Digital audio workstation

Two 'Digital audio workstation' stories September 2011 - December 2012

Steinberg brings popular Cubase DAW to iOS with ‘Cubasis’ iPad app

Steinberg, makers of popular digital audio workstation Cubase and innovators of the VST format for virtual instruments and plug-ins, this week announced the release of a new iPad app. Not surprising to anyone familiar with Cubase on the desktop, the “Cubasis” iPad app at first glance appears to go well beyond the functionality of Apple’s Garageband. However, the app will also cost a little more at $49.99 on the App Store.

Features include unlimited tracks (48 voices: iPad 2, iPad mini, 64 voices: iPad 3, iPad 4), more than 70 virtual instrument sounds modeled after HALion Sonic, and the ability to “sequence other CoreMIDI apps (MIDI recording only) and run Cubasis simultaneously via background audio.”

You’ll also be able to export projects to Cubase and Cubase Artist 7/6.5. Screenshots and a full list of features are below:

Key features
• Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks (depends on the device used)
• Over 70 virtual instrument sounds based on HALion Sonic
• MixConsole with over 10 effect processors
• Over 300 MIDI and audio loops
• Virtual keyboard and virtual drum pads
• Sample Editor and Key Editor
• Export projects to Cubase, Dropbox, SoundCloud, AudioCopy and email
• Core Audio and Core MIDI compatible hardware supported
• Sequence other CoreMIDI apps (MIDI recording only) and run Cubasis simultaneously via background audio
• Audio import from iTunes music library, AudioPaste, Wi-Fi server and iTunes file sharing
• Audio mixdown and MIDI export

Audio Experts: Reason, Logic Pro X and ProTools updates on the way

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQQRsnoyiPA]

[Ed. Note: This is a guest post by Jessie Friedman who is building a kickstarter project with Reason]

The rumors of Logic Pro X have shown the possibility for the long-standing Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) to shift in a new direction. Logic is quickly becoming tightly integrated with all things “Apple.” Will the new Logic Pro X alienate the professional market? It is a valid question. Logic was always destined to merge with other visual and UI ideas from Apple Apps. Apple is all about its common themes and designs. It is what makes Apple a continued dominant innovator in the technology market. Utilizing the Mac App Store to sell Logic Pro X has a two-fold benefit. One they promote the App Store to audio software consumers. Two they effectively lower the price of Logic while reducing cost. It is cheaper to sell a “digital” product than it is to sell a “physical” product. A “physical” product involves packaging, shipping, warehouses, store related costs, etc… The audio software market is saturated with Digital Audio Workstations. (DAWs) Anything Apple can do for Logic to gain more exposure, lower costs, and lower the price for consumers boosts Logic’s competitive edge in the market. It is really a win win situation for Apple and Logic. Whether or not these decisions make Logic Pro X a poor man’s DAW is yet to be seen.

Many of these decisions by Apple are moving Logic into a better competitive position in its market. There is little to no information in terms of the exclusion of long time standard features in Logic Pro X. It is a DAW’s feature set that makes it valid in a professional setting. The hobbyist application focuses on an entirely different music making approach. The addition of Waveburner into Logic itself, and the decision to exclude MainStage do shed light on Apple’s intentions with Logic. It is moving away from live performance options and focusing on studio production. Logic’s original niche is as a midi sequencer and studio production environment. Another audio software giant with a unique penchant for creative features is Propellerhead’s Reason, which is due at the end of the month…

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