Comparison

SampleTank CS vs Cubasis LE 2

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SampleTank CS

This professional mobile sound and groove workstation brings desktop-level virtual instrument power to your iPhone and iPad. It offers a vast array of world-class instruments and patterns for live performance and composition, with expandable sound libraries available for purchase.

Highlights
  • 23 free instruments in 16 categories
  • 8-part multitimbral sound module
  • Expandable sound library with 2300+ instruments
  • Over 1,200 melodic and rhythmic patterns
  • 8-track MIDI recorder with audio export
  • Intuitive interface and new sound engine
  • Song and Live environments
Read full description

SampleTank 2 for iOS is a professional, fully featured mobile sound and groove workstation that brings the sound, power and features of desktop virtual instruments to your iPad and iPhone — without compromise. It is designed for professional live performance, song composition and puts a comprehensive array of world-class instruments, sounds and patterns right at your fingertips. SampleTank CS provides all the functionality of the full app, with 23 instruments in 16 categories, so you can try out this powerful workstation for free. Additional sounds are available a la cart via in-app purchase. SampleTank gives you 8 multitimbral instrument slots that you can easily layer or split. Choose from a comprehensive, expandable sound collection that covers virtually every acoustic and electronic sound imaginable. Plus, each instrument category includes instrument riffs and grooves so you can start composing and playing in no time. The included instruments and the new sound engine are derived from the desktop version of SampleTank, IK's flagship workstation, offering you unmatched realism, variety of sound and audio performance. For the first time on iOS, thousands of professional sample-based sounds and patterns can be easily accessed, layered and used for playing live or in the studio. What’s more, SampleTank offers an ever-growing library of sounds and are available via in-app purchase: • Elektronika - a series of electronica and EDM-oriented groove libraries and sound collections that make it easy to create hits in today’s most popular styles • Miroslav Philharmonik — the legendary orchestral libraries, now available on your mobile device! Stunningly realistic and expressive samples of a wide range of orchestra and percussion instruments. • SampleTank PRO - the latest and most high-end sounds and grooves available, letting you create professional-grade compositions on your mobile device • Plus additional libraries covering cinematic sounds, the finest pianos, drum libraries from iconic drummers and much more! SampleTank for iOS offers over 2,300 instruments and over 1,200 MIDI patterns — the largest collection of sounds available for any virtual instrument for iOS. Features: • 23 sounds in 16 categories included free • 8-part multitimbral professional quality sound and groove module • Expandable sound library with 2300+ instrument • Over 1,200 melodic and rhythmic patterns • 8-track MIDI recorder with audio export • Totally redesigned intuitive interface • New sound engine derived from SampleTank 3 for Mac/PC • Zones feature lets you easily create splits & layers on your controller • Song and Live environments for composing and playing • Built-in insert effects and master reverb • MIDI learn feature makes programming external controllers easy • Plug-and-play compatibility with iRig interfaces and controllers • Polyphony: up to 64 voices on new Apple devices

About

Cubasis LE 2

This mobile music creation system allows users to record, edit, and mix audio and MIDI tracks. It features virtual instruments, effects, and editors for polishing songs. Projects can be exported to desktop versions for further refinement.

Highlights
  • Up to 4 audio and 4 MIDI tracks
  • Virtual instrument with virtual keyboard
  • Integrated editors and mixer
  • Selected effects including reverb
  • Export projects to Cubase
  • MIDI over Bluetooth LE support
Read full description

