I use Cubase 14 Pro, VST Live, Dorico and Spectralayers on a powerful desktop Windows 11 Pro for Workstations PC. I truly enjoy Steinberg software.
Last week I bought a Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra - first android device of my life - and I found out about Cubasis 3.7.1 and I am very interested in buying it to see how far a song can go in Cubasis before I have to take it to finish it on Cubase 14 Pro.
I am an absolute beginner to Android - I always used iOS only - but was impressed with the Galaxy S10 Ultra and had to get one. So, can this Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra be used with Cubasis 3.7.1 with good results? What audio interface should I buy? Perhaps I can start with some of my current audio interfaces? I have a RME UFX+ and a Maschine Mk3 (has audio interface built in).
At this point, to try things out, I would like to be able to record just a single condenser mic (phantom power required) and a MIDI keybord.
Any comments or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I hope I can use this tablet because I am really excited to start using Cubasis.
Thank you Steinberg for making software that spans across all my devices.
Hi Intini,
So many Android users have gone down the Cubasis route only to find there are so many differences between the iOS version and Google.
Ok, iPads cost considerably much more than Android tablets, but as the old saying goes……you get what you pay for. There are no AUv3 plugins or Waves fx bundles for Android, you will very quickly discover its limitations.
I wish I could sound more enthusiastic, but there are so many tablet users who want what iOS users have but without having to spend the same amount as we had to in the first place.
I’m not saying Cubasis on Android won’t perform as good as the iPad version, it’s just that it’s very limited.
Have a look at this link, it explains the differences between Android and iOS operating systems.
Hope this is helpful.
Mike
Hi, Mike!
Thanks for replying.
Actually the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra is a 14.6” premium tablet and is more expensive than iPads and at the same price as iPad Pros.
I read the Steinberg Cubasis comparison between iOS and Android and the feature set for Android is acceptable for what I would like to use it for at the moment. I have other gear to do all the rest.
I would appreciate any suggestion for audio interfaces and related topics, such as audio latency.
Sorry for my mistake, I don’t really know that much about Android devices, only the limitations between the two.
As for audio interfaces, there are many, I personally use a Alesis Multi Mix 8 track usb mixer, it is excellent for recording guitar and vocals, but there are so many on the market. The majority of the time I only work with MIDI, so perhaps other users could suggest interfaces such as Focusrite Scarlett Solo:
Or you may prefer something like this:
This is the one I use, it is noise free and has built in fx, not that I use them
Just a few to think about
Mike
No problem at all!
Thank you so much, Mike! I will take a look on the interfaces you suggested!
Good luck with your searchđź‘Ť
I also use a small portable usb interface that I take out with me when I work on my iPad in the caravan, it is just a stereo in/out, with headphone connection, no fuss and it’s quite good:
Hi @Intini
Thank you for your message.
Please note that the performance of Cubasis for Android is strongly related to the Android device in use. Same goes for using external audio devices.
Cubasis for Android offers limited audio and MIDI hardware support only, Steinberg does not currently guarantee full compatibility.
Best,
Lars
Hi @LSlowak
Thanks. May I take this opportunity to kindly ask you to please elaborate your reply in a less general way. May I suggest that the Cubasis team create a simple database with known working set of Android device and audio interface pairs with information given by fellow users, but understandably without guarantee from Steinberg- but nonetheless curated by it.
I am a power user of almost all other Steinberg software and I find it odd that these generalised answers are being given to prospective users of this particular software and not a little bit of guidance is given other than a guarantee disclaimer.
I have a latest generation (OCT 2024) Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, 14 .6 inch, 12GB Ram, 512GB SSD tablet. I was able to effortlessly run the demo version of Cubasis and play the demo song. I even hot plugged a lilte Komplete Kontrol M32 and started playing immediately. The latency was fine with the built in audio from the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra.
Do you have any recommendation of a known to work audio interface for my case? I suppose you should have Android devices for development and perhaps you would have a suggestion?
Blockquote
Welcome to the forum, @Intini ,
To better understand the “generalized answers”, I recommend you spend some time looking through some topics in this forum and you’ll see the issues other Android users have experienced.
As for an audio interface, I recommend you first look up the specs on your condenser microphone, specifically the range of its required power. Powering a condenser microphone from a USB powered audio interface does not always work well. An AC adaptor powered audio interface is one solution to getting good phantom power. Another solution is to get a separate Phantom power supply, such as the Mackie M48 wall powered Phantom power supply. Alternatively, a very well-powered USB hub or dock is another solution. Many people with high end tablets will choose to use their tablet for all their USB powered devices. While your tablet may work, replacing an inexpensive hub or phantom power supply—rather than your tablet battery—can be a lot more practical and less expensive.
Hope that helps in your search for an audio interface.
John
Thank you so muchIn, @Johne1.
I will follow your advice. Thank you for your recommendation.
I am trying to understand if it is worth using Cubasis 3.7.1 to record vocals and a MIDI keyboard for sketching up songs before taking them to Cubase 14 Pro. As for the microphones, I would like to use a Neumann U87A, a Rode NT1A, or a SE1-X or a Shure Beta 87A - all require phantom power and I was most definitely going to get an interface that is not bus powerd but mains powered, indeed.
I will try to use my current audio interfaces to see how it goes before I buy something specifically for the Android device. I will try using Cubasis with my RME UFX+ and with the embedded audio interface of my Native Instruments Maschine MK3 just to see how it goes.
If Cubasis end up not working with the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra it is fine as my intention is just to have another simple recording device to get away from my studio desk. I can get anohter iPad later (I have an older one) - but I will keep the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra as it is an amazing device and if it was to work for music it would only be a plus.
Thanks again.
Hi @Intini
I’m glad you found my info useful. Happy to help.
