When comparing Studio One vs Cakewalk by Bandlab, the Slant community recommends Cakewalk by Bandlab for most people. In the question“What are the best free DAWs?” Cakewalk by Bandlab is ranked 1st while Studio One is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose Cakewalk by Bandlab is:
It has an integrated Channel Strip on every track/bus with excellent and easy to use Audio FX: EQ, Comp, Reverbs, Saturation, Console Emulators etc.In addition to saving presets of the entire ProChannel chain (all modules), you can also save and load presets of individual modules. The per module preset controls are located on the left side of each module header bar.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Efficient DAW workflow
The Studio One DAW doesn't expect users to deal with a lot of windows, answer questions, or use the mouse excessively. This DAW is known for lettings users be creative without getting in the way.
Pro Easy to use DAW interface
All components are laid out in an understandable fashion and almost everything is drag and drop.
Pro Melodyne built-in
The Real Melodyne is integrated in the actual DAW. No other DAW is set up to streamline Melodyne.
Pro Awesome smart tool
Hovering over different parts of the events in the arrange window activates different tools.
Pro Creative songwriting and arrangement tools
Use the 'scratch pad' work on multiple versions for your song without leaving the main window.
Pro Lightweight on lower CPU
Pro Good interface compatibility
Works great with interfaces, and doesn't fight with ASIO drivers.
Pro Automatic delay compensation
When a plugin takes time to process a sound, the Studio One DAW detects the gap and compensates.
Pro Very stable DAW
Performance is rock solid and very efficient, even on lower spec computers.
Pro Multiple key command templates
Possible to use key commands from Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, etc.
Pro Drag and Drop feature is quite flexible and allows for massive free form modification on the fly
Pro Eficient quality , all more easy and fast
Pro The best DAW in Market and future standard
Pro Chord track
Chord track can be used by inserting chords or getting them from an inserted track.
Pro Dedicated mastering page
Studio one has a page dedicated specifically to mastering which can be very useful when trying to finish your song.
Pro Bounces MIDI in place
When bouncing from MIDI to audio, a new track won't be created, the clip will stay in the same place. When bouncing a specific part of a MIDI clip, it will be placed in a new track.
Pro Vocalign built in
Vocalign Project is can be integrated with the option to upgrade to Vocalign Pro.
Pro Available with a rent-to-own option from Splice
For those that can't afford to pay for a full professional DAW in one swoop, this is an amazing opportunity to get Studio One 4 Professional in monthly payments.
Pause and resume payments when you want or cancel at any time.
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 Almost perfect
Can't complain about Studio One so much. It is almost perfect.
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.
Pro Working with your iPad makes it easier
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 Full Screen MIDI editor
Pro Powerful Track/Channel search and filter options
Managing large projects with a huge track and channel count is now faster and easier than ever with the addition of powerful search and filter options.
Pro Secondary Timeline Ruler option
View minutes:seconds with bars and beats at the same time! A must for film composers.
Pro Notion 6 easy and full integration for scoring
Pro Studio One+ Subscription - best subscription under 20$
Software of Studio One plus cloud storage and packs, and a lot of other stuff included just for a tiny fee each month or year.
Pro Best stock plugins
Pro Support for Atmos - Surround
They now support surround . in version 6.5.
Pro Scratch Pad
Area to arrange all your tracks without touching the main arrangement.
Pro Easy Macros and creating new ones
Pro Easy sidechain routing
Pro Big features in Minor Updates
Studio One doesnt wait putting big features until a major updates comes.
Pro Size in HDD/SSD
It's the lightest DAW there is, Studio One is less than 400mb.
Pro Converts project from Bitwing
Pro Version 5 is the law
Pro ProChannel
It has an integrated Channel Strip on every track/bus with excellent and easy to use Audio FX: EQ, Comp, Reverbs, Saturation, Console Emulators etc.In addition to saving presets of the entire ProChannel chain (all modules), you can also save and load presets of individual modules. The per module preset controls are located on the left side of each module header bar.
Pro SONAR Platinum without the 3rd parties like Melodyne, etc.
It is basically SONAR for free after they shut down.
Pro Best plugins
There are a variety of tools available, including the fantastic reverb plugin from Overloud, Breverb2.
