Cubase 14 - Honest Review

[@thegroundnoise]

Hey there! Thanks for watching! Don't miss my video where i test the new effects in Cubase 14 ▶ kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIrFpGytbLR1h6s

[@TweakerRay]

The volume plugin is a little helper you could controll with a LFO of the modulators and your mix fader stays where you want that track to be in volume... so you can do volume automation with an LFO from the modulators... and have your fader still have the volume automation. Hope that helps. Cheers TweakerRay

[@Byron101_]

Cubase = Pro Tools + Logic + Bitwig. Cubase = best daw. no doubt.

[@kb7890]

The score integration with Dorico will eventually be a game changer for composers working with both DAWs and notated scores. At the moment, it is a first step that is modest. But when it reaches full implementation, this will be unprecedented and will have no real competition in the market for a long time.

[@D76-z2h]

Good honest review. the DAWProject addition for me is a killer a it allows me to use Cubase 14 and Studio One in series enjoying the most powerful features from both. Once both companies have perfected it, with that combination I feel I have the ultimate DAW.

[@lengwxiong0082]

The font is so tiny on a lot of the words/texts, especially the information under the Inspector Tab. Is there a way to enlarge the text size? Variaudio's grid and colors are so dark that I have to really squint.

[@MaximusWhyman]

No. Unless you change the size in your operating system. It’s one of the things they need to add to the settings. Some of us have 4K screens so it’s a tad tiny

[@RogerBrenon]

@@MaximusWhyman Not "SOME" of us..... It's "MOST ALL" of us. It's 2024, not 2000.

[@dahlhousestudios]

Ha ha. A "volume" plugin seems kinda silly at first, but I had found myself using free third-party VST plugins sometimes just to mess with gain. True, you can do this with pre and clip gain, but a dedicated, big, automatable plugin for independent gain is just what the doctor ordered sometimes. Agreed: the Underwater plug is kinda "Huh?". Best changes for me were: Massive performance improvement in performance on Apple Silicon and the changes to the Range Tool editing! Great vid!

[@thegroundnoise]

Yep, thanks for the feedback.

[@DimitrisKambanos]

So cubase 14 is great because it exceeds successfully version 13 which they were to the damn number 13! But if Steinberg continue update every year for 99,99€ each, it isn't the bestest idea.

[@svenisaksson3970]

So you want to know what the Volume plugin is for. First; it's NOT a metering plugin. It's a gain level plugin. It's a godsend if you have a plugin chain where a plugin that lacks an output level goes into another plugin that expects a specific input level. This is a very common occurrence. Especially with plugins that emulate analog gear. Before, you had to find another plugin, that had an output level and dd not affect the sound otherwise, and put it in-between them. With the Volume plugin, you can just drop it in there (without wasting computer resources). Other DAWS (ProTools, Logic, etc.) has had this kind of plugins for ages. They are usually called "Gain", or something similar. It's a very welcome addition to Cubase. Although, I agree that it's weird that it's a "Pro" only plugin. It's very simple. There's nothing "pro" about it. But Steinberg makes very weird decisions sometimes. Such as making the "Headphones Match" plugin Nuendo only. A Cubase Elements user is far more likely to mix on headphones, than a Nuendo user! Oh, well.

[@osmancolak]

Also good for modulating the track volume with new modulators, so you do not have to do it with faders and have a crazy mixer :)

[@koralfx]

I used GEQ-10 until recently. Luckily I switched to Reaper.

[@ezrashanti]

I literally got Nuendo just because of Headphones match because I like it more than Sonarworks SoundID or other ones I've tried. Really lame that it's not in cubase.

[@jenslempke7883]

I double accoustic drums with some subtle, low gained electronic drums (on kick, snare and toms mostly). This drummaschine is therefore a perfect companion to (for example) Groove Agent. Thanks for a great review!

[@thegroundnoise]

That's a cool concept!

[@greekplayback]

How to save preset with the audio samples i add ?

