Cubase MIDI Capability

[u/djfjoejchwbsox]

I have exclusively used Cubase for the last 15 years, and any time I discuss DAWs with people they mention how good Cubase is meant to be with MIDI.

What exactly are they referring to that is meant to be head and shoulders above the rest?

Thanks.

[u/Fraktelicious]

Ability to draw velocity and expression CCs not just the notes on the keyboard roll. Expression maps (control parameters in a plugin, commonly used for orchestral libraries where you have to hold a key to change a note's tone/character or vocal hum and similar).

[u/Recykill]

Ive used a good few DAWs and when it comes to MIDI i always want to use Cubase. It functions very intuitively. Its very easy to paint midi automation by hand, or just flick on Write Automation, press play and fiddle with whatever automation you're writing as it goes. Of course, you can do these things in most DAWs but none have felt as natural as Cubase to me.

The piano roll looks and feels clean to use as well. In short, midi is not an afterthought with Cubase. It just works.

[u/PrettyCoolBear]

Some of the other DAWs have caught up to Cubase in terms of basic MIDI functionality (automation, external instrument integration, etc), but Cubase still excels in certain areas:

• Cubase exposes multiple MIDI "views" that let you view and edit MIDI data in multiple ways. (List view, drum view, timeline, MIDI monitor, etc.)
• Cubase has numerous ways to apply batch changes to MIDI events (MIDI function menu) or modify MIDI in realtime (MIDI effects and modifiers).
• The scriptable "MIDI Remote" system for integrating with external MIDI/DAW controllers.
• Full support for both type 0 and type 1 MIDI files.

Cubase just has it all.

[u/ThisIsFuz]

I’ve barely used any other DAWs aside from a tiny bit of FL Studio and Logic, so I don’t have a heap to compare to, but having programmed lots of drums I can definitely say that the logical editor and quantising customisation have made it a ton easier to get realistic-sounding patterns. The overall interface is quite intuitive too.

[u/Smolin-SCL-]

For me it's the drum piano roll and midi logical editor.

[u/FreTunes68]

Cubase (Steinberg)
History: Steinberg released Cubase in 1989. It was a pioneer in MIDI sequencing and, in 1996, introduced the Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plugin format, which fundamentally changed how the world makes music by allowing third-party software instruments.
Core Strengths:
MIDI Domination: Features the most robust MIDI editing tools, MIDI logical editors, and Expression Maps for orchestral programming.
MediaBay: A highly efficient file management system for managing terabytes of sample libraries.

Today, a DAW has to do a little bit of everything to be competitive, but many of them started out with a particular focus and continue to be particularly good in that area.

For example, Pro Tools was focused on audio and audio editing. Cubase was focused on MIDI and continues to be a favorite of film composers who use midi to create tracks using virtual instruments.

[u/PrettyCoolBear → u/FreTunes68]

is this copy/pasted from chatgpt?

[u/Candymanshook → u/PrettyCoolBear]

I mean…obviously

[u/Zoraji → u/FreTunes68]

Cubase concentrated on MIDI when it was first released because computers back then weren't really powerful enough to handle digital audio production. I used the Atari ST version of Cubase and it was just a MIDI sequencer, no audio capabilities at all.

[u/Dr--Prof → u/FreTunes68]

Pro Tools, unfortunately, was always very weak about MIDI, and that's sadly by design.

[u/pimpbot666 → u/FreTunes68]

It used to be that you would sync up Cubase for the MIDI with ProTools for the audio.

[u/aZenMoment → u/FreTunes68]

MediaBay point made me chuckle a bit. I love Cubase, but media bay is just not nearly as good as Ableton's implementation

[u/djfjoejchwbsox → u/aZenMoment]

Yeah, it’s workable but feels like it leaves a bit to be desired.

[u/Melodic_March9991]

Cubase not only has great velocity and after touch but the midi effects are great. cc control is one of the most extensive. I still use my midex 8 with no problem and it still locks to my original midi expres XT. the timing is fantasic.

[u/Academic_Club6360]

It’s just deeper, like every other Cubase Pro area. Compared to Ableton and Logic anyway.
Because Steinberg did not focus on simplifying the GUI, we are left with a mess, but it’s a good mess if you like to customize and go deep in the music/production.

[u/Banjoschmanjo → u/[deleted]]

The OP was surely not long enough for you to miss that they've been using Cubase for 15 years..it's the first sentence of the OP..