Comparison

Cubasis 2 vs KORG iWAVESTATION

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

Head to head
About

Cubasis 2

This mobile music creation system allows users to record, edit, mix, and share their music. It offers real-time time-stretching, pitch-shifting, a studio-grade channel strip, and a variety of instruments and effects to enhance musical projects.

Highlights
  • Unlimited audio and MIDI tracks
  • Real-time time-stretching and pitch-shifting
  • Virtual analog synthesizer and sampler
  • Studio-grade channel strip with effects
  • MIDI Editor with CC support
  • Export to Cubase and cloud services
Read full description

*** CUBASIS 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! Cubasis 2 equals ease of use and is as powerful as a fully featured iOS-based music production system can be pushing your capabilities out of limits. Whether you’re capturing simple ideas or complex musical masterpieces — It ships with outstanding, touch-optimized tools carrying you into the fun of recording, editing, mixing and sharing your music with the world right away. Get fascinated by the brand new features that Cubasis 2 comes with such as real-time time-stretching and pitch-shifting, a studio-grade channel strip, pro-sounding effects, massive instrument refills, a refreshed MIDI Editor and many more powerful features. Put hands on three internal instruments, numerous loops and instrument sounds to creatively lift your music to perfection using the included mixer and effects. Once recorded, share your music with the world via a simple tap or transfer it directly to Cubase. Key features • Unlimited number of audio and MIDI tracks • 24 assignable physical inputs and outputs • 32-bit floating point audio engine • Audio I/O resolution of up to 24-bit/96 kHz • iOS 32- and 64-bit support • Real-time time-stretching and pitch-shifting featuring zplane’s élastique 3 • Micrologue virtual analog synthesizer with 126 ready-to-go presets • MicroSonic with over 120 virtual instrument sounds based on HALion Sonic, HALiotron and Allen Morgan drum kits • MiniSampler to create your own instruments (includes 20 factory instruments) • Mixer with studio-grade channel strip per track and 17 effect processors • Super-versatile RoomWorks SE* reverb effect providing uniquely professional sound and an intuitive graphical display for instant visual feedback at slightest parameter changes • Fully automatable DJ-like Spin FX effect plug-in • Over 550 MIDI and time-stretch-capable audio loops • Virtual keyboard, chord and drum pads with intuitive note repeat control • Sample Editor and Key Editor with MIDI CC support • Refreshed MIDI Editor with ultra-intuitive, lightning fast and accurate handling to edit MIDI tracks and compose music easier than ever before • MIDI Auto Quantize • Track Duplicate • Automation, MIDI CC, program change and aftertouch support • Export to Cubase, iCloud Drive, external hard drives, wireless flash drives, Dropbox, SoundCloud, AudioCopy and email • Core Audio and Core MIDI compatible hardware supported • MIDI over Bluetooth LE support • Full Audio Unit, Inter-App Audio and Audiobus 3 support to use compatible apps as insert/send effects and virtual instruments or simply record their audio output • Import audio from your iTunes music library or iCloud Drive or iTunes file sharing, use AudioPaste or set up a Wi-Fi server in Cubasis • Audio mixdown and MIDI export • MIDI clock and MIDI thru support "Probably the best iPad-based DAW in terms of usability and flexibility, and it links up with Cubase on your desktop, too." — MusicTech.net "So all in all Cubasis is a hands down victory. Everything supplied here works and works perfectly. If you are a Cubase user and own an iPad, this is simply a no brainer, you have to have it." — askaudiomag.com Technical support http://www.steinberg.net/cubasisforum 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 requires iPad Mini 2, iPad 4 or newer model. Audio Unit 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

About

KORG iWAVESTATION

This app recreates a legendary 1990s synthesizer, offering time-varying timbre creation and advanced vector synthesis. Experience its unique sound-shaping potential with a renewed graphic interface and touch-based operation for iOS devices.

Highlights
  • Faithful reproduction of original WAVESTATION sound
  • Graphical wave sequence view with touch control
  • 1,500 sounds, 700+ waveforms, 55 effects
  • Powerful random sequence engine
  • AUv3 support for Logic Pro and GarageBand
  • Integration with KORG Gadget DAW
Features
Read full description

