Cubase SX for Mac -> official release date October 10th

[groovebuster]

Hi folks, just wanted to let you know that there is an official release date for Cubase SX now.

It is October 10th (and yes, this year! ;) )

Here is the link:

http://www.steinberg.net/pages/news/941635706.php?sid=0

Stay tuned!

groovebuster

[nickmcghie]

I wonder how they addressed the (supposedly) horrible audio-mangament properties of Mac OS X.

[Wes]

This better stop some of the whining around here....:rolleyes:

[gelbin]

i assume by that they mean macosx and windows....that would be cool if it went back to mac only. but i doubt it seriously.

[a_kim]

This isn't a rant... just a reply to gelbin.

Cubase SX has been out since early summer for the PC. So no, they don't show signs of leaving the PC crowd. There's already an update for the PC version!

From what I've pieced together in various forums and news items, ONE of the reasons that SX took a while to get out the door was the release of 10.2, what with the introduction of the MIDI device app and whatever other audio changes came with it. I'm just glad it's finally coming out. I've been dying to record again (a hobby), and now it's time to update Cubase 4, which didn't work in Classic. Yes, 4... I didn't have the money for 5.

-Alex

[DavidRavenMoon]

Originally posted by nickmcghie
I wonder how they addressed the (supposedly) horrible audio-mangament properties of Mac OS X.

What's so horrible about audio in OS X? Although I do most of my audio in OS 9 (in CubaseVST), I do run Deck, Peak, Spark and a few other audio apps in OS X. I find them to run better in OS X, and Jaguar has the very cool Audio MIDI Setup (which admittedly has a few rough edges).

I use an M-Audio Audiophile 2496, and the latency (time it takes to hear a sound routed through the system) is about 2 ms. I usually directly monitor when recording, but when I do monitor through the app, the delay is hardly noticeable. Same with MIDI. I was trying out an app called SimpleSynth, playing it from my Oberheim Matrix 6 patched into the AP 2496, and it was just like playing the synth.

I think OS X is going to be a great platform for pro audio.

[nickmcghie]

Originally posted by DavidRavenMoon


What's so horrible about audio in OS X? Although I do most of my audio in OS 9 (in CubaseVST), I do run Deck, Peak, Spark and a few other audio apps in OS X. I find them to run better in OS X, and Jaguar has the very cool Audio MIDI Setup (which admittedly has a few rough edges).

I use an M-Audio Audiophile 2496, and the latency (time it takes to hear a sound routed through the system) is about 2 ms. I usually directly monitor when recording, but when I do monitor through the app, the delay is hardly noticeable. Same with MIDI. I was trying out an app called SimpleSynth, playing it from my Oberheim Matrix 6 patched into the AP 2496, and it was just like playing the synth.

I think OS X is going to be a great platform for pro audio.

Thats good to hear... I don't actually do much audio work on my Mac, but I've heard many horror stories about the supposedly terrible audio features of OS X and was concerned. But if what you've just said is true, then I have no more fears :)

[suzerain]

...according to this study, it's the BEST when it comes to latency.

Disclaimer: I am not a music professional.

However, it seems to me the only problem with Mac OS X and music right now is the lack of software.

This story (http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/main_news.cfm?NewsID=3269) reports about a study done by the Peabody Institute which concluded that Mac OS X was the best OS ever in terms of latency through its CoreAudio system.

Two Linux setups performed better in the testing than OS X when the machines were idle, but when the machines were placed under a heavy load, the OS X machine did not significantly decrease in performance.

Now, switching gears: I also remember press quotes from Bias claiming that there would be possibilities to do things never before possible. When they originally released Peak DV in 2001, they talked about being able to have Peak and Deck running simultaneously on different channels with absolutely no performance loss in either program.

Again, I'm not a music professional, so I may be remembering that wrong.

At any rate, when things become available, and developers begin to be able to exploit X, rather than just 'get their stuff up and running' on X, I think it's going to be, like, 10x better than any OS has ever been for Audio production.

[nuckinfutz]

Originally posted by nickmcghie
I wonder how they addressed the (supposedly) horrible audio-mangament properties of Mac OS X.

Where in the world did you hear that?

Logic X users report some songs using up %40 percent less CPU power. Runs stable and their just waiting for favorite VST's to be supported in Audio Unit format. Whoever gave you this advice obviously hasn't been paying attention.



Thats good to hear... I don't actually do much audio work on my Mac, but I've heard many horror stories about the supposedly terrible audio features of OS X and was concerned. But if what you've just said is true, then I have no more fears

Heheh don't worry. Not many people know about OSX's Audi Features. Check out www.osxaudio.com for the full skinny.

What makes OSX Audio special is the tight integration.

ASIO is no longer needed because the CoreAudio architecture allows low level access for Midi, Audio Units and 24bit 96k Audio Multichannel. There are no channel limits.

Drivers writen using the I/O Kit allow for more devices to utilize internal or external hardware.

As a previous poster mentioned latency is very low..

Rememer Rolands cheesy midi sounds. They've been replaced by better instruments and support for Downloadable Sounds DLS.

