Fender Studio Pro 8 Released

[dellboy]

Is there ANYONE that has tried the Linux version? I know it’s in beta, so I’m not interested in purchasing right now, without knowing how stable or complete it is. That said, I’m hoping someone has already purchased it and has been playing with it, and can give their opinion.

I have tried it on Studio One 6.5 and it was hardly even an Alpha version, pretty impossible to use, and the VSTs have no GUI. It has now been confirmed by Fender that it has been more or less abandoned. Shame, as I have 6.5 and would have upgraded to version 8 if Linux was supported.

[audiojunkie]

Is there ANYONE that has tried the Linux version? I know it’s in beta, so I’m not interested in purchasing right now, without knowing how stable or complete it is. That said, I’m hoping someone has already purchased it and has been playing with it, and can give their opinion.

I have tried it on Studio One 6.5 and it was hardly even an Alpha version, pretty impossible to use, and the VSTs have no GUI. It has now been confirmed by Fender that it has been more or less abandoned. Shame, as I have 6.5 and would have upgraded to version 8 if Linux was supported.

…but 8 IS supported. It’s available—for Linux.

Where did you read from Fender that it is being abandoned? Could you please share the link? I’m not saying it is untrue—not at all. But I do like to read these things directly from the source.

[Vocalpoint Studios]

…but 8 IS supported. It’s available—for Linux.

Correction. There is a v8 for Linux. And it is NOT supported. And never has been.

It is (and always has been) in what they call "permanent beta".

Basically - it's there if you want it - but you are on your own if you want to use it.

VP

[jens]

Take your gripes to Apple - they put you where you are right now.

This - a thousand times. If Apple users had only 1/10 the amount of forgiveness they have for Apple for any other company, they would never complain about anything - yet in fact they tend to be the loudest complainers everywhere.

[Spitfire31]

Just spent a couple of hours reading through this thread and Fender's list of v.8 news, looking for a feature that maybe even hasn't got an established term.

In Live it's in the Create menu: Capture MIDI. In Logic it's called Flashback capture (Shift+R). The DAW is always recording in the background and I can recover it to a MIDI track, if I realise that I just happened to hit on a riff or phrase or chord sequence that might change my life.

Is there an option like that in S1 7 or in Fender 8? If there isn't, I just wonder – why not?

/JHS

[audiojunkie]

…but 8 IS supported. It’s available—for Linux.

Correction. There is a v8 for Linux. And it is NOT supported. And never has been.

It is (and always has been) in what they call "permanent beta".

Basically - it's there if you want it - but you are on your own if you want to use it.

VP

Ah, yes. By supported, I meant that they are providing binaries. But I’m pretty sure you knew what I meant.

[dellboy]

Is there ANYONE that has tried the Linux version? I know it’s in beta, so I’m not interested in purchasing right now, without knowing how stable or complete it is. That said, I’m hoping someone has already purchased it and has been playing with it, and can give their opinion.

I have tried it on Studio One 6.5 and it was hardly even an Alpha version, pretty impossible to use, and the VSTs have no GUI. It has now been confirmed by Fender that it has been more or less abandoned. Shame, as I have 6.5 and would have upgraded to version 8 if Linux was supported.

…but 8 IS supported. It’s available—for Linux.

Where did you read from Fender that it is being abandoned? Could you please share the link? I’m not saying it is untrue—not at all. But I do like to read these things directly from the source.

I read it somewhere in the specifications. I will try to find it. But essentially it says that the Linux version is for plugin developers, or something like that.

[tommijk]

Just spent a couple of hours reading through this thread and Fender's list of v.8 news, looking for a feature that maybe even hasn't got an established term.

In Live it's in the Create menu: Capture MIDI. In Logic it's called Flashback capture (Shift+R). The DAW is always recording in the background and I can recover it to a MIDI track, if I realise that I just happened to hit on a riff or phrase or chord sequence that might change my life.

Is there an option like that in S1 7 or in Fender 8? If there isn't, I just wonder – why not?

/JHS

Yes there is. You can find retrospective record on the inspector.

[J Veronica]

I've trialed Cubase, Reaper and Logic, but nothing ticks all the boxes.

As much as Fender have been a let down with the v7 cycle, I might end up getting v8. Studio 'Prone' feels like the least worst DAW.

[dellboy]

…but 8 IS supported. It’s available—for Linux.

Correction. There is a v8 for Linux. And it is NOT supported. And never has been.

It is (and always has been) in what they call "permanent beta".

Basically - it's there if you want it - but you are on your own if you want to use it.

VP

Ah, yes. By supported, I meant that they are providing binaries. But I’m pretty sure you knew what I meant.

I have just logged into the Linux beta discussion, and Fender Pro Studio 8 still does not support GUI's for third party VST's, and no pipe-wire support yet either. A Fender (Presonus) developer says that there have been no changes since Studio One 7.2.3 and Studio Pro 8.0, but development continues.

[Vocalpoint Studios]

I have just logged into the Linux beta discussion, and Fender Pro Studio 8 still does not support GUI's for third party VST's, and no pipe-wire support yet either. A Fender (Presonus) developer says that there have been no changes since Studio One 7.2.3 and Studio Pro 8.0, but development continues.

And this...

2026-01-20_07-47-26.png

VP

[tuzemec]

Because of the 1-year limit on free updates, the longer you wait to pay for an upgrade, the more to your advantage it becomes. Actively disincentivizing customers from buying is an odd way to run a business, but it is what Fender has chosen.

This. I always updated on the first day of the release. Not anymore.

[dellboy]

I have just logged into the Linux beta discussion, and Fender Pro Studio 8 still does not support GUI's for third party VST's, and no pipe-wire support yet either. A Fender (Presonus) developer says that there have been no changes since Studio One 7.2.3 and Studio Pro 8.0, but development continues.

And this...


2026-01-20_07-47-26.png



VP

Yes, thanks, I knew I read it somewhere.

[Vocalpoint Studios]

This. I always updated on the first day of the release. Not anymore.

"Advantages" are a two way street.

The other way of looking at it is you do get a brand new version, active bug fixes, enhancements etc.

Standing down/waiting does save you money - but that is a temporary construct. You will either pull the trigger on an upgrade at some point or take that money elsewhere.

I guess permanently quitting making music on a computer is a distant third option - and the one with the most advantages if saving money is your thing

VP

[VitaminD]

Reaper seems the opposite, too many new features almost, half baked. Something for everybody. But very generous pricing model.

This is why I call Reaper the Linux of DAWs. That and it has a lot of configurability but it is usually more involved than other DAWs.

I get the impression a programmer with no music experience made Reaper when I've used it. Yes, A programmer with no music experience being lead by musicians with no programming experience.