Steinberg Cubase SE Recording Software (Macintosh and Windows)

48 tracks of 24-bit/96kHz hard disk recording. Unlimited number of MIDI tracks. Editing and effects.

Overall User Ratings (based on 111 ratings)
  • Overall:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    3 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(111) (see rating details)
Submitted November 7, 2004 by a customer from msn.com

"It's tight dawg"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Does everything you basically need it to do. 48 audio tracks unlimitec midi no crashes in 6 months.
Sound
Same as any, you only get garbage out if you put garbage in. Dig?
Features
More effects in the package would be nice. The compressor rocks, reverb and delay are so so i say. Haven't used all effects yet (Cruncher, ect.).
Quality
I've used Sonar, ProTools, Cool Edit, N'tracks Studio, ect. This is just as good as any. 24 bit recording for under $100,..... come on!!
Value
Can't beat it for real. No N-tracks or Cakewalk product can compare for real VST's, Rewire (reason), Its worth $200 at least. This and a Audiophile 2496(99.00), and a Behringer mixer and you got a 48 track Studio for around 250.00.
Manufacturer Support
never needed them so i don't know. But they have been conntacting me (specials, offers) so that's a plus.
The Wow Factor
Interface not as sexy as SX or SL but still pretty good.

Musical Background:

Active Musician

Musical Style:

Hip Hop, Soul, Gospel
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Submitted March 17, 2006 by a customer from yahoo.com

"Another excellent product by Steinberg"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
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It's a perfectly good environment to make music in. I would definitely recommend it to Cubase users
Features
Seems to have way more than older versions of cubase. I like how you can draw lines for fade outs.
Ease of Use
Pretty good. It helps to know cubase. Very similar to most multitrack recording environments
Quality
Seems to be well-made
Value
Good product for the price, you can do a lot with it
The Wow Factor
It's colorful and new.

Musical Background:

Producer, recording engineer, and musician

Musical Style:

R&B, Jazz, Hip-hop, and funk
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Submitted April 24, 2007 by a customer from yahoo.com

"Great work Steinberg!!! Pro-style for low money!!!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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I will eventually upgrade when i can get another $800 dollars to do so or when the price drops drastically. it does get the job done as far as quality. The only think i think Cubase 4 would have on it is that it may have more features and plug-ins
Sound
Man this is the best product on the market for the money. Screw Pro-tools or Sonar. If you are an amateur or novice producer, artist, or engineer, this program will make your work sound like it was mastered by the best. I was a nobody rap artist trying to step my game up. ha i was using Nero's Soundraxx as my sequencer. So i bought Cubase SE cause it was cheap and i needed something a lil more professional. Its the best move i could have ever made. I started a record label, get consistant airplay and have become known locally. I recommend this program to anyone with a low budget, but need big quality sound
Features
Unlimited!!! i have about 100 different plug-ins from numerous different companies and Cubase enables all of them to function efficiently and fast within the program. the VST that come with it do alot of magic cause they are indeed high quality with great panoramic quality. Sequncing is relatively easy and fun since most of the shifting and editing can be done with a few clicks of the mouse and dragging
Ease of Use
it becomes pretty easy once you play with it for a few days. You learn the basics and all the things you need to get a good sound after a few days. Im still learning features as i go and i have had it for about 4 months. So i guess it would be clockwork for someone who has already used a program similar like Sonar
Quality
pretty good. no problems with it yet....yet
Value
its worth 4x its selling price
Manufacturer Support
This is the only part where the program suffers. With it being an early outdated version, it lacks a few plug-ins and a very very important feature of rendering unlimited mp3s. It limits you to only produce 20 and says that you have to get the mp3-update from steinberg to make more. The problem is that steinberg doesnt make the update anymore so you must find a conversion program if you want mp3s of your works
The Wow Factor
looks really nice and professional, complicating to the in-experienced but looks like ice cream to the knowledgeable

Musical Background:

Musician, Engineer, Label Owner, Studio Musician

Musical Style:

Hip-Hop, R&B, Soul, Dance
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Submitted December 27, 2004 by a customer from msn.com

"Definitely Worth It!!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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I have used Cubase SX and Cubase SX 2 and this product has many of the same features as the higher priced Cubase Programs. Great Value.
Sound
The sound quality is really good but it also depends on your equipment(soundcard, mic,etc.)
Features
Limited to 48 audio tracks...its more than enough for me personally but it is nice to just have the option of as many tracks as you want. You can't really expect everything in a package for under $100 though.
Quality
Excellent. Everything was just as it should be.
Value
I think this is a great deal for anyone who wants a recording software to make high quality recordings but is on a budget. Definitely worth the money. I purchased it at the student discount so it was an even better price.
Manufacturer Support
Terrible...thats all I have to say on that.
The Wow Factor
I wouldnt mind having either of the higher priced Cubase programs but this product suits me just fine.

