At best, Cubase 15 feels like version 14.5. Version 14 should have received more substantial updates before a full version release was warranted—and the same can be said for versions 13 and 12. This practice of releasing a new version every year reduces the focus on updates that should prioritize optimization and bug fixes rather than new features. Steinberg would benefit from moving away from the annual release cycle and instead introducing a major version every two years. The continual addition of new features often introduces new issues while leaving older ones unresolved, resulting in a growing list of persistent problems over time.
To their credit, the addition of Expression Maps is a positive step, even though I personally don’t use them. However, the last two versions have not felt like worthwhile investments. Going forward, I plan to skip annual upgrades and instead update every few versions—perhaps every five years or so—when there are truly meaningful improvements.
As we approach 2026, Cubase’s user interface feels increasingly outdated. Having experience in UI design, I find it surprising that consistency and organization—two fundamental principles of good interface design—remain weak points after 15 versions. These are not complex concepts, yet the software still lacks cohesion. Steinberg also seems to have developed a habit of prioritizing feedback from a small group of VIP users rather than the broader user base, which leads to decisions that don’t always align with what most users actually want or need.
While we can already change certain color elements within the UI, the customization remains limited and inconsistent. A simple solution would be to offer complete color profile options based on previous versions (e.g., Cubase 12, 13, 14, etc.), allowing users to select the look that best fits their preferences. This would be an easy, straightforward, and effective improvement. I would genuinely enjoy contributing to a more functional and aesthetically consistent interface, but unfortunately, that opportunity doesn’t exist.
Instead, we see unnecessary features—such as the volume bar on individual tracks—that add clutter. While this might sound beneficial in theory, it becomes redundant when multiple mixer views already provide volume control, including the sidebar (times 2), lower mixer, and mixer windows. It also forces taller track layouts just to display the instrument button, reducing vertical workspace efficiency. Likewise, the inability to disable the Cubase Hub or remove promotional content, such as YouTube videos, is both frustrating and unnecessary.
Ultimately, companies like Steinberg need to focus on usability and customization. In 2025, creating a fully customizable interface is not a technical challenge—it’s a matter of priorities. After years of waiting for meaningful refinement, it has become clear that the yearly release cycle is driven more by revenue goals than by genuine product advancement. With minimal yearly updates, limited user input, and few lasting improvements, each new version feels like a missed opportunity for progress.
For the record. I’m not trying to be negative, Cubase does many things the best, but this is just what I’ve noticed and have felt like for 4+ years now.
