Nu-Trix The Synth Guy Puts Steinberg’s iPad Updates Through the Grinder

Steinberg’s Cubasis for iPad just got a makeover, and Nu-Trix The Synth Guy wastes no time putting it to the test. The new home button is a subtle touch, but it means less faffing about when bouncing between projects and the hub. For those of us with a graveyard of half-finished tracks, this is a workflow enhancement we’ll actually notice.

MIDI export is now baked right into the mixdown process, and it’s not just a checkbox—Nu-Trix points out how this could be a lifesaver for futureproofing your tunes. Export your stems, back up your MIDI, and you’ll thank yourself in 30 years when you’re dusting off old projects. Automation copying finally works as it should—move a block, and the automation comes along for the ride. Throw in the auto grid that changes with your zoom level and a master fader pin that keeps your mix anchor always visible, and Cubasis finally feels less like a mobile compromise and more like a weapon for real production.

Verve gets some love this round, and Nu-Trix dives into its ambient piano territory. It’s not just keys and velvet—Verve serves up layered soundscapes, letting you blend textures and filter contours for cinematic washes. You’re not stuck with cookie-cutter presets either; there’s enough tweakability here to shape your own vibe without getting lost in endless menus.

Preset management finally feels modern, with easier searches (even in subfolders) and quick renaming. The on-screen keyboard isn’t just eye candy: three layouts, a responsive sustain, and flexible chord setups mean you can play, jam, or mangle in your own style. For late-night beatmakers and ambient heads, Verve’s new tricks are pure gold.

HALion Sonic Play comes out swinging with a ridiculous 2,000+ presets—try getting bored with that. Nu-Trix blitzes through banks and expansions, showing how sound design isn’t just about scrolling but actually tweaking: filters, ADSR, step sequencer, arpeggiator, and layer controls are all here. It’s deep, but not labyrinthine—you can get weird or just find that killer bass in seconds.

The clincher? HALion Sonic Play now works as a standalone AUv3 plugin, so you’re not chained to Cubasis. Buy it once, drop it into any DAW, and you’re sorted for cross-platform mayhem. There’s so much in this module that even Nu-Trix admits it deserves its own deep-dive. If you want to see just how bonkers the preset variety gets, you’ll have to catch the video yourself—some sounds just don’t translate to text.