Leaving Cubase...Recording Program Ideas?

[santucci218]

Cubase has just been a farce for me lately. I am running Cubase 5. I am getting C++ errors. I am getting ASIO peaks and clipping. I google the problems, and i just get tons of threads on forums without resolutions. Its really killing me. I want a new recording program. One that can handle VST stuff, like Amplitube 3 and Guitar Rig and EZDrummer. It also has to be able to work with Windows 7 64 bit, if possible. If not, i have my computer double booted to XP32 bit, but im outgrowing it.

Please, any information would be a great help guys. And if you know any other VST for drums besides EZDrummer, let me know. Im growing tired of that program too.

[joebingo]

Before binning what you've paid a fair sum of money for, have you downloaded the latest updates? I know plenty of people who are running Cubase 5 on Windows 7 64bit and windows xp 32, without a single hitch, so I'm a bit confused as to where your particular problems are coming from.

Alternatives? Pro Tools, Sony Acid, Ableton Live, Sonar, plenty about that will suit your needs. In terms of drums? I use BFD 2 and it does the trick nicely.

[winston]

I'd give Reaper a try. Not as fancy as Cubase on the MIDI end yet, but a very capable host with great developers/community. Fully-functional trial version with no expiration, reasonable price.

I tried Sonar but did not click with it (though it's full-featured). Acid has its points but I don't like its window management. Live is intriguing but from what I hear version 8 is unstable. I mostly use Reason/Record and Reaper with various VSTs.

If I was going to spend a bunch of money on a Windows-only host I'd probably go with Magix Samplitude, which has deep editing capabilities. I often use Reason for drums, but I've tried BFD Lite as well.

[jpTron]

Reaper

What's your interface?

[santucci218]

firebox!

[4Mal]

Ok - so here is the approach I've been taking with ProTools. PT is notoriously hard on Windows machines. The issues are available memory and conflicts with other running software. To free things up, rather than starting PT using the supplied shortcut, I run it from a .bat file that unoads a number of non-essential sevices from Windows rior to launching PT. When I say non-essential, I mean non-essential while Pt is running. As my machine is primarily a recording device first, I don't bother to re-load the services on exit from PT though that would be easy enough. I've gained a HUGE amount of stability.

This technique is something I found over at the ProTools DUC and is not something I conceivd of myself so credit belongs elsewhere. me ? I'm just glomming on ...

echo **********************************************
echo If you need to find services quickly, goto
echo start>run> and type (services.msc)
echo **********************************************
net stop "Alerter"
net stop "Automatic Updates"
net stop "Error Reporting Service"
net stop "Event Log"
net stop "Print Spooler"
net stop "Remote Registry"
net stop "Terminal Services"

echo **********************************************
echo My services...
echo **********************************************
net stop "Symantec AntiVirus"
net stop "Symantec AntiVirus Definition Watcher"
net stop "Symantec Event Manager"
net stop "Symantec Network Drivers Service"
net stop "Symantec Settings Manager"
net stop "Help and Support"
net stop "Infrared Monitor"
net stop "DNS Client"
net stop "IPSEC Services"
net stop "Network Connections"

echo **********************************************
echo Processes
echo **********************************************
TASKKILL /F /IM "wmiprvse.exe"
TASKKILL /F /IM "rundll32.exe"
TASKKILL /F /IM "explorer.exe"

echo **********************************************
echo Start Pro Tools
echo **********************************************
"C:\Program Files\Digidesign\Pro Tools\ProToolsLE.exe"

NOTE - above is the code from the PT DUC post found at http://duc.digidesign.com/showthread.php?t=214201
Some of those services don't apply to me so I removed those lines from the .bat Those referencing Symantec for instance.

I was ready to junk PTLE before I finally got it stable ... I still may in favor of regressing to a Tascam all in one like the 2488 or whatever the current stable edition after winter NAMM rolls around this year... it won't be for the stability but for the more analog work flow though.

[MonetBass]

FYI I've been running Cubase 4 LE (which came with my USB Audiobox) on Windows 7 64-bit without any issues for 10 months. The snag when we got the new machine was not Cubase (it installed and ran OK, but I did have to install a couple of patches to stabilize it) but the 64-bit driver for the Audiobox. Luckily Presonus came out with that two weeks later and I was up and running. Good luck with your search.

