Cubase
Cubase is a digital audio workstation software for music production, arranging, recording and mixing. It allows you to record and edit audio and MIDI data, integrate virtual instruments and effects plugins, while providing features for composition, sound design and surround mixin
Cubase: Music Production Software
A digital audio workstation software for music production, arranging, recording and mixing, allowing you to record, edit, integrate virtual instruments and effects plugins.
What is Cubase?
Cubase is a complete digital audio workstation (DAW) software solution for music production, arranging, recording, editing and mixing. Originally created by German musical software and equipment company Steinberg, Cubase is now a core product line of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
With its fully integrated environment and advanced set of virtual instruments, effects and thousands of sounds, Cubase provides composers, producers, recording engineers and mixing engineers everything needed for music production, film scoring and creating electronic music. It features unlimited audio and MIDI tracks, customizable user interface, advanced MIDI editing and scoring tools, integrated VST instruments and effects, automation, editing features like time stretch, pitch shift, hitpoint detection etc.
Some key features and highlights of Cubase include:
- Huge collection of virtual instruments, loop libraries, effects plugins for every purpose
- Advanced audio editing tools like audio warp, pitch edit, hitpoint detection
- Industry leading automation system
- Extensive MIDI sequencing capabilities
- Full-featured digital mixing desk with EQs, dynamics, sends/returns etc.
- Score editor for writing and printing sheet music
- Support for surround sound formats, Atmos and VR audio
- Tight integration with Yamaha digital mixing consoles
- Scalable collaboration features for co-creating music online
With its cutting-edge tools, stellar sound quality and smooth workflow, Cubase enables musicians, producers and engineers to translate their musical ideas from conception to finished, professional-sounding recordings. It is an essential production tool used in top studios worldwide.
Cubase Features
Features
- Advanced audio editing and manipulation
- Virtual instruments and effects plugins
- MIDI recording, editing, and automation
- Mixing, routing, and channel strip functionality
- Score editing and notation tools
- Surround sound mixing
- VST3 support
Pricing
- One-time Purchase
- Subscription-Based
Pros
Powerful and intuitive workflow
Excellent MIDI and audio capabilities
Robust mixing and automation features
Great built-in effects and virtual instruments
Seamless integration with 3rd party plugins
Reliable performance
Cons
Fairly expensive
Steep learning curve
Requires significant system resources
Limited collaboration features compared to competitors
Reviews & Ratings
Login to Review4.1
★
★
★
★
★
13 reviews
Rating Breakdown
Ease of Use
★
★
★
★
★
3.0
Features
★
★
★
★
★
5.0
Value for Money
★
★
★
★
★
3.8
Customer Support
★
★
★
★
★
3.9
Overall Experience
★
★
★
★
★
4.5
Recent Reviews
Anna King
Apr 10, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A Powerhouse DAW That's Become My Creative Home
After years of using various DAWs, I've fully settled on Cubase. The workflow for composing and arranging with MIDI is incredibly intuitive, and the built-in virtual instruments and effects are top-notch. For complex projects, its editing and mixing capabilities are …
E
Emma Taylor
Apr 07, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A powerhouse with a steep learning curve
Cubase is incredibly deep and capable, with fantastic built-in plugins and a rock-solid audio engine that makes professional results possible. However, the sheer number of windows and menus can be overwhelming, making simple tasks feel needlessly complex at first. The …
Morgan Thomas
Apr 03, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A Professional's Swiss Army Knife for Music Creation
As a composer for film and game projects, Cubase has become my central creative hub for over five years. Its MIDI editing capabilities are second to none, especially the Logical Editor and Key Editor, which make orchestrating large templates intuitive. …
Skyler Hall
Mar 31, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A True Powerhouse for Serious Music Production
After using Cubase professionally for over two years, I'm consistently impressed by its depth and stability. The MIDI editing is second to none, and the integration with my hardware and third-party plugins has been seamless. While it has a learning …
Casey Thomas
Mar 30, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A Powerhouse for Serious Music Production
After using Cubase professionally for three years, I'm consistently impressed by its deep feature set and rock-solid stability. The MIDI editing is arguably the best in the business, and the integration with hardware controllers and VST plugins is seamless. While …
Rating Distribution
The Best Cubase Alternatives
View all Cubase alternatives with detailed comparison →
Top Audio & Music and Digital Audio Workstations and other similar apps like Cubase
Here are some alternatives to Cubase:
Suggest an alternative ❐
FL Studio
FL Studio, formerly known as FruityLoops, is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by the Belgian company Image-Line. It is one of the most popular DAWs used by music producers, DJs, and artists to create, record, arrange, and mix professional quality music.Some key features of FL Studio include:Powerful mixing console...
Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a digital audio workstation (DAW) software that allows users to create, produce, and perform electronic music. First released in 2001, Live has become one of the most popular DAWs for electronic musicians due to its user-friendly interface and innovative features.Unlike traditional DAWs that use a linear, timeline-based...
LMMS
LMMS (Linux MultiMedia Studio) is a free, open source digital audio workstation (DAW) application that runs on Linux, Mac, and Windows. It allows you to produce music and other sounds using virtual instruments, audio samples, and effects plugins.Some key features of LMMS include:User-friendly graphical interface for easy music creationSupport for...
Reason
Reason is a digital audio workstation (DAW) and music sequencing software developed by Propellerhead Software. It allows users to create, edit, and produce music and audio using virtual rack gear, instruments, and effects.Some key features of Reason include:An intuitive and easy-to-use interface designed to resemble a rack of hardware synths,...
Bandlab
Bandlab is a full-featured, free online digital audio workstation (DAW) that provides tools for musicians and podcasters to record, edit and collaborate on music and audio projects. It runs directly in a web browser so there is no software to install.Some key features of Bandlab include:Multi-track recorder for capturing vocals,...
Reaper
Reaper is a complete digital audio production application for Windows, macOS and Linux. It provides an extensive set of features for recording, editing and mixing audio and MIDI projects.Some key features of Reaper include:Flexible track routing with multi-channel supportA wide range of included effects and virtual instrumentsSupport for VST, AU...
GarageBand
GarageBand is a digital audio workstation and music sequencer app developed by Apple. First released in 2004, GarageBand aims to be an accessible and user-friendly music production software for amateurs and novice music creators. It comes pre-installed on all new Mac computers and iOS devices.A key feature of GarageBand is...
Logic Pro
Logic Pro is a professional digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application developed by Apple Inc. Originally created by German software developer C-Lab in the early 1990s as Notator Logic, Apple acquired the software in 2002 and transformed it into Logic Pro. Since then, Logic Pro has become one...
Soundtrap
Soundtrap is an online digital audio workstation designed to make music production accessible for all skill levels. As a cloud-based platform, Soundtrap allows users to create, record, edit, and collaborate on songs and podcasts from any device with an internet connection.Some key features of Soundtrap include:Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for fast...
Caustic
Caustic is a professional music creation app for mobile devices like Android and iOS. Developed by Single Cell Software, Caustic enables users to create full-fledged electronic music songs using a variety of built-in synthesizers, samplers, effects and sequencers. It covers the main areas of music production like:Synthesizers including substractive, FM,...
Walk Band
Walk Band is a full-featured music creation app for Android and iOS devices. It provides a suite of virtual music instruments such as guitar, piano, drums, bass, and more that users can play using their touchscreen. The sounds are realistic and respond to touch pressure and speed.Users can combine these...
Studio One
Studio One is a popular, full-featured digital audio workstation (DAW) software application designed for music production and recording. Initially released by PreSonus in 2009, Studio One has gained significant traction in the music production industry thanks to its intuitive interface, powerful tools, and professional-grade audio engine.Some key features and benefits...
Ardour
Ardour is an open source digital audio workstation (DAW) application designed for audio recording, editing, and mixing. It is a powerful yet flexible platform that runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.Some key features of Ardour include:Unlimited audio and MIDI tracksExtensive mixing capabilities with an unlimited number of mix busesNon-linear, non-destructive...
G-Stomper Studio
G-Stomper Studio is a comprehensive digital audio workstation and music production software for Android. It is designed to provide mobile music creators, producers, and performers with a flexible environment to compose, record, edit, and export musical ideas or full songs.Some key features of G-Stomper Studio include:Multi-track audio recording and editingA...
