Cubase 9 Record Stems into Pro Tools 12

[Dr Sabs]

Hi All,

I am currently trying to find a way to be able to have Cubase record stems directly into Pro Tools. Is this only possible through 2 computers, or am I able to do it all on the same machine (with pro tools hosting video and such).

Either way, what software/routing does one have to go through without having to setup an inane amount of virtual ports and busses through sound flower or other 3rd party plugins.

Finally, how am I able to setup Pro tools to be synced to Cubase's timecode for optimal scrub and sync.

Thanks in advance!

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[MarcusD]

Curious to know, why not just export the stems and import them into PT?

 

[ChristopherDoucet]

I used to use PT as a print computer, but because PTHD (software only) only allows you to record 32 mono simultaneous. (in 5.1, thats only 5 at a time.), I had to make a change.

Now I use Cubase to Cubase and even with Dante Virtual Soundcard, you could get 64. I have the rednet so I get 128.

Yes, though, its easy to connect. And its still industry standard to print into a pro tools system, but I'm fairly certain all those composers are using maxed out HDX systems (3 cards) in order to aggregate 192 simultaneous.

I will eventually go back to PT, when I can afford to buy 3 HDX cards and 6 rednet 5's but until then, I use Cubase which works great. So many amazing reasons to print to a computer, especially PT, as its the format that music editors, score mixers, sound designers and re-recording mixers are almost all on.

I believe in theory you can do it on the same computer, but I recently built a PTHD mac pro (old silver ones) off ebay You can easily get away with one for 500 and have it be an awesome print computer.

 

[Gerhard Westphalen]

I recommend using using Cubase-Cubase. The sync with Pro Tools is awful. Perfect Cubase-Cubase. You can run the 2 DAW's on a single machine. That's what I do (sometimes even 3). If you use different versions of Cubase or Nuendo you can run it simultaneously. Don't know about Macs but on Windows you need to run a midi app I developed if you don't want to have to worry about the order that you start up the programs.

I strongly recommend using it only for layback. Not mixing. I believe that's what Junkie XL is currently doing. This way you don't need to monitor through it so all you have to do is batch export everything and then import it. Then you can have as many stems as you want. If you need to deliver a PT session then you can just build it at the end and copy what you had in the Cubase layback session.

 

[Dr Sabs]

Curious to know, why not just export the stems and import them into PT?

This is mostly just to take the extra step of exporting, naming, importing, and then syncing into pro tools. Its more about saving brain power effort than actually time since it doesnt take super long to do all that.

Now I use Cubase to Cubase and even with Dante Virtual Soundcard, you could get 64. I have the rednet so I get 128.

Does this allow Cubase to sync playback and timecode with Pro Tools? Or would I have to use something else to get Cubase Timecode to sync with PT?

I recommend using using Cubase-Cubase. The sync with Pro Tools is awful.

My whole goal is to be able to have Pro Tools host the video and be able to record stems in sync, and Cubase-Cubase won't help for sending the session to a score mixer or music editor.

 

[Gerhard Westphalen]

My whole goal is to be able to have Pro Tools host the video and be able to record stems in sync, and Cubase-Cubase won't help for sending the session to a score mixer or music editor.

That's why I suggested just building the PT session at the end. Even for a feature film with a couple dozen cues it wouldn't take long to do. For me, the Cubase PT sync is unusable. Nothing like just having the video in Cubase. I believe the virtual video slave program lets you import multiple channels of audio so you could even just use that.

This is mostly just to take the extra step of exporting, naming, importing, and then syncing into pro tools. Its more about saving brain power effort than actually time since it doesnt take super long to do all that.

If you have your tracks named properly and naming scheme set up then bouncing and importing will be quicker than recording. When I'm mixing scores and it's given to me as a single session, I export all stems for all cues with everything named with a single click. Often 100+ files all created with 1 click. If you're layback in Cubase then you can just drag it in and have it go to the right TC. If its PT then you just need to spot it. You could have it done in 1 minute instead of waiting for a 7 minute cue to record through.

 

[gsilbers]

there are some folks who run dante or sound flower or adat loopback into pro tools in the same computer.

you do the sync via the macs internal midi.

here for logic but same applies to any app

 

[Gerhard Westphalen]

If you need a high count between 2 DAWs (not including PT HD since it needs the hardware) and don't want to deal with the software solutions which often aren't stable, you should get an RME MADIface XT.

196 channels between the 2 programs by using the loopback feature.

I don't think it's worth it since you can just batch export but for those who do want to monitor through/print...

 

[gsilbers]

If you need a high count between 2 DAWs (not including PT HD since it needs the hardware) and don't want to deal with the software solutions which often aren't stable, you should get an RME MADIface XT.

196 channels between the 2 programs by using the loopback feature.

I don't think it's worth it since you can just batch export but for those who do want to monitor through/print...

yes the remote control setup w the pro tools recorder/video playback setup. normally on another computer.

i tried all this and it was more of a hassle than a help. if i had to score a tv series i could see the advatages.

or if there was a huge investment i could do the HGW setup of going out the main daw into a pro tools hd that has a mix template on it and then into another mac that is the stem recorder.

then i would need 2-3 assistants.

but i have seen several yt videos where the guys is in logic and does the soundflower or dante thing and was able to have both programs synced and getting audio from one to another. which is cool if you want to do a fast transition but as you said, exporting in cubase and then loading it in pro tools is about the same at the end. specially with cubase stem export feature which is one of the best imo. im in logic and thats the only reason i would thikn of switching.