Hi Jack,
You are certainly encouraged to use any DAW software you wish... what will vary is the capabilities. But the decision as to which software to use will be based on exactly what you need to accomplish.

Strategy.
A good strategy for posting here would be if you’ve resolved to overcome the issues you are having with using Cubase. After all, most DAWs all work in similar fashion; you likely will have the same issues in whatever software DAW you choose.

A poor strategy for posting here would be hoping someone reads your post, actually knows the DAW you mention, and then is willing to translate to you how to go about setting that up.

I don’t recall seeing unresolved queries from you. What is giving you the most problems?
I recall you asked about recording Performances. This to me, showed you’re still not clear about the Modes and their significance in the hierarchy of MOXF working.

There are two “play” modes: Voice and Performance (made to play)
There are two “Sequencer” modes: Song and Pattern (made to record)

Not completely understanding (or misinterpreting) the role of these modes will cause similar problems no matter what DAW software you use... because the issue is with understanding the synthesizer. For example, a VOICE is the ultimate playable entity. A PERFORMANCE is a combination of Voices, one Voice each placed in an enitity called “Part”. In a Performance you are not playing a Voice directly, you address it through this set of Part parameters.

Say you like the Piano VOICE “Full Concert Grand”.
If you want to combine it in a split with Bass VOICE “Velo Growl”, you would place each VOICE in the same Performance. But instead of allowing each to cover the entire range of keys (as they do when individually recalled as Voices) as Parts, you can set a Note Limit Range that allows all Notes above a certain Key to be Piano, and all others to be Bass. This parameter does NOT destructively cut the Piano in half... it (Part parameters) are simply a set of “offset setting” applied to the original data.

This means, when I set the split point to Middle “C” (C3), I only affect *this* particular instance of using Full Concert Grand... so in other Performances it will still be able to sound across all the keys. Part parameters allow you to non-destructively use instruments like Full Concert Grand and Program it differently in each instance.

So a Performance, is not the actual data... it is a set of offsets applied nondestructively to that actual data. As you can see, this is all about playing multiple sounds together.

In our other reply to you... you copied the ‘offset’ settings of the Performance you selected and you used that as a setup Template for the Song or Pattern Mode.

the setups in the Sequencer Mode are individual slots for Parts, each Part is individually addressable because, unlike in a Performance, here each Part is on a separate MIDI channel. Huge difference. They all can play at once because the Sequencer can transmit on 16 MIDI Channels at once. But from your Keys, you can only transmit on one channel at a time.

Whether you are in VOICE mode, PERFORMANCE mode, SONG/PATTERN mode, the keyboard only Transmits on one MIDI channel at a time. Period. Think about that and how each mode works. This does not change. And will be the same challenge in each software that you attempt to setup. Trust me.

Take your time. And as far as “intuitive” - while this is mainly my own opinion on the subject... very few things in life are truly intuitive, I’m sure we are talking degrees of ease of use. Most questions concerning ease of use are answered by familiarity. Once familiar with terms, and screens, and operation and navigation... ease of use “happens”

We reward things with the golden title “intuitive” if when left with only one choice and you click it, everything falls into place “just like I thought it would”. But in reality, most things are intuitive only after working with them... it’s the smart-phone/tablet syndrome you must be careful of:

I’ve seen people announce (simply because they know how to navigate a hand held device) that they can work a piece of software, when in fact, they cannot. Empowered by being able to get around the application, they equate that with knowing how to operate the software, but not so fast... navigation does mean you can operate the program. But my point being they feel empowered because one of the main hurdles to *understanding* has been removed.

Whatever DAW you pick, you will be doing the same basic things, dealing with the same basic issues. We provide Cubase because not only does it have the best audio engine but it is both Windows and Mac capable, it does MIDI, it does Audio, and is a great FREE introduction into the bigger world of computer based recording. Use it to learn the basic concepts. Discover how YOU will want to use it. There I no one way to use it. Some will simply record themselves playing and play it back. Others will construct elaborate recording studios based around tons of hardware and software Synthesizers... all with the same program.

If you desire to Record just yourself, or your entire band, the same Cubase AI can function. You need to get out of it what you need to... no one needs everything it can do, you simply must define and carve out your niche.

I appreciate your timely and considered response to my request for compatible DAW information. It is true that much of my difficulty is being unfamiliar with both the moxf and Cubase. I have been using Mixcraft for several years, and feel comfortable with it despite its limits. I turn 75 in a few days, and my capacity for absorbing new information is not as great as it once was. However, I take your point in persevering into this new endeavor. Your prior suggestions have been helpful. However, I just continue to encounter new difficulties as I resolve the old ones. My latest is how to apply effects to single channels and to the overall mix itself. This seemed so much more straight-forward in Mixcraft. However, I intend to continue to plug away at learning Cubase. I see that it has great potential even with my limited pursuits which is primarily hobby-like midi recordings. Thanks again for your careful consideration of my plight.