The impending Nuendo Live is an intriguing one. Version 6.5 is the first Cubase release to include a full user interface in simplified Chinese language (there is such a thing?). Last but not least, while Cubase 6.5 may not be made China, it’s been made China. A direct link with Soundcloud has been added, a FLAC compression codec and 64-bit support for Rewire. The DAW’s comping ability has been tweaked, as has the Audio Warp functions. No one can resist trying out more grunge guitar patches, right? Similarly, two new intelligent filter plug-ins might interest only the dedicated users, but 50 new signature sounds and presets in Cubase’s own VST Amp Rack guitar amp simulator will have a broader appeal. The Padshop Granular Synthesiser is one of those extremely clever instruments that is so complex and complicated that the synth nerds will love it, while the rest of us will never dare stray beyond the presets menu. New tricks and treats in Cubase 6.5 include a couple of VST instruments, the first being the Retrologue Virtual Analogue Synthesizer – all those vintage synths you couldn’t away on eBay are in demand, at least. It’s next to impossible for any software developer to cater for the zillion different PC and Mac configurations out there and an almost immediate patch release is bound to be needed. Notably, a v6.5.2 patch is already available for download, but that’s also par for the course nowadays. It’s a bit of a mystery why a particular software upgrade – Steinberg isn’t alone here – is deemed to be worth only a ‘.5’ label, especially when it’s not a freebie, however greater German minds than ours have worked on this and we can only assume they know exactly what they’re doing.

Late last month Steinberg released Cubase 6.5 and within a few days announced we’ll soon be offered the new Nuendo Live as well.Ĭubase 6.5 has some significant improvements and extra features compared with its predecessor, but apparently not enough to rate a whole new integer of its own.

The boffins at Steinberg have been quietly busy.

Nuendo live