My Unfiltered Thoughts on Studio One 6.6 Update 

EDIT: PreSonus JUST started offering Lead Architect as a separate purchase if you don’t want to join Studio One + 💪

I've been an S1 user since 2,0 (I think) and a huge fanboy since 3. I think FenderSonus really let us down with this release and quite frankly, misled us. I spent +20 years in the software business building and selling software you use every day. I understand what goes into these decisions and I understand what they mean to end users like me. The best thing about this whole fiasco, I now know more about Ableton Live than I ever thought I would....and I'm having a blast. Thanks for all you great content.

Thank you for your opinion. It really makes sense with what you are saying.

I'm a Cubase Pro 13 user but did buy S1 3 to 5 but and back to Cubase. These days I work a lot in Studio One 6 Artist. Bought it on Black Friday. Like Artist since it is not bloated and does pretty much everything. I do like this new subscription price and that you keep the license after 12 months. This is the best in class for a Daw.

100% agree with you. They kind of blew it with the messaging for the hybrid plus name change for the yearly subscription model, and subscriber only availability for lead architect. Caused a lot of panic in the community. The big freakout that I was able to identify was mostly from Perpetual license users who are afraid that the perpetual license only option is going away eventually. Presonus says they will continue to offer and support a perpetual license only purchaseing model so.. hopefully they stick to that.

Hi there. The issue for me is that before this update, you could purchase add ons for example without being exlusive member. Now, everithing is under the s1+. Im a fat channel user and I bougugjt some extra emulations..now I cant without becoming a member. Suscription plans and RENT TO OWN crap is where the world is going....if we allow it

The way the market this update was bad, but the update itself are really good. The hybrid license is the best for anyone and is the Route to go for all DAWS!!!!

Why don't they sell the lead synth if you don't want the subscription package? Just sell it. Or make plug ins to sell?

That blegh was the cherry on top🤘🏼

We love S1 but despise the fact that stuff we paid to use has disappeared. Taught us to transform/print tracks more often...and stay adept at a 2nd DAW. We went full S1/Samplitude w ACID during the Gibson-Cakewalk fiasco. S1 kicks arse but this sub crab is just that...crap.

I still use Studio One 5 pro. Had the subscription but I didn't feel the need to continue. I have 3rd party plugins that fill the gap between 5 and 6. I dont use Atmos so I will keep using 5 and save money monthly until Presonus drops something monumental.

People have already said it, but from what I've gathered, the main reason people are complaining is that they've take away the oportunity to buy the VSTs if you're not subscriped (and not only the new Synth, everything). If I could just buy the new Synth for a reasonable price I'd be fine with that part. As you say, the new subscription is a good deal, but frankly only if you don't already own a license. I already own a Studio One 6 Pro license now. I've was a subscriber for a few years, and frankly it didn't offer my anything I couldn't have gotten with a normal license. For me the only thing I'd want from the subscription atm is the new Synth. I'm not gonna pay $180 for this Synth, that would be madness. Also this is just the last in a line of "deals" they have that only benefit new users. I more and more get a feeling they don't care at all about excisting users. It's nice that you've had good experiences with the people at Presouns, but it's obvious you got connections most of us don't have. I started my S1 journey with a 1 year (paid up front) subscription. When that year was almost over, I noticed there were some amazing deals for 1 year subscriptions (Black Friday, up to 70% off at some retailers), and I wanted to buy that to renew my own subscription. Only I couldn't. Cause I was already a subscriber... I contacted Presonus support about it, and was literally told to let my currect subscription run out, and then buy the new on sale. That's just not a good way to treat your current customers imo. If they're gonna offer 1 year subs 30-70% off on sale, they really need to give current members that offer as well. That's not the only time they've offered extra stuff for new subscribers either. There was a sign up now and get 3 free months or Splice or something similar (last year I think). Again, only available to new subscripers. Nothing for the ones of us that was already subscribed. People weren't to happy about that one either. And they don't really seem to care about feedback from users. I love Joe and Gregor, but their community interaction feels like a one way street to me (so not really interaction after all actually). Also if I did not own a licens of S1 Pro already, I'd be very hesitant to buy the hybrid now. I have a strong suspicion that Studio One 7 will come out in just over a year. Which means anyone buying the Subscription now will either have to renew that for another year to get S1 7, or buy the upgrade. Again, it really is only a good deal if you don't already own S1 imo. Personally I took advantage of their Black Friday sale to upgrade a Artist version I got through some hardware this last Black Friday instead of renewing my subscription this time (it was the same this BF as last btw, if you wanted a % off on the subscrption off retailers, you had to let your current sub run out first). And the only reason I bought the upgrade was so I could crossgrade to Cubase 13. I knew Cubase would be on sale around easter, and as expected it was. So I basically got Cubase 13 Pro + Studio One Pro for the same price as C13P would have costed me anyways. I really like Studio One as a DAW (and I'll probably jump between the two), but I've lost all fate in their business model, and frankly have not had any good experience with their customer support so far myself. Steinberg thus far have been a lot better in that regard, and their focus on community interaction seems way better as well.

