The only crashes I've experienced in Cubase 7 were when inserting 32 bit plugins - at least the project didn't crash - just the plug-in itself.
 
I've now abandoned ship on most of my 32 bit VSTs and VSTis.
 
 
I'm pretty much 64 bit all the way - so far its been plain sailing. Everything is working without issue - no dropouts, no glitches, no crazy CPU spikes, and I'm getting predictable behaviour. Still miss smart tools and being able to use the track view as a mixing environment  - and I haven't found out yet how to bounce to track... 

cecelius2
This is an interesting thread.  I am very happy with Sonar X2a, but would not mind having a second DAW program and Cubase 7 looks like it would be good.  After reading through this thread I took a harder look at Cubase 7 and found the new version appealing and the tutorials very well done.  HOWEVER, the last several post here have raised an important obstacle for me--the eLicense USB KEY.  This Steinberg USB eLicense Key would mean that I would have to run THREE dongles on my DAW:  1) an iLok2 for my Slate and Softube vsts; 2) another USB stick for Waves new licence system; and 3) this dedicated USB eLicense USB key for Steinberg.  This means three USB ports are required and tied up.  I am not sure I want to do that. If I were to switch I think Cubase 7 would probably be my choice, but Sonar x2a fits my needs for now and thankfully it does not require a USB key.  Just my musings on this topic.

I totally agree that dongles are a pain, but you can get self-powered USB hubs for a snip, meaning you could have all your dongles in one port.

cecelius2
 This Steinberg USB eLicense Key would mean that I would have to run THREE dongles on my DAW:  1) an iLok2 for my Slate and Softube vsts; 2) another USB stick for Waves new licence system; and 3) this dedicated USB eLicense USB key for Steinberg.  This means three USB ports are required and tied up.  I am not sure I want to do that.

I've got those three dongles running on a little USB hub (inexpensive breakout cable variety - only takes a single USB port).  Works just fine...

Jim Roseberry

cecelius2
 This Steinberg USB eLicense Key would mean that I would have to run THREE dongles on my DAW:  1) an iLok2 for my Slate and Softube vsts; 2) another USB stick for Waves new licence system; and 3) this dedicated USB eLicense USB key for Steinberg.  This means three USB ports are required and tied up.  I am not sure I want to do that.

I've got those three dongles running on a little USB hub (inexpensive breakout cable variety - only takes a single USB port).  Works just fine...

Thanks for this suggestion made by you and others as well.  A little USB hub sounds like the way to go if and when I ever buy Cubase 7.  Having perused the other DAW options (PT, Studio One,Reason 7 and Cubase 7) the update to Cubase 7 looks attractive if I ever switch.  Again, i do not plan to do so, but have just been looking at what is available and Cubase 7 looks like it would fit my needs.  So thanks for the thread and thanks for the suggestion about a USB hub.

Some have mentioned no FX per clip in C7 - but the way event/clip/part/region editing/processing/stretching is handled in C7, it makes FX-by-clip seem kinda dumbed-down (bascially, in Cubase, you can process a region/selection of...anything...with any number of fx/processes...with it's own 'undo' history - which you can undo out of order...in it's own dedicated sample editor...and drag/bounce/link in a plethora of ways). The amount of thought that must of gone into many aspects of this DAW is astounding.
 

Studious
I'm curious how the dongle thing works for a mobile rig (laptop).  You must have them hanging off a laptop too?  And if they break, or are misplaced, then what?  You're screwed and can no longer use the software that requires them?

It's too bad they don't offer what is now widely available - very short Micro USB sticks - the kind that are used for car stereos that accept USB dongles, but are so short, there's no chance of them being bumped & banged around. Also used for laptops for wireless mice/keyboards. It would be great to have the option to buy either one.
 
http://www.staples.ca/en/Staples-8GB-Micro-Relay-USB-Flash-Drive/product_368052_2-CA_1_20001
 

Is there a crossroads available; Sonar to Cubase?

 
Not that I could see.

jimusic
I'm finding it funny that many Cubase 5.0-6.5 users are not updating to version 7, and in fact even balk at it.

