Full-featured DAW known for MIDI composition, scoring tools, and pro audio production.
Cubase
Cubase, developed by Steinberg in Germany, is one of the oldest and most influential DAWs, first released in the late 1980s. Originally a MIDI sequencer for the Atari ST, it evolved into a full professional production platform—used by film composers, producers, and engineers worldwide.
Cubase excels in composition, arrangement, and scoring. Its MIDI editing tools are among the most advanced: logical editors, expression maps, and key editors make it ideal for orchestral mock-ups or detailed synth programming. The Score Editor allows notation editing alongside the sequencer—handy for composers writing for live players.
Key strengths include:
- MIDI depth: unrivaled control of expression, automation, and articulation.
- Audio editing: elastic audio, VariAudio pitch correction, and spectral tools rival dedicated editors.
- Integrated mixing: full-featured console with automation lanes, channel strip plug-ins, and group routing.
- VST ecosystem: Steinberg created the VST plug-in standard, so Cubase always integrates new technologies early.
- Scoring & film tools: frame-accurate video sync, markers, and tempo mapping make it a favorite for soundtrack work.
Artists across genres—Hans Zimmer, Tangerine Dream, Jacob Collier, and many EDM producers—have relied on Cubase for its blend of precision and musical flexibility.
Cubase’s workflow suits those who think in musical structure—composers, arrangers, and producers who need both traditional notation and modern production power. It’s less about flashy loops and more about building complete, detailed compositions from the ground up.