Presonus Sphere. Thumbs up.

[pinki]

As for Sphere, it's sounding a bit like a paid community or club membership fee without the workout equipment. But, I'm sure some people tight on monthly cash can squeeze $20 a month rather then saving up and buying something they can actually afford.

It might sound like that, and before I joined I thought similarly- I was adding up the absolute value of the various bits and thinking they only really have Studio One and Notion as full on software. But now I've joined I don't feel like that. As in my original post, the value is in all the stuff like The Exchange and the Learning Centre as well as the software you get access to. I know that Studio One and Notion will be my main DAW and notation programmes for the foreseeable future so Sphere just makes sense for me.

[Cancel Culture Club]

As for Sphere, it's sounding a bit like a paid community or club membership fee without the workout equipment. But, I'm sure some people tight on monthly cash can squeeze $20 a month rather then saving up and buying something they can actually afford.

It might sound like that, and before I joined I thought similarly- I was adding up the absolute value of the various bits and thinking they only really have Studio One and Notion as full on software. But now I've joined I don't feel like that. As in my original post, the value is in all the stuff like The Exchange and the Learning Centre as well as the software you get access to. I know that Studio One and Notion will be my main DAW and notation programmes for the foreseeable future so Sphere just makes sense for me.

Don't get me wrong, subscription models have a place and serve a purpose. I just believe that the value is in the short term usage, but what might feel like a lifetime contract, once the rental tally reaches the thousands.

I think subscription models are more aimed towards the new user to the DAW world, not just new to Presonus. But, I can see some benefits for people that want a one stop shop and are willing to pay a monthly membership fee to have the work done for them.

Being on a $20 monthly subscription puts you at about $2400 in ten years. That's without buying anything else. And a lot of the veterans have been doing this for twenty plus years already.

Reminds me of when I used to pay rent for an apartment I never kept.

[mrsugmad]

I plan on joining Sphere in about 1.5 years when I have to get the major upgrade of $149 (every 2 years) I don't use notion, and its' sound packs are not usable with Studio One. Bummer. I you do have access to all the other sound packs offered to Studio one.

Here's a good article regarding if Sphere is cost effective for various users:

https://www.pro-tools-expert.com/produc ... good-value

[pinki]

I got my yearly sub from Sweetwater on Black Friday for about half the price. So the comparison looks different if you time it right.

[AdvancedFollower]

The Office 365 subscription is a godsend at my work in IT. No more micro-managing licenses, license types, ending up with surplus licenses when people quit, transferring licenses between employees, keeping track of licenses in giant Excel sheets etc. Just select the number of licenses you need, assign them to users, and change it any time on the fly. The hours we save more than make up for the subscription cost.

For a private individuals however, subscriptions don't make as much sense. With Sphere, you end up paying $4,124 over a 25-year period. You can buy a lot of Studio One licenses and upgrades for that price - 27 paid Studio One upgrades at $149, to be exact. More if you wait for a sale. You can also skip an upgrade and continue using your current version without paying a dime, if a particular upgrade doesn't interest you.

[pinki]

For a private individuals however, subscriptions don't make as much sense. With Sphere, you end up paying $4,124 over a 25-year period. You can buy a lot of Studio One licenses and upgrades for that price - 27 paid Studio One upgrades at $149, to be exact. More if you wait for a sale. You can also skip an upgrade and continue using your current version without paying a dime, if a particular upgrade doesn't interest you.

It would be great if this thread didn't become yet another thread about the pros and cons of subscriptions.

[fedexnman]

Well what do you think a thread like this is supposed to do then ? I'm glad you like sphere . I may go subscription route on some DAW stuff but not right now ..... It truly is a good way to truly demo something basically like rent a car before you buy it .

[chk071]

Well what do you think a thread like this is supposed to do then ?

Judging by the OP... to express the OP's experience. Discussing the pros and cons, or other people's opinions might be the logical consequence for you, but, it's not the intention of the OP per se.

Anyway, it's his thread, so, locking is always an option, if the thread goes the wrong direction.

[ReleaseCandidate]

Well, at least the S1 team are germans, so they understood that ad. That is the most enthusiastic press reaction they have found: "könnte der beste Weg sein"?
That's "Could be the best way to become a Studio one user ... specially if you have a limited budget."

presonus_sphere_ad.png

[chk071]

Well... if they write that Presonus Sphere is the best thing ever invented, and beats everything else out there, people will complain about that as well.

[ReleaseCandidate]

Well... if they write that Presonus Sphere is the best thing ever invented, and beats everything else out there, people will complain about that as well.

That's a quote of a (german) magazine that is actually named 'Beat'

Here's the review (in german), that phrase is actually worse:
"... it seems, that sphere could be ..."

Wenn man bedenkt, dass Studio One Professional alleine ca. 389 Euro kostet, scheint es, dass Sphere der beste Weg sein könnte, um ein Studio One-Benutzer zu werden... besonders, wenn Sie ein begrenztes Budget haben.

https://www.beat.de/test/test-presonus- ... 76167.html


"So, what is your verdict on Sphere?"
"Well, I guess ...., it seems, ... it's like... you know man, ... could be a cheap way to get S1. Or not, don't really care"

[chk071]

Beat mag probably want to avoid being called shills if they dare to put subscriptions in a more positive light.

Not that a Beat mag testimony is worth anything... really bad mag.

[Cancel Culture Club]

Well what do you think a thread like this is supposed to do then ? I'm glad you like sphere . I may go subscription route on some DAW stuff but not right now ..... It truly is a good way to truly demo something basically like rent a car before you buy it .

Makes you wonder why some people choose to participate in public forums, when they are so sensitive to the responses that they might receive.

If they don't fit their narrative, agenda or it doesn't match their opinion whatsoever they cry foul. Maybe a little more harnessing of the power of open exchange is in order. Because, it works both ways, stop trying to control a freeway with a homemade one way street sign.

[antic604]

For a private individuals however, subscriptions don't make as much sense. With Sphere, you end up paying $4,124 over a 25-year period. You can buy a lot of Studio One licenses and upgrades for that price - 27 paid Studio One upgrades at $149, to be exact. More if you wait for a sale. You can also skip an upgrade and continue using your current version without paying a dime, if a particular upgrade doesn't interest you.

$4k isn't a lot in 25 years...

Sphere doesn't just buy you upgrades, but also all the software add-ons, sound packs, on-line serices and whatever else they'll come up with. If someone doesn't have Studio One yet, expects it to be their only - or main - DAW and is at least semi-serious about using it on an ongoing basis (not just 3h in weekends) then it's a great deal. Same like Reason+ under the same conditions.

Also subscription is a great solution for short-term commitments: one-off projects, collabs, contract jobs, etc.

[Crossinger]

(not just 3h in weekends)

Oh, you got me...