Comparison

Cubasis 2 vs SynthMaster 2

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

SynthMaster 2

This powerful software synthesizer offers a vast array of sound design capabilities, including multiple oscillator modes, extensive modulation options, and a wide selection of filters. Explore over 1000 factory presets or create your own unique sounds. Available as a standalone app or AUv3 plugin.

Highlights
  • Multiple oscillator modes (Basic, Additive, Wavetable, Vector)
  • Extensive modulation architecture
  • 6 filter categories
  • Import custom wave files
  • 1000+ factory presets
  • Standalone app and AUv3 plugin
Read full description

KV331 Audio is proud to announce the availability of their award winning software synthesizer SynthMaster 2.9 on iOS platform. As being the first app developed using KV331 Audio’s new cross-platform UI framework, SynthMaster 2 runs as a standalone app or AUv3 plugin on iPads with iOS 11 and above. SynthMaster 2 supports native resolutions of various iPad devices. User interfaces are provided for 9.7, 11 and 12.9 inch iPads in 4 different skins (Blue, White, Dark, Proto). Separate interfaces are provided for the AudioUnit plugin as well. SynthMaster 2 comes with 1000 factory presets designed by world class sound designers such as BigTone, Nori Ubukata, NatLife and Yuli Yolo. Thanks to the comprehensive preset browsing features, users can easily filter presets by author name, bank name, instrument type or preset name and find the sounds that they are looking for. There’s also an IAP Shop, which lets users purchase additional sounds: 1. "Desktop Presets Upgrade": This IAP adds all factory presets in SynthMaster 2.9, increasing the total preset count to 2000. 2. "All Expansions Bundle": This IAP adds all current 38 SynthMaster preset expansion banks. Sound Engine: At the heart of SynthMaster 2’s powerful sound engine lies its oscillators, modulators, and filters. Oscillators: The oscillators can operate in 4 different modes to generate sound: 1. In Basic mode, the oscillator plays single cycle waveforms or samples. With the Oscillator Unison turned on, up to 8 voices per oscillator can be played. 2. In Additive mode, 8 Basic oscillators can be stacked up to create richer tones. 3. In Wavetable mode, the oscillator can play wavetables with up to 256 frames. 4. In Vector mode, 4 Basic oscillators are mixed in 2 dimensions. Modulators: Modulators are simply basic oscillators that can be added to other oscillators or modulate other oscillators’ or modulators’ phases. By connecting modulators to other oscillators or modulators, complex FM tones can be synthesized. Importing Wave Files into SynthMaster: While designing sounds, users can easily import wave files into SynthMaster 2. SynthMaster 2 can categorize those files into waveforms, wavetables or multi samples and import them accordingly. Filters: Once the sound is generated by the oscillators it goes through SynthMaster’s filters, which can operate in 6 different categories: Digital, VAnalog, Ladder, Diode Ladder, State Variable and Bite. Custom distortion can be applied before or after the filters as well. Modulation Architecture: SynthMaster 2 features a comprehensive modulation architecture with a wide range of modulation sources: 1. MIDI controls 2. Macros controls 3. 4 ADSR envelopes per layer 4. 4 Multisegmented envelopes per payer 5. 4 LFOs per layer 6. 4 Sequencers per layer 7. 4 Keyscalers per layer There’s real-time visual feedback that lets users see how modulation sources and targets are changing when a note is being played. This is extremely helpful when designing sounds with SynthMaster 2. New modulations can be created easily by dragging and dropping a modulation source onto a knob or slider control. Users can easily see which controls are modulated by a modulation source by clicking on that source. Controls that are being modulated by that source will display modulation amounts. By long pressing a control, the modulation amount can be edited without the need to go through the mod matrix. Arp/Sequencer: SynthMaster features a comprehensive arpeggiator / sequencer with 32 steps. Users can easily create sequences by recording steps one by one. Effects: Each of the 2 layers in SynthMaster has 5 insert effect slots. 13 different types of effects can be instantiated in any of those slots. There are also 2 global effect send busses which can be used to create more complex effect routings.

