R
Room 9
New member
Was curious on your thoughts of cubase vs protools for virtual instuments. Does either have an advantage here in terms of range of instrument choice/ ease of use? Thanks
LeeRosario
New member
Hmm. Pro Fools or Cube-Ass...always a tough choice
Pro Tools will be RTAs based (unique only to them, which can be a problem) and Cubase is VST based (more standardized version of plug in)
Pro Tools was originally meant to function as a recording studio program. That means that you came stocked with tons of outboard gear with little or no need for plug-ins. It was just a really fancy multi-track software with editing capabilities.
I can tell you right off the bat that Pro Tools comes with zero "instruments" and close to no plug-in options. I comes with the standard "basic tools" like compressors, gates, expanders, reverbs and Dither. Pro Tools is easier to learn and use, and it is standardized in the audio industry....but thats about where the buck stops.
It does have some really nice editing features, but after version 8 came out, I personally lost faith in Pro Tools. It was best for me in the version 7 days.
Cubase/Nuendo comes with alot more out of the box. You get a few standard synths, midi sound modules and stuff like that. You get more options in terms of dynamics, time based and sound shaping tools.
A notable benefit to Cubase is the sound engine. Steinberg has invested alot of time in money into designing a very good sounding mix engine. To me it's the closest thing I can get to before you start mixing on a good console.
Very clear, open, legible and stable mix buss that takes advantage of 32bit-floating point resolutions.
So in the end, while you might pay around the same for either setup, I personally think Cubase gives more value mixing inside the box and at times even outside the box.
I would say for someone at home with little or no outboard gear: Cubase
I would say for someone running a pro studio with tons of gear: Pro Tools or whatever medium they where used to (Tape machine, digital multitrack recorder, etc).
noisewreck
New member
If you're looking for a system that easily hosts virtual instruments, and comes with a good set, I would not look at Pro-Tools. On the PC, I'd either go with Sonar, or Cubase. Actually, if you're looking for the number and quality of instruments, then Sonar actually has some better ones that Cubase, out of the box. If you're on the Mac, then Logic is king in this regard.
However, any of the DAWs mentioned can support third party Virtual Instruments, relatively easily, although Cubase, Sonar and Logic will have easier time than ProTools, due to the format of plugins supported.
However, any of the DAWs mentioned can support third party Virtual Instruments, relatively easily, although Cubase, Sonar and Logic will have easier time than ProTools, due to the format of plugins supported.
Disease8
New member
In my opinion it sound like you need Cubase, it uses the more widely used VST format for its plug ins and is generally better for MIDI as that was what it was originally intended,the opposite with Pro tools it was originally for audio only and to my knowledge sucks at MIDI. I am biased though because I love Cubase for anything its great!
tlennon1
Member
You should check the official websites for Avid/Digi and Cubase. Don't go by someone else's preference. Reason being that you will get the bias from others. For example:
Just isn't true at all and:
also not true. Case and point. Go to the vendor's website and decide for your self. It is all about what you want to do and how you want to do it.
LeeRosario
New member
Well I'm just saying it how it is. A basic Pro Tools LE package comes stocked with what...
The bombfactory Bundle and the standard Digi RTAs stuff. Unless that's changed from now to a year ago, there's really no bias.
But it's true that opinions shouldn't be the point of buying it. I'm certainly guilty of ignoring opinions in favor of research all the time
.
grimtraveller
If only for a moment.....
I have Cubase 5 Essentials and I think it's VSTs are a load of bollocks, except for the synth sounds. But it's excellent at hosting third party VSTs and doing other things. Of course I'm biased, totally. I can't say anything valuable or nasty about Protools as I know nothing there. I have a buddy who is about to release some stuff and he swears by protools, though for his sounds, he samples old school, off vinyl records.
tlennon1
Member
Well I'm just saying it how it is. A basic Pro Tools LE package comes stocked with what...
The bombfactory Bundle and the standard Digi RTAs stuff. Unless that's changed from now to a year ago, there's really no bias.
But it's true that opinions shouldn't be the point of buying it. I'm certainly guilty of ignoring opinions in favor of research all the time
It comes with Xpand polyphonic synth, Boom drum machine, DB-33 organ, Structure Free, Vacuum anolog synth, and usually comes with Reason Adapted and Live lite.
suprstar
It aint ez being green
They're both similar enough, they both can accomplish pretty much the same stuff. As stated above, cubase is friendlier with midi. Protools only works with digi hardware, or used to at least, idk about newer versions. Cubase LE comes packaged with a ton of interfaces, works with pretty much any hardware (except digi). Protools seems to be industry standard for some reason. I had an mbox and sold it, you can get a lot more channels for the same price with non-digi hardware. So I prefer Cubase.
philbagg
Just Killing Time
Not to mention that the RTAS engine is awful. If you're running a large session,
using a lot of plugins, Pro Tools will max out the processing quicker than Cubase
(VST).
I agree, the instruments in Logic are excellent.
Also, you're limited to Digi Hardware if you go with Pro Tools. If it's LE, and you're
going for the usual MBox route, the MBox isn't the best. Unbalanced outputs,
a high pitched noise coming from the monitor outputs which can only be
fixed by spending an extra $30 (roughly) on a top-of-the-range USB cable,
etc. etc. There are much better interface options when it comes to
bang-for-your-buck out there that you can use with software like Cubase,
because they aren't restricted to the manufacturers interfaces.
Pro Tools can also be very buggy. I'm not sure if Cubase is any better but I
can tell you from using Pro Tools alot that it will cause headaches. If I had
the choice I'd go with Cubase. But I've done courses in Pro Tools, I bought
it, and I'm looking for work in the industry so Cubase isn't as much of an
option for me.
kcearl
I see deaf people
Sonar has the most instruments out of the box by far...
but I wouldnt care....I bought the basic deals in both sonar and live as I like to choose my synths..if you are careful and do some research then you can get better for roughly the same cash as a "producer" package costs...plus you dont have the same sounds as everyoe else who owns that package does..
AAS analogue went for $15 and is better than anything in sonar for that sound imo...NI komplete went for $299 recently...not much left to buy after that....i also picked up a Liquid bundle for $99....bargain huntings almost as much fun as recording for a Scot
but I wouldnt care....I bought the basic deals in both sonar and live as I like to choose my synths..if you are careful and do some research then you can get better for roughly the same cash as a "producer" package costs...plus you dont have the same sounds as everyoe else who owns that package does..
AAS analogue went for $15 and is better than anything in sonar for that sound imo...NI komplete went for $299 recently...not much left to buy after that....i also picked up a Liquid bundle for $99....bargain huntings almost as much fun as recording for a Scot