Creating sounds with time-varying timbre, on your mobile device. KORG iWAVESTATION - A wave sequence synthesizer for iOS. The WAVESTATION synthesizer went on sale in 1990. This instrument featured an advanced vector synthesis system which created new sounds by combining and connecting multiple waveforms; it provided a mix/morphing function that let you use a joystick to change the balance of four oscillators, and a distinctive wave sequence function that allowed you to place waveforms in a desired sequence to create sequence patterns. To this day, it continues to be considered a legendary and still-unique instrument. Now in 2016, the WAVESTATION has been reborn as "KORG iWAVESTATION," an app for iPad/iPhone. In addition to completely reproducing the programs, it also features a renewed design that lets everyone experience the stupendous sound-shaping potential of the WAVESTATION. It features touch-based operation that's distinctive of iOS, in conjunction with a new graphic interface that allows you to visualize and edit the time-varying timbral changes that are distinctive of the WAVESTATION. [ Features ] - A faithful reproduction of the original WAVESTATION sound: In addition to providing the sounds from all PCM memories of the WAVESTATION, the new iWAVESTATION also reproduces in software every detail of the parameters, based on an analysis of the original hardware circuit diagram. - A new wave sequence view that can be graphically controlled: The iWAVESTATION, we advance another step with a graphical user interface that takes advantage of the touch operations that are a characteristic of iOS. Even more than ever, we've updated the screen design with an emphasis on creating sequences. - 1,500 sounds, more than 700 waveforms, 55 effects, and a powerful random sequence engine: This new instrument includes a stupendous number of presets and waveforms, covering all models of the series. iWAVESTATION also provides a new random sequence function which will give you different perspectives to inspire new sounds. - Use with KORG Gadget and AUv3 for song production: iWAVESTATION can be used in conjunction with the "KORG Gadget" music production DAW app that has won numerous awards around the world. If both apps are installed, it can be used as the "Milpitas" gadget inside the KORG Gadget app. And also supports AUv3, so it can also be used as a sound module for Logic Pro and GarageBand. With a convenient and richly varied set of sounds, iWAVESTATION can be the foundation for either of these music production environments. More info at korg.com

Screenshots

KORG iWAVESTATION4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cubasis 2 at $23.99 against KORG iWAVESTATION's $29.99. KORG iWAVESTATION's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (69% vs 58%). On ratings volume, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Cubasis 2 costs $23.99 and KORG iWAVESTATION $29.99 up front. Cubasis 2 sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and KORG iWAVESTATION sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

KORG iWAVESTATION holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 239 and 134 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Cubasis 2's written reviews are positive against 69% of KORG iWAVESTATION's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cubasis 2 ships an update every 3 months, KORG iWAVESTATION every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Cubasis 2 versus KORG iWAVESTATION: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCubasis 2KORG iWAVESTATION
Price$23.99 — better$29.99
Rating3.9 (239 ratings)4.2 (134 ratings) — better
Positive reviews58.3% of reviews69.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings239 — better134
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.1 GB96 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteinberg Media Technologies GmbHKORG INC.

Customer experience

Cubasis 2

All ratings239 ratings
Positive68.2%
Neutral10.9%
Negative20.9%
Written reviews607 reviews
Positive58.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative27.3%

KORG iWAVESTATION

All ratings132 ratings
Positive78.8%
Neutral8.3%
Negative12.9%
Written reviews203 reviews
Positive69.0%
Neutral17.2%
Negative13.8%

User reviews

Cubasis 2

From 239 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💯 Excellent DAW for iOS
  • 🎨 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 🔌 Seamless integration with other apps
  • 🔊 High-quality built-in sounds and effects
  • 🔍 Powerful MIDI editing capabilities

Room to improve

  • 🔒 No upgrade path from previous versions
  • 💰 Expensive for an iOS app
  • 🕰️ Lack of tempo and time signature changes
  • 🔇 Limited audio routing and sidechain options
  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs

KORG iWAVESTATION

From 134 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎹 Classic synth sounds
  • 👍 Improved interface over hardware
  • 🎨 Excellent sound design capabilities
  • 🎉 Randomize feature for inspiration
  • 🔌 Gadget integration

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Lack of preset search/organization
  • 🔊 Weak filter capabilities
  • 🔌 No MIDI channel selection
  • 🔌 Limited MIDI control options

Bugs and requests

Cubasis 2

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when loading certain third-party plugins
  • MIDI sync issues with external hardware
  • Waveform display glitches when zooming
  • Incompatibility with older iPad models

Requested features

5 requests
  • MIDI control mapping for external controllers
  • Tempo and time signature automation
  • Improved audio editing tools
  • More built-in instruments and sound libraries
  • Seamless Cubase project integration

KORG iWAVESTATION

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes when saving user presets
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add AUv3 support
  • Improve preset management and browsing
  • Enhance MIDI functionality (channel selection, more CCs)
  • Expand filter options (high-pass, band-pass)

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Cubasis 2

One-time9
  • Micrologue ARP$4.99
  • Waves Tune Real-Time$4.99
  • FX Pack 1: Reverbs & Delays$6.99
Show 6 more
  • FX Pack 2: Vintage FX$6.99
  • Classic Machines$6.99
  • Waves AudioTrack$7.99
  • Waves L1 Ultramaximizer$7.99
  • Waves Q10 Equalizer$7.99
  • Waves Plug-in Bundle$19.99
1 purchases

KORG iWAVESTATION

One-time1
  • Expansion Card Pack$4.99

Questions

Is Cubasis 2 free?
Cubasis 2 costs $23.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is KORG iWAVESTATION free?
KORG iWAVESTATION costs $29.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cubasis 2 or KORG iWAVESTATION?
KORG iWAVESTATION is rated higher. Cubasis 2 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 239 ratings, while KORG iWAVESTATION averages 4.2 from 134 ratings.
Do Cubasis 2 or KORG iWAVESTATION have ads?
Neither Cubasis 2 nor KORG iWAVESTATION shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cubasis 2 or KORG iWAVESTATION?
Cubasis 2 ships an update every 3 months, and KORG iWAVESTATION every 5 months. Most recently, Cubasis 2 was updated on October 26, 2026 and KORG iWAVESTATION on October 30, 2026.

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