Audio Units support better routing for plugins. Want to have a plugin do a mono -stereo or even 5.1 multichannel...program it..there's no real limitation.

Apple has fully documented how to easily create Audio Unit hosts unlike Steinberg and VST(trial and error) Therefore you might see simply apps like iTunes even supporting Audio Unit plugins.

OMS is no longer needed(the creator Doug Wyatt has been working for Apple for years now) as the Midi implementation is more stable and systemwide.

Look for a bunch of apps coming soon MOTU Digital Performer should be out the end of this year as well if not much sooner

[gernb]

all i know, is that i've heard the audio engine in OS X doesn't create a clean signal. doesn't matter what apps or plugs are available...if the OS can't deliver a signal without pops and garbage on playback, or if you can't record tracks without clicks and pops what good is any of it.

there are discussions about these problems in apple's knowledgebase. check it out before you leap.

if you are truly attempting to do proaudio...or just stuff that people will actually want to listen to, OS 9 may still be the safest place.

[Falleron]

My understanding is that pre OSX.2 audio was a problem. Now its been sorted!

[pianojoe]

Originally posted by gernb
all i know, is that i've heard the audio engine in OS X doesn't create a clean signal. doesn't matter what apps or plugs are available...if the OS can't deliver a signal without pops and garbage on playback, or if you can't record tracks without clicks and pops what good is any of it.



This is not true.

[theaz]

see http://discussions.info.apple.com/WebX?13@73.f2OvavUmdHV.0@.ef99993 for discussion on audio quality issues on Mac OS X. The forum is hosted on Apple's Support site.

I have heard lots of arguments both ways...

[pgwalsh]

Not that important, but interesting point of view.

http://gaeldesign.com/ib/me.9.23.02.php?page=1

[DavidRavenMoon]

Originally posted by gernb
all i know, is that i've heard the audio engine in OS X doesn't create a clean signal. doesn't matter what apps or plugs are available...if the OS can't deliver a signal without pops and garbage on playback, or if you can't record tracks without clicks and pops what good is any of it.

Maybe with a USB audio interface, but then USB audio isn't that great to start with.

I've been recording with OS X in various forms since 10.0, and I have always gotten great sound using a PCI sound card.

If people are having problems, it's their setup, not CoreAudio.

[nuckinfutz]

Centered around using USB. I don't think that Apple should ignore this but I agree with David. USB is not the best choice for Audio.

Hopefully Firewire becomes more prevalent.

[nickgold]

that the industry brings on mLan one of these days! USB audio has always seemed to have problems of one sort or another.

[Scottgfx]

Originally posted by gernb
all i know, is that i've heard the audio engine in OS X doesn't create a clean signal. doesn't matter what apps or plugs are available...if the OS can't deliver a signal without pops and garbage on playback, or if you can't record tracks without clicks and pops what good is any of it.

there are discussions about these problems in apple's knowledgebase. check it out before you leap.

if you are truly attempting to do proaudio...or just stuff that people will actually want to listen to, OS 9 may still be the safest place.

It's starting to sound like the misinformation that came from the AtariST dealers about the Amiga's MIDI not clocking properly! :)

[mum]

I've been using M-Audio Quattro (USB interface) on Logic without any problems... 24 bits, 4 channels — I guess it's an exception... I do wish it was firewire, though, so I'd have that USB port for a mouse when recording on my laptop.

[twelve]

i use the cheapest usb device ( the iMic 24 a/d) with os 10.2 and have not had any problems so far. no pops or clicks. i have heard problems with the motu interface. apparently the beta drivers are crap.

[groovebuster]

The englisch version of Cubase SX is really shipping since October 10th.

It should be available in stores in a couple of days. The german version will follow soon.

:)

groovebuster

[springscansing]

Just for the record, I am a music producer, and I must say: OS 10.2 is the BEST OS EVER for music production. Whoever says otherwise is either a) experiencing some odd conflict most aren't, or b) totally retarded. The internal midi and audio routing is wonderful, and will be better exploited VERY VERY soon. No more need fore Rewire.

I unfortunately am still using OS 9 at the moment because I need to run Reaktor, but other wise I definitely would run 10.2 (I the day it came out up until last week and it was perfection... just... perfection without Reaktor). :-)

So... yeah 10.2 ROCKS for audio, has the best support for audio producer EVER, etcetcetc.

Stop the vicious lies! hehe

[springscansing]

Eee... holy junk. Sorry for all those typos, lol. It's 4AM.

- Springs

[Pepzhez]

USB audio is a huge problem in OS X - all versions, and, no, 10.2.x still hasn't addressed the problem.

USB's bandwidth can easily handle a stereo high resolution signal (96 kHz, 24 bits). Now you can argue all you want about USB not being the ideal means to deal with audio, but the fact remains that the industry (including Apple) has pushed and promoted USB audio. Now if these USB audio devices - and there are many of them - worked perfectly fine in OS 9 (and Windows, for that matter), are you surprised that so many people are ticked off that they cannot even get a functional level of performance from them under OS X? Why Apple can't get their act together here is a mystery to me, but then they don't seem to be trying to either.

