I own Studio One Artist 2 and Cubase 6.5 and Wave Lab 5. I am ready to upgrade either but am trying to decide between Studio One Pro and Cubase 7.5 plus adding Wave Lab 8.5 when it is release. The Studio One Pro all in one solution seems very inviting especially with the positive reviews and price point. Cubase and Wave lab upgrades are more expensive but are they a better solution than Studio One Pro?

1. You have to decide which DAW you like working in the best first.
2. Im using StudioOnePro for all my Mastering here now. I havent had the need for WaveLab here BTW. I also have and use Cubase 7.5.20
3. The integration in S1Pro with the mastering functions is tight. No need to open a mix, tweak, re- bounce down, re- import into your Mastering app. S1 handles it with ease, tweak the mix, open the mastering room and update. Bypasses all that crap, VERY nice.
4. Cubase with WaveLab is a great combo but as you said, keeping them updated with Steinberg is more expensive for sure.
5. Download the S1Pro demo and try out the Project( Mastering) Page for yourself.

*Im StudioOnePro and Cubase 7.5 here now. One will win the battle sooner or later. I do like WaveLab but the UI needs to be updated IMO. Ideally Id just get WaveLab here and have all three

Well I own a Presonus 24.4.2 desk which I use in my studio and actually it isn't a bad little work horse for the money. I love the integrated workflow with Studio One and Capture. I have had Cubase for over 10 years and to be honest if I didn't have it probably would just stay with Studio One. I just was concerned that I may be missing out on features that only Cubase and Wave Lab offers. Again the updates are expensive and I am leaning towards just using Studio One if they are on the level of Steinberg.

Wavelab is a great piece of software, but I'd look closely at the different versions and see what you really need.
I own v6, 7 and 8 myself, but still v6 is what I'm using 95% of the time.
Not being a WL power user, v6 gets the job done nicely for me and imho has the better UI concept by far.
My main WL use is batch processing, go figure.
Likewise, basic mastering can be done in any host just fine, maybe adding one or two dedicated mastering plugins would be an alternative ?
ymmv, certainly,
Rhino

What about Cubase 7.5 and Wavelab Elements 8?
I really think this is a great combo - with a fair price.

And even better and more powerful than Studio One with it´s mastering feature.
IMHO.

I will look at this as well. Knowing me I probably will get both! Yeah, I know I am nuts.

WaveLab Elements is missing DDP support so its not on par format wise with S1Pro. Its shy in a lot of areas IMO http://www.steinberg.net/en/products...b/line_up.html

But...
DDP doesn't need anybody (!)
- most users simply want to create only own audio CD´s (!)

S1´s mastering features are very unassuming and overrated. (IHMO)
Mastering in Wavelab (Elements too) is still unbeaten.

Nah. The problem is one of context, people viewing anything having to do with "mastering" as if everyone using those things is a professional mastering engineer. Most people just want an easy way to assemble and finalize their music, and it does that.

If you're actually making a record you probably shouldn't be "mastering" your own music anyway.

I agree, Lawrence, I (quite) agree!

and exact the same people don´t need: DDP (!)

True. I seriously doubt if most Wavelab Elements users would be sending off DDP's to the pressing plant.

Mix your songs, balance the apparent levels across all the songs and arrange them in some kind of musically logical or sensible album order and upload them to Soundcloud or Bandcamp or whatever.

And oh, don't forget to slam it to DR 2 (a.k.a. "ear bleed") with a limiter.

yes, that´s correct.

And don´t forget the Limiter´s preset "Maximum fat´n perfect radio-friendly in 3 secs" (tip!)

So says you. I want DDP and to get that I have to buy the full blown WaveLab which is $499. DDP is included in S1. Not to mention I want way more insert slots. To each his own

My opinion: Mastering is not to heal a broken mix!

People who require many inserts in the mastering process did something wrong during the mix session...

So a few inserts are sufficiently.




.

I have no issues with Cubase other than the cost and it doesn't interface with my mixer.

I agree with your opinion about not using Mastering to heal a broken mix.
As far as inserts, depends on the Mastering Engineer. Carry on, Im out