If my NLE software is Avid, do I automatically go with Pro Tools or do I need to consider Nuendo? I'm not buying anything right now but just wondering what the advantages/disadvantages of each software. I believed that Nuendo does not require or have hardware that I need to buy. It seems to me that it uses whatever sound card or hardware I have. On the Pro Tools side, it seems to me that have a lot of packages or choices to choose from. Right now the price of Nuendo 4 is about $2,500. If I want to do HD suround sound, do I need one of those expensive options from Pro Tools that requires a hardware purchase? Any comment is appreciated.
Steinberg Nuendo 4 vs. Avid ProTools
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Brad S.
Well-known member
Well I can't really comment on Nuendo. If you want to do Surround Sound in Pro Tools you'll need an interface with at least 6 outputs, such as the MBox 2 Pro, and the new Complete Production Toolkit, which retails for about $2000. If you're totally cash strapped, you can use Neyrinck's Mix 51, which uses a workaround to get surround sound from Pro Tools LE. You'll also need DigiTranslator 2 to exchange AAFs, between the Avid and PT. That comes with CPTK and DV Toolkit 2.
On the other hand if you get Nuendo I believe you just need an interface with enough outputs for 5.1 and your ready to go. However, I know that there use to be a bunch of problems exchanging OMFS between PT and Nuendo. I'm not sure if that is still the case, but I would imagine there would be similar problems between Nuendo and an Avid, though Avid uses AAFs.
So to sum up the cost analysis, I guess Nuendo costs $2500, but you'll probably need a sound card so you can add that to the price. I know Sweetwater sells the 003 Rack Complete which gives you the hardware, software, and CPTK so you'd be ready to go with surround sound. Pro Tools also has the benefit of being the industry standard and you're sessions are interchangeable with practically every studio on the planet. Still, a lot of people swear by Nuendo.
On the other hand if you get Nuendo I believe you just need an interface with enough outputs for 5.1 and your ready to go. However, I know that there use to be a bunch of problems exchanging OMFS between PT and Nuendo. I'm not sure if that is still the case, but I would imagine there would be similar problems between Nuendo and an Avid, though Avid uses AAFs.
So to sum up the cost analysis, I guess Nuendo costs $2500, but you'll probably need a sound card so you can add that to the price. I know Sweetwater sells the 003 Rack Complete which gives you the hardware, software, and CPTK so you'd be ready to go with surround sound. Pro Tools also has the benefit of being the industry standard and you're sessions are interchangeable with practically every studio on the planet. Still, a lot of people swear by Nuendo.
Rippie
Veteran
i used to run nuendo for years in a studio i co owned.
Used it for music production. I loved it. Very very powerful.
I have since about a year ago switched over to protools because if you have
any need to import from video files, omf's..etc
Nuendo cant do it correctly at all.
So you're kinda stuck.
Its sad because the actual "power" of protools makes me feel like i stepped back
10 years compared to nuendo.
Used it for music production. I loved it. Very very powerful.
I have since about a year ago switched over to protools because if you have
any need to import from video files, omf's..etc
Nuendo cant do it correctly at all.
So you're kinda stuck.
Its sad because the actual "power" of protools makes me feel like i stepped back
10 years compared to nuendo.
Richard J. Johnson
Joystick Member
I have been using protools since the late 90's but jumped to Nuendo and I like it sooooo much better. I only use it for music production and for that it is much easier to work with.
Many thanks for the input. From what I've seen and read, Pro Tools is the industry standard but to do what I needed to do (which is HD suround sound) I needed a whole bunch of hardware that cost thousands of dollars. With Nuendo, all I need is the software and a piece of good sound card and that's it. Most of my stuff don't need to be digitized. It's already in digital format so there is no need to buy an expensive hardware just to work with the software side of it. Pro Tool is the industry standard but only I have the money. On the other hand, Nuendo is not but it has all I needed.
Will someone how knows Nuendo and/or Pro Tools give me a list of features or advantages of each product? Or perhaps someone can point me to a review page of both product. If when I am committing to one product, I don't want to be left out a feature that I may need in the future.
Okay, so one thing Nuendo can't do is import OMF files into the software, correct? Any thing else?
Will someone how knows Nuendo and/or Pro Tools give me a list of features or advantages of each product? Or perhaps someone can point me to a review page of both product. If when I am committing to one product, I don't want to be left out a feature that I may need in the future.
Okay, so one thing Nuendo can't do is import OMF files into the software, correct? Any thing else?
saneproductions
Veteran
If you will need to take your project to a post house at some point for final mix, you would be better off doing it in pro tools.
Brad S.
Well-known member
No. Pro Tools is a hardware and software system. You can't use Pro Tools without using their hardware, except for the M-Audio series which you probably don't want. I will say that if you go the Pro Tools LE route then you can always install Nuendo later and use the Digi hardware as your interface.
If I were you, I would go to a dealer and see if you can try out both programs to see which you like better. Also I don't think you've mentioned what you will be using this for. Are you composing, doing dialog and FX editorial, mixing, all of the above? If you are going to be just composing you might want to look into Logic Pro, which is only $500 and gives you tons of great instruments and effects.
