Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
For bluff capableness , this program almost matches Logic . The project / record album mastering module is worth the toll of admission fee alone , and for $ 15 a calendar month under the new Sphere rental option , you may ignore that “ almost ” . The unexampled Show Thomas Nelson Page will concern those perform live with the aid of a calculator . An excellent DAW , though parts of the the interface suffer from information overburden .
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Studio One 5 integrates some of the scoring abilities of its Notion musical notation program. Version 4 already had a pipeline for exchanging info with the standalone version of Notion.
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Presonus Studio One Professional is a top - tier digital - audio workstation ( call back Logic X ) with some unique and clock time - spare features . My preferent feature , a tops - handy module for organize and subdue albums , has been link in the new version 5 by a clever take on organizing and deal a live performance .
Presonus has also uncover Sphere : an on-line service that delivers the totality of the troupe ’s music package portfolio as well as storage and collaborative feature film for a remarkably affordable $ 15 a month . Even if you ’re a diehard user of another DAW , that guarantee a serious look at a very hefty cortege of music tools .
Studio One 5 integrates some of the scoring abilities of its Notion musical notation program. Version 4 already had a pipeline for exchanging info with the standalone version of Notion.
As of the latest edition 6 , Studio One has ameliorated many of the interface complaints you ’ll show about below . There ’s a new rounder aspect that better delineates regions , customization choice that let you reduce the clutter , as well as smart templates , lyrics support in the notation , a global video caterpillar tread , and more . Still one of the top 5 DAWs on the market place and channelize up the chart .
rendering 7 was released on 10/09/2024and delivers several novel features : the ability to produce outspoken , drum , bass voice and other instrument stems from audio files , a clip launcher like those first seen in Ableton Live , direct admittance to the Splice sample library , global transpose , a softer interface with detachable internet browser , and a new price — only $ 199 for constant use of Pro ( other versions are discontinued ) with one year of updates .
Design and features
By today ’s standard , there ’s nothing startling about Studio One ’s design . However , at its inception in 2009 , it was the first traditional running / mixer DAW to take over a drag and bead — i.e. , you sweep up effects and official document to the timeline to total them to trail ( or make a new track ) . It was also the first to window - pane various expanse of the program ( timeline , web web browser , editors , etc . ) , that is set them together without overlapping .
The original developers were also creditworthy for Nuendo , a surround version of the venerable and pop Cubase from Steinberg . I mention this as Studio One bears more than a pass away resemblance to both those in coming into court and approach .
The layout of the principal windowpane consists of an inspector panel and controls for the current data track to the far leave , track head to the right of those , the timeline sphere for clip ( which may be layered ) , then the web browser app to the far right . At the bottom is the mixing console which swop out with the various editor : pianoforte roll , drum , Melodyne 5visual audio redaction ( a permission is admit ) viaARA2 , and fresh for variant 5 — melodious notation courtesy of the company’sNotion 6score editing software package . opinion was already pipelined to Studio One for easy exchange of data .
This is Studio One’s organizational “Show” page. Unlike with other DAWs with live capabilities more aimed at performers or DJs, this one seeks to accommodate sound engineers and performers using backing tracks, etc.
you may swim the editors as window , and view the notation as such while the drum or piano roll are docked in the bottom pane of glass . The changes in one editor are mirror in the other in actual meter . pat and extremely useful . Dual monitors are also supported if you need to dedicate one video display to desegregate / editing and another to the racetrack area .
As mentioned , where Studio One really plant itself aside from other DAWs is with its Project and Show page . The latter is new for version 5 and is some blood-related to the mixing / automatize performance software package used to turn tail modern point yield .
With Show , you define “ Song ” that encompass “ player ” that can be anything from mixdowns of songs , to external hardware , to stack FX used by alive performers . There ’s a section to create these “ Shows ” ( seen above ) and a streamlined port for actual performance use as testify below .
The performance view for the the Show page is as streamlined as the main interface is cluttered. You can assign various functions to the controllers. I hadn’t which is why they are dark. Sue me.
Since day one ( or translation one , if you prefer ) , Studio One Professional has incorporated the Project page for organizing and mastering your mixdowns into cohesive sounding albums . It ’s unique , and a colossal meter - saver .
tap the prototype above and take a closer look at the plenteous EQ and m option . I know several users who ’ve grease one’s palms Studio One for the Project Thomas Nelson Page alone .
Also , note the Start , Song , Project , Show button at the top of the image . These are how you navigate between Studio One ’s page / modules . When you ’re in the Song dynasty plane section , you ’ll also see Edit , Mix , and graze clitoris at the bottom right . These partially operate what you see in the bottom Lucy in the sky with diamonds and show / hide the web web browser .
Studio One’s Project page is for bringing together mixes into album form and mastering them as a whole. Once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it.
Note that Studio One also allows you to have multiple Song opened and freely copy clipping ( not entire course , alas … ) between them . Logic does this , but it ’s around the bend and not recommend by either Apple or anyone who ’s try it .
I do have one other favorite Studio One feature film — the power to pile VST legal instrument on the same rails . This allows me to stratum sounds from unlike sound source without have got to mess around with a sampler . Presonus also freely bring home the bacon Studio One Remote for Android / iOS for , yes , remote control and military operation .
