Cubase VST Song import in Cubase 4/5: a solution

Helge Vogt

Dear Cubase customers,

Cubase 4 was the first Cubase version not to support the import of Cubase VST songs and projects. Some of you who have older projects in Cubase VST and want to work on them in Cubase 4 have been in touch with us to ask us why we decided to do this. The main reasons are:

1) Today in 2008, the internal architecture of Cubase 4 has evolved to become very, very different from that of the old and dearly cherished Cubase VST. This isn’t surprising, seeing as Cubase VST 5 was released in 2001, and that seven years are pretty much an age in software development. The evolution of Cubase has meant that the cross-porting and mapping of project data has become more and more complicated with each new release of Cubase.

2) Developing and maintaining project import has become increasingly resource-intensive. We would like to focus our resources on developing new features as well as improving the already existing ones in the Cubase 4 generation products.

So we’ve come up with a way to give you the ability to import your older Cubase VST projects and songs. We have decided to make the previous Cubase SX3, Cubase SL3 and Cubase SE3 versions available as a download, you can get them here:

ftp://ftp.steinberg.net/Download/Cubase_4/Cubase_SX_3_VST_Song_Conversion
ftp://ftp.steinberg.net/Download/Cubase_Studio_4/Cubase_SL_3_VST_Song_Conversion
ftp://ftp.steinberg.net/Download/Cubase_Essential_4/Cubase_SE_3_VST_Song_Conversion

Cubase SX3 / SL3 / SE3 can be run with your current Cubase 4 / Cubase Studio 4 / Cubase Essetial 4 license and allows you to import your VST projects, save them in the new *.cpr format and open them in Cubase 4 series. These are not officially supported under Windows Vista and OSX Leopard but should install and run just fine. Please be sure to install the current Syncrosoft License Control Center prior to starting Cubase SX3 / SL3 / SE3 for the first time. You can download the latest version here:

http://www.steinberg.net/index.php?id=920&L=1

We know that a built-in import function would be handier, but we’re also sure that this workaround is acceptable for you while allowing us to dedicate resources to more important areas of the application.

Thanks for choosing Cubase!

Helge Vogt
Product Marketing Cubase / HALion
Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH

Nate Wade · Guest

UnDeFiNeD · New Member Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 4

I hope no problems in running SX and C4 side by side?

cheezeejazz · Member Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 151

Personally it's not an issue for me but understand it is for others and the fact of offering this workaround as an official post is greatly appreciated...that being said does it mean that the free'd up resources will be pooled into fixing the ever growing list of issues with Rolling Eyes

Hackenslash · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:11 pm Post subject:

HowlingUlf · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 6:30 pm Post subject:

This is SOOOOOOOOOOO the right thing to do!!! Applause

Some people will whine about this as well, but credit where credit is due!

Big cheers for Steinberg!

PS you need to update the smileys with at least a :steinbergcheers: Laughing

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cheezeejazz · Member Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 151

The thing is - one simple post has meant that we now understand why this hasn't been included in C4, and all it took was maybe a few minutes to write it to keep in touch with the end users....thanks loads but please keep it up!!!
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John Reid · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:36 pm Post subject:

Helge for PRESIDENT! Dancing

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jobuer53 · Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:59 pm Post subject:

Very welcomed for sure, but why is it out now, so late?
It was sooooooo essential to me (as I upgraded directly from VST5 to C4), and I was getting this info many weeks ago by some very kind forumite (that I can't remember the name of Embarassed

), and installed the SX3 pack from the ftp-pages. Worked as a joy, nearly. Very Happy

Thanks anyway Exclamation

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Spinn · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:49 am Post subject:

Thank you guys SO MUCH!!!
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Kahlbert · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 5:47 am Post subject:

A proper solution without compromising the current product - well done! Applause

Ruaridh · Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:52 am Post subject:

gamelan · Member Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 391 Location: Vienna

HorNet505 · Member Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 117

this is why this forum is great.
Users discuss it, developers read it and act.
great bonus and big thanx to Steinberg - I'll hug you guys on the next music fair in Frankfurt 2009 Very Happy

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dada · Guest

HorNet505 · Member Joined: 18 Sep 2007 Posts: 117

ok then not a hug but a punch in the stomach Wink

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----------------------------
AMD 5600+
8Gb Ram
Win XP, Vista64, Win7x64
M-Audio ProjectMix I/O
Multi-screen setup
--------------------------
Cubase 5.5
Wavelab 6
EWQL Beta Tester

TAFKAT · Guest

Well in theory it would be a great idea..

Pity earlier V5.all files do not import correctly into N3/SX3.., the files are scattered all over the place.

They will however import into N2/SX2 perfectly.

This has been a widely known issue for quite a while and has been recently discussed on numerous forums , Heres one thread at Nuendo from a few weeks back..

Its obvious that Steinberg have not even bothered testing this.., what a surprise.. !!

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jobuer53 · Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 11:40 pm Post subject:

TAFKAT · Guest

The post over at Nuendo is exactly what I and numerous other have experienced and discussed in the past..

The files are scattered over a large number of bars, sometimes in the thousands. They have absolutely no correlation to the arrangement.

All who have experienced these issues, needed to resort to importing the songs in N2/SX2.

Mate, if you say it works for you, more power to you..;-)

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Gino · Junior Member Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Posts: 31

jobuer53 · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:25 pm Post subject:

John Reid · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject:

dada · Guest

jobuer53 · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:17 am Post subject:

TAFKAT · Guest

Not relevant ?

How so, in N2/SX2 , .all open correctly no matter what the vintage, in N3 it scattered the files in exactly the same manner I and others have experienced importing VST5 files, how is that irrelevant..

Now that maybe irrelevant to you, but not to those of us who have experienced the behaviour.

BTW: The other recent discussion is over at the DAWbench forum , where the behaviour was reported and confirmed by numerous members over the last 6-8 months. This isn't exactly a revelation to anyone who has been navigating this issue.

BTW: I am not going to direct link to that thread here, as its a private forum..

Lets see what Steinberg have to say about it.., shall we.. !

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jobuer53 · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:44 pm Post subject:

dada · Guest

Eckhard Doll · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

Indeed we are a bunch of indifferent people...
Guys, this is as good as it gets. We won't provide an even older Cubase SX version to address compatibility issues some of you are facing with SX 3.
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dada · Guest

Potty Harry · Member Joined: 25 Mar 2005 Posts: 230

Sorry I find this unacceptable, from a company that calls its self professional we should have sideways and backwards compatibility for projects as standard,……. other less expensive Apps deliver on this why can’t Steinberg Question

Why should I have to clog up my PC with redundant software Question