Studio One (S1) thread: where did the folks go after PreSonus shut down forums?

[Aloe]

Hey,

I've been using S1 since V3 Pro and still think it's a very nice piece of software. Fender bought PreSonus and there are dramatic changes in how things would be.

The first thing was the subscription-only model and no affordable Artist edition anymore. For me that means that a supported S1 would cost me $150 every year, not $150 every 3-4 years.

The second thing is PreSonus closed the Community Forums. Now there's no place to discuss if the new release is stable before upgrading to it, discuss hacks and share macros. That's really a bold move. I could live with the price 50% larger than Cubase, but no user forums seem really unwelcome to me as a user.

So, my questions yet:
1. where are the S1 users now? is there a place where users discuss their experience with latest releases, bugs, stability reports, hacks, etc.? yeah, I know about Reddit, but it seems like the discussions there are much more scarce and much less informed and tech-savvy than I'm used to have on the old PreSonus Forums.

2. anyone dumped S1 recently in favour of Logic? any experience to share? I know that Logic doesn't have the super-convenient cue mixes of S1 and know it has somewhat of an alien interface, but really don't know more.

3. I'm still on V5, is it worth finding a V6 second-hand for the next year or so (until V7 would be usable or I'll decide on moving on to anything else) or it's like still not very polished? the latest V5 works marvelous for me, albeit not officially supported on my macOS version (actually not supported in any way, I believe) and I delayed the V6 upgrade as there were unsolved regressions in V6, is that still true?

Thanks.

 

[DanAdams]

I think that the future may be erratic, unpredictable, and perhaps become more beginner-focused as a Fender subscription service.
If I were Fender, having software that paired well with (or was even a part of) their guitar lessons would make more sense than continuing to develop yet another pro level DAW in a sea of bigger more popular DAWs.

 

[ardgedee]

Personally I've replaced every subscription-based software that I can: Adobe graphics software has been replaced by other products, I won't go near MS Office 365, and so on. In total they are a massive money sink and when some of them are only for occasional or hobby use the costs are absurd, and when proprietary file formats are involved it means a third party is literally holding your work hostage.

I'm still on freebie DAWs like Garage Band and Audacity but when I upgrade to a larger-scale platform the cost structure will absolutely be a factor in what I choose.

 

[Aloe]

I think that the future may be erratic, unpredictable, and perhaps become more beginner-focused as a Fender subscription service.
If I were Fender, having software that paired well with (or was even a part of) their guitar lessons would make more sense than continuing to develop yet another pro level DAW in a sea of bigger more popular DAWs.

sad, but could be totally true, especially considering the Fender's CEO statement on acquisition, where he said, Fender wants to simplify this big complicated professional software. some years will tell us, where it goes, tho.

it's very sad, considering former Cubase engineers made a very nice job to design and implement a better thing from the ground. yeah, it also had a bit of conceptual shortcomings and weird bugs not sorted out in decades, but it was just better for me than competitors. if this legacy just will be retired, well, it's bad news.

Personally I've replaced every subscription-based software that I can: Adobe graphics software has been replaced by other products, I won't go near MS Office 365, and so on.

I dig the O365 BTW. it replaced the Dropbox and Evernote subscriptions for me and besides it's cheaper, I also get an Office license for several devices. if the deal was in yearly payments alone for an exchange for a better development, I'd swallow it.

and when proprietary file formats are involved it means a third party is literally holding your work hostage.

to be really frank, it's not as bad. they still offer a lifetime license, but don't give you the updates if you don't pay. to me the most concern to move out is uncertainty in development. I want a stable software, where not only new shiny features are introduced, but the bugs are fixed as well. they had a somewhat working release cycle, where going up to the x.5 version usually got you a stable environment. now it's not clear, when bugs are ought to be fixed and where users can discuss, if they were fixed or not.

yesterday I've gone through my projects to update legacy plugins to supported ones, legacy being: Kontakt 6, EZDrummer 2, Focusrite Red V1. but moving your stuff across DAWs is always a pain.

it's not really about proprietary formats, to put it simple, there's no way to open a moderately complex project from one grown-up DAW in another. yeah, you can transfer tracks, stems, maybe some automations, but that's it. in real life you'll be using some plugins from your DAW that just won't sound the same as different plugins from another DAW. so, TLDR: AAF/OMF/AATranslator do exist, but it's only a way to recover some data, not the whole project.

 

[ardgedee]

I dig the O365 BTW. it replaced the Dropbox and Evernote subscriptions for me and besides it's cheaper, I also get an Office license for several devices. if the deal was in yearly payments alone for an exchange for a better development, I'd swallow it.

If it works for you, that's fine. I'll only subscribe if I need it that specific software to make money. And then when the job is over so is the subscription.

The upside with Office365, at least, is that Office is one of the products that defines Microsoft and will only be terminated when Microsoft disappears, which will probably not be in our lifetimes. Can't say the same thing about Studio 1; it's not one of Fender's core products so if it doesn't make them enough money they'll fraction it off or EOL it.

 

[Jogobass]

I got Studio One with my Presonus audiobox 96. it still works. It does everything I need in a DAW. No reason to upgrade to something else or even the same thing. I just record my bass with some drum loops or programmed things. It came with free plugins too. I have a Model D grand piano for free basically.

 

[Aloe]

No reason to upgrade to something else or even the same thing.

until after an OS upgrade your old DAW won't open. if that wasn't the case for me, I'd still be rocking the V4.
in some years my V5 also won't work on the new macOS.

unfortunately, dedicating a machine and running it on an old unsupported OS isn't as well an option for me.
yeah, I know, but I prefer running a supported DAW with supported plugins on a supported OS.