Alan H. Chang
Veteran
I can't specifically make out what you normally do. It's either video or audio. Since you mentioned that you're planning on using it for your feature film, I would suggest getting Protools. Down the line when you need to take it to a dub stage, mostlikely you'll see Protools in use. It'll be easier for you and the post team to work on the project because of compatibility. In order to do surround you'll need at least a Mbox 2 Pro to cover all the outputs required. Remember, your hardware interface is the dongle.
For Nuendo, you can use any audio interface as long as support is present from the manufacturer.
For Nuendo, you can use any audio interface as long as support is present from the manufacturer.
Noiz2
Sound Ninja
If you want to do surround on a feature film then you need to first go and find out what licenses you will need. Surround in a theatre is not free. The price of the Protools HD rig is not going to be a big deal when you have to plunk down $12,000 for a Dolby Digital license that you HAVE to mix on a Dolby certified stage at say $600/ hr (figure 1-2 weeks optimistically of 10hr days).
It's kind of grey is you can surround encode a DVD and sell it with out buying a license but you certainly cant say it's Dolby with out buying a license. In the big picture other things are going to cost a lot more than the DAW.
And if you are going to a stage,in the US, your probably shooting yourself in the foot to use anything but ProTools. Functionally either will work, but ProTools pretty much owns the post market and compatibility wise it is the way to go.
Noiz2
Sound Ninja
That would be correct. But if it's only DVD ? It may not be that expensive??? That is the part that I can't get Dolby to reply on, in a general way. If you want to go big screen it's cleaner.
But anyway you slice it if you want to put the Dolby logo on your project you need to pay.
But anyway you slice it if you want to put the Dolby logo on your project you need to pay.
My 2 cents.
Cubase/Nuendo is software only. Protools M-Powered/LE (both crash equally well) is also software only however only work with specific sound boards/firewire interfaces. Protools HD Accell 1, 2 or 3 are hardware assisted via TDM chips and multi out interface rackmounts (when correct does not crash as much).
If you're trying to mix 5.1 audio (as in pure wav output from music/fx/foley/dialogue) you'll need raw cpu power of the computer, high speed drives, money for audio plugins (more money than anything else).
You can use any 5.1 capable DAW to mix on, what will determine it ultimately is your workflow, comfort with the interface. Etc... You will also need to pay for speakers, 6 of them.
With that said, Protools is more like a digital tape recorder, with a clunky support for MIDI and virtual instruments (if you're doing music). But is really good for mixing.
Nuendo is more "musical" than mix oriented, as its a big brother of Cubase. So it has more support for virtual instruments and other plugins.
Nuendo's technology is based on VST plugins and other wrappers for VST. (Hugely popular technology with a vast amount of cheap plugins)
Protools is based on RTAS (Non hardware plug-ins) and TDM (hardware assisted plugins) - The software only plugins for RTAS are made by top shelf vendors only ($$), and they ask for even more money for TDM versions of their plugins. (e.g. $1600 for a single EQ).
Protools with TDM costs $20,000 to buy with out anything else.
If you're on a limited budget, I would look into other DAW solutions to your problem. Mind you, whatever you go with you're buying 6 speakers and an audio interface with 6 outputs as a _GIVEN_.
Check out Sonar if on PC and Logic/Soundtrack Pro if you're on Mac.
Cubase/Nuendo is software only. Protools M-Powered/LE (both crash equally well) is also software only however only work with specific sound boards/firewire interfaces. Protools HD Accell 1, 2 or 3 are hardware assisted via TDM chips and multi out interface rackmounts (when correct does not crash as much).
If you're trying to mix 5.1 audio (as in pure wav output from music/fx/foley/dialogue) you'll need raw cpu power of the computer, high speed drives, money for audio plugins (more money than anything else).
You can use any 5.1 capable DAW to mix on, what will determine it ultimately is your workflow, comfort with the interface. Etc... You will also need to pay for speakers, 6 of them.
With that said, Protools is more like a digital tape recorder, with a clunky support for MIDI and virtual instruments (if you're doing music). But is really good for mixing.
Nuendo is more "musical" than mix oriented, as its a big brother of Cubase. So it has more support for virtual instruments and other plugins.
Nuendo's technology is based on VST plugins and other wrappers for VST. (Hugely popular technology with a vast amount of cheap plugins)
Protools is based on RTAS (Non hardware plug-ins) and TDM (hardware assisted plugins) - The software only plugins for RTAS are made by top shelf vendors only ($$), and they ask for even more money for TDM versions of their plugins. (e.g. $1600 for a single EQ).
Protools with TDM costs $20,000 to buy with out anything else.
If you're on a limited budget, I would look into other DAW solutions to your problem. Mind you, whatever you go with you're buying 6 speakers and an audio interface with 6 outputs as a _GIVEN_.
Check out Sonar if on PC and Logic/Soundtrack Pro if you're on Mac.