Bitwig Studio
Bitwig Studio is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by Bitwig GmbH in Berlin, Germany. First released in 2014, Bitwig Studio competes directly with other major DAWs like Ableton Live, FL Studio, Logic Pro, and Cubase.Some key features of Bitwig Studio include:Flexible workflow for music production, sound design, performance and...
FamiStudio
FamiStudio is a feature-rich, cross-platform chiptune tracker for composing music for the NES/Famicom audio processor. As an open-source DAW tailored for writing authentic 8-bit music, FamiStudio aims to strike a balance between usability and accuracy to the hardware's capabilities.Key features include:Emulation of the Ricoh 2A03 sound chip found in the...
Auria
Auria is a full-featured digital audio workstation (DAW) designed specifically for iPad. Developed by WaveMachine Labs, Auria provides professional-grade audio recording, editing, and production capabilities on iOS.Some key features of Auria include:Up to 24-track audio recording with 32-bit floating point resolutionPowerful non-linear audio editing tools like crossfades, fades, volume and...
Frinika
Frinika is an open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) software designed for music production. It provides tools for MIDI sequencing and arranging, software synthesis and sampling, audio recording and editing, effect processing, mixing, automation, and more.Some key features of Frinika include:Full-featured piano roll MIDI sequencer for writing and editing musicSupport for...
Sequencer64
Sequencer64 is an open-source digital audio workstation application designed for creating and editing multi-track musical scores using MIDI. It runs on Linux platforms and is released under the GPL license.Some key features of Sequencer64 include:Unlimited MIDI tracks and effects per song projectPiano-roll editor for graphical editing of MIDI note dataSupport...
N-Track Studio
n-Track Studio is a full-featured digital audio workstation (DAW) and MIDI sequencer software for Windows. Developed by Ntone, n-Track Studio provides an intuitive interface and powerful tools for music production.With n-Track Studio, you can record, edit, and mix audio and MIDI. It supports VST instruments and effects, allowing you to...
Soundation Studio
Soundation Studio is a feature-rich online digital audio workstation (DAW) that provides tools for audio recording, MIDI sequencing, arranging, editing, and mixing completely in the browser. It allows users to produce professional-sounding music without needing to install any software or purchase expensive equipment.Some key features of Soundation Studio include:Intuitive drag-and-drop...
Zquence Studio
Zquence Studio is a full-featured digital audio workstation (DAW) and MIDI sequencer application for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Developed by Tracktion Software Corporation, Zquence provides professional tools for music production, audio recording, MIDI sequencing, and live performance.At the core of Zquence is an intuitive and flexible single-window interface...
MidSequer
MidSequer is a free, open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) and MIDI sequencer software for Windows, macOS and Linux. It provides tools for audio recording, MIDI recording, virtual instrument support, audio/MIDI editing, mixing, effects processing and more. Some key features of MidSequer include:Unlimited audio and MIDI tracksSupport for VST plugins, virtual...
MuLab
MuLab is a full-featured digital audio workstation (DAW) that provides tools for creating and manipulating audio and MIDI. It has an intuitive, single-window interface that allows you to easily record, edit, arrange and mix audio, MIDI, and virtual instruments.Key features of MuLab include:Unlimited audio and MIDI tracksPowerful editing tools like...
TrakAx
trakAx is a cloud-based project and work management solution designed for agile teams. It provides a suite of tools to help plan, organize, track, and manage projects and tasks in one flexible platform.Key features of trakAx include:Interactive Gantt charts to visualize project schedules and timelinesCustomizable kanban boards to map out...
Bosca Ceoil
Bosca Ceoil is a free digital audio workstation (DAW) designed specifically for easy video game music and sound effect creation. It features a simple and intuitive interface that allows users to quickly compose melodies and harmonies by sequencing musical notes on a timeline.With Bosca Ceoil, users can create multiple instrument...
AudioTool
AudioTool is a versatile digital audio workstation (DAW) and audio editor software for Windows and Mac. It provides a complete set of tools for recording, editing, mixing, and mastering audio. Some key features of AudioTool include:Multi-track audio recording and editingHundreds of professional audio effects like reverb, equalizer, compressor, etc.Audio restoration...