To be honest there are people on this forum who are wary of upgrading from Sonar 8.5/X1 to x2.
It's kinda par for the course with all DAW vendors.
 
After using Cakewalk for the past twelve years, and not one for DAW hopping,
I have just come to the point where I fancy a change,
just getting fed up with the whole notation thing, colours and the strange random oddness that happens.
I got a Steinberg USB key from Ebay, Downloaded the demo and am liking it all so far.
So have ordered the full version, the Artist version seems to have some limitations which would
have me banging my head.
 
Seems to be a lot of choice out there these days, it's just a case of demoing where possible
and find something that does the job for you, or even find that Sonar is indeed,
still for you.
 
 
Garry

lowdown

jimusic
I'm finding it funny that many Cubase 5.0-6.5 users are not updating to version 7, and in fact even balk at it.

To be honest there are people on this forum who are wary of upgrading from Sonar 8.5/X1 to x2.
It's kinda par for the course with all DAW vendors.
 
 
Garry

Yes, I suppose that's true enough isn't it?

lowdown

jimusic
I'm finding it funny that many Cubase 5.0-6.5 users are not updating to version 7, and in fact even balk at it.

To be honest there are people on this forum who are wary of upgrading from Sonar 8.5/X1 to x2.
It's kinda par for the course with all DAW vendors.
 
After using Cakewalk for the past twelve years, and not one for DAW hopping,
I have just come to the point where I fancy a change,
just getting fed up with the whole notation thing, colours and the strange random oddness that happens.
I got a Steinberg USB key from Ebay, Downloaded the demo and am liking it all so far.
So have ordered the full version, the Artist version seems to have some limitations which would
have me banging my head.
 
Seems to be a lot of choice out there these days, it's just a case of demoing where possible
and find something that does the job for you, or even find that Sonar is indeed,
still for you.
 
 
Garry

Thats kind of thing which happened to me Gary. I waited and waited for fixes - and eventually had my interest piqued by other products so much so I jumped ship.
 
I actually feel quite invigorated by the change. Its exciting learning new stuff again and rethinking how I approach things. I love Cubase It is absolutely amazing.
 
Given how far ahead C7 is now IMHO - it will be amazing to watch Sonar keep pace and hopefully overtake it at some point. That would be good for everyone. I'm sure Cakewalk will be working on something big - still convinced they will launch whatever it is at the same time as W8.1 is formally released... just a hunch.

vespesian
Cubase has just announced another maintenance update (7.05), due next week.

 
Looking into Cubase 7... It's immediately apparent that Steinberg is on the ball development-wise.  I am starting to feel very amateur riding the Cakewalk train.  With all the unresolved bugs, they still do not tell customers what they are working on.  Contrast this with Steinberg:
 
     Cubase 7 - released Dec 2012 - 4 (going on 5) maintenance releases
     Sonar X2 - released Sep 2012 - 1 update; last heard from: December 2012
 
Furthermore, it appears Steinberg cares about issues, and communicates with users to ensure issues are noticed and tackled:  http://www.steinberg.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=179  (would you not love to see this for Sonar??)
 
Cakewalk instead hides out, leaving customers to ponder questions like:
   - Are any of the current bugs/problems being worked on?
   - Which bugs are on the list to be fixed?
   - Will there be another update to X2, or do we have to pay for X3 to get bug fixes?
   - If we pay for X3, what bugs will be fixed?
   - Can we expect anything in the next few weeks?  months?
 
If Cakewalk's answer to any question above is, "We can't say," then I've stuck around wayyyy too long.  We are adults here, we can handle the information.  Or do you believe ignorance is bliss?  Not I...

I thought this was kind of neat. I stumbled upon this on their forums today.
[For brevity, I haven't included the long request.]
 
But I do like the response.
.............................
...Thanks for listening!

Hello,
thanks for your suggestions. Can you please move this topic to the "Feature Request" forum so that we can
consider your proposal when working through the feature-wish lists for the next versions.

Thank you very much,
Timo
Timo Wildenhain - Product Marketing Manager Nuendo - WaveLab - VST plug-ins 
Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH 
Hamburg, Germany 
....................
Gotta like that!

