These two DAWs have been at each other’s throats for a really long time. This is why once a producer starts with the one it becomes difficult for them to move to the other.
The Ableton vs Cubase war has been around for a while for both amateur and pro music producers. They both offer professional-grade tools for music production but have key differences in their workflows, interfaces, and specialty features.
In this showdown, we put these two giants against one another. This will help you determine which better suits your creative needs and style.
Let’s get into it.
Quick Glance: Ableton Live vs Cubase
- Intuitive session and arrangement views
- Specialized for electronic music production
- Streamlined interface and workflow
- Built-in instruments, effects, and sound libraries
- Ideal for live performance
- Seamless MIDI and audio editing
- Large user community and tutorials
Cubase
- Full-featured digital audio workstation
- Ideal for recording, editing, and mixing
- Advanced MIDI editing and virtual instruments
- Customizable interface and workflows
- Great for film scoring and complex compositions
- Robust audio editing tools
- Tight integration with external hardware
- Used widely in professional studios
Now let’s dig into the details of how these two DAWs compare.
Key Features and Workflow
Ableton Live
Ableton Live has earned its reputation for revolutionizing workflows for electronic music production. Its session view allows for improvisational jamming and playing instruments like a live performance.
I especially enjoy Ableton’s seamless integration with hardware controllers. Mapping knobs and faders to parameters is a breeze, making for dynamic live shows.
The software also shines in its creative sound design capabilities. Devices like Wavetable, Operator, and Analog modeled synths offer deep yet intuitive sound programming.
For traditional tracking and mixing though, Cubase edges ahead. Ableton places more focus on loops, clips, and scenes suited for electronic music. Cubase provides a fuller multi-track recording studio workflow.
Still, Ableton’s arrangement view competently handles complex songwriting and instrumentation. For end-to-end production, it holds up against other fully featured DAWs.
Cubase
Developed by pioneers in music software Steinberg, Cubase presents a complete production package for recording, editing, mixing, and mastering.
Many professional studios rely on Cubase for its advanced tools geared toward traditional multi-track recording workflows.
Features like the chord track, expression maps, and VariAudio for pitch editing make Cubase a favorite for orchestral work.
Cubase also integrates seamlessly with Yamaha mixing consoles and Steinberg audio interfaces popular in pro studios. For those with advanced setups, Cubase simplifies hardware control.
Cubase’s plethora of menus and windows can frustrate newcomers. Ableton’s minimalist design presents a gentler learning curve.
But Cubase rewards those who persist with greater customization and refinement.
Interface and Workflow Comparison
Ableton Live
Ableton Live’s streamlined interface clears away clutter so you can focus on the music. Clean, colorful graphics help you visualize arrangements, for instance seeing clips as blocks of color along the timeline.
Switching between Ableton’s session and arrangement views requires only a single click. Session view focuses on capturing musical ideas through improvisation and looping.
Arrangement view then helps flesh them out into full songs. This dual workflow caters perfectly to electronic music creation.
For live performance, Ableton truly excels. You can launch clips and scenes, tweak parameters, and mix on the fly with responsive controls.
Ableton’s workflow encourages experimentation in the studio as well on stage.
With that said, Live’s minimalist design lacks some of the advanced tools found in Cubase’s bigger toolbox. For fine-tuned mixing and editing, Cubase provides greater precision.
Cubase
Cubase offers nearly endless customization, allowing you to tailor the interface and workflow to your exact production needs. While this requires more upfront setup, it unlocks efficiency gains later.
For traditional recording and editing, Cubase’s MixConsole provides an intuitive central hub for mixing, inserts, and routing. You can also undock windows to create customizable workspaces.
Advanced MIDI editing tools like the Key Editor, List Editor, and Logical Editor enable surgical tweaks to MIDI performances. Cubase makes programming and manipulating MIDI data incredibly precise.
However, Cubase’s dense interface and abundance of menus can intimidate beginners, especially coming from the simplicity of Ableton Live.
There’s a steeper initial learning curve, but the payoff comes in the refined control accessible once you master Cubase’s tools.
Audio Editing Features
Ableton Live
Ableton Live handles basic audio editing tasks like slicing, reversing, pitch shifting, warping, and fading with ease.
Simple fades and edits make perfect sense in session view’s quick workflow. Arrangement view offers more detailed editing when crafting full songs.
Features like groove pools and real-time warping help adapt audio to match your session’s tempo and feel. This aids creativity, allowing you to experiment fluidly with loops and samples.
For surgical editing like fixing timing, pitch corrections, or splicing takes though, Cubase has a clear upper hand. Tools like Hitpoints, VariAudio, and advanced quantizing offer sample-accurate tweaks in Cubase.
Cubase
Audio editing represents one area where Cubase truly outshines Ableton Live. Cleaning up recorded audio and comping the perfect vocal take becomes near effortless with Cubase.