HIP HOP BEAT MAKER
A hip hop beat maker software is designed specifically to help producers, songwriters, and musicians craft high-quality hip hop instrumentals and beats. At its core, it is a digital audio workstation (DAW) with features tailored for hip hop music creation including:Huge library of original hip hop drum samples and loops...
Rosegarden
Rosegarden is a feature-rich open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) and music notation program. It provides tools for audio and MIDI sequencing, including a multi-track sequencer interface, virtual instruments, and audio effects processing. Rosegarden allows users to compose, record, edit, and mix musical scores and arrangements.Key features include:- Music notation editing...
Looplabs
Looplabs is an online digital audio workstation (DAW) designed for music collaboration. It allows musicians to record, edit, and share songs together in real time from any location. Some key features of Looplabs include:Cloud-based platform accessible from any device with an internet connectionUnlimited cloud storage for audio files and projectsMulti-track...
RD4 Groovebox
RD4 Groovebox is a versatile digital music creation software specialized for electronic beatmaking, groove sequencing, and live performance. At its core, it functions as an advanced drum machine and sequencer featuring a library of quality drum and percussion samples spanning acoustic kits, electronic drums, and exotic instruments.Users can intuitively build...
LNX Studio
LNX Studio is a free and open source digital audio workstation software for Windows, Mac and Linux. It provides an integrated solution for audio production tasks including multitrack audio recording, effects processing, audio editing, MIDI sequencing and more.As an open source DAW, LNX Studio places no restrictions on its use...
Open Octave
Open Octave is a free, open-source alternative to MATLAB software. It provides a high-level programming language and advanced mathematical computing environment for numerical computations, data analysis, machine learning, and image processing.Some key features of Open Octave include:Supports matrix operations, plotting of functions and data, implementation of algorithms, creation of user...
Stagelight
Stagelight is a comprehensive digital audio workstation (DAW) application for Windows and Mac that allows users to create, record, edit and share their own music. Developed by Open Labs, Stagelight provides an easy-to-use interface and powerful features to cater to both beginner and advanced music producers.Some key features of Stagelight...
SkyTracks.io
SkyTracks.io is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform designed specifically for airline operations management and optimization. It provides a comprehensive suite of capabilities to help airlines plan, execute, and monitor their flight operations more efficiently.Key features of SkyTracks.io include:Advanced flight planning - Optimize flight routes and fuel planning while taking into account...
MultitrackStudio
MultitrackStudio is a full-featured digital audio workstation (DAW) software for Windows. It provides a complete set of tools for recording, editing, mixing and mastering audio and MIDI.Key features include:Unlimited audio and MIDI tracksPlug-in support for VST instruments and effectsLow-latency ASIO and WASAPI driversAdvanced mixing tools like parametric EQ, dynamics, panning,...
Waveform
Waveform is a feature-rich digital audio workstation and music production software suitable for music creators ranging from hobbyists to professionals. Its user interface is intuitive and focused on workflow efficiency, allowing users to quickly record, edit, and mix audio and MIDI tracks.Some key features of Waveform include:Unlimited audio and MIDI...
UJAM
UJAM is an innovative music software that utilizes advanced AI and deep learning to generate realistic-sounding virtual musicians that can play a wide variety of musical instruments and styles. It's designed specifically for songwriters, music producers, and other creative professionals to easily add professional-sounding musical accompaniment to their songs or...
Seq24
Seq24 is a feature-rich open-source MIDI sequencer available for Linux, Windows and macOS. It provides an intuitive graphical interface for composing, editing, and managing MIDI data. Some of the key features of Seq24 include:Piano-roll editor for editing MIDI notes and controllers.Support for unlimited tracks and patterns.Real-time recording and playback.Step sequencer...
Ohm Studio
Ohm Studio is a free, open-source digital audio workstation software used for music recording, editing and production. It is available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.Some key features of Ohm Studio:Flexible routing system to easily manage signal flowsSupports VST plugins for adding effects and virtual instrumentsMulti-track audio recording at...
