Pro Tools Or Cubase?

Darren Wonnacott · #1 03-05-2006, 02:44 PM

Hey,

What are the main differences between
Pro Tools and Cubase?

Thanks

Darren

Ibanut · #2 03-07-2006, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren Wonnacott

Hey,

What are the main differences between
Pro Tools and Cubase?

Thanks

Darren

The only real difference is that ProTools has to have a digidesign hardware to run. If you get a an LE system you can get an Mbox to run it but you only get to track 2 channels at a time. If you get a TDM system you will pay out the butt. A card for that system runs like 8 grand to start. It has 9 processers though to run all the plugins with no CPU being used. Its an expensive system. Most professional studios have a protools rig. Usually a control 24 .

Cubase is a semi pro version of Nuendo which is a professional recording software. Nuendo/Cubase can be ran with any computer/mixer. Its more versatile and unless you want to pay for digi hardware its the way to go. All the available plugins work for cubase too. The way the software operates is basically the same. Engineers like Chuck Ainley and Bob Bullock use nuendo so it cant be that bad.

Rotti · #3 03-07-2006, 06:09 PM

How about the newest version on Cakewalk's Sonar? I recently tried and liked it. Just wondering what others think of it.

JESTER700 · #4 03-07-2006, 07:32 PM

There are all kinds of good software, each with adherents and detractors. I like Vegas, but I also do video and don't need MIDI. Many like Sonar, Nuendo, Audition, Cubase, Traktion, Samplitude... Many have trial versions, so it might be worth some downloading time to take a peek.

David McCarroll · #5 03-07-2006, 08:43 PM

[quote=Ibanut]The only real difference is that ProTools has to have a digidesign hardware to run. If you get a an LE system you can get an Mbox to run it but you only get to track 2 channels at a time. If you get a TDM system you will pay out the butt. A card for that system runs like 8 grand to start. It has 9 processers though to run all the plugins with no CPU being used. Its an expensive system. Most professional studios have a protools rig. Usually a control 24 . QUOTE]

There is an in-between solution in the form of the Digi 002 - runs Pro-Tools LE, which is very powerful recording software indeed. The thing Pro-Tools has over Cubase or Logic (IMHO) is that Pro-Tools has an installed base of about 95% of all pro recording studios - when you save out a Pro-Tools session onto an external drive or a CD (or whatever) - you can trot down to your local studio, plug it into their Pro-tools TDM system and it will come up exactly as it does on your Mac or PC.

This means that you can, say, record all your vocals and drums using the mics and acoustics of a great studio, go home, overdub all your guitars, keys, bass etc, edit and rough mix, then take the whole thing back into a studio and do final mixes and mastering in the environment of a proper studio using their monitors/outboard effects/mastering suite etc - it really works, it's how we record albums and it saves a small fortune in studio time.

You can probably do the same thing in Cubase or Logic, I don't know, it's just that PTs IS the industry standard, and certainly the recording quality we've got out of our Pro-Tools LE setup has been very pleasantly surprising.

The Digi 002 is not expensive, and comes with a bunch of really good plug ins - whether you choose PT, Cubase or Logic (or whatever), you still have to buy a Digital interface, so there is a hardware cost no matter what program you choose; you'll also need a second FAST hard drive, and as much RAM as you can afford to stick in your computer.

By jingos it's fun though!!

Cheers

David

JESTER700 · #6 03-07-2006, 11:05 PM

That's true about PT being the standard and in many studos. But PT can save as WAV files if you want, and you can set up a quick mix at home with any of the mentioned PC softwares if overdubbing at home is the main concern. The problem is, you can't then work on a mix with pans, fades, and FX and have those port to a studio's rig. It'd be nice if there was a standard for this, since the instructions aren't any more complicated than MIDI. all those "other guys" should have thought of this years ago; then maybe they wouldn't be so "locked out".

Ant1981 · #7 03-08-2006, 11:43 AM

So for home stuff its cu base? what sort of interface would we use to get xlr's in and all that stuff?

JESTER700 · #8 03-08-2006, 06:13 PM

Well, of the TWO I'd say yeah. Any reason why you're already set on those two when you weren't sure of the differences between them?

Actually, I'd ask what your specific needs were...

BTW, there are TONS of front ends, in many configurations. Again, what are your needs?

David McCarroll · #9 03-08-2006, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant1981

So for home stuff its cu base? what sort of interface would we use to get xlr's in and all that stuff?

Makes no difference - it's up to your preference - I've used ProTools LE for six years now, and was using Cubase 5 before that - we swapped to ProTools for the reasons I outlined above - having said that, ProTools is a very easy audio editor, and a not so easy MIDI editor - I'd describe Cubase as the opposite of that. If you are interested in looking at ProTools - have a look at: www.digidesign.com - go to LE systems and check out the 002 rack system. BTW, I'm pretty sure you can run Cubase via this box anyway.

Cheers

David

Ant1981 · #10 03-08-2006, 06:33 PM

I thought pro tools was a well expensive route to take? Really don't want to spend a hell load on recording. I was thinking of a multitrack and the pc stuff as another option.

Ant1981 · #11 03-13-2006, 03:16 AM

Sorry for being naive or something, but what exactly is the difference between Audio and Midi on these recording software systems?

JoeJoe · #12 03-13-2006, 05:18 AM

I'm also interested in this...

I just looked at the digidesign site and i really don't want to spend much money on a home recording thing (the 002 rack is just a little more than i want to spend) i then looked at the M-2 which is less than 500 usd...

is this any good?

Ant1981 · #13 03-13-2006, 06:15 AM

I've been looking at the Alesis firewire mixers. They come with Cubase LE and with a firewire mixer, you get to track as many channels as you like, as many channels as the mixer has, 8, 12 or 16 with the Alesis FireWire and Cubase.