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SynthMaster 2 at 4.8 against Cubasis 2's 3.9. SynthMaster 2 also leads on price ($14.99 vs $23.99) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Cubasis 2's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15). On ratings volume, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 SynthMaster 2 $14.99 up front. Cubasis 2 sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and SynthMaster 2 sells 32 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SynthMaster 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 239 and 451 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Cubasis 2's written reviews are positive against 68% of SynthMaster 2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cubasis 2 ships an update every 3 months, SynthMaster 2 every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Cubasis 2 versus SynthMaster 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCubasis 2SynthMaster 2
Price$23.99$14.99 — better
Rating3.9 (239 ratings)4.8 (451 ratings) — better
Positive reviews58.3% of reviews68.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings239451 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better15
Further details — not scored
Size1.1 GB918 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSteinberg Media Technologies GmbHKV331 Audio

Customer experience

Cubasis 2

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

SynthMaster 2

All ratings407 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.2%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews111 reviews
Positive68.5%
Neutral16.2%
Negative15.3%

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

SynthMaster 2

From 451 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Best synth on iPad
  • 👍 Delicious sound
  • 👍 Tremendously powerful synth
  • 👍 Great synth with complex possibilities and great sound(s)
  • 👍 Perfeito

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Auswahl der Modulationsquellen funktioniert nicht richtig
  • 🐛 Echt schlecht
  • 🐛 Broken Preset System for a powerful synth
  • 🐛 Please fix the OSC behavior on Square and Saw
  • 🐛 Preset issues

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

SynthMaster 2

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Presets not loading correctly
  • Modulation not working after loading project
  • Skin resets to default
  • App crashes frequently

Requested features

2 requests
  • Pitch bend/glide for imported samples
  • Integration with AUM audio mixer

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
32 purchases

SynthMaster 2

One-time32
  • BigTone Tableworks Vol.2$1.99
  • Burak Yeter Synth Sounds Vol1$1.99
  • Aiyn Zahev Expansion 1$1.99
Show 29 more
  • BigTone Tableworks Vol.1$1.99
  • Michael Kastrup Expansion$1.99
  • EDM Stars Volume 1$1.99
  • Nori Ubukata Pop Hits Vol.4$1.99
  • Rob Lee EDM Expansion Vol.2$1.99
  • Alonso Sound Future Rave$1.99
  • Nori Ubukata Pop Hits Vol.1$1.99
  • BigTone Techno Bits Vol.1$1.99
  • Club Sequences Vol.1$2.99
  • Historical Synth Giants Vol.3$2.99
  • Dawn of Electronic Music Vol.2$2.99
  • Nori Ubukata Art Rock Basics$2.99
  • BigTone Analog Basics 02$4.99
  • BigTone Analog Basics$4.99
  • BigTone Signature Sounds Vol.1$4.99
  • NU Sounds of the World$4.99
  • Historical Synth Giants Vol.4$4.99
  • Historical Synth Giants Vol.1$4.99
  • Historical Synth Giants Vol.2$4.99
  • Japan Vintage$4.99
  • NatLife Future Bass Sounds$4.99
  • Danyella EDM Expansion Vol.1$4.99
  • Dawn of Electronic Music Vol.1$4.99
  • Dawn of Electronic Music Vol.3$4.99
  • Rob Lee EDM Expansion Vol.3$4.99
  • Natlife Disco Funk$4.99
  • Insigne Essentials 4 Clubbin$4.99
  • Desktop Presets Upgrade$9.99
  • All Expansions Bundle$49.99

Questions

Is Cubasis 2 free?
Cubasis 2 costs $23.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is SynthMaster 2 free?
SynthMaster 2 costs $14.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cubasis 2 or SynthMaster 2?
SynthMaster 2 is rated higher. Cubasis 2 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 239 ratings, while SynthMaster 2 averages 4.8 from 451 ratings.
Do Cubasis 2 or SynthMaster 2 have ads?
SynthMaster 2 shows ads; Cubasis 2 does not.
Which is updated more often, Cubasis 2 or SynthMaster 2?
Cubasis 2 ships an update every 3 months, and SynthMaster 2 every 3 weeks. Most recently, Cubasis 2 was updated on October 11, 2026 and SynthMaster 2 on October 14, 2026.

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