Pro 32/64 bits plugin
The program itself is only 64 bits but it runs 32 and 64 bits plugin. If you still have a great plugin that never got to 64 bits this comes in handy.
Pro Unlimited tracks
No track and busses limitation.
Pro ARA 2 integration
This feature makes working with Celemony Melodyne and other ARA compatible plug-ins a breeze.
Pro Basic set of instruments
Cakewalk comes with a basic set of VST instruments: A general MIDI synth, drums, e-piano, bass and a string section.
Pro Updated frequently
Pro Intuitive workflow
Cakewalk comes with friendly defaults and it has a similar workflow to analog studio gear.
Pro Much improved stability of late, especially recent releases such as 2019.07
Pro Advanced comping workflow with Audio and MIDI Take Lanes and Automation Lanes
Easily create a final comp of all your recorded takes with simple drag and select gestures using the smart tool.
Pro Laptop-friendly interface
Good for people with a small-screened laptop.
Pro Edit MIDI Automation on Instrument Tracks
Pro VST3 Support
Pro Arranger Track
The Arranger track is an arrangement tool that provides several workflow benefits .For example, instantly swap the positions of the first and second chorus for all tracks, or copy the first verse in order to double its duration.Experiment with different song structures in a non-destructive and non-linear manner. You can Create arbitrary song sections anywhere on the project timeline and then stitch them together for seamless playback, sections provide an additional way to make time-based project selections and edits. You can also create an unlimited number of arrangements per project, which can all be exported simultaneously.
Pro Highly customizable user interface
The Cakewalk By Bandlab DAW comes with a new and improved user interface with an additional focus on being customizable.
Pro In-app updater
You can now download and install future updates directly from Cakewalk instead of using BandLab Assistant.
Pro Articulation Maps
Cakewalk by Bandlab recently added Articulation Maps If you work with sample libraries and virtual instruments, articulation maps are sure to improve your MIDI and articulation / keyswitch workflow Articulation maps provide a much easier way to change articulation, without having to manually edit events MIDI on the track.
Pro Export to Standard MIDI File
Pro Step Sequencer
The Step Sequencer makes it easy to compose patterns using a grid, where each cell (step) represents a note. You create patterns by clicking the cells in the grid to turn notes on or off, or by using step recording.
Pro In-app activation
You can now activate Cakewalk directly from within the app, without requiring BandLab Assistant. Cakewalk must be activate once every 6 months.
Pro Cakewalk Theme Editor
Cakewalk Theme Editor allows you to easily customize the look of Cakewalk by editing existing UI themes or creating your own UI themes.
You can change colors directly and you can even customize images when used in combination with an external image editor such as Adobe Photoshop.
Pro Mix Recall
Mix Recall allows you to save and recall multiple mixes for the same project, without having to save multiple copies of the project file.
A mix can be saved as a Mix Scene within the project, and each project can store multiple Mix Scenes. A Mix Scene contains all track, bus, hardware output, ProChannel and plug-in static and automation mix settings.
Pro Compatible with touchscreens
Pro Runs smooth with lots of tracks and VSTs in a project
Without stuttering even without ASIO hardware because of recent overhaul of the audio engine
Cons
Con The DAW can't be used as a ReWire component
The DAW can be used as a ReWire host, but cannot be used as a ReWire component. This is frustrating if you like some of the instrument sounds and virtual synths in Studio One, but prefer another DAW to do your main work in.
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 Bad customer service
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 Archaic
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 Interface signal selection is obtuse and not as intuitive as other DAWs
Con Stuck notes when working with hardware synths
Working with multiple hardware synths with a MIDI hub is impossible as of version 6. SO creates stuck notes and it's midi panic system can't fix the issue.
Con Limited feature set
Con Crashes often, not very stable and runs poorly even on powerful systems
Con Melodyne/Vocaline/Splitter
All those tools are there for a show off and crash engine 9 times out of 10. Using all 3 in one project will increase chance of crash by 3 making program unusable.
Con Built in instruments
All built in instruments and most of effect are primitive and worthless.
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 Non-free software
Does not respect your freedom. Does not provide source code.
