Steinberg Cubase Pro Review & Rating

Steinberg Cubase has long and storied history in the industry, first appearing on Atari ST in the late 1980s before migrating to Macs and PCs.   It's particularly well suited for MIDI composition with virtual synthesizers, although it's also audio editing and post-production tool.   Steinberg uses eLicenser, reFX, Vienna, and Arturia plug-ins.   By switching between cursor tools using the number keys, and by using Cubase's various shortcuts that make workflow more quickly, I find it easier to play in, lay down, edit, and arrange MIDI clips with Cubase more than any other DAW.   The Drum Editor and List Editor make quick work of editing rhythm and MIDI events, respectively.   The engine supports 5.1 surround sound and 32-bit, 192KHz recording, and has no instrument, MIDI, or audio track limitations, unlike Editors Choice Avid Pro Tools.   DJ- EQ plug-in offers three bands with kill switches for breaks and twists, while MorphFilter models low and high-pass resonant filters and morphs between them — throw this one on weak synth preset and watch the fireworks.   Guitar players may love VST Amp Rack, plus Maximizer and Limiter stompbox effects for adding punch and definition, complete with input and output level meters.   There's gate compressor with standard, vintage, and tube modes EQ with analyzer, shaper for percussive material, tube drive and tape saturation, and brick wall limiter and level maximizer.   Our Editors Choice for PC-based recording software remains Avid Pro Tools, and post-production in the business, plus the ability to scale to the largest of professional studios in terms of integrated hardware and service and support policies.   Read more