[@schlonzschuppe4516]

I use Steinberg Software since Steinberg Pro 16 on a C64. What a journey and i don't regret a day using Steinberg Software. Sure, not all of the upgrades are in my range of need regarding the complexity of this Application, but to see the continuity and enduring progress of this DAW makes me still open my wallet, even if i don't have the need to. So i don't have the urge to critizize the developers choices what they put out. This Software gives everyone an approach to make music, beginners to pro and it's up to you to find out what makes sense in your workflow creating music. Cheers to Steinberg. PS: Program start is so much faster than Cubase Pro 13. (just to mention a thing what annoyed me a little bit in the past)

[@coinopanimator]

Have they fixed 10 point touch on PC or are we never getting that?

[@D3StudioZagreb]

I really triyin' to find the reason to upgrade from 13 to 14. The modulators are present within any good synth. I am using Nexus 5 (just upgraded for 60€). The volume control is shifted from one concept to another. No new synths, no new worthy plugins. The only interesting benefit is the sample auditioning in key. Which spares some time, but not enough to burn 99€. The drum machine? serious? Do Steinberg really want me to going back to 80s and press what 16th is gonna play and which 16th is gonna be mute? I'll wait to some sales action and upgrade just for sake of upgrading.

[@nickseeley]

Having an additional dedicated volume that is NOT the fader is handy for applying modulators to get like... side-chain pump sort of effects - without having to do that at the fader level, which you'd wanna keep dedicated to mixing. I also agree about Underwater. Would have been cooler if it was like... a one knob combo of low pass filter, reverb, pitch and some modulation. Great review!

[@thegroundnoise]

Ok cool, thanks for the feedback 😎

[@solarion33]

the pattern editor can be polymetric , just set the overall pattern length(up to 128 steps) then if you set any of the drum\parts to be shorter it will cycle through and the pattern will overall reset when its length will be reached. you can also chose the steps resolution to get polyrhythm , particularly you have option to set the resolution to adaptive to it will subdivided the entire length by the number of steps.

[@thegroundnoise]

Thanks for bringing this up. I really need to take a closer look at the thing ;)

[@TheGreatConstantini]

I’m still using Cubase 5! I’m not a MIDI artist. I just want to make music using real instruments. Do I run into issues, yes, like vst2, but it gets the job done. If any one has a suggestion for a version newer that is better, let me know.

[@thegroundnoise]

It's a whole different world now especially for audio recordings. I'm glad i left my C5 era behind a few years ago. Never looked back 😎

[@songwriterscove4515]

​@@thegroundnoiseI'm using cubase 7, tell me how this is a whole other world away from cubase 7 .

[@chrisshollinrake6826]

Excellent review Marcus, thank you very much.

[@thegroundnoise]

My pleasure!

[@VEXUS920]

So the volume plugin is simply just a volume fader that is not the overall volume of the track and not the pre-gain. it's useful if you need extra volume and don't want to put on a compressor or EQ just for its volume knob. Underwater is underwhlming.

[@Lacaze89]

Gonna continue on 12, the UI design is still superior. I wish they’d go back to that style. It had soul

[@JohnBarrylizard]

I did like Cubase 12 pro. 13 was disappointing. I'm hoping 14 will be an improvement as I've been a Cubase user for 20 years.

[@jmac2050]

great update, but where's the instant audition of presets and sounds like komplete kontrol can do. having to load up presets kills the workflow..

[@klauba]

The purpose of Volume is quite simple. While you can use it as a gain staging plugin, as was already suggested, it is available for Pro only because it aims to be a target for the Modulators. The idea is that you can modulate your track level without having to touch the volume fader, as that might already have automation data to it. Modulators are Pro only, therefore so is this Volume plugin.

[@thegroundnoise]

That makes sense :)

[@klauba]

@@thegroundnoise The plug-in has a "not above 0dB" button, which is quite handy when being the target of a modulator.

[@heikohesse4666]

Hi, great video - have you also noticed that the ASIO performance has become somehow more unstable? Sometimes completely inexplicable peaks in the load - I didn't have that at all in v13.

[@thegroundnoise]

Oh wow, i haven't noticed that. Currently i'm testing the Cubase in-built ASIO driver because it's better for video making with OBS. I will definetely have an eye on it. Let's hope for a quick bug fix ;)

[@heikohesse4666]

@@thegroundnoise yes, I hope so too - I work with SSL12, super stable and first-class performance in Cubase13 - not so in Cubase14, unfortunately ...