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.
Con Old code
Cakewalk is based on old code, that is why you see errors randomly. Since more than a decade ago no function has been improved - they were more concerned in the past with buzzwords and packaging third party software than in improving their own tools. The result is that it is now a decade behind developing competitors. There are better DAWs on the market that outperform Cakewalk. Free doesn't mean having the latest and greatest in technology - Cakewalk has never had it, there are important components of that DAW that haven't been touched for almost two decades, and they will likely never get the upgrade they need.
Con Frequent crashes
Cakewalk has constant errors such as engine crashing when working with songs with more than 100 tracks, it loses saved settings, BSOD, it randomly stops recognizing your midi controller and disconnects, do not try to disconnect it, the software goes crazy, your tracks are exchanged for other vst or midi clips known bug years ago.
Con Windows only
Cakewalk by BandLab is currently available exclusively for 64 bit versions of Windows 7, 8, and 10. There are no current plans for availability on other operating systems.
Con Uses middleware for installation
It's a con for those who don't like having to use a program to install and update another program. The Bandlab's installer doesn't even have the courtesy to stop and ask you where you want the middleware installed.
Con Non-free software
Does not respect your freedom. Does not provide source code.also if it were really free, there wouldn't be any need for the Bandlab Assistant and signing up, and having to reauthorize every 6 months or drop into 'Demo' mode (get that? Demo mode in a FREE product :lol: :clap:), you would just download, install, done . . . there is a price to pay.
Con Unfinished features
Cakewalk has some buggy and unfinished features, probably due to marketing decisions and the changes of ownerships: Staff view, Matrix View, Audiosnap etc.
Con Crashes too often
For a complete and free package it is amazing what Bandlab is offering here. But crashes on startup or audio engine failures happen too often.
Con Doesn't always ask for or respect your drive assignment choices during installation
If you are squished for space on your boot drive, don't install this. It automatically sets up the Bandlab Assistant on C without giving you the opportunity to put it elsewhere. If you choose to use certain Cakewalkfeatures like the Drum replacer, it just starts installing all the drum samples onto drive C regardless of the fact that you've already set up a Cakewalk Content directory on D.
Con Obsolete VST
Unfortunately Cakewalk has a kind of philosophy of recycling old plugins under the DX and DXi code such as the sonitus fx and the newly added Classic Creative Suite audio effects (which were included in old versions of previously known SONAR) in its new update, which requires to new users or beginners to look for free or paid plugins, since these plugins are once again surpassed by the best vst in the market in addition to that they often sometimes block the software and disappear strangely, which is sad since most Of the DAW's on the market, both paid and free, include their own factory plugins so that the user does not have to spend any penny on third-party plugins.
Con Stability and unfinished features
Stability and tools are unfinished. As an example, AudioSnap simply does not work as it should when editing transients in the audio and staff view it does not work correctly.
Con Incompatible hardware
If you like to work with external hardware, this software is not compatible with most software: when inserting an external effect on a track or bus, the DAW will crash and send you an error message. This is because Cakewalk has not fixed in years the problem with external insertions, which puts it behind the competition.
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 Does not offer sampling instrument
Cakewalk does not have a sampling instrument for multisample playback and import. Third-party plug-ins exist but they often crash the DAW. It is strange that cakewalk does not have a sampler for the modern musician.
Con No future
Cakewalk by Bandlab does not have a promising future since the company that acquired it does not even market it. For example, Cakewalk's social media platforms are practically dead, the user base seems small and, in general, it seems past for high. The Bandlab pages are live, but without even minimal mentions of Cakewalk on your website or social media, it will one day die quietly.
Con Does not have a Drum sampler
In the same way, Cakewalk does not have a drum sampler for playing and creating beats from jazz musicians to EDM producers.
Con Too laggy
It doesn't matter if you have a decent enough PC or solid and robust cakewalk is too laggy when one navigates between the mixing console the PRV. It is not optimized for Windows 10.
Con Unusable Pro-Channel
Unusable third party Pro-Channel modules such as Softube (Mix Bundle) and Overloud (BREVERB and REMATRIX) will not work properly when trying to open a project with them will cause Cakewalk to crash on the desktop.