From the introduction of their first analog compressor about 20 years ago, PreSonus has been a company known for their innovative ideas and no-compromise approach. When PreSonus decided it was time to make a splash in the digital audio production realm with their Studio One software, they went all-in and hired and acquired some of the best code and minds out there. The folks behind Studio One are the folks behind Cubase, Nuendo, Kristal, VST 3 and other core audio technologies you've likely heard of (or used).
These talented folks started from scratch nearly 10 years ago to create the most powerful, flexible audio production software they could. The culmination of their most-recent efforts--Studio One 3--was released in June. Studio One 3 is available in three version: a freebie to get your feet wet, an Artist version with most features, and a Pro version with all the goodies. Most serious users are going to go with the Pro version, as that's where the real value lies. The libraries bundled with Studio One 3 Professional just keep going: 14 GB of instruments, 40 effects, presets, samples, impulse responses, loops... It's option anxiety.
Thankfully, it's not just quantity that the libraries offer--their quality is also top-notch. I was consistently pleased with what I heard coming out of my speakers, whether it was a multi-layer synth patch or simple channel strip. I have a handful of favored plug-ins that I frequently return to, and several of them were rendered unnecessary by the supplied Studio One 3 plug-ins. The Open Air impulse response reverb is great, Red Light District is a flexible distortion/overdrive effect, and Bitcrusher is sound-mangling fun. Bread-and-butter effects like EQ and compression are similarly excellent.
With software as deep as Studio One 3, putting a friendly face on its power is always a challenge. I found its interface to be quite intuitive and logical, even as a new user. Common functions were easy to access, and the real geeky stuff was only a few clicks away. I figured most stuff out on my own, and only had to hit the online manual a few times. I couldn't always find the answers I needed, though, which points out one area where PreSonus could improve things: documentation.
The developers of Studio One put a lot of thought into workflow, and I appreciated the way the displays toggled to accommodate the task at-hand. Waveform tweaks were one double-click away. Double-click on a virtual instrument region and the piano roll appears at the correct zoom level. Mixer controls drop into the background when working on other areas, but they're one click away. Multiple monitor support (including touch-screen), flexible keyboard shortcuts and an iPad remote app offer even more productivity boosts.
Embracing a “holistic” approach to music production, Studio One 3 works to help with both the very genesis of your music as well as its final steps. On the front end, Studio One 3 can import note, instrument and basic mix data from PreSonus Notion notation software (though there's no elegant way to go the opposite direction). A project view handles the final stages, including mastering and distribution. This type of big-picture thinking permeates Studio One 3, making it feel less like an isolated tool and more like part of a larger production suite.
Studio One 3 works on both Mac and Windows computers, and its hardware requirements are relatively modest. Enough tracks and effects will bring any computer to its knees, but the software seems to be quite efficient with its CPU loading. I tested Studio One 3 on a decent laptop and never once saw it taxed.
As a long-time Sonar and Logic user, Studio One 3 was my first brush with PreSonus software. To say I'm impressed would be an understatement. I liked what I heard from instruments and effects--the 64-bit audio engine of the Pro version offers no-compromise in-the-box mix quality. The user interface is well-conceived and easy on the eyes. Thoughtful touches abound, and clicking onward with the question “I wonder what that does?” often resulted in a pleasant discovery. This software is very flexible, and I never once found a task I couldn't accomplish in a way that made sense to how I work.
Power features worthy of note include track folders, track layers, track groups, quick comping of multiple takes, and more. An arrange view allows whole sections of your song to be moved and reorganized with a simple click. A scratchpad area holds audio or note data so you can easily experiment. Melodyne pitch correction, transient detection and audio quantize help you clean up less-than-stellar performances. Chains of instruments and effects can be saved as one monster preset and recalled with a click. Certain channel parameters can be transferred back and forth between Studio One 3 and StudioLive hardware mixers.
Will church musicians and worship leaders find something to like in Studio One 3? I believe they will. If you use Notion to arrange parts for the worship band, it's an easy step to put those into Studio One 3 to create a demo or backing track. If your church produces their own live or studio-recorded music for CD or Internet distribution, this software has you covered. Scoring a movie for your church's media department? Studio One Pro 3 has video playback support. Already using a PreSonus StudioLive mixer? You may already have a head start on your mix.
Studio One 3 exhibits much fresh thinking about audio production, and the results are impressive. Even if you're already a die-hard user of a different audio tool (as I was), you'll want to take a closer look at Studio One 3.
