it to work reliably with Cubase at the time. Best I could do was have it appear as a MIDI controller, which was janky at best. I can see it from my chair - I’d like to get it off the shelf again and put it to good use with Cubase.

16

Hi, looks great. I was wondering how did you manage to open a page on your streamdeck automatically by double clicking an audio or midi file? I have tried this in the past but never got it to work. Could you explain this to me? Thx

Edit:

I already see my answer it is the plugin: Auto Profile Switcher :roll_eyes::grinning_face:

17

yep Auto Profile Switcher. Here is an update

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of some recent bits I (Chat GPT)did.

I was able to click on Groove Agent to open the mixer on Stream Deck but found for me I preferred a button on Stream Deck as it was quicker and no mouse movements.

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Here are my VST instruments. Looks odd as in practice the Stream Deck Screen is vertical .

18

Could you please tell me how to switch profile when opening the midi or audio panel in the lower zone?
I’m just starting out with this streamdeck plugin and I only get it it to switch to my cubase profile when I select the main program. How does it know when I open other windows within cubase?

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20

Not sure what you are asking but when you open an editor it shows the windows title in the top left of each editor. This what the switcher sees. You don’t need any numbers just the title. I don’t know what the midi or audio panels are sorry. I do not open in the lower zone . If the windows title is shown there it will work, otherwise setup the editors to open there anyway.