Restart your PC. Launch Cubase 5 from the Start Menu. The first launch will take 30–60 seconds as it scans for VST plugins.

Even on a period-correct PC, you need to optimize. Here is how to get the lowest latency and highest performance from your Cubase 5 setup.

Insert Pitch Correct as an insert effect on a vocal track. Set the scale to "Major" and the speed to 50 ms. You get transparent, near-zero-latency tuning that holds up well against modern plugins.

Modern DAWs have loops browsers; Cubase 5 had MediaBay. Press F11 to open it. It automatically indexes your loops by tempo and key. This is far superior to dragging files from Windows Explorer.

If you must use Windows 10:

During installation, you will be prompted to install the eLicenser Control Center (eLCC) . DO NOT SKIP THIS. This software manages the license on your USB dongle.