For what you want to do, sketching up songs, Cubasis is worth it, considering that you have Cubase to take them the rest of the way.
Please come back and let us know how you get on with Cubasis.
I think you’ll be very happy with it.
John
Hi @Intini
The vast number of Android devices and operating system variations make it impossible to provide a definitive and reliable compatibility list.
Instead, we offer a freely downloadable Cubasis LE Trial app, which includes a limited feature set of Cubasis and runs in a 30-minute demo mode. This demo mode can be restarted as often as you like.
In demo mode, you can delete the preloaded tracks, add your own, and test the app to ensure your Android device and external audio equipment work seamlessly with Cubasis.
Hope that helps.
Best,
Lars
Hi @LSlowak ,
Thank you. I will follow your suggestion and try to use the LE version and see how it goes.
I understand how difficult it can be to support Android. But I still believe that, while no guarantee can be made, cases of success could perhaps be catalogued. The company AVID (from Pro Tools) comes to mind where they would only qualify a very few “approved systems” where they tested their software and could provide support.
In this line, if you allow me to suggest, Steinberg could test one or two top of the line tablets and mobile phones, for example, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra and the Samsung S25 Ultra, respectively. Then you could test them with two audio interfaces on each device, for example Steinberg’s UR series. In this case, in the certified list, you could also specify the OS version, for example Android 15. It would be a very restrictive guarantee, but at least it would be a guide.
I am an Apple user since the iPhone 3G. But the reason I take the time to suggest this is because flagship Android devices are more than ever equaling or surpassing Apples’s offerings in terms of hardware and software - especially SAMSUNG’s. Perhaps Steinberg could pioneer standards for MIDI and Audio inter App communication for these Android devices as well as start an audio certification test, starting very small. It is obviosly just a suggestion.
Thanks again. All the best.
Hi Rodrigo,
Did you finally try the REM UFX+ with Cubasis and the Samsung Galaxy tablet?
How did it work?
I am very curious as I would think of a similar setup.
Greetings.
Hi, @Santiago_Galan,
I am sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
I did not test my two devices (Galaxy S25 Ultra and Galaxy S10 Ultra) with my RME UFX+ yet. But your question came in time to motivate me to find the time to do it. I will try it and I will let you know in this thread.
Great,
If you can try it I am very interested, that would be the same setup I would like to use. RME hardware has been always great for me, and the Galaxy S10 looks amazing (already have the S25 Ultra, but maybe it is too small to work comfortably).
All best.
Hi, @Santiago_Galan,
As promissed I tried but sadly had no success as the RME UFX+ wasn’t recognized by the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra even in Interface Mode USB2 - the class compliant mode(?). But I didn’t give up. I asked on the RME Forum for help. I have to say that I only tried using with my 32-inch monitor’s embedded USB hub since I don’t have a USB hub. But I will try to connect it directly to the S10 Ultra if I can find a way.
But I must say, if you have an S25 UItra (as I do too), you should try it with your RME interface. What RME interface model do you have? The screen on the S25 Ultra is small but you can connect it to a monitor - I connected my S25 Ultra to my 32-inch monitor and it works great. By all means try your RME interface with the S25 Ultra before you buy the Tab S10 Ultra. Also, please bear in mind that sadly there are many limitations that I am learing about regarding the use of Cubasis on Android due to the lack of standards and other factors. So, even if it works you will miss plugins and other features. I bought my Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra for other resons besides music and I plan to use it for what it can do for music as a bonus. But if you will buy a tablet mainly for music an iPad will give you many more options as of now. I hope this changes as Android’s from SAMSUNG are amazing. I will let you know when I have news on this front.
EDIT 1: I keep trying. I just tried connecting the UFX+ directly to the S10 Ultra with the thunderbolt 2 output of the UFX+ using thunderbolt 2 to thunderbolt 3 USB-C adaptor and it didn’t work on any Interface mode of the UFX+.
However, I tried again with the UFX+ USB3 output cable to the same monitor hub but now using the UFX+ Interface mode in CC mode and the interface was detected by the S10 Ultra! However, I got no audio - the UFX+ shows up on Cubasis. I am still working it out. I will let you know if I have any news.
EDIT 2: I tested with another USB Hub - the same I use for my Windows 11 computer. It also shows up but looks like there is something wrong with the routing as no audios comes out from any channel. I put it in both CC phones and CC 24-ch. But no luck getting audio out. I have to say that this interface having 188-channel surely complicates the setup a bit. I see some options to define mix setups, etc. But I regret to have to say that I will end this research for the moment. I do not have more time for it right now. Perhaps it would work great with a RME Baby Face - but I cannot test it since I don’t have one.
If I hear something relevant from my post about this issue on the RME Forum I will post it here.
Cheers,
Intini
Hi @Intini thanks for your time and for your detailed explanation.
It seems that this is not going to be that easy to make it work, this particular setup. Probably the problems first arise from the use of USB hubs… Anyway, I do not intend to do music seriously with a tablet, I was considering it just as an auxiliary possibility.
I would not use an Ipad neither, as I am out of the Apple world, and do not intend to change this. I am perfectly happy with Samsung phones and tablets, and with windows PCs for music.
Thanks again for all this information, maybe other users will give us further feedback with such setups.
All best.
The performance of Cubasis for Android is strongly related to the Android device in use, same goes for the options to use external hardware (which is supported via using Google’s Oboe).
Here it might be important to know, that Cubasis for Android is limited to stereo input/output when using external hardware.
In comparison, Cubasis for iOS fully support using class compliant audio devices with up to 64 inputs/outputs (depending on the device in use).
Hope that helps!
Best,
Lars
Hi @LSlowak ,
Thanks for the information.
Which is the reason for the limitation to stereo input/output in Cubasis for Android?