[@micwarren21]

Not sure if it's worth it for someone that does orchestral programming. Seems like it's more for beat makers or electronic music. Doraco is nice,

[@GratefulSam-et3ve]

Upgraded from 13 to 14 pro now the audio tracks don't work gotta love it

[@thegroundnoise]

That's weird... i hope you can fix that problem 😮

[@e-d-i-t]

This Christmas will choose for Nexus5 as upgrade instead of Cubase. Which I can do Q1/2 2025, will be the same price most of the time within half a year.

[@StargateMax]

I actually find the Volume plugin very useful. The Underwater plugin is useless if you ask me. :D Cubase 14 update from 13 is vastly better than 13 was from 12.

[@thegroundnoise]

👍

[@hilbertshotel]

Cubase 💯

[@Shouldcomedy2]

How to sequence the drum sequence

[@timmyblack8588]

well done.

[@thegroundnoise]

Thanks!

[@Metagenome]

Thank you for demonstrating some of the new features. For me Steinberg is playing catch with other DAWs (Live, Bitwig), but it is a few years late already. I would love the company to focus on developing its product originality. Honestly I think Cubase needs a major overhaul. Instead of adding more and more features, fix the ones that are too old and clunky (eg. media bay, midi logical editor). Fixing the score editor was a great thing by the way, but it still need full integration with Dorico.

[@hilbertshotel]

This comment is ridiculous. Live can’t even use the efficiency cores of the new M4 Pro chips, and it’s consistently among the worst DAWs (along with Studio 1 and FLStudio) in terms of audio-production performance on next-gen Mac systems. Also, if you’re hell-bent on comparing Cubase to the small niches carved out by Abelton and FLStudio, you need to analyze it the other way, too. The only other DAW that compares to Cubase with respect to all-around versatility, power, and functionality is Logic.

[@midiland09]

I first bought Pro 24, then, in 1989, I bought Cubase for Atari. It war great. I bought it for PC, had even a little shop in Geneva for music by computer. Then i Bought it for Mac. Now I own Cubase 11 for Mac. And it will be my last Cubase ever. For the € 239 as an upgrade to Cubase 14, I can buy Logic pro 11, with all future upgrades for free. I can also buy Studio One Pro 7 for less than the Cubase upgrade price. Of course, I shall choose one of these opportunities and NEVER consider a Cubase purchase.

[@jasoncruizer]

Underwater, is used extensively in Trap & Drill music. You take samples and you cut the top off them by resampling them down and filtering the top off, so the rappers vocals can sit on top of the water, as they say. Cubase 14 is steering towards the new modern music makers, Trap, Drill, Afrobeat are the hottest musics in youth culture, If you dont appeal to these genres you will slip behind the times. FL Studio and Ableton are the most popular DAWS amongst young electronic makers, Cubase wants to take a share of this market. Cubase is aiming at 3 markets 1. Composers / Orchestration 2. Audio engineers/Mixers 3. Electronic music beatmakers In Nuendo also add, Post-Production. Cubase 14, was a step in the right direction to taking on Ableton, Bitwig and FL Studio. Nuendo 14 will heavily step on Pro Tools feet and try to steal its market share. I would have thought Cubase 15 will try to please the orchestration crowd by revamping Expression maps, and also for beatmakers give them stem separation.

[@thegroundnoise]

Aah, i get it. I think i need to check out that genre before i slip behind the times ;) I generally have trust issues when it comes to one-click solutions 😎

[@angelocast]

I just pass for now. I bought Cubase Pro 13 (upgrade) few months ago. I didn't know they were about to launch another upgrade so fast. And to be honest, many upgrades are things we can do before already, just in another way or in another layer. Let's see maybe a new upgrade next year. Still I love Cubase and that won't change :)

[@thegroundnoise]

Have you checked if you're still in the grace period? Maybe you can still have 14 for free.

[@warpedmotion]

​@@thegroundnoiseI'm the same. I just got pro 13 in the last sale. How would one find out if there is still a chance of a free upgrade. Thanks.

