(Being almost entirely monolingual, I would've preferred a single paper copy of the comprehensive manual, but never mind.)Īll in all, the MI4 is - you guessed it - a four-in, four-out unit, with four analogue inputs, two analogue outputs, and co-axial S/PDIF and MIDI I/O. The MI4 is a solid, half-rack-sized unit with an attractive brushed-metal top and front, and comes jammed into the System 4's box along with a one-metre USB cable, installation CD, a 60-page hardware manual, and three separate copies of the 240-page Cubase Getting Started guide in English, French and German. Though early shipments were marked as Windows only, I'm informed that support for Mac OS X should be included in the same box by the time this review hits the shelves. This is the System 4, which comprises a pairing of the mid-range Cubase SL2 sequencing software and an all-new USB 1.1 audio interface called the MI4. Now they're looking more to the middle ground, with a package that compares readily with Digidesign's M Box/Pro Tools LE bundle. They've previously aimed at the cheap end of the market with their Cubasis VST Project Pack, and have worked hard at the not-so-cheap end to conjure up the aura of the 'system' by re-branding RME hardware for the Nuendo line. Another factor is the price: you might expect to get a bit more for your money with a bundle compared to equivalent products bought separately from different manufacturers. What's the attraction of buying a single 'system' to meet your computer recording needs? For one thing, it gives the combination of software and hardware an unmatched stamp of approval in terms of interoperability, which is always good for peace of mind. Steinberg's latest package bundles their Cubase SL2 sequencer with a four-in, four-out USB interface.

Buying your hardware and software from the same manufacturer is usually a good bet for hassle-free recording.

Cubase 4 usb dongle