Steinberg launches Cubase 15: new features revealed

Steinberg has announced Cubase 15, the latest version of the music production software. Unlocking new creative possibilities with streamlined workflows and design, the software has been reinvented to elevate the music production experience.

With three different versions; Cubase Pro, Artist and Elements, Cubase allows creatives of all levels to produce tracks from start to finish. Cubase 15 introduces articulation with a redesigned Expression Maps system. The setup and integration with both the Key Editor and Score Editor make control of articulations for VST instruments straightforward, while perarticulation attack compensation delivers even greater performance realism.

The Pattern Editor now features a new pattern sequencer, which allows expressive melodic patterns to be created in monophonic and polyphonic modes, with step input, custom scales, shape generators and a deep randomiser to generate the most innovative sequences. New pattern bank presets are also included, including bass lines, leads, chords, and arpeggios, all powered by the Pattern Editor’s new melodic modes.

The innovative Modulators – introduced in Cubase 14 – have evolved with the addition of six new modulators, with Random Generator, Sample & Hold, Wavefold LFO, and others now available. 30 brand-new Chord Pad presets also bring ready-to-play voicings for jazz, soul, pop, indie and more.

A redesigned Hub makes project startup smoother, with resizable sections, audio setup, and project preview, plus search and filter tools. Collaboration is also made easier, with the DAWproject format now able to share sessions across all editions of Cubase, Cubasis, and other supported DAWs, without losing any of a project’s structure. Remixing, rebalancing, and creative sampling are also enhanced with AI-powered separation tools, which allow stems to be quickly extracted from mixed audio. New automation shortcuts automatically show and prioritise the last-touched parameter, adding a simplified menu for lightning-fast access and editing, while volume and pan can be added directly to the Track Controls Area.

The layout can be customised per track type for quicker mix moves and visual clarity in busy sessions. Additionally, new quick export options mean audio can be rendered faster than ever, perfect for exporting bounces or previews in the middle of a session.

Cubase is renowned for its instruments and plugins, which use Steinberg’s VST format to deliver exceptional sound quality and versatility. The Cubase Drum Machine adds a fresh set of 40 modern drum kits, delivering beats for hip hop, trap, and electronic styles. All are preloaded, tweakable, and ready to drop straight in. Cubase 15 also comes with a redesigned Groove Agent SE 6, which features a scalable UI, new mixer, and enhanced effects.

For songwriters, the Writing Room Synths collection delivers production-ready, authentic vintage synths. Songstarter Packs brings loop packs and samples and the beta Omnivocal vocal synthesis engine also adds a new world of expressive, humanlike singing voices. Using Yamaha’s vocal synthesis, Omnivocal will sing notes and lyrics entered into the Key Editor. Cubase 15’s armory of effects is enhanced by the addition of UltraShaper, which takes dynamics processing to a new level with transient shaping, clip limiting, and EQ sculpting.

Greater flexibility is also brought to sound manipulation with the PitchShifter, which features real-time pitch shifting with formant preservation, saturation modes, stereo unlinking, and a massive ±24 semitone range. All stock effect plug-ins now also support user interface scaling, allowing them to be used full screen or wherever they most conveniently fit, without sacrificing visual clarity.

Additionally, Cubase 15 updates Score Editor with new tools and enhanced workflows and adds the ability to instantly replace samples in the Sampler Track via MediaBay with filter-based browsing shortcuts, plus macOS support for native full-screen mode and pinch-to-zoom gestures on compatible devices.

Senior marketing manager at Steinberg, Matthias Quellmann, commented: “We worked closely with our community to refine what matters most, turning valuable feedback into meaningful improvements that make everyday workflows smoother and more intuitive. This release builds naturally on the foundation of the previous version — it feels like the perfect evolution, marking a major leap forward for Cubase.”