Music Maker Studio
Music Maker Studio is a user-friendly digital audio workstation (DAW) designed for music production on Windows computers. Developed by Magix Software GmbH, Music Maker aims to provide an accessible music creation platform for hobbyists and home studio producers.Key features of Music Maker Studio include:Intuitive drag-and-drop workflow to arrange audio clips...
Ashampoo Music Studio
Ashampoo Music Studio is a comprehensive digital audio workstation (DAW) software designed for both beginner and advanced music production. It allows users to record, edit, mix, master, and produce music tracks on a Windows PC.The user interface of Ashampoo Music Studio is easy to use and understand, even for novice...
Traverso DAW
Traverso DAW is an open-source digital audio workstation application for Linux, MacOS and Windows. It is designed to be an easy-to-use yet powerful multitrack audio recording and editing software for musicians, podcasters, audio engineers and anyone who needs to work with audio.Some of the key features of Traverso DAW include:Non-linear,...
Luppp
Luppp is an open-source digital audio workstation (DAW) software designed for music production and audio editing. It provides a complete set of tools for recording, editing, mixing and mastering audio and MIDI.Some of the key features of Luppp include:Unlimited audio and MIDI tracksSupport for VST pluginsAdvanced mixing capabilities with effects...
Sony Cinescore
Sony Cinescore is a comprehensive digital audio workstation and music composition software specifically designed for professional film, TV, video game, and trailer composers and sound designers. It offers a wide range of advanced tools for creating custom musical scores, sound effects, foley, and music editing.Key features include:Over 5GB of high-quality...
LinuxSampler
LinuxSampler is an open source software sampler application for Linux. It enables high quality audio sampling functionality on the Linux platform. Some key features of LinuxSampler include:Supports loading and playback of common sample formats like SoundFonts and GigaSamplesLow latency for realtime sampling applicationsDisk streaming of large sample libraries with low...
SoundBridge
SoundBridge is a home audio system developed by Roku prior to their popular streaming players and smart TV software. It was designed to let users easily stream digital music from their computer or mobile device wirelessly throughout their home.Some key features of SoundBridge include:Ability to stream music over a home...
Amped Studio
Amped Studio is a full-featured digital audio workstation (DAW) and music production software solution developed by Amped Software. It runs on Windows and macOS platforms.Some of the key features and capabilities of Amped Studio include:Non-destructive audio editing - Make changes to audio clips without altering the original file thanks to...
Renoise
Renoise is a digital audio workstation (DAW) and music production software developed by Renoise Team. It features a tracker-based music sequencer that uses a vertical timeline interface, allowing fast and flexible music creation and editing.Unlike traditional DAWs that record music performance in real-time, Renoise sequences music using rows of note...
KOMPLETE
KOMPLETE by Native Instruments is a comprehensive production suite that provides a variety of virtual instruments, effects, and sound libraries for all genres of music. It is one of the most complete bundles for music creators, offering over 450GB of high-quality sounds and presets.At its core, KOMPLETE comes packed with...
Zrythm
Zrythm is an open-source, cross-platform digital audio workstation (DAW) designed for music production. It is developed by a dedicated community of contributors and aims to provide a fully-featured DAW that is free to use.Some key features of Zrythm include:Unlimited audio and MIDI tracksSupport for VST, LV2, LADSPA, DSSI, and other...
EasyBand Studio
EasyBand Studio is a streamlined digital audio workstation (DAW) application designed to make music production accessible for beginners, yet powerful enough for advanced users. Its intuitive interface allows you to easily record, compose and edit your musical ideas without getting lost in complexity.Key features of EasyBand Studio include:Multi-track recording up...
PixiTracker
PixiTracker is an open-source web analytics platform that aims to provide website owners with basic traffic analytics while preserving visitor privacy. It was created as an alternative to more complex commercial platforms like Google Analytics that collect large amounts of user data.As an open-source tool, PixiTracker places a strong emphasis...
Music Creator 6 Touch
Music Creator 6 Touch is a full-featured digital audio workstation (DAW) application for Windows designed for music production, recording, editing, and mixing. Developed by Magix Software GmbH, Music Creator 6 Touch provides a touch-optimized interface and tools for songwriters, composers, producers, and mixing engineers to compose, arrange, record, edit, and...