PreSonus' adoption of a subscription model for Studio One, while aligned with market trends, faces challenges similar to other companies. This shift creates a feeling of Studio One becoming more "pay-as-you-go" and potentially neglecting perpetual licenses like my professional version. This focus on subscriptions could hinder their long-term competitiveness in the professional market. It's worth noting that Bitwig offers a modular DAW model that some might find more future-proof, a least I'm considering to change lanes.

Just a question ! Why can't presonus sell like FL Studio . Just buy once and lifetime free updates . You don't have to pay again and again

People are just not thinking that deeply about this. Rent to own incentivizes the company to make it worth it for a customer to pay for the next year of updates. So in order to get money studio one or bitwig have to provide enough value to make it worth it to the customer. It is a much more honest contract then an outright subscription model that say avid has been using.

yo that track was killing!

I know this wasn't what you asked for but I wanted to chime in anyway. I'm a perpetual license guy to the core. Ever since Adobe went with their subscription model, I've hated it. I would rather pay to own something than to have to keep paying to make sure I still have access to it. However, the whole subscription model with PreSonus is no big deal to me. As long as they keep offering both, I'll be happy. The one thing that I am concerned about, is if they stop making the the effects part of the perpetual license. Don't care about the virtual instruments. That's not their strong suit, IMHO. But if I see that they stop making things like FatChannel and EQ3 part of perpetual, then I'm gonna have a problem. Especially if they don't make it affordable to purchase separately (like less than $100). Not what you wanted to know, I know, but I wanted to put it out there for other people to respond to so I can see if I'm on this boat alone or if there are other people rowing with me in the same direction. Peace! Paul😁😜

Hey, And first thank you fir your great channel, and your pedagogique way of transmitting knowledge about S1. I'm a full time producer, musician, and teacher.And I use S1 PRO for 4 years now, paying upgrades, but no 20$/month. I think the Hybrid/subscription model is crap, and here is why. First about S1pro itself, 4 years ago this daw saw shining as you said, but now, Other DAWS like CUBASE or LIVE just become better in term of functionalities. Plus de fact that there stock plugins are a little outdated, their instruments are old and not ergonomic (Mojito, Impact, MaiTai, Presence), and let's not talk about their loops that I think are crap. Second, when I buy a PRO version of any DAW, i want to have the PRO of everything, Like in Cubase, you pay the PRO, you have very good quality stock plugins, beautiful set of instruments and high quality loops. This is the minimum I'm asking for a professional DAW. Third, I bought the pro version full price (for other daws, you have special price for students and teachers that presonus doesn't offer), I think at that time is was 350€, then I bought all the upgrades for 150€, so at least i spent 650€ to presonus, plus the faderport 8 plus the Atom, but that's personal. And after spending 650€, waiting for something new, I don't even get their NEW SYNTH... what a shame. Fourth, If I project myself in 10 years of work, and admitting I take the HYBRID PLUS, I would have spent 1800$ !!! for a DAW, some outdates plugins, Notion, and 3 new intruments in the future ?!? what a deal... Even worse, I buy the 400$ S1PRO, plus 20$/month for the PLUS, plus 150$ every year for the upgrades, and in 10 years I would have spent 4300$ !!!! To compare, if I buy Cubase now, thanks to my teaching, but also you can afford CUBASE at that price if you have a S1PRO licence I can buy CUBASE PRO 13 for 250$, nothing to pay more, everything is in the DAW, no subscription crap, nothing. I have to pay every year update it is 100$ full price (now it's 70€) So I would pay for the next 10 years in between 950$ and 1250€. Almost 4 times less. Finally, I like your video because you're very transparent concerning the offers, but please don't use the terme "opportunity cost". I think that the subsription model is a LEASH for customers. If you stop your hybridPLUS, you can't UPDATE you daw ?!? and you don't have access to all the plugins you "used" in your sessions ?!? I honestly think that if you mention you fear of having the AllTIME licencing for S1Pro disappear, it is for a good reason. And Presonus bought by FEnder is a good reason why I think it will disappear, but it's just a guess, let's see. So to sum up, I need a DAW that fulfill my needs of professional usage, that consider me not just like a WALLET but like a profesionnal customer, and that I can work with with SERENITY for the next DECADE, without putting me in a moment of CHANGING my DAW because of a bunch or marketing guys that will explain to me that PRESONUS will be 8x better if they take more money from their USERS. I need some SERIOUS TOOL, and SERIOUS PARTNERSHIP. This is the reason why I feel this is the moment for me to say GOODBYE to S1 and HELLO the CUBASE. Crossing fingers that STEINBERG. will not to the same mistake. PS : big big thank you to the developpers of S1, you're doing a great job.