Its Hitpoints auto-detect transients in drum and rhythmic recordings, allowing you to quantize, correct timing, or slice audio easily. VariAudio brings Melodyne-like pitch editing directly to your Cubase workflow.
Tools like crossfades between audio events, advanced clip-based gain envelopes, and phase-accurate editing help craft flawless edits. You can sculpt audio seamlessly at the sample level in Cubase.
For quick arrangement experimentation and jamming though, Ableton Live better facilitates trying out audio ideas at flexible tempos thanks to its warping capabilities. Each DAW caters to different stages of production.
MIDI Capabilities
Ableton Live
Ableton Live excels at melodic and rhythmic MIDI sequencing thanks to its intuitive piano roll editor and clip launching workflow.
Creating synth leads, basslines, and drum patterns feels creatively freeing. MIDI effects like arpeggiators bring inspiration, while tools like groove pools impart natural feel.
For EDM and electronic genres, Ableton’s workflow facilitates experimenting quickly with catchy melodic and rhythmic ideas. Recording MIDI performances is also responsive and low latency.
However, those requiring deeper MIDI editing capability beyond Live’s piano roll will want to look to Cubase. Tools like the List Editor enable fine control over MIDI data for flawless sequencing.
Cubase
Cubase delivers professional-grade MIDI sequencing and programming tools that empower intricate edits and tweaks.
The Key Editor presents note data in a graphical display for surgical editing of MIDI performances. Meanwhile the List Editor shows charts of MIDI events in a spreadsheet-style interface.
Advanced features like Logical Editing allow powerful yet easy MIDI transformations, like altering velocity across multiple tracks simultaneously. Expression Maps streamline controlling articulations for orchestral work.
For meticulous MIDI and virtual instrument programming, Cubase’s precision editing cannot be beat. However, for quickly sketching out musical ideas, Ableton Live offers a more immediate workflow. As always, different DAWs suit different production needs.
Virtual Instruments and Plugins
Ableton Live
Ableton Live comes loaded with versatile built-in instruments like Analog, Wavetable, Operator, Sampler, and more. Each brings thoughtful sound design and editing capabilities in an intuitive interface.
Plus Ableton’s Instrument Racks allow combining synths and effects within a single device. This facilitates creative sound design and sonic experimentation.
Of course Ableton also supports third-party VSTs, so the possibilities are endless. Max for Live even allows creating your own instruments and effects through visual modular patching.
Overall though, Cubase provides a wider selection of virtual instruments like HALion Sonic SE 3, Groove Agent SE 5, and the Prologue synth. For immediately expansive sound libraries, Cubase has an edge.
Cubase
A key benefit of Cubase is its stellar selection of included virtual instruments and effects. With the middle-tier Pro edition, you get the HALion Sonic SE 3 workstation, Groove Agent SE 5 for beats, and Prologue synth.
These provide synthesizers, realistic instrument libraries, and drum kits covering all sonic bases right out of the box. You’ll have plenty of creative options without needing additional purchases.
Cubase also works seamlessly with the included VST instruments and effects. Quickly scan presets, tweak parameters, and apply inserts from one central MixConsole window.
However, Ableton’s devices like Wavetable and Sampler offer deep sound design capabilities through intuitive interfaces. It depends on if you prefer expansive ready-made
instruments or crave designing sounds from the ground up. For beginners though, Cubase provides instant sonic inspiration.
Pricing and Editions
Ableton Live and Cubase both offer tiered pricing, allowing you to get started affordably with stripped-down versions or go pro with full-featured editions. Let’s break down what’s included at each level.
Ableton Live Pricing
Intro ($99) – 16 audio & MIDI tracks, basic instruments and effects, great for getting started
Standard ($449) – Unlimited audio & MIDI tracks, additional instruments, effects, and sound packs
Suite ($749) – Everything in Standard plus Max for Live, more instruments, effects, and 4000+ sounds
Ableton’s pricing structure is simple and scales nicely based on your needs. Their free 90-day trial lets you experience the full Suite edition as well.
Cubase Pricing
Elements ($99.99) – 48 MIDI & audio tracks, basic instruments, 8 VSTs, great entry point
Artist ($349.99) – Unlimited audio, MIDI tracks, better instruments, effects, and REVerence reverb
Pro ($549.99) – Additional virtual instruments, studio effects, channel strip racks and more
Ultimate ($1079.99) – Over 90 additional effects and instruments, surround sound features, premium content
Cubase’s tiered system requires more consideration to choose the right version for your workflow. But an unlimited 30-day trial is offered so you can experience Pro or Ultimate fully.
Which DAW is Better for Beginners?
For those just starting out in music production, Ableton Live offers a more gentle learning curve thanks to its clean, straightforward interface. Cubase can feel overwhelming as a beginner with its deeper menus and windows.
