Recs.
Updated
SpecsUpdate
Pros
Pro Melodyne built-in
The Real Melodyne is integrated in the actual DAW. No other DAW is set up to streamline Melodyne.
Pro Good interface compatibility
Works great with interfaces, and doesn't fight with ASIO drivers.
Pro Drag and Drop feature is quite flexible and allows for massive free form modification on the fly
Pro Score view
This view is very powerful because it not only “shows” the MIDI notes as a score, but it also lets you add, edit and remove notes in standard music notation. It includes all the formatting rules, articulations, note values, clefs and general symbols from Presonus’ Notion software.
Pro Show page
Allows you to go from the studio to the stage or stream with other musicians through the interface. You can create a Setlist using your Songs created in Studio One, and combine them with a mix of live instruments, pre-recorded tracks, and virtual instruments.
Each song in the Setlist can have its own unique instrumentation. Songs in your set can be rearranged on the fly using drag-and-drop, and any element from your Song files can be added to your Show via simple copy-and-paste or direct export.
Switching to Performance view with a meter and customisable control over each parameter, means you can adjust in real-time while on Stage.
Pro Insert plugins on actual events, not just tracks
Have you ever wanted a delay on just a word or so. No need to automate or move to a separate track. No need to print it to the clip and run out of room on the audio file. Simply amazing feature.
Pro Clip gain envelopes
Clip Gain Envelopes represent a new layer of gain introduced in Studio One 5, which is independent from the audio event as well as the volume automation. This feature is ideal for applying gain correction before the signal hits the inserts, specially useful when dealing with extremely dynamic vocal tracks and sections in general that are too soft or too loud.
The user can create breakpoints within the clip by clicking on the curve, and then dragging either up or down in order to increment or reduce the clip’s gain. These gain modifications will be shown on the waveform.
The process is simple, fast, and extremely effective.
Cons
Con Free version does not support 3rd party plugins
He can limit the tracks or etc., but no vst support for free version makes this piece of software a garbage!
Con Frustrating controls
The mouse wheel is used for both scrolling and for controls (fader, pan, etc.) manipulation, depending on what's under the pointer; you may very well be scrolling through the tracks in the mixer only to suddenly discover that you are changing the volume of a track because the pointer entered the fader space. Users have been requesting a fix for this for several years now (there can't possibly be anyone who thinks this is a good design), but it's still a problem. Also, you may try to select a track only to end up changing its color or some other unexpected behavior.
Con Interface
The interface Graphical is comic bookish. While the DAW is useful there are better interfaces out there. One of the biggest issues is how the signal path is selected. Other DAW's work more like a patchbay allowing for a more visual interaction with the program. Studio One is different and a little obtuse. For example, Digital performer 11, Protools 11, Sonar Producer provide a better experience.
Con Not always clear how to undo your changes
Some controls are very easy to set, only to be nearly impossible to figure out how to undo. For example, hiding a track is a simple right-click away, but unhiding the track requires finding a hidden screen and clicking on a dot beside the track name.
Con Automation
Only my complaint so far is the automation. It affects the fader, so if you use automation for the volume, the fader gets useless. Other DAWs such as Reaper and Mixcraft offers separate automation function and it doesn't affect the fader.
Another one if I pick, the design of the plugins has been changed too colorful and it's not necessary though. I prefer the design of version 4, simple grey and white style. The prettier, the more CPU usage.
Recommendations
Comments
Flagged Pros + Cons
Pro Has retrospective recording
Retrospective Recording captures everything you play on your keyboard or controller—even without hitting record! It works invisibly in the background on a track-by-track basis.
Pro Has retrospective recording
Retrospective Recording captures everything you play on your keyboard or controller—even without hitting record! It works invisibly in the background on a track-by-track basis.
Con Interface
The interface Graphical is comic bookish. While the DAW is useful there are better interfaces out there. One of my biggest issues is how the signal path is selected. Other DAW's work more like a patchbay allowing for a more visual interaction with the program. Studio one is different and a little obtuse. I have Digital performer 11, Protools 11, Sonar Producer and Studio One 3.5. All of these (other than Studio one) provide a better experience but of course once you get used to a DAW other DAWs feel odd!
Con Keyboard modifiers cannot be customized
A keyboard modifier is a shortcut used in conjunction with mouse input (like command and drag to duplicate). The Studio One DAW offers keyboard modifiers, but there is no way to customize them.
Out of Date Pros + Cons
Con No real support for synth hardware
SO3 cannot control your synth. You cannot see/control or access patches, their names, or SysEx. It seems that everything is centered around use of virtual instruments, and not hardware synth.
Con No score sheet
There is no built-in score sheet for MIDI tracks, not even a basic one: you must do everything with the Piano Roll. The program may interface with Notation to do that, but you have to buy it separately and it is still clumsy.
Con No snap to zero crossing
Snap to zero crossing lines up audio's waveform at the optimum position so it won't sound glitchy. The Studio One DAW does not directly offer this feature.
Con Poor waveform drawing
The waveform drawing looks like something from a much cheaper or free DAW from the 1990s.