I think you can tell from the comments here and forums elsewhere that a huge problem that Presonus hasn't seemed to have figured out yet is that a really large portion of their customer base absolutely detests anything having to do with a subscription at all, to the point where they will straight up leave or loudly threaten to leave if they even have the suspicion that S1 will be moving to sub only. I think maybe Presonus saw the hybrid model as a kind of olive branch after making their whole add-on store and Lead Architect sub only, but if anything its done the opposite and made people even more suspicious. What they should have done was keep the add-on store and the new VST available for purchase, and introduced a new much cheaper subscription for those that are perpetual license holders to be able to access the community features. Right now a sub makes absolutely zero sense for anyone that already owns S1 pro, and the fact that it feels like they are trying to muscle us into it despite us already owning 90% of the value of it makes it feel like they are just completely unable to read a room.

The only downside of getting to keep the pro license after a year of hybrid plus subscription, is you no longer have access to the hybrid plus only add ons if you don't resubscribe. This will cause problems if you have used these add ons in previous mixes.

What happens to songs created using subscription services (i.e. PreSonus+, Waves Creative Access, etc.) if you drop the subscription and no longer have access to plugins used to create those songs?

FL Studio has years and years of perpetual license model and they still breath and has a strong community. ¿Why Presonus suddenly become a bit codicious? I was about to buy 6.6 but this "update" slow down my decision. Cubase seems a better alternative to me.

Good video thanks. So What happens after the year is completed and I do not subscribe again. 01) Will the new synth be included in the perpétuel daw or not...? because if we produce sessions with it... after the year we will not be able to open this sessions if we havnt accès to the new synth !!!!!! 02) and after that year ...if we have studio one last update (6.8 or .....) the perpétuel licence...Do we get Updates after not subscribing to Hybrid? ...ex from 6.8 ...to 6.9 ...7..etc .. As we knw ...in the version for ex 6...in studio one pro is included all 6 version updates... So if i will stop the hybrid ..after 1 year ..and i have the studio one 7.or 7.1 ...as a perpetuel licence...can i get the all 7 updates ...or no ...?????? In the normal licence of stufio one ...whene u bay u will get all updates ...ex ..7 ..(7.1...2...3....etc

Oh boy fender did it again

Hi Andrew, could you please use your connections to presonus to place the long awaited wish of a lot of people to have midi-automation in Show Page? 😅😊 Because midi automation for live usage is so important nowdays. Thanks in advance ❤

Well, you asked... Basically it's just that they raised the price of the subscription model. It's not exactly competitive (against other DAW sub/rent-to-own prices) anymore. Plus, Lead Architect (Why call it this when there are plenty of great pad sounds in there?) is sub-only. It's 150 to upgrade and 180 to get the Hybrid upgrade (Formally 150) If they would have left it the same price, it would have felt like a no-brainer gift instead of a manipulation. All in all, it's a decent update with the apple thing, plus performance improvements. It's tonedeaf to include the Tunecore integration. I wish there was a way to disable the button/integration. However, it's easy enough to just not use it.

Well Dave here wasn't really negatively affected so he's ok with this update. Studio One plus monthly for a few months now, I went from a free Artist version 5.? that was given to me because I bought a Studio 68c interface. I decided it would be useful to get the Pro with Plus for the extras, just after the price increase. I've not even tried that new synth yet. I empathize with those that the update upsets, but that's about it. Yes, the marketing should have been not clear. For me though it didn't affect me either way.

