Likelihood to Recommend Pro Tools is great for recording multiple different tracks of audio at the same time with live inserts that you can later remove/edit if they do not suit the track. It always makes a backup of any file you copy in which is essential when working with original copies of files for clients, and you can rest easy knowing that any changes made can be reverted without having to start over or having any work be lost. You can compile many different tracks for larger-scale projects and group or bus them together with ease. The software is very user-friendly for beginners and is a great tool overall for anyone looking to edit audio. The only instance it is less suited it would be if you're only making small audio edits with any adobe video software. Also if your business is not heavy on audio editing or recording it may be a costly investment.
Read full review Steinberg Media Technologies
I have been a longtime fan of Cubase and would recommend it to anyone, whether they are just starting in recording or a seasoned professional. I find that it is really strong in the pre-production and production phases of a song. Tools like the arranger track, track versions, and the chord track make writing and experimenting very easy. I have used these tools on almost every song that I have started from the writing phase. I am able to experiment with different variations of a song, different channel settings, and even completely different arrangements all with just a few clicks. My writing process and speed have improved so much over the last few versions of Cubase. We have also enjoyed working with the mixing process. The mixers in Cubase are laid out much like a regular console. So for an old timer like me, the learning curve is very low. Cubase did a very good job with layout and labeling. Things are labeled what you would expect them to be and laid out in an order that makes sense. The other part of the mixer that makes it great is the ability to color code and organize tracks. My mix time has drastically decreased since using Cubase.
Read full review Pros Highly-customizable, application and UI (performance, function and appearance). Wide audio format compatibility; Ease of integrating audio of different formats, sample rates; equal ease of exporting. Broadest hardware compatibility. The ability to tweak performance parameters extends hardware's useful life. Read full review Steinberg Media Technologies
The user interface is very accessible and easy to operate Cubase will run fine on most PCs with regular hardware VSTs are easy to manage and install Audio routing within the mixer is very simple Read full review Cons Loop-Based Production - Pro Tools is still in the old world of audio recording where you're expected to record a track from live sources. It has less features aimed at production of loop-based music like electronic music and hiphop. Sample-Based Production - While you can sequence samples, you are expected to use MIDI to trigger the samples, for the most part. Of course, you can sequence them out without using MIDI to trigger a sampler plugin, but that's not the use case Pro Tools was designed for. Creative Ideation - Pro Tools expects you to figure out what you want to record first, and does not have tools for helping you produce or create the music. Read full review Steinberg Media Technologies
Some documentation is confusing and may be different than the version you have Finding how to set up more complex audio environments can be cumbersome Audio library can be a little confusing Read full review Usability This is a hard question - I'd give it a 10 for having so many options but a 5 for being user friendly - as it has so many options.
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Support Rating The times I've had problems with Avid, they've responded within about 48 hours, and most of the time with a reasonable solution. More often than not, however, I've had to resort to forums to get answers, because when I'm having a problem with the software, I can't afford to wait 48 hours for a solution
Read full review Steinberg Media Technologies
Any time I've had to reach out to customer support, they've been fast to respond and answered my questions to the best of their ability. Authorization of the software is easy, and the company is great about emailing you promptly. Overall, they do a great job.
Read full review Alternatives Considered As discussed above, these other products are likely better suited for home audio production, especially based on their integration of software instruments and their surface-level interface and tools. Pro Tools excels as a tool for professionals, who need to move audio along efficiently towards a polished form, especially in the context of vocal production
Read full review Steinberg Media Technologies
We chose Cubase in the beginning due to price differences between
Pro Tools and Cubase. As we learned to use Cubase, we realized the flexibility between MIDI and audio was far more advanced than any other product on the market. We still feel like the MIDI implementation in Cubase is beyond any other product on the market. We have also found that the audio engine alone is on par with all of the industry standard software. During the 18 years we have used Cubase, we have noticed more and more high-end mixing, mastering and production studios using Cubase in their workflows.
Read full review Return on Investment I actually finish projects, because once I set up templates it's basically plug-and-play. My customers enjoy my videos more now that the audio is better. I might spend too much money on plug-ins, haha. Read full review Steinberg Media Technologies
Using Cubase over something like Protools means that new users are more likely to be successful during training and due to this, decrease training time. More trained staff means that we are able to complete more projects faster instead of waiting for a more skilled staff member to become available. Implementation on-site for on-site recording has been very reliable and has decreased the amount of failed recordings during events. Read full review ScreenShots