 

[Hillie]

I'm (still) using studio one. I guess I'll just have to dump it for Reaper or something else then. The subscription models suck.

Edit: It looks like they still do perpetual licenses, so that's good.

 

[Phaidrus]

If it works for you, that's fine. I'll only subscribe if I need it that specific software to make money. And then when the job is over so is the subscription.

The upside with Office365, at least, is that Office is one of the products that defines Microsoft and will only be terminated when Microsoft disappears, which will probably not be in our lifetimes. Can't say the same thing about Studio 1; it's not one of Fender's core products so if it doesn't make them enough money they'll fraction it off or EOL it.

Empires rise and fall. It's an historical inevitability and works like checks and balances in the long run. In the short run, we have to endure the corporate greed of Microsoft, Apple and the rest of it.

 

[taliesin]

I used Cubase for years but when my older version reached EOL I moved to Reaper - it's free and as open source it's not beholden to a given corporate owner's whims. It also works well for my use which is mostly recording demos with a programmed drum track and limited number of instruments.

Like ardgedee I avoid subscription models when I can.

 

[Aloe]

I moved to Reaper - it's free and as open source

actually it's neither free, nor open-source.

I used Reaper before S1 and still have it around for older songs from a decade ago. I'd prefer something different this time, so aiming for a Logic Pro if I'll have to move.

 

[Lowbrow]

I do not pay much attention to changes like the ones discussed and I've been happily using S1 Producer 2.6.5 for years. I'm no pro producer so the shortcomings of the software itself aren't particularly of concern.
Is there something going on that might affect my ongoing use, or is the issue lack of support should I need it?

 

[Deleted member 271037]

If cost matters it's hard to beat Reaper. I had to spend some time tweaking the settings before I felt comfortable with the workflow, but now I love it.

If cost isn't an issue, there are lots of good options. Choosing the "best" DAW is purely a matter of personal taste. For me personally nothing beats Cubase.

 

[N4860]

I have been using Reaper for over a decade and still enjoy it. If anyone decides to try it, the following website is an amazing resource of information and tutorials: REAPER | Videos

 

[silky smoove]

There are some resources here: Invalid Link Removed

anyone dumped S1 recently in favour of Logic? any experience to share? I know that Logic doesn't have the super-convenient cue mixes of S1 and know it has somewhat of an alien interface, but really don't know more.

The opposite in a way. I tried dumping Logic for a few other DAWs, and while S1 is what I liked among the others I tried, I still preferred Logic and stuck with it. Its interface is only alien while you’re learning it, which is the case with any DAW. I’m unfamiliar with S1’s cue mix system, but I do all of my cue mixes in the analog domain anyway, so for me it’s a non-issue, and there may be something comparable in Logic. Just like with any DAW, there are likely things in Logic that you’d like which aren’t available in S1.

 

[Aloe]

Is there something going on that might affect my ongoing use, or is the issue lack of support should I need it?

probably if you're okay with it yet, you will be okay as long as it launches or as long as you won't need to reinstall it.

I need Melodyne 5, so only S1 5+ works for me. 4 was also great, but Melodyne integration worked in a different way.

the green Z monitoring is just superb since 3.4, in 4.x they optimized the virtual instruments to be more usable in a high-latency environment as well.

not sure when the arranger track appeared, but I believe 2.6 doesn't have it. I also have uses for it.

 

[Aloe]

I’m unfamiliar with S1’s cue mix system, but I do all of my cue mixes in the analog domain anyway, so for me it’s a non-issue, and there may be something comparable in Logic.

not really, I believe. AFAIK the only thing Logic has to offer is to route cue mixes through buses, which is a terrible clutter. when you change a value in the main mix, you have to replicate it in all cue buses.

in S1 there's a usual mixer without extra buses, but you can 'unlock' the cue mix for any bus or track and just set up the level of this track in a specific cue mix with a fader. when done -- just lock it again and it's following the main mix again. that's really a very comfortable way to use cue mixes.

I think, a video will explain it better:

 

[js1]

There is a new forum at studiooneforum.com. Most of the active posters from the old forum have already moved there, and there's the same or higher level of activity. It has a similar vibe to the old forum, on much better forum software. Ari from Presonus even came over to post the release notices for 7.0.1.

Though I think the closing of the Presonus forums was a short sighted mistake, I wouldn't jump to doom and gloom conclusions about the product.

 

[N. Kentucky Bass]

The comment about hobby users is spot on. I've used several DAWs over the years and have been in the Presonus camp for a long time because the interface is easy to use and enables powerful results. However, the last update to version 5.5.2.86528 was in Spring/early Summer of 2022 and that's what I'm still running. Subsequent versions have not been compelling enough to spend the extra money, and the thought of buying a subscription for occasional hobby use is a non-starter. Fender has delusions of grandeur if they truly believe it's possible to squeeze a recurring stream of cash from hobby users (which are the majority of their customer base). Good Enough = Good Enough.

 

[meisi]

Often in the professional space when stuff like this happens we stay glued to what works.

It becomes a pain to manage in itself but you can always virtualize windows versions to facilitate backwards compatibility. But, if you’re not already savvy to this and have an extra computer laying around for the task it can be daunting in itself. But, totally viable and the bar has never been lower to setting this up.

Unfortunately software as a service is a thing and we can only vote with our wallets.

For how long it takes to get fully versed in a DAW it’s unfortunate when they try to hook the customer into paying a subscription to keep that familiarity.