Presonus : "So we are targeting 3-4 "major" feature releases every year..."

[jamcat]

I have never bought a DAW that didn't have ongoing development, that is how it has always been.

For the entire history of software, there have only been minor tweaks within a version number, and the occasional bug fix to address specific bugs that users discover through the course of using the software. Steinberg started making major changes and feature additions with x.5 versions way back when, but they charged for those upgrades.

Typically, major overhauls and significant new features have been reserved for new X.0 paid upgrade versions. That is how it has always been.

If you bought it and it was riddled with bugs and they didn't fix anything, would you be happy, or would you just say "well that's how it was when I bought it"

This is a false premise. Studio One 7 users get free bugfixes even after their upgrade period has expired. You are applying a hypothetical that clearly does not apply to the actual discussion we're having, which is about how many feature-packed upgrades users are entitled to with their purchase, not if we poor urchins are getting scrooged out of lifesaving bugfixes.

The second statement is just absurd. People all over the place are asking for very concrete things. I don't see why you have to belittle other people to make you feel better about your choices.

Sure everyone has their wishlist. I have mine. But most of what I'm seeing here are people griping generally about the quantity or frequency of free upgrades, not complaining that Studio One 7 is fundamentally incomplete and missing some particular vital function that they need to be able to use it.

The weird thing here about your reply is that I'm not one of the ones complaining. I am perfectly content with the choice I made when I upgraded to Studio One 7. And when 7.2 came out with optimized Efficiency Core processing on Apple Silicon, it was a pleasant surprise.

[adash123]

"with optimized Efficiency Core processing on Apple Silicon, it was a pleasant surprise."
Indeed, in fact it appears Studio One is one of a few Daws that utilizes efficiemcy cores better than Logic Pro. Personally I get amazing performance on my Mac mini m4.

[jens]

Anyhoo - why bother with me when you clearly have an issue with Presonus - maybe it's time to step up and take it up with them?

Or maybe just switch DAWs? Seems like nothing with S1 is ever good enough for ya.

What I do and do not use is a) completely off topic and b) certainly in no way your business.

Don't get me wrong: if you really were interested and would ask me politely what is/are my current DAW(s) of choice, I'd answer just as politely; off topic or not. But outside of that I really (nah, not really ) fail to see a reason why you'd bring it up as it is entirely irrelevant to the topic at hand.

And the same of course goes for my opinion regarding Presonus.

[Vocalpoint Studios]

Don't get me wrong: if you really were interested and would ask me politely what is/are my current DAW(s) of choice, I'd answer just as politely; off topic or not.

Ok fair enough.

As politely as I can. What is your DAW of choice?

VP

[andypryce]

It was just bad handling the change by Presonus.

Ableton releases a new version without any promises, if you like the new features you upgrade. Later they release a bunch of point updates with great stuff added to it for free. Suddenly what you get for your money becomes enormous. They are just bonus and gives you the confidence to purchase the next major one but does not promise it will be the same so you take it for granted.
Steinberg releases Cubendo and you know until next major version in about 12 month this is all you got. No surprise no dissapointment.

Presonus changed the system but added risky statements to have damage control in case people would hesitate to pay for the upgrade of version 7 which to expire in 12 months.
Nobody knows the impact though, except Presonus. I read complains on every forum but also I know alot of people happily use it and have no idea what is going on or do not care and probably blind purchase the new version.

[greymattre98]

It's the same as with Bitwig. (Who unlike Presonus deliver big time though.)

And take note: Bitwig posts what they are working on. They posted what will be in Version 6 back in August and all can use and beta test if they still have the Bitwig update plan. This is for a major release.

They didn't specify an actual release date because they are working on it WITH their customers and will release when they feel it is ready. I guess they aren't too worried about others stealing their ideas. So refreshing to have a company actually communicate with their users.

[Vocalpoint Studios]

Ableton releases a new version without any promises, if you like the new features you upgrade. Later they release a bunch of point updates with great stuff added to it for free. Suddenly what you get for your money becomes enormous. They are just bonus and gives you the confidence to purchase the next major one but does not promise it will be the same so you take it for granted.

Sounds exactly like it used to be in the "old days" for Studio One. There were many release cycles where the good stuff just kept coming. We were spoiled I think.

Presonus changed the system but added risky statements to have damage control in case people would hesitate to pay for the upgrade of version 7 which to expire in 12 months.

My own speculation is that I honestly think their "initial" announcements were in fact - on point. They had some grand plans and seemed to be very excited to get to them. Almost a "Just wait til you see what we have for you next!" kinda vibe - but then - for reasons unknown - something changed over there.

Maybe Fender got in the way. Maybe tariffs? Or other unplanned, unknowns (key staff loss, direction changes, corporation missives) or some other negatives that occurred AFTER that video was made.

Regardless of what knocked their plans off track - all we can do is use Studio One and carry on.

I am good with the capabilities within v7.2.3 now that it is free to me. If something good comes down the pipe in the coming months - I will check it out as usual.

VP

[jamcat]

Yes, it must be that 50% tariff on audio imports.

This is why I do all of my recording locally with native plugins.

[jens]

Don't get me wrong: if you really were interested and would ask me politely what is/are my current DAW(s) of choice, I'd answer just as politely; off topic or not.

Ok fair enough.

As politely as I can. What is your DAW of choice?

VP

None and most of them.. I have any number of DAWs (not all of them up to date though) with really zero of them offering everything I want (one lacks this crucial feature and the other that one) - meagre as my wishlist may ever be... with Studio One by far my biggest issue is the messed up take-lanes. As long as they don't fix that I have little inclination to pay for further updates, which is why I am still on V5.

I am probably rather an unusual user here (and perhaps everywhere) though...

be that as it may be: currently my most used DAW is Reaper, which I don't like a lot because it's finicky to use and it seems to me the devs have very little experience regarding music-making and thus rely almost exclusively on the user-base, rather than their own intuition, which is why it's such a hot mess.

UAD Luna is super-promising and once it gets proper comping chances are I'll switch over to it - that or Tracktion Waveform when they manage to iron out the majority of its kinks or perhaps Bitwig once it supports ARA.

[jens]

I actually chuckled when they promised 3–4 major updates per year.

Andf yet that's what Presonus delivered before they promised it...

[Kai Enaki]

I actually chuckled when they promised 3–4 major updates per year.

Andf yet that's what Presonus delivered before they promised it...

In the very same comment I also gave the reason why it wasn't a feasible strategy for the foreseable future, which turned out to be the case.

[jens]

I actually chuckled when they promised 3–4 major updates per year.

Andf yet that's what Presonus delivered before they promised it...

In the very same comment I also gave the reason why it wasn't a feasible strategy for the foreseable future, which turned out to be the case.

TBH I didn't really get any of that as i don't know what exactly "audio industry" refers to in the context of this thread and even less so what kind of "moving" pace you were hinting at.

[THE INTRANCER]

A new slay-bells rompler will be appearing around Christmas.

[I_Am_Become_KVR]

When I purchase an new version of a DAW, I'm buying it for what it offers, not some hope or promise of what it may one day become. Granted, I like new features, but it's always a pleasant surprise if and when they come. I certainly don't enter into it thinking of it as an unfinished product that entitles me to unannounced future enhancements.

This. 100%

VP

+2

Buy stuff for what it does now, then use it.

[Winstontaneous]

Buy stuff for what it does now, then use it.

Excuse me sir/madam/other, this is a KVR!