Editing and workflow
I ’ve already mentioned the various editor , but there are also a embarrassment of average mouse pecker : selection pointer , line pencil , cutting knife , etc . There are also extensive — and I meanextensive — setting carte and key commands ( substance abuser definable ) that countenance you to simply select objects and operate on them — my preferable methodology .
fresh for version 5 isMPE(MIDI Polyphonic Expression ) redaction . If you ’re not familiar , MPE admit every note to have independent pitching , pressure , and timber without resorting to assigning them to different channels ( MIDI 1.x has 16 of these ) . That ’s a primitive explanation , but Studio One handles MPE edit absolutely — highlighting the pertinent MIDI restrainer info for whichever notes you select .
Alas , Studio One 5 ’s proprietary instruments are n’t MPE - enabled yet , and for some reason VST3 instrumental role do n’t currently ferment , only older VST2 types . I had to installXfer Records Serumwavetable synth before the enable MPE alternative was available . Presonus is very good about updates so I expect a more universal solution in short guild .
Studio One’s Impact Drum machine virtual instrument. Several software synthesizers and a sampler are also included.
Ripple editing ( stuff affect around with deletes / insert ) , quantizing , time - stretch , transient editing , and the other advanced feature functioned perfectly in my examination . That say , as with any DAW , if you inflict the forums , you ’ll witness all sorts or reports on bugs , etc . I experienced only a individual , non - replicable crash stretch a VST .
Studio One might not have every feature you ’ll find in Logic and Cuckos Reaper , but that can be said of many DAWs . The basics are more than adequately provided for , and if I have any ailment about the programme , they concern the port . I ’ll get to that in a bit .
Effects and virtual instruments
For version 5 , Presonus has redone the facial expression of some of its effects and updated more than a few of them . The change are listed in the New Features discussion section below . The fact is , they were plentiful and quite practiced to commence with , incubate the gamut from EQs , to compressor , reverbs , postponement , and just about everything in between .
If you visit the audio forums , you ’ll find exploiter arguing over the quality of this EQ or that , this compressor versus another , etc . in person , I observe the word a tempest in a teapot . Presonus plug - Indiana are generally top - notch and dead capable of producing professional results without resorting to third - party offerings . The same as with nearly all jackdaw .
I wo n’t say the quite same for the practical tool . They are very sound and cover most needs , but are n’t as ample as they are in Logic . They also are n’t quite up to the quality I experienced in the recently reviewedUniversal Audio Luna — then again , no one ’s are . Still , like Logic , Studio One ’s instruments are all free while many of Luna ’s are pay - to - play . Bottom line : if you ca n’t make music with the instruments , sample distribution , and loops that ship with Studio One , determine another line of work .
Take a look at this Studio One screen in full bloom. There’s a LOT of stuff, and much of it is similar in appearance. Once you know where everything is, it’s easier to use, but the program could do a lot better job of delineating functions and screen elements.
Welcome changes
A major blessing for starving ( or simply cheap ) musicians is that the $ 99 Artist version of Studio One now supportsthird - partyVSTs without having to purchase an $ 80 add - in . Formerly , only Presonus ’s own proprietary chaw - ins were allowed — a major limit for family line already married to favorite non - Presonus virtual tool . There ’s also a Studio Prime version that ’s free though manifestly , a batch of stuff is missing . you’re able to compare versionshere .
As I bring up up front , there ’s also the fresh Sphere service that includes the professional version of Studio One ; my personal favorite notation program — Notion ; collaborative features and 30 GB of online memory board ; and all the fire hydrant - ins and MBD - ons that Presonus grocery . At $ 15 a calendar month , Sphere is a buy . Especially when you regard that Pro Tools is $ 35 monthlywithoutall the plug - Indiana , and the perpetual license for Studio One 5 Professional is $ 399 .
New features
This is our first review of Studio One so I ’ve stick for the most part with the fundamentals . Version 5 offers a number of young features I have n’t yet cover . Here they are along with some recaps .
An eyeful of an interface
As you may have find in the screen guessing above , and specially the one just below , there ’s an awe-inspiring circumstances of stuff visible in Studio One at time . Much of it is similar , much of it is tiny , some of it is ill specify , and unlike with Logic , you ca n’t hide what you do n’t require or call for . You might love this . You might not .
I tend towards the “ not ” final stage of the spectrum , as the result of so much similar and tiny ocular clutter is that my eye call for a long prison term to sharpen on the feature or tool that I need — even when I recognize its location . When I do find it , the icon is often so tiny that it requires very precise mouse movements .
These otiose endorsement are n’t a monumental burden when editing or mixing , but when I have an legal instrument in my hands and I ’m trying to constrict creative ideas out , it can really kill the vibe .
In blondness , Studio One is modeled after old - schoolhouse mixing consoles , where everything , being corporal , is always in plain sight . With intimate noesis and lots of use , the everything - at - hand overture might save drug user clock time . sense gratuitous to let me know what your experience are .
Fantastic features—for rent or perpetuity
There ’s no denying Studio One ’s king or scope . I have my colic about the interface , but I have friends that think the GUI is the bee ’s knee . Opinions on DAWs are like that , and Studio One has lot of fast , enthusiastic substance abuser .
The rattling news for everyone is Sphere . Only demand the Project or Show page for a month or two ? You no longer need to furcate over $ 400 for the perpetual license . Even struggling musicians can yield $ 15 for 30 days .
I ’d be remiss if I did n’t also mention that Presonus sells somesonically first-class and fantastically low-cost audio hardware . I ’ve possess several of the company ’s user interface . you may read my TechHive review of the Presonus humbled - end Eris E4.5 studio monitorshere .
