Ableton LiveĪbleton Live is one of the most intuitive DAWs you will ever use. But why should you choose one over the other? I’ll try and capture the summary of the strengths and weaknesses of both of them. Overview and WorkflowĪs I mentioned earlier, both Ableton and Cubase can achieve the same thing. If the quick summary didn’t give you as much explanation as you’ll need, then let’s dive in to the head-to-head comparison of all the features both DAWs have to offer. Cubase requires a lot of computer processing power.It may take a while to learn how to use Cubase.Cubase’s MixConsole is one of the best mixers in a DAW.Cubase has a score editor, a very helpful tool for composers and songwriters.MIDI editor makes it very easy to edit and manipulate MIDI notes.Mixing on Ableton is different from any DAW.It may take a while to fully understand how Ableton works.Easy to automate buttons and knobs in Ableton.Ableton Live’s unique session view is an excellent tool for live performance and trying different musical ideas together.

You can combine instrument plugins, audio and MIDI effects and save it as a Rack that can be used in another project.Ableton Live is very CPU-friendly and doesn’t take much processing power.

It is very easy to map parameters to a keyboard or MIDI controller.

Cubase has VST Connect 5 and VST Transit that allows musicians in different parts of the world to collaborate over the internet. With Ableton Link, musicians can sync the tempos of their DAWs by connecting to the same local network.

Both Cubase and Ableton Live allow users to collaborate.

Because of this, Ableton has more synthesizers and experimental audio effects for sound design. Ableton Live’s stock instrument and audio effects are more focused on live performance, electronic music and sound design. Similarly, Cubase audio effects are the typical traditional processors you need for mixing and mastering.

Cubase stock instrument plugins have more organic musical instruments such as pianos, drums, guitars, violins, and a few synths.

And this makes it convenient to connect and use some of the most popular MIDI controllers with Ableton without the need to map parameters to the MIDI controller.

Ableton is compatible and works seamlessly with a wide range of MIDI controllers compared to Cubase.

Its features, sounds, and workflow make it an excellent DAW for electronic music producers and live-performing musicians.

Ableton Live is a DAW designed to produce and perform music live.

It is mostly used in many traditional recording studios, composers, and film scorers. Its tools and features make it easy to arrange, record and edit MIDI and audio.

Cubase is a DAW that is designed for producing and arranging music.

Key Differences between Ableton Live and Cubase: Quick Summary

Key Differences between Ableton Live and Cubase: Quick Summary.

So, in this article, I’ll make a head-to-head comparison between Ableton Live and Cubase to help you make a decision on which DAW will fit your needs. Because of that, they all appeal to different musicians and producers with different goals. Also, a quote from Paul McCartney I read somewhere suggested that Cubase has been his choice of DAW for years.Īlthough both DAWs can primarily achieve the same thing, their features and workflow are different. The most sought after film scorer in the world, Hans Zimmer is an avid user of Cubase. Some popular music producers off the top of my head that use Ableton Live are Skrillex, Deadmau5, LondonOnDaTrack, and Timbaland. Both are world-class professional software used by renowned music producers, artists, and composers. Let’s go.Ībleton Live and Cubase are two of the most popular Digital Audio Workstation (or DAW) you can find today. After much hesitation, I finally decided to do this shootout. After I wrote an article comparing Ableton Live Lite to Garageband, I received several requests to compare Ableton Live and Cubase.

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