*** CUBASIS LE 3 IS NOW AVAILABLE *** Enjoy a brand-new and fully redesigned Cubasis app, which runs on the iPhone and iPad, and adds many user-requested features and improvements! *** Please note that a supported hardware device is required to unlock the feature set of Cubasis LE (unless unlocked Cubasis LE runs in demo mode). Please visit http://www.steinberg.net/cubasisle for more details. *** Cubasis LE is the compact version of Steinberg’s streamlined, multitouch sequencer for the iPad, providing the same look and feel of its bigger brother Cubasis. Specially designed for quick and easy operation, Cubasis LE makes recording, editing and mixing a breeze. With MicroSonic, Cubasis LE includes a virtual instrument to be played in real-time using the flexible virtual keyboard. Song ideas can be captured with up to four audio and four MIDI tracks and further edited and polished to perfection with the integrated editors, mixer and selected effects. Thanks to the Cubasis project importer, Cubasis LE projects can be even opened in Cubase — both on Windows and OS X. With touch-intuitive production tools, Cubasis LE opens up a new world of possibilities for your creativity. Key features • Up to 4 audio and 4 MIDI tracks • 2 assignable physical inputs and stereo output • 32-bit floating point audio engine • Audio I/O resolution of 16-bit/44.1 kHz • iOS 32 and 64-bit support (depending on the device used) • MicroSonic with 25 virtual instrument sounds based on HALion Sonic and Allen Morgan drum kits • Mixer with 5 effect processors • Super-versatile RoomWorks SE reverb effect* with intuitive graphical display • Virtual keyboard with note repeat control • Sample Editor and Key Editor • Refreshed MIDI Editor with ultra-intuitive and spot on handling to edit MIDI tracks and compose • Track Duplicate • Export to Cubase • Core Audio and Core MIDI compatible hardware supported • MIDI Auto Quantize • MIDI over Bluetooth LE support • Import audio from your iTunes music library • Audio mixdown and MIDI export • Unlock all the features of the full Cubasis version via in-app purchase Technical support http://www.steinberg.net/cubasisleforum Polyphony: 48 voices: iPad 2, iPad mini 128 voices: iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 3, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro *User registration required to unlock RoomWorks SE reverb effect. Audio Unit extension (in-app purchase) requires iPad Mini 2, iPad 4 or later models. Audio Unit (in-app purchase) and Waves plug-in (in-app purchase) automation requires iOS 10 or higher. Audio Unit MIDI and Files app require iOS 11 or higher. Project export to Cubase requires Cubase Pro 9/Pro 9.5, Cubase Artist 9/9.5, Cubase LE/AI/Elements 9 or higher. Cubasis project importer extension must be installed and is available at http://www.steinberg.net/cubasisimporter Please check the Steinberg End User License Agreement on this website: http://www.steinberg.net/eula

Screenshots

SampleTank CS4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SampleTank CS at 3.1 against Cubasis LE 2's 2.8. SampleTank CS also leads on device support (3 vs 1) and ratings volume (144 vs 41). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SampleTank CS sells 15 one-off in-app purchases and Cubasis LE 2 sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SampleTank CS holds the better App Store score, 3.1 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 144 and 41 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 29% of SampleTank CS's written reviews are positive against 36% of Cubasis LE 2's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, Cubasis LE 2 every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SampleTank CS versus Cubasis LE 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSampleTank CSCubasis LE 2
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (144 ratings) — better2.8 (41 ratings)
Positive reviews28.9% of reviews35.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings144 — better41
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.5 GB1.1 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperIK Multimedia US, LLCSteinberg Media Technologies GmbH

Customer experience

SampleTank CS

All ratings144 ratings
Positive52.1%
Neutral8.3%
Negative39.6%
Written reviews298 reviews
Positive28.9%
Neutral10.4%
Negative60.7%

Cubasis LE 2

All ratings41 ratings
Positive41.5%
Neutral4.9%
Negative53.7%
Written reviews126 reviews
Positive35.7%
Neutral10.3%
Negative54.0%

User reviews

SampleTank CS

From 144 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Great sound quality
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 💡 Excellent for live performances

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes
  • 🔒 Issues with in-app purchases and restoring purchases
  • 🔋 High memory usage
  • 👎 Lack of updates and support

Cubasis LE 2

From 41 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great DAW for iOS
  • 👍 Good for MIDI and audio
  • 👍 Stable on iPad Pro
  • 👍 Works well with hardware
  • 👍 Good value on sale

Room to improve

  • 👎 Demo mode is restrictive
  • 👎 Requires specific hardware to unlock
  • 👎 Expensive full version
  • 👎 Limited functionality in LE version
  • 👎 Not intuitive for beginners