Good video!

Been with Studio One since Version 3. Made and released albums and EPs. I was becoming disillusioned with Sphere as I do mainly acoustic music and most of the extra packs etc with Sphere were aimed at EDM, drum and bass etc. and I have no need for Atmos. I would have purchased a perpetual license but we are talking €400. Then I got an email from Presonus offering a loyalty bonus of €50 on Hybrid. A no-brainer. I get all the updates to Studio One 6, all the extra content for a year and, at the end, a perpetual license for what will at that time be the latest version. Saving €250 at the same time. Nope - can´t see anything to object to there

This music is insane but it sounds good tho 💪🏿. Dope af. I have no clue what's going on tho lmaaoo

My guy when you about business and record artist..you dont lease a software for investment..You own it! The problem Presonus dont make money consistently from license owners only when new version comes out...this why they say F us...We cant even buy random stuff from the site to upgrade on the STOCK 😳🤨.

My computer has been running like a slug since I upgraded! I don’t know what they have done to it but it’s taking ages to open projects and save.

like i said, as a personal music enthusiast i will only pay a fee like for a big update, from ver 5 to ver 6, from ver 6 to ver 7 not a monthly payment, i did the same thing with musio, i bought the perpetual license from them when it came out so, my license is not musio 1 but all of it, and the people ate musio kept their word, every library when bought at launch, and after that for newer buyers, musio 1, musio 2, and so on, people who invested in their product at an early stage should be rewarded, not descarded thanx ladies and gentlemen at musio, hope presonus is also that thrustworthy

There has always been the option to pay your subscription by the month or for the year and to buy a perpetual license. This is really not a new way to a subscription member. What they have added is if you are one who decides to pay yearly then you get a full license up to the most recent version in your payment cycle. I do not understand all the rage in the forums about this. It is not that difficult to comprehend, also presonus has had a recent release that the online store is getting a make over and purchasing added content in a subscription plan will still be available to perpetual owners, but while the presonus store is being updated those add on purchases will not be available but can be made from some of their vendors.

i have the perpetual license and as long as the program's initial functions are still usable is have no problem woth presonus i dont need yet another vsti wich does the same thing than many of my ready owned vsti's, like VPS avenger can do almost everything the other things you mentioned i dont need either (like uploading your music to music platforms) as i am a music enthousiast wich makes music for my own pleasure, if by chance presonus ever does prescription to use the DAW, even the normal functions, then i will leave, like i left adobe a long time ago, cheers mate

PreSonus was one of those cool companies to deal with, once upon a time. As surely as Fender has always played roughly with their re-sellers forcing their business model at them, until they dropped the franchise, I'll swap this Fender product faster than I replaced my Strats with the much-improved G&L models. Leo Fender would approve! 😆

Honestly I’m bummed we still don’t have stem separation, and making ppl not have access to architect right out the gate could potentially hurt them. Ableton is looking better for production and just S1 for mixing 🤷🏾‍♂️

As a perpetual license user, we were getting free updates, now we’re not. It’s that simple.

I prefer to own a product rather than rent it. I've been a studio one user for years but I'm considering moving to reaper

After this update many Studio One users started to think of crossgrading to Cubase 13 (250 euros)

I recently just bought a huge package of UAD plugins because Presonus forced my hand to give my money to another vender. (I don’t even care for UAD) I’m a long time S1 Pro user and they won’t sell me their latest VSTs without locking me into a subscription. Studio One 5 might be the last version I buy!

I'm a Studio One perpetual licence holder since V2. I am not angry about the 6.6 update. I was a PreSonus sphere member for a while, but I wasn't using the extra features, and I didn't like the idea of losing the ability to open my song files if I could no longer afford to pay for the subscription. Now, that fear is gone with hybrid. If I were to buy the annual subscription, when it expires, whatever version I was on at the end of the term would still be able to open my files. For now, I will continue with upgrading the perpetual license. It is around the same price as the annual. If a major version is released every 2 years, I am paying around half the price. The only thing I disagree with PreSonus on is the inability to buy a perpetual license on the plugins and virtual instruments. They should at least do that much, though I think to remain competitive, they should continue to offer the major new add-ons and features for free with the perpetual upgrades, especially where other DAWs bundle similar items in their perpetual licenses.

