Cubase 5 provides a feature rich environment to do just about anything you need to do in audio/MIDI recording on a professional or advanced hobbyist level. It is compatible with just about every type of plugin on the market and comes with a good assortment of quality VST instruments and effects to get you started. It works well on Windows machines (I've used it on XP Pro 32 bit and Windows 7 Pro 64 bit) using ASIO drivers (no latency issues at all). From my discussions with other users, it works as well if not better on Apple based computers too. It is adequate for mastering, but if you are really serious, you may need another tool for that (but not necessarily).
As far as the features etc go, it rates a four or five out of five. However documentation and support only rate maybe a two or even a one. The help system does not even rate that well. However, I believe that a lot of software houses related to the music industry are quite poor in this area as well. Anyway, like I said, my biggest complaint is its poor documentation and non-existent context based help. Or any help system at all. Links to the pdf based manuals does not a help system make, and is quite frankly just plain lame. Everything around this area needs to be improved a great deal.
Cubase does have an extensive user base with a good online community hosted at [...]t. Unfortunately the Steinberg folks let the community provide most of the answers that Steinberg should be providing. Again, this seems to be the (very sad) industry standard. One thing that bothers me is that they insist you have a registered version of Cubase for you to join, search, or post to their web forums. I would prefer that it be open so that people who may use other DAWs can comment or possibly lend insight. It also would let others learn more about recording. I tend to like open communities that can share knowledge, therefore I find this aspect of their 'support' to be mentally challenged (i.e. retarded). Granted I have my license but I do still feel this way.
Steinberg's responsiveness to issues in their code (bugs etc.) seems to be average or a little below based on other software industries. But again, this seems par with music based software. i.e. the other options aren't that much different to worry about.
I would also suggest Steinberg add more examples to their documentation on how to use the features of this overall good application for new users (heck, and even for not so new users... we all miss stuff in an app this complex). As well, I would suggest that Steinberg (or Yamaha... I believe they recently bought Steinberg) also create a ton of video based tutorials on how to use their products and post them to youtube in high def format (right now there are a bunch of well meaning but half assed video tutorials from the user base). That would end a lot of complaints from new users and probably help the company's bottom line as they provide help over the massive learning curve users have to this level of recording tool. They would then sell more of the lower cost versions of this software. Happy users are the best advertising you can get.
In conclusion, Cubase 5 has all the tools you need for recording, and decent tools for mastering/mixing/etc. It lacks good directions on how to use them. I'm giving it a four out of five, but if I could give it a 3.5 I would. I'm tempted to give it a 3 based on the very poor documentation, but the tool itself is good, so I am giving it the benefit of the doubt. But it is a close call. :)Get more detail about Steinberg Cubase 5 DAW Software.
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