Cubase to Logic?

[Gutshot1]

I am a Cubase user and contemplating moving from my beloved PC to a Mac to use Logic Pro 8.

A few questions i have:

Can i easily move arrangements, audio and midi files easily from one to another?

Will my purchased plugs in work (waves, PSP-VW, Guitar rig3)or are they PC/Mac specific?

Is it worth the hassle to move?

As anyone else moved if so what was it like?

I have never used a mac, is it pretty easy compared to a PC?

If you have any other points please do share them.

[Ed_J90]

Use the Force Gutshot1 move from the darkside into the light haha (wait for the attacks)

you can move most of the stuff into logic just make each track the same length for speed and import it in, after all they are just audio files, and midi files

some plugins will have a mac installer too on the CD so just check that side of things.

Is it worth the move? well depends what your looking to achieve from the move? I would say yes as I think Logic 8 is awesome from what ive seen (not currently running it)

Good luck...

[Kwackman]

I moved from Cubase to Logic 8 about a year ago. Although I was using Cubase on a mac rather than on a PC.

Everyone's situation is different, but for me the only thing I miss from Cubase is the drum edit page. You can get something similar using a beast called Hyperedit, but Cubase has the drum edit page award in my book!

Had a look at your profile- EZDrummer works fine, other plug-ins I don't know.

The PC v Mac wars have been fought many times here. To be honest, I'd choose the software package that suits you best, then if that is specific to one platform, then make your computer decision.

IMHO Macs are more user friendly, others swear by PCs (and at them too)
I have several friends and colleagues who have gone PC to Mac, but none who have gone the other way!

You'll find the Cubase to Logic learning curve a lot steeper than the PC to Mac curve.

[The Elf]

I'd have no qualms about moving to Mac, but I wouldn't want to use Logic. I'd take Cubase for Mac instead.

It doesn't make economic sense to do this I'll admit, but I've made concerted efforts to get on with Logic several times and given up in despair.

Everyone's different, so I hope it works out for you whatever you decide.

[Jonnypopisical]

Hi - I've gone: Clab Notator to Cubase VST to Logic 7 - Logic for me is the best by far - but it took we couple of 'false-starts' before I used it exclusively.

[_ Six _]

Just do it. It was the best move I ever made.

[ryan mead]

Just do it. It was the best move I ever made.

+1

You won't be able to port over entire arrangements in one move, of course. You'll have to do it piecemeal.

Probably the worst thing about the move to Mac was losing all of those great freeware VSTs I had come to know and love (Digital Fishbones, Kjaerhus (sp?)), etc.

[Gutshot1]

But don't all the inbuilt logic plug ins make up for that?

[Julian_M]

But set against the multitude of decent freeware on PC is that Logic 8's built in plugins are very useable, and most of the ones you've bought will be crossgradeable for next to nothing - I suggest you try to hook up with someone local to you (maybe from SOS) to spend an hour or two with them showing you around Logic on their Mac, maybe even a professional Logic Pro certified trainer who you could visit at home? Would be money well spent before you take the plunge IMO - especially if you took along one of YOUR songs so you could see the exact process of bringing stuff over into Logic and then used this as a mixing tutorial as well!

Most PC users I've taught how to use a Mac really love the interface in terms of user friendliness . . . but the very fact that they asked me to teach them how to use a Mac speaks volumes about their depth of understanding with a PC I think. IOW if someone's very comfortable finding their way round XP then adjusting to a Mac is very straightforward - however I wouldn't say the reverse is true.

I'm the last bloke not to encourage anyone to switch to Mac, but given what you've said elsewhere about throwing ££'s at gear when you get frustrated, is this not perhaps a "grass is always greener" situation?

If you do decide to make the switch then you should do two things IMO:

1) Invest in (at least) the Logic 101 training series at MacProVideo if not the Logic 8 bundle (and maybe even the OS X training series) to hit the ground running

2) Sign up to Sonikmatter - a Logic specific forum with a wealth of informative threads once you get deeper into what Logic can do.

Edit: Actually I forgot,, but there are a bunch of video tutorial freebies at Mac Pro Video - check em out!

[Ben]

Logic/Mac is great. But you do say that your PC is 'beloved' and, presumably, working well for you. Why the interest in moving?

[stinkfinger]

I moved from pc to mac about 5 years or so ago, I moved from cubase to logic about 2 years ago.

PC to MAC: Dead easy, just check all your software is crossgrade-able, and if not you'll have to make the decision whether it's worth losing something. Not going to get into the mac v pc debate, but I prefer mac.

Cubase to Logic: not so easy. I would recommend staying with cubase unless there's something specific you can't do in Cubase that you can do in Logic. Logic is still the most illogical piece of software I have ever come across. The bundled plugs are better x(infinity) than those in Cubase, if you were just starting out it may be worth going for Logic to save money on Cubase + third party plugs, but not in your situation, get a mac and stay with Cubase.

As for forking out for tuition and videos etc, I was duped onto an audio course a long time ago cost me £2,000 and I learned nothing I couldn't have done by rtf(ing)m, the whole market is full of lizards trying to make a quick buck. Read manuals, ask questions on the forums, if you still don't get it you probably should just quit cos it aint rocket science.

[jayzed]

I moved from PC to Mac, and then back. I agree with the statement that you should see what software you want to use and THEN select the platform that suits. Logic is extremely cheap for what it is and includes and this might, to some extent, make up the price differential between the platforms.
Actually, my top statement is not completely true. I use Macs at work and at a studio I work in and have a PC at home. My PC is home built and the last version cost less than £800 for a stonkingly fast machine - BUT, I used parts from old PCs AND I have been building machines (including bodged together Macs in the early 90s from various Quadras etc) for nearly 20 years.
I compare the platforms to a manual car and an automatic car, although this is less accurate since the Mac went Unix it still applies for the hardware.

Logic is a great platform that I use often but personally I prefer Cubase/Nuendo for historical reasons - the drum editor is one thing I miss a lot with Logic but I also miss the new (Logic 8), twin fader inspector when I use Cubase.

If you do decide to go Mac, please innoculate yourself against the smug virus. It's just a bloody box, and more power to your elbow if you prefer it.