+Old thread but I think what the OP is asking is, why does one have to export and and re-import anything? I’ve found the way Cubase handles stereo files rather puzzling myself. I’ve had to use Protools for mixing a lot of times because if I’m going to export and re-import, might as well do it with a DAW that’s set up to manipulate stereo file channels independently. Sometimes you want different plugins on the left channel than on the right. I really hope that this is something Steinberg addresses in the future as I want Cubase to really be the one in all DAW.