While there have been a bunch of DAW apps and multitrack records around for iOS for a while now, none of large manufacturers of DAWs for computers have entered the iOS arena until now. First on stage are veterans Steinberg (who invented the VST standard) who have just released Cubasis – an iPad version of Cubase.
Cubasis is a feature-packed DAW with:
- Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks (depending on the device used)
- Over 70 virtual instrument sounds based on HALion Sonic
- Mixer with over 10 effect processors (insert and send effects)
- Over 300 MIDI and audio loops
- Virtual keyboard and virtual drum pads
- Sample Editor and Key Editor
- Export to Cubase, Dropbox, SoundCloud, AudioCopy & email
- Core Audio and Core MIDI compatible hardware supported
- Sequence other Core MIDI apps (MIDI recording only) and run Cubasis simultaneously via background audio
- Import audio from your iTunes music library or using iTunes filesharing, use AudioPaste or set up a Wi-Fi server in Cubasis
The most interesting feature I’d say is the ability to export the projects to the full Cubase version running on your computers. This makes Cubasis an excellent tool for musicians on the road making drafts of songs when travelling, that can later be finished in the regular studio environment.
At €45 it’s a pricey app, but that’s just compared to iOS apps. Getting a real DAW on your iPad (no iPhone version) for that price is really affordable.
Will I use it? Sadly, I don’t think so. The only reason is that I don’t use Cubase, I’m a Reaper fan. Creating complex projects on an iPad that I couldn’t import into my regular DAW would be a waste of time unfortunately. But if you’re a Cubase user and have an iPad, this is clearly the app for you!