Musical Background:

Active Musician, Producer, Recording Engineer

Musical Style:

Hip Hop, R&B, Urban...and just about anything else.
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Submitted April 27, 2007 by a customer from Home-Recording-Studio-Guide.Com

"Cubase SE is a great stepping stone to the Top Recording Level"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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This will be be in my studio for a long time!
Sound
This is easy recording at its best. I have done 24 Track mixes that I can conrol all the aspects of the Recording and Mixing and Mastering. It sounds fine, never had any clicking or hiss issues.
Features
This is a reliable and feature rich product, it has the Lexicon Reverb, and enough plug-ins to make a full recording production software.
Ease of Use
Once you get up and running it takes care of itself. It works seamlessly with Sample Tank, and a bunch of VST Plug-Ins
Quality
This is very reliable...it is a great stepping stone to Cubase 4
Value
$99.00 you can't be that!
Manufacturer Support
Not needed
The Wow Factor
Not the most popular...but it work great, and you have a great www.Cubase.com Forum if you did have any problems!

Musical Background:

Engineer and Musician for years

Musical Style:

Rock Jazz, Folk, etc.
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Submitted March 27, 2006 by a customer from yahoo.com.sg

"Never better than this Software"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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In short, it's Professional standard of recording for studio works.
Sound
Close to ADAT machine sound quality, indeed even better.
Features
Simple to use and best if it comes with hardware features like controller and faders,.
Ease of Use
Easy to learn in days and hours.
Quality
Sound dynamics seem superb with no hiss, clicks and pops.
Value
Value for a good price.
Manufacturer Support
On the web and not really much tangible support from dealers.

Musical Background:

Recording Engineer

Musical Style:

Pop
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Submitted March 1, 2009 by a customer from tmail.com

"if you love music and wanna get a studio started.this is a must have.very powerful tool in my studio.4 this price.its worth it i"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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cubase will be with me for many years.if i was to replace it i would still use it hear in there.but it would be replaced with a more upgraded cubase.these programs are basically all the same.its all about how much time you put in to it.how good you adapt to it.i chose cubase because most producers use protools.every one goes left i go right.like i said these programs are all the same its wat you know.i got 2 of them so if they steal mine got the back up.wat i like the most is how easy it is to create music and the voriaty of affects.no regrets.
Sound
the sound is very clean.it all depends on the gear your working with.and what you know?
Features
the features are geat.really easy to use.you have everything you need right in front of you to sound proffesional.good varioty affects on this
Ease of Use
really easy to use. ive bin working with cubase for 2and half years naw.got plenty of work done with this.didnot use the manual much.but the manul booklet is preety big.plenty of information in there.
Quality
good quality.i got 2 of them for just incase you know wata i mean.
Value
at this amayzing price you cant beat that.
Manufacturer Support
never delt with support issues.
The Wow Factor
very sexy.cant live with out it.if i could i would marry this one

Musical Background:

producer/artist

Musical Style:

hiphop/reggaton/
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Submitted June 18, 2005

"Cubase SE doesn't work on Mac OS 10.4"

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
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Does not work on anything above Mac OS 10.3.9. Steinberg say the installer will not work on 10.4 or 10.4.1. Users have been waiting for an upgraded installer for some time now, without word from Steinberg. If you want to use Cubase SE on a modern Mac, for the time being, don't buy this product.
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Submitted April 14, 2005

"Great and user friendly easy to use."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
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Sound
It is easy to use but lacks in certain areas as far as audio. By far easier to use than Cakewalk Home Studio. Would love to upgrade to SX for more features.
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Submitted March 2, 2005

"Could be sold at twice the price and still be a great value."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
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I expect to use this for a long time. The most vocal tracks i've used so far is 35 and on average I only use about 16-21. I'll upgrade once I progress into doing bigger projects.
Sound
Its digital, what goes in comes out. Everything is dependant on the quality of your soundcard/interface.
Features
For what it does, its great. Incredibly easy to use. 48 audio tracks, unlimited MIDI (which I never use). Pretty good effects. For this to only be $99, you get an insane amount of options.
Quality
Its software. No mechanical parts and all that stuff. I haven't encountered any bugs.
Value
All I needed was a multi-track recorder and for that, this thing is great. The best $99 I've ever spent.
Manufacturer Support
Never had to use it.
The Wow Factor
The interface is very sleek and hi-tech looking. But its just software. I don't know how much sex appeal some computer code can have... unless its code for a porn website.

Musical Background:

Freelance Producer and Engineer
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