Unauthorized use of copyrighted software like Cubase is illegal and can lead to civil or criminal liability. Steinberg explicitly reserves the right to disable any license found to be fraudulently obtained. Functional Instability: Cracked versions are notoriously and lack the critical updates provided by Steinberg Support

Students and teachers can often purchase the Academic Version at a significantly reduced price while still receiving the full "Pro" feature set.

: Students, educators, and sometimes hobbyists can get discounted versions of professional software, including Cubase. Check Steinberg's website for eligibility.