The big red flat for me on this hybrid model is that it *may* portend a subscription-only model in the year or two ahead. I don't need to get a new computer (and to buy Studio One again) yet but I will need to do so in the next year or so. I'm seriously debating buying the hybrid now and *not* installing it until I need a new computer. (I don't know if Presonus will let me do that?) That way, at least I can have a perpetual license. I'm a home hobbyist, *not* a professional in any sense. I also am on a limited income. If I can't buy something without having to worry about them slipping more of my money out of my account every month, I'll just downgrade to something free, assuming something free is out there available at the time. Otherwise, I'll quit. For some time now I have been watching with increasing disappointment as every app, ever single thing you ever want to buy you must now "subscribe" to get. It's a way of squeezing more money out of your customers and, to me, seems unscrupulous.

Instead of subscriptions why don't they just advertise?

The Studio One 6.6 update was rather disappointing, especially the notion that subscribers are now considered the A team, leaving the rest of us as mere spectators without any benefits as Pro users. However, that's okay; it motivated me to make a decision. I've been alternating between Cubase and Studio One for the past few years, and I haven't been particularly satisfied with either. I am a long-time Cubase user. I decided to explore Logic Pro X too. Today, I made the switch and I'm opting for Logic Pro X. It evokes a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of the early days of music production software-not necessarily in layout, but in its overall approach. I feel a sense of belonging and comfort in Logic Pro X. I have a feeling we'll become great companions.

My only problem with Presonus is support. I know I am still a novice because of work and music is secondary so I can mess up but when I have a problem it is always “here is a link” or “you can’t do that” but the video support sent says I can…..currently I lost all my music. Even backup/restore did not work and Daw froze. They told me it was backing up to iCloud which I never did but then told me to setup to documents which it already was on Mac but nothing. I uninstall and installed again. Still lost everything then followed Gregor latest video on backing up and using an external SSD but support said it won’t work that way. Not everything installed and I’m back to step one. I told Support to close ticket because nothing worked and I was told I was doing it wrong. If someone had remote access to my Mac and saw what was happening it would be clearer. Even my nephew who has more computer experience was confused by everything and there suggestions. I followed the videos exactly and it didn’t work and the location keeps resetting to document even though Gregor said you can have it run off an external SSD which mine is 1TB thru USB-C.

I would be really surprised if they went full subscription just from the blowback they’re getting over the prospect of it

I love studio one and i will still use it Cause the other daw i didn't like them Cause they not faster than studio one Not easy as studio one

Is this a software review it feels like a new song watch party , clicking off

What microphone do you use for your audio and how do you make your room so soundproof and no echo? what equipment are you using for your audio as well because I've noticed that there's no hissing in your audio and it's so clean.

Screw these subscription models, we're being ripped off for shareholders value paying for the same one thing forever and never actually owning anything. Screw shareholders, if they want money they should get a job instead of stealing the working class money.

The hybrid thing is generous but that instrument thing

The plugins were not exclusive - you could still buy them as addons.

Solution switch to cubase 13 pro. that's what I did and is the best decision I did now cubase 13 pro it have everything that studio one have but better and have improved their workflow much now.

This is barely a 6.5.1 update. When Studio One 7 comes out, I'll be buying Ableton Live or Cubase.

Typical of modern day business.. miss leading marketing. It's all about MONEY

Seems like people are getting frustrated with the subscription idea. They want it all as updates happen. Plus offers a lot. Paying for that is a choice. If it helps your business model its worth it. If it helps with collaberations, its worth it. If you are a weekend warrior, one who doesn't offer services, studio space for bands to record, dont offer mixing and mastering, only use for your own satifaction, home recording, it probably isnt for you. Reality check. Way your needs, not your wants. That said, if you can do the membership, do it. No harm no foul. The world is yours for the taking. Hybrid is vetter than plus because, now, you get to keep all updates whereas itcwould be lost before if you re-sign up

1st me

As he describes it more and more he sounds more like he is completely biased and is finding every reason to glorify this DAW. The whole purchasing scheme sounds like a scammy vibe. This is not a video about a real opinion or candid opinion. Its a very very biased review.

All due respect.....i dont know why you said UNFILTERED as if you really about to keep it 💯 about Studio One delusion against license owner.....YOU SUGAR COATING...its ok...whatever works for you. I put so many people on S1...im literally one of the first people to use this daw..1st version. People thought i was crazy when i mentioned s1 over the years.