[bruiser1964]

I'm running ProTools 8.04 on Win 7 64 and a dual xeon dual core processor machine (dell 690) with 8gb ram a raid array.
It's solid... I have the intrument expansion pack which is the muts nuts.
No reason for separate boots if you can get a powerful enough machine to start with.
P.s I got the Dell 690 from ebay from a surplus place it was only a year old and was cheaper than a budget laptop.

[thefruitfarmer]

Originally Posted by santucci218

........... i have my computer double booted to XP32 bit, but im outgrowing it.

The double booting could be part of the problem, it may be making the PC a little unstable.

Are you going on the net with the same PC as well?

I have always had a separate PC for music, with XP and Cubase only, a second hard drive for the audio. It gives the Cubase room to breathe as were.

[MonetBass]

FYI, I installed Google Chrome last week, and it caused my Cubase to blow up pretty consistently. I uninstalled it and the problem went away.

[Rob17]

I have Cubase LE running on a PIII 566 or something like that and it's been working well for over two years now.
Bought it secondhand for 40,00 euro's.
1 reason for that I think is, that it's not fysicaly connected to the net.
I would never ever have my DAW with my precious songs, linked to the net, with al them bored lil kids trying to F*** with yur PC.

[mambo4]

Mackie's Tracktion doesn't get much love around hear, but I think it's workflow layout is the best I've seen. I never have to hunt through menus or popup windows for anything.

[seamonkey]

Originally Posted by 4Mal

Ok - so here is the approach I've been taking with ProTools. PT is notoriously hard on Windows machines. The issues are available memory and conflicts with other running software. To free things up, rather than starting PT using the supplied shortcut, I run it from a .bat file that unoads a number of non-essential sevices from Windows rior to launching PT. When I say non-essential, I mean non-essential while Pt is running. As my machine is primarily a recording device first, I don't bother to re-load the services on exit from PT though that would be easy enough. I've gained a HUGE amount of stability.

This technique is something I found over at the ProTools DUC and is not something I conceivd of myself so credit belongs elsewhere. me ? I'm just glomming on ...

echo **********************************************
echo If you need to find services quickly, goto
echo start>run> and type (services.msc)
echo **********************************************
net stop "Alerter"
net stop "Automatic Updates"
net stop "Error Reporting Service"
net stop "Event Log"
net stop "Print Spooler"
net stop "Remote Registry"
net stop "Terminal Services"

echo **********************************************
echo My services...
echo **********************************************
net stop "Symantec AntiVirus"
net stop "Symantec AntiVirus Definition Watcher"
net stop "Symantec Event Manager"
net stop "Symantec Network Drivers Service"
net stop "Symantec Settings Manager"
net stop "Help and Support"
net stop "Infrared Monitor"
net stop "DNS Client"
net stop "IPSEC Services"
net stop "Network Connections"

echo **********************************************
echo Processes
echo **********************************************
TASKKILL /F /IM "wmiprvse.exe"
TASKKILL /F /IM "rundll32.exe"
TASKKILL /F /IM "explorer.exe"

echo **********************************************
echo Start Pro Tools
echo **********************************************
"C:\Program Files\Digidesign\Pro Tools\ProToolsLE.exe"

NOTE - above is the code from the PT DUC post found at http://duc.digidesign.com/showthread.php?t=214201
Some of those services don't apply to me so I removed those lines from the .bat Those referencing Symantec for instance.

I was ready to junk PTLE before I finally got it stable ... I still may in favor of regressing to a Tascam all in one like the 2488 or whatever the current stable edition after winter NAMM rolls around this year... it won't be for the stability but for the more analog work flow though.

You can run something like this with just about any daw.

or Start -> Run -> msconfig

And turn a bunch of crap off.

There's some hackware version that lets you have several configs you can boot from.

Don't install AV on a DAW box, keep it off the internet. You won't need it.

And Mac guys don't need to be smug, because they have a lot of extra processes running also.

[Samsound]

Live 8 unstable? You talkin in Windows 7 or in general?
I've been using Live 8 for almost 2 years and it has been rock solid for me on XP32. Remixing with tons of VSTs, Reason rewire and even mixing 16 plus audio tracks. Never so much as a hiccup.

[Bufalo]

Reaper user here. I also have PreSonund StudioOne, but I keep going back to the Reap.

[brstma]

I've been using Reaper lately as well, and it is awesome, especially for the current price of $40 (don't let the price fool you) Multiple takes each get their own sub track and can be auditioned on the fly. I have Live, Samplitude, Acid pro and FL studio, and I've tried older versions of Cubase, and i like Reaper best for recording.