Cubase vs. Express Scribe

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cubase
Score 9.6 out of 10
N/A
Steinberg Media Technologies headquartered in Hamburg offers Cubase, a digital audio workstation and audio editing application.
$579.90
Express Scribe
Score 7.0 out of 10
N/A
Express Scribe Professional is a foot pedal controlled audio player software specifically designed for typists and transcription work. Featuring foot pedal control, variable speed, speech to text engine integration and support for a wide variety of audio formats including .dss, .dct, .wav, .mp3, and .wma. Audio recordings can be loaded automatically from CD, email, LAN, FTP, local hard drive and Express Delegate. Traditional hand held dictation recorders can also be docked and the audio…
$39.95
per user
Pricing
CubaseExpress Scribe
Editions & Modules
Starting Price
$579.90
Basic
$39.95
per user
Professional
$49.99
per user
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
CubaseExpress Scribe
Free Trial
NoYes
Free/Freemium Version
NoYes
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details—Lifetime license
More Pricing Information
Best Alternatives
CubaseExpress Scribe
Small Businesses
Descript
Descript
Score 9.0 out of 10
Dragon Speech Recognition
Dragon Speech Recognition
Score 8.8 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Audition
Audition
Score 8.9 out of 10

No answers on this topic

Enterprises
Audition
Audition
Score 8.9 out of 10
Verint Speech Analytics
Verint Speech Analytics
Score 8.9 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
CubaseExpress Scribe
Likelihood to Recommend
8.5
(4 ratings)
7.0
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
10.0
(1 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
CubaseExpress Scribe
Likelihood to Recommend
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
NCH Software
It has a free trial, which is very nice if someone just needs temporary access to use, and it's not an expensive program overall. It may not be the most robust program available, but it gets the job done at a good price point. It might not be the best if you need something that allows transcriptionists to collaborate (i.e., working on the same file at the same time).
Read full review
Pros
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
NCH Software
  • Cost efficient - This is a fairly low-cost transcription software that can be downloaded quickly via web
  • Easy to use - New users can get the hang of this software pretty quickly
  • Customizable - Foot pedal controls and other preferences can be set based on what feels intuitive to the user
Read full review
Cons
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
NCH Software
  • Interface - The look and feel of the software is quite dated and could use a refresh
  • Enhancing audio - When we need to manipulate an audio file to try to enhance it (amplifying, for example), we have to use another program to do so
  • Hotkeys - Setting up hotkeys may not be as intuitive for new users as would be ideal
Read full review
Support Rating
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
NCH Software
No answers on this topic
Alternatives Considered
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
NCH Software
No answers on this topic
Return on Investment
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
NCH Software
  • Very few 'inaudibles' (spots where we're unable to decipher what was said)
  • Transcribing allows analysts to read scripts rather than listen to audio files, which saves time and money
  • Low cost of software
Read full review
ScreenShots

Express Scribe Screenshots

Screenshot of Load DictationsScreenshot of Playback OptionsScreenshot of Optional Foot Pedal or HotKey ControlScreenshot of Express Scribe Mini Control