Firewire is a much better solution, yes, but there are relatively few audio devices on the market using this implementation, unfortunately (and the few that do exist are in the upper echelon of the price bracket).

[pgwalsh]

Originally posted by Pepzhez
USB audio is a huge problem in OS X - all versions, and, no, 10.2.x still hasn't addressed the problem.

USB's bandwidth can easily handle a stereo high resolution signal (96 kHz, 24 bits). Now you can argue all you want about USB not being the ideal means to deal with audio, but the fact remains that the industry (including Apple) has pushed and promoted USB audio. Now if these USB audio devices - and there are many of them - worked perfectly fine in OS 9 (and Windows, for that matter), are you surprised that so many people are ticked off that they cannot even get a functional level of performance from them under OS X? Why Apple can't get their act together here is a mystery to me, but then they don't seem to be trying to either.

Firewire is a much better solution, yes, but there are relatively few audio devices on the market using this implementation, unfortunately (and the few that do exist are in the upper echelon of the price bracket). Never used audio in OS X, but I've heard there are some problems with USB. I also heard that it's the manufactures issue and not Apples. I'd imagine proper drives would fix this issue? Please correct me if I'm wrong as I want to learn more about OS X audio.

[iapple]

My D2VOX usb audio device workes HORRIBLY with Deck 3.5. It starts popping and clicking and everything after 5 secs.

But with other apps, it works fine.. strange issue.

[daveg5]

here's a interesting article on the subject
ttp://www.computersandmusic.com/xcgi/SoftCart.exe/store1/articles/01.html?E+mystore1

[daveg5]

Originally posted by daveg5
here's a interesting article on the subject
ttp://www.computersandmusic.com/xcgi/SoftCart.exe/store1/articles/01.html?E+mystore1
he mistakenly said emagics logic was the first pro daw for osx when it was bias deck 3.5 and had no mention of yamaha's mlan firewire audio or thier dsp factory and many other card makers s which was the 2nd most used card in cubase pollor even emagic/apple audiocards
looks like anoter full year until everything is up to stuff.

[rob_graves]

hey-

i'm have a terrible time trying to get imic to work with cubase sx.
im currently running a imac/osx2.1(jaguar)

the problem is that when i choose the imic under the device settings in sx it says someting aobut not being able to find the 'record file'.

im not sure if i should be trying to find some type of ASIO driver for it to work?

or is the imic not even compatable with cubasesx..

[MidNyte]

Well, i'm using Panther 10.3.2, and I just purchased an imic as well. I have an iMacDV 450. I'm also using Cubase SX as my primary multitracker. For a current project I have been testing audio on 4 different types of Macs. Here's what I've personally experienced;
I went to use Protools 5 Free, but it had an outdated OMS. So after a long painfull search, I found one. I didn't even get to the part where the imic would've been a problem when I gave up on that. (I HATE OS9, I don't care how important the job!) So back in OSX, I've found it best to use Sound Studio 2.0.7 to check my signal. Now it works, but I already notice line buzz/hum. It's VERY small, but my ears hear it. So, back to Cubase,... I was able to download a driver from Griffen Technology to support some programs, but they didn't mention Cubase. In the VST settings, it SHOWS the imic, but once you hit the record button, the error comes up stating that "Record could not be enabled because there is no input." Herein lies the problem. There is no hardware attached, so they might not have this worked out at the time of this postings. BUT, I MUST use this time to tell all the other posters, "If you haven't used OSX, or the apps we're talking about here, PLEASE keep your comments to yourself. You help no one with your hear-say." With THAT out of the way, This project WILL see this issue through, if I have to use a friends comp that has a Digi 001 & Sound card, instead of takleing Pro Audio on an unqualified comp. Also, I've found that some Pro Studios still use 9600's reliably AND in OS9. Although I feel sorry for their 200mhz & 512 of ram, but I envy thier results. Look for more posts from me. ~MidNyte

[MidNyte]

I should have said this beforehand,
the iMac has a sound input jack on the righ hand side. You can plug directly into that, and set the audio setting to built-in audio.
Next, (I) use SoundStudio 2.0.7 (free demo) to hear the signal.
When in SoundStudio, go to Audio/Sound Input-Output Settings. In That dialog, choose Built-in Audio. If you choose Hardware Play-through, there will be NO delay in what you hear. But in Soft Play-through there IS a small delay.
If you choose the latter, then click the Advanced tab & adjust the top latency slider. It controls the delay you hear. You MUST click OK to hear the change. I use a low setting of like 7 before it starts to sound horrible. The second slider is the Recorded latency. Mine is set to 35. but feel free to experiement with these settings. This is a great app for 1 stereo track recording, but not for multi-tracking like in Cubase SX.
But at this point, you can now open Cubase/Device Setup/VST Multitrack/ Choose Built-in Audio. (Make sure SoundStudio is running in the background. You can hide the window in the dock. This is where you set your levels.) Cubase will now hear the signal from SoundStudio. All there is left to do now is go to Project/New track, and hit the record button. Viola' Sound! But,.....a horribly noticable buzz awaits you. This is the problem i'm currently trying to solve at the moment. ~MidNyte