[@thegroundnoise]

I found this statement in the Steinberg Forums... Well, it's disappointing :( forums.steinberg.net/t/cubase-14-grace-period/948919

[@LizSoloman-t3z]

Cubase upgrades are usually in November of every year.

[@midiland09]

I think I even will choose BOTH these opportunities. I don't like robbers.

[@thegroundnoise]

Well, calling Steinberg "robbers" goes too far i think. I'm sure that other companies have "stolen" many things from Cubase themselves over the years.

[@KI2LA]

no... it fucked up my macros... have to use 13

[@synthplayer1563]

The new score editor is not good. Many important functions of the old editor are missing. If you don't create music pages, you will think it looks good. I also think it's the wrong approach that Dorico and especially the new Cubase Score Editor rely so heavily on automatic score and page layout and allow little or no manual intervention. Music page layout has far too many specialties to be left to automation.

[@AMBIOSIS]

14, great---er, lol.

[@MervinLambart]

Doesn't work for me. Too complicated. Going back to Cubase5 and on occasions, I'll be using Audacity.

[@thegroundnoise]

That's fine :)

[@maocbrasil]

Disappointed with this update. It seems like it's a race motivated by its competitor, Ableton Live. The new update only benefits those who work with electronic music, basically! As for the plugins, it seems like rain on wet ground. I compared the new shimmer with the free options Stargazer and Solaris, and their new plugin was way behind, with an annoying sound artifact in the background! I expected an improvement in Frequency with resizable windows, more practical mouse controls and simple commands to do high & low cut. Nothing! I expected some click and clip repairer or a dirt filter. Nothing! I expected a simple analog channel simulator with the tape & valve option, which is even present in the track console, like a decaptator! Nothing!! I expected something similar to Soothe 2 since it was supposed to imitate Ableton Live, that would do something in that regard. Nothing either! Therefore, I realize that the audience that works with "analog" sound was neglected in this update. If these points had been addressed, Cubase 14 would have truly become the best DAW in the world! But, nothing! I sincerely hope that they offer updates for the stock plugins because it gave me a feeling of neglect in this regard for those who paid for the update.

[@marcscipanov9806]

That’s just an ordinay upgrade !!!

[@midnightwind8067]

I find nothing all that impressive about it. If you are doing synth music, Maybe. But for humans playing instruments? Meh. Not so much really. The VST2 enable is a decent courtesy to the users. That I agree with. But I don’t want a machine doing my creative decisions for me. But it seems that is what the world is coming to. I’m giving this one a pass.

[@stevenleonmusic]

In Dom's video he showcased that the event-level automation was improved greatly so you can use the pencil tool to subtract OR add gain to the event pre-fader and it's easier to select whole areas to modify + the line is in the center of the event like other DAWs. That's incredibly useful for recorded tracks. It was such a pain up until now to try and boost the tail end of a phrase that the singer did too quietly without cutting up the event or boosting the whole track and then lowering the louder part. Their ruler improvements with time offsets are also amazing because I like to have a bar or two of emptiness at the beginning of the track as a lead in before recording and it was so annoying that the ruler just had to inaccurately show the time or you had to mess with the start of your entire track just to make it look right. Now you can just offset the project and the ruler by 1-2 bars and have everything display correctly.

[@giulioboobzilla]

Agree - i thought dey would make VariAudio polyphonic & implement Stem-Separation.

[@Byron101_]

nonsense. the new range tool functions and Volume Envelope Curves alone are so great for editing "normal playing instrument music"....

[@midnightwind8067]

@@stevenleonmusicI understand but those things have never been a problem for me. They seem to be more something I would have to adjust to. Most likely, I would revert to doing what I have already learned.

[@midnightwind8067]

@@Byron101_never needed them that much. I guess if they work for you that is great. They just don’t do much for me.

[@user-zx1yy1pg7q]

none of them ever looked good, gui wise

[@grumpy8413]

It only looks worth it if you do a lot of disco loop dance stuff. Not much use to people that are not keyboard based. That's how it looks to me. No go for me and I should imagine millions of others. Now it only caters for one group of users.