Steinbergusers.com: Buggy Cubase 4 issues

Jeff,

Thanks for looking into these issues. However, I have decided to move back to SX 3 and abandon using Cubase 4 at the present. The reasons are as follows:

* SX 3 loads all of my VSTs without issue
* Output sound from SX 3 sounds better than 4 (to my ears)
* I don't have to fight with the interface to get things done.
* The addition of the master control room interferes with the VSTs (sometimes you have to do extra configuration within the VST to get them to work, configuration that doesn't save)
* The new dynamic compression VST addition to Cubase 4 sounds bad and is hard to control (even though it has more presets and a prettier/simpler interface).
* It is possible to use the old dynamic compression VST in 4, but it's now on a very deep submenu making it inconvenient.
* When doing fast mixdowns, Cubase 4 has tendencies to cut certain samples off early or not play the sample at all (from specific VSTs) that play normally in real-time.
* When using set of somewhat high CPU load VSTs (at least on my system), it's sometimes impossible to do a real-time mixdown without skipping and audio glitching problems... leaving only a fast mixdown as an option. When the fast mixdown is combined with the above VST cut-off issue, it's impossible to get a mixdown at all without modifying the project.
* Cubase 4 accepts MIDI input during fast mixdown. So, while I'm waiting for a mixdown to finish, I like to diddle with my keyboard on new ideas. The audio mixdown ends up with random notes in the mix of the currently selected track on completion of the fast mixdown. Why doesn't Cubase 4 ignore MIDI input during a fast mixdown?
* In Cubase 4, resetting the audio device in the 'Devices->Device Setup...' panel no longer halts audio output. Any VST effects continue to play until the decay has completed. Cubase 3 stopped all effects by resetting the bus (other than external MIDI devices). In fact, there should be a single click button on the main panel that lets you stop all audio output no matter the source (i.e., it resets MIDI and it halts all VST output). This is handy when you want to begin a mixdown, but have to wait for the decay of a reverb or echo.

And, of course, all of the other issues I've already previously addressed. I'll just chalk my $200 upgrade fee up to experience. This is really one of the major issues with Steinberg software because you can't try before you buy.

I'll continue to watch for the next update of Cubase 4, give that a try and hope it resolves the majority of my issues.

Thanks for your help.

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