Bugs and requests

SampleTank CS

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incompatible with latest iOS versions
  • MIDI issues and lack of device detection
  • Purchased content not properly restored

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add AU/AUv3 support for better DAW integration
  • Improve MIDI functionality and mapping
  • Allow importing custom samples
  • Enhance performance controls (e.g., pitch bend, modulation)

Cubasis LE 2

Reported bugs

24 issues
  • Crashes on loading
  • App crashes after update
  • Demo mode does not unlock
  • Hardware not recognized for unlocking
  • Purchases not restoring
Show 19 more
  • Bluetooth audio issues
  • USB device disconnects frequently
  • In-app purchases not working
  • App not unlocking with specific hardware
  • Audio interface not recognized
  • App crashes on startup
  • Upgrade not reflected in App Store
  • Icon remains LE after upgrade
  • MIDI device connection problems
  • Audio routing issues
  • AUv3 plugin display issues
  • Purchase restoration problems
  • Demo mode not unlocking properly
  • Bluetooth audio quality issues
  • Audio interface recognition problems
  • In-app purchase errors
  • Purchase not showing in App Store
  • Demo song limitations
  • Gesture control in score editor issues

Requested features

25 requests
  • Tempo track and markers
  • Keyboard shortcuts
  • Punch in/out function
  • Tempo and time signature changes mid-song
  • Chord track
Show 20 more
  • Peak meter
  • Step input via MIDI keyboard
  • Vari Audio / pitch correct / DeEsser
  • Vertical scroll in note editor
  • Language support (Italian, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, German)
  • Ability to import Cubase projects (.cpr files)
  • More individual in-app purchase options
  • Fix for AUv3 plugin display issues
  • Fix for purchase restoration issues
  • Fix for icon display after upgrade
  • Fix for MIDI device connection issues
  • Fix for audio routing issues
  • Fix for crashes after updates
  • Fix for demo mode not unlocking
  • Fix for Bluetooth audio quality
  • Fix for audio interface recognition issues
  • Fix for in-app purchase errors
  • Fix for purchase not showing in App Store
  • Fix for demo song limitations
  • Fix for gesture control in score editor

In-app purchases

15 purchases

SampleTank CS

One-time15
  • Organ$4.99
  • Strings$4.99
  • Brass$4.99
Show 12 more
  • Synth Leads$4.99
  • Synth Pads$4.99
  • Woodwinds$4.99
  • Acoustic Drums$4.99
  • Electric Piano$7.99
  • The Grid$14.99
  • Upgrade to SampleTank$24.99
  • Miroslav Philharmonik - Mobile Edition$24.99
  • Sample Moog - Mobile Edition$24.99
  • Sonik Synth - Mobile Edition$24.99
  • All Sounds$64.99
  • SampleTank PRO - All Sounds Pack$64.99
10 purchases

Cubasis LE 2

One-time10
  • Micrologue ARP$2.49
  • Waves Tune Real-Time$2.49
  • FX Pack 1: Reverbs & Delays$3.49
Show 7 more
  • FX Pack 2: Vintage FX$3.49
  • Classic Machines$3.49
  • Waves AudioTrack$7.99
  • Waves L1 Ultramaximizer$7.99
  • Waves Q10 Equalizer$7.99
  • Cubasis LE 2 Full Feature Set$8.99
  • Waves Plug-in Bundle$9.99

Questions

Is SampleTank CS free?
SampleTank CS is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cubasis LE 2 free?
Cubasis LE 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SampleTank CS or Cubasis LE 2?
SampleTank CS is rated higher. SampleTank CS averages 3.1 out of 5 from 144 ratings, while Cubasis LE 2 averages 2.8 from 41 ratings.
Do SampleTank CS or Cubasis LE 2 have ads?
Neither SampleTank CS nor Cubasis LE 2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SampleTank CS or Cubasis LE 2?
SampleTank CS ships an update every 2 months, and Cubasis LE 2 every 3 months. Most recently, SampleTank CS was updated on October 13, 2026 and Cubasis LE 2 on October 13, 2026.

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