PreSonus Studio One V5 is Brent March's Software Product Of 2020, he explains why.
In July we saw the anticipated release of PreSonus Studio One V5. The Experts were among the first to get their hands on this big update, and it certainly did not disappoint.
I had switched to PreSonus Studio One during 2019 and hadn’t looked back since. After battling with many DAW’s I finally found my feet with Studio One. The streamlined workflow and versatility alone outshone all other recording software I had tried up to this point. When I heard that V5 was due to drop, I thought to myself - What could they really improve on?
As someone who both produces and performs music, the addition of the show page really blew me away. This was a first for PreSonus, and something I had not expected them to bring to Studio One. I was so excited by the Show Page that I created a 4- part free course around it, on Studio One Expert. The ability to quickly and efficiently take your song platform over to the show page is effortless. Now I can setup setlists for gigs, events and even theatre shows in just a matter of minutes. Not only that, but I can now continue to use all of my existing instrument and FX chains from within a song production.
Writing music for media sometimes requires composers to provide basic copying and prep services, therefore allowing virtual cues to be recorded by real orchestras. Studio One V5 introduced the score editor, a brand-new feature. Here you can add notes, symbols and rests and It will all be reflected real time in playback. This is nice If you’re a composer who has come from a traditional background and would like to visualise your material in score format. It’s also very helpful if you come from a more production background, and would like to improve your knowledge of notation. I’ve found it particularly useful for when I need a solo player to record a topline and inject some life into a virtual orchestration. By simply opening up the score editor I can then select which staff I want export, and then send it to the session player. It’s smart, intuitive and means you can add another string to your bow of musical skills.
The final stand out feature of this incredibly versatile and well-rounded DAW is it now comes bundled in PreSonus Sphere. Announced just after the release of V5, Sphere is a monthly membership which allows access to Studio One Professional, Notion and all of their extended collection of virtual instruments, plugins and masterclasses for just £13.72 per month. Every year gear becomes better and more affordable, but at this price point you can access the world of professional recording, mixing, mastering and even performing for an incredibly low price point. There’s never been a better time to create music, and I believe Studio One is the best entry point for producers, composers and artists of any ability level.