Topic: Steinberg (Cubase) Charging for Bug Fixes?!?!

It’s on both the Steinberg and KVR forums —

Cubase 6.5 is due out any minute. Yes, it will come with a very few (and possibly groovy) feature additions. There is some rumor about a SoundCloud connection or interface. . . .

But here’s the big issue: There are scads of Cubase users still waiting for many important bugfixes to Cubase 6 (such as tracks disappearing and otherwise misbehaving — some important stuff). Usually, as in the past, these would come as free hotfixes or free updates. At the very least a pile of bugfixes would be included in the next full release. You were never charged for the fixes; you were only charged if you upgraded to a new release with the its new features.

Suddenly, things have changed. Note that Cubase 6.5 is only a Point Release, yet they are going to charge users for it. These Cubase “upgrades,” as they call them, cost more than the whole initial purchase of a complete DAW system from many other DAW designers, Zynewave Podium being only one good example.

See the problem here? I don’t know about the rest of you, but there’s no way in hell I’d PAY for a point release of bugfixes and a couple of mildly interesting new features. Their own people admit that 6.5 is not a major overhaul. You pay for your system edition. The bugfixes that follow were always considered part of what you were paying for in the first place. If I were still a Cubase user, I’d be wanting what I already paid for, not willing to be charged twice for it.

It’s going to take a while, and there will always be those snobs who think they can’t record a decent-sounding tune without Cubase or Pro Tools, but companies such as Zynewave and Cockos are gonna put these outrageously priced outfits to death. Just recently I observed a few new bailouts from Pro Tools to REAPER. Just a couple of years ago I would have never believed someone would leave God Pro Tools for any other software.

I’m so glad I am no longer a Cubase user. Cubase 7 due out in 2013, so I’d just be charged yet again after purchasing 6.5. I think Steinberg has forgotten that these other DAW designers never sleep (hello there, Frits!), and this mentality of charging $400+ for a DAW has entered a new era with Cubase now charging the big bucks of point releases inbetween. I think, as some were speculating, that they are merely trying to fund their 7 by charging for 6.5. I had issues with them way before this. Again, so glad I left their dongle world in the dust. Much happier now with Podium!

And you should have seen the Steinberg rep whining about how they can’t possibly afford to give away 6.5 for free.