Jeff Evans
This is not necessarily true. I find it interesting that many Sonar users think that their experiences are common to all DAW's but this is an incorrect assumption.

Maybe I should have said 'Most', and yes you are correct regarding ST1.
We have ST1 V2.5.3 on my sons machine, and it seems to run smoothly regarding the update route.
No notation was the real hurdle for me, regarding long term investment.
I must say the Macro tool bar is a great add on for getting around certain work flows and small limitations,
and the users on that forum are very good for upping and sharing their custom macros at the preset exchange.
 
Garry
 
 

I'm amazed to see how people compare Daw , specially according to upadtes and fixes !! lol for real i'm amazed !!!
 
a lot of updates indicates 2 things :
 
1) Good maintenance
 
2) a lot of bugs 
 
OR 
 
1) alot of bugs 
 
2) Slow maintenance ....
 
Anyway ....
 
Funny thread ....
 
All i can say is that all the "pro's" that see me working with sonar X1 and my VS 700 dowload the demo as soon as the get back home !! and this even if they have Cubase , nuendo , PT, logic ...ect ....
 
I handle 3 projects at the same time now  nad still on X1D that is rock solid , X2 is sleeping on my HD and this is the way it should be , pro's don't upadte in the middle of projects unless they keep both version and all ...
 
 
Also i must point out that each upadtes (in vesrion) are alwayz deep !! having the fx chain in the Pro channel is not like "support tracks Icons !!" lol ...
 
 

Studious

vespesian
Cubase has just announced another maintenance update (7.05), due next week.

 
Looking into Cubase 7... It's immediately apparent that Steinberg is on the ball development-wise.  I am starting to feel very amateur riding the Cakewalk train.  With all the unresolved bugs, they still do not tell customers what they are working on.  Contrast this with Steinberg:
 
     Cubase 7 - released Dec 2012 - 4 (going on 5) maintenance releases
     Sonar X2 - released Sep 2012 - 1 update; last heard from: December 2012
 
Furthermore, it appears Steinberg cares about issues, and communicates with users to ensure issues are noticed and tackled:  http://www.steinberg.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=179  (would you not love to see this for Sonar??)
 
Cakewalk instead hides out, leaving customers to ponder questions like:
   - Are any of the current bugs/problems being worked on?
   - Which bugs are on the list to be fixed?
   - Will there be another update to X2, or do we have to pay for X3 to get bug fixes?
   - If we pay for X3, what bugs will be fixed?
   - Can we expect anything in the next few weeks?  months?
 
If Cakewalk's answer to any question above is, "We can't say," then I've stuck around wayyyy too long.  We are adults here, we can handle the information.  Or do you believe ignorance is bliss?  Not I...

The way Steinberg appears to deal with issues on that forum should be the benchmark for all major software companies. When you've paid $300+ for a product that doesn't work properly, you have a right to expect it to work as advertised. If it doesn't, not only should you feel entitled to a timely fix, but the expectation should be that the developer will inform users exactly what issues they're aware of, which ones are being addressed and what they should expect to see in the next release. We're not talking video games here, we're talking commercial tools with which people rely on to make their living. You have to be able to plan ahead. If the DAW you're using has a problem which is affecting the way you work with it, it seems reasonable to expect the company who made it to let you know how likely a fix for that problem is. If it's not forthcoming, then you can make the choice to stick it out or jump ship for another DAW. I'd like to know: by what standard of value is keeping your paying customers in the dark acceptable?
 
Look how Sonar users react on the very rare occasions in which Cakewalk staff make an appearance in forum threads. We feel privileged! We thank them for taking the time out of their busy schedules to let us know that problem-X is being worked on! But really, they should have a permanent presence on the forum like Steinberg. We shouldn't feel privileged to get a reply. We all have skin in the game, and without paying customers like us they would not have jobs! I don't want to put them down because quite clearly there are some nice people working at Cakewalk and what few appearances they make are always very pleasant and informative, but let's be honest, it's nowhere near enough. I think the patience is wearing thin even in those who have "blind" loyalty. The temptation to hurl one's self overboard and try ones chances on another ship grows stronger and stronger.