Ableton Live Intro provides an affordable way to get introduced to the software’s creative workflow and features. Drag-and-drop simplicity makes it accessible for newcomers.
Cubase Elements still packs a capable DAW for beginners with enough tools to create professional music. But you’ll want to be prepared to commit to mastering a more complex user interface.
Overall, Ableton Live may feel more intuitive picking up for the first time. But both DAWs offer discounted entry-level versions perfect for getting started.
Cubase vs Ableton Live – Which one is Better for Electronic Music?
For producers focused on electronic music like house, techno, trance, and so on, Ableton Live provides the perfect specialized workflow. The signature session view facilitates improvisation with loops, clips, and sounds.
Built-in instruments like Wavetable, Analog, and Operator offer deep sound design options ideal for EDM. Plus warp features make it easy to match the tempo of loops and samples quickly.
While Cubase can produce electronic music, it caters more to traditional multi-track recording and mixing. The workflow is less focused on building tracks through sessions and experimentation.
For live electronic music performance, Ableton is king. Cubase lacks the live session capabilities that make Ableton so versatile on stage. So for most electronic genres, Ableton Live is the preferable choice.
Which is Better for Recording and Mixing? Cubase or Ableton Live
When it comes to tracking live instruments, vocals, and crafting pro-quality mixes, Cubase shines as a fully featured DAW ready for any scenario a studio can throw at it.
Advanced audio editing tools like VariAudio pitch correction make recording and compiling takes far more efficient. The MixConsole provides a centralized workspace for dialing in your mix to perfection.
Ableton Live can accomplish full productions involving live recordings and mixes. But Cubase provides more specialized tools for traditional studio workflows involving live audio and instruments.
For producers focused on recording bands, overdubbing lots of tracks, comping takes, and engineering mixes, Cubase is the preferred pick.
Ableton vs Cubase: Which is Better for Film Scoring?
Scoring to picture requires specific tools to sync cues and hits to video playback. For this discipline, Cubase remains the go-to DAW for professionals.
Its scoring capabilities like timecode support, video thumbnail tracks, and frame-accurate placement of musical events all cater to seamlessly scoring films and videos.
While not impossible, Ableton Live lacks the purpose-built scoring workflow found in Cubase. Ableton focuses more on improvisation and experimentation over pre-composed synchronization.
For media composers dealing with tight deadlines and revisions, Cubase keeps you nimble. If you foresee needing to score and sync music to visual media, Cubase provides significant advantages.
FAQs on Ableton Live vs Cubase
Does Ableton or Cubase have better stock plugins?
Overall Cubase comes loaded with a more generous collection of high-quality stock instruments and effects. Standouts like HALion Sonic SE 3 and Groove Agent SE 5 provide ample sonic options out the box.
Ableton Live still provides capable synths like Analog, Operator, and Wavetable, but the selection is smaller. For instantly expansive palettes, Cubase is hard to beat.
Can you record live instruments on Ableton?
Yes, while designed for MIDI and electronic workflows, Ableton Live can ably record and edit live audio like vocals, guitars, drums, and so on. It has all the essential tools for basic tracking.
Cubase does provide more specialized features for multi-track band recordings and editing. But Ableton holds its own for smaller live sessions and audio recording needs.
Is Ableton good for mixing and mastering?
Yes, you can certainly mix full tracks and apply mastering processing in Ableton. Features like its Glue Compressor and Limiter get you decent results.
However, Cubase provides a more refined toolset for engineering pristine mixes and masters. Extensive routing options, channel strips, blend macros, and more give Cubase the upper hand.
Can you use VSTs in Ableton Live?
Yes, Ableton Live supports third-party VST2 and VST3 instruments and effects on both Windows and Mac. You can build a powerful production toolkit combining Ableton’s devices with your favorite VST plugins.
Final Verdict: Ableton Live vs Cubase
So in the end, is Ableton or Cubase better for your music production needs?
For electronic genres, live performances, and sketching out musical ideas improvisationally, Ableton Live can’t be beaten. Its workflow caters perfectly to building tracks iteratively through clips, scenes, and loops.
For traditional multi-track recording, detailed editing, scoring, and engineering mixes, Cubase provides the tools pros rely on. Robust MIDI programming, customizable workflows, and immaculate audio make Cubase a studio favorite.
But they can complement each other nicely as well. Cubase’s strengths in recording and mixing could pair well with Ableton’s creative sound design and patterns.
Ultimately your genre and preferred production style should dictate which DAW feels like the best fit. Both Ableton Live and Cubase deliver professional power for crafting your next masterpiece.
Mike is a skilled musician, guitar technician, and music producer with a passion for audio and gear. He excels in teaching guitar, editing podcasts/videos, and creating captivating soundscapes using cutting-edge hardware, software, and plugins. Mike’s talent and commitment make him highly sought-after in the industry, inspiring fellow musicians worldwide.
