Studio One, developed by PreSonus, is a relatively new DAW (first released in 2009) that has rapidly become a favorite among producers, songwriters, and mix engineers for its clean interface, fast workflow, and professional depth. It was designed from scratch by former Steinberg developers—the same team behind Cubase—so it combines Cubase’s precision with a more modern, drag-and-drop design.
Key strengths:
- Streamlined workflow: everything—tracks, plug-ins, automation, routing—can be dragged directly onto the timeline or mixer. Minimal menus, minimal friction.
- Integrated mastering: a dedicated Project Page lets you master and update mixes without leaving the DAW—ideal for album production.
- Excellent stock plug-ins: the Fat Channel, Console Shaper, and built-in instruments rival third-party suites.
- Advanced automation and comping: fast take management and flexible lane editing.
- Seamless hardware integration: pairs tightly with PreSonus interfaces, mixers, and control surfaces.
- Multi-touch and cross-platform: optimized for both Windows and macOS with responsive GUI scaling.
Artists and producers from Teddy Riley to KATSU have adopted Studio One for its speed and transparency—it feels like a DAW designed for the 2020s, not retrofitted from older paradigms.
Its appeal lies in balance: deep enough for film scoring or mixing large sessions, yet uncluttered enough for quick songwriting and beat production. Studio One’s philosophy is simple—fewer clicks, more music.