Whilst it isn’t really the kind of massive leap forward that users might have been wanting, it is, nevertheless, a solid update with new features that users have wanted for a while. What I’m more interested in is the potential future. You may have noticed that Steinberg have recently purchased mobile music app developer Xewton as a way of accelerating the future of Cubasis. This in itself is an interesting move. To date we haven’t seen a lot of consolidation movement in the mobile market, but there’s no reason that it couldn’t happen here.

Here’s the official word from Steinberg on the purchase:

We’re pleased to inform you about the acquisition of the intellectual property of Austria-based app company Xewton. By taking advantage of these assets we will now be able to quickly move forward with Cubasis and, as Captain Kirk would say, “boldly go where no man has gone before” or should news-style lingo prevail, strengthen its already proven foundation while ensuring the competitiveness in a fast-paced industry.

Lars Slowak, team lead & product planning manager commented: “Acquiring Xewton’s IP marks a significant technological step forward for Steinberg’s app development team. This will give Cubasis a boost, and who knows what else may come of it.”

And here’s the slightly less interesting details of the 2.5 update:

Native Resolution Support for iPad Pro 10.5″ and 12.9″:
Enjoy razor-sharp graphics and text, paired with a dramatic increase in the number of visible tracks within the arranger and mixer, substantial workflow improvements and much more!

Freely assignable effect slots:
Use the pre-loaded award-winning channel strip and StudioEQ effects, or simply tap to replace them with other effects of your choice. And give your sound a good polish, utilizing the five assignable insert plug-ins per track.

MediaBay multiple file import*:
Cubasis provides excellent and unmatched usability, helping you to capture your inspirations right there on the go. To speed up your workflow even more, Cubasis 2.5 allows to import multiple files at once, thanks to its revised Files import feature available in the MediaBay.

Maintenance and improvements:
Cubasis for iPad sets standards when it comes to recording, editing, mixing, and publishing your music. Cubasis 2.5 includes several user-requested improvements to provide best possible performance paired with utmost stability. For the complete list of improvements, issues, and solutions, please visit www.steinberg.net/cubasisforum.

*MediaBay multiple file import requires iOS 11.

Cubasis is currently on sale and half price at $24.99