Studio One 6

[jamcat]

I find that using workspaces is the best method with Cubase, rather than manually toggling views on/off.

I hate that idea. I do everything from the same view. I never toggle views on/off, I like to be able to see everything that's going on at once and to be able to get at things as easily as possible.

I have come to use Mixer Views in Studio One extensively as an integral part of how I work.

I have one mixer view with amp sims, preamps, print effects and tape which is my “tracking session” console, and these feed other channels via aux sends in another mixer view with channel strips, send effects, and Mix FX, for a “mixing session” console.

I switch between the Mixer Views, depending on which “session” I’m working on. I don’t need to see the track with an ampsim and tape when I’m mixing the song. I just want a “guitar track.” This way I see just the one I want and not both. (There are actually technical reasons why you need to isolate ampsims when working with Mix FX, otherwise you wind up with drums and vocals coming out of your guitar amp.)

I know this is a bit more elaborate than some people want to get. But there are other uses for Mixer Views that should apply to how most anyone works.

For example, I use a lot of strings, usually quartets, which I use SWAM for. When I do, I have a Quartet mixer view with each string instrument. The players each have an instance of Virtual Sound Stage on their individual track where they are placed in a virtual space.

But I don’t need to see each string player unless I’m actually arranging the strings. Instead what I see in my “tracking session” and “mixing session” Mixer Views is just a single group channel called “Strings” which acts as the channel for the mics in the room with the players.

You can do the same with drums, and create a separate drum submix mixer view, then just deal with “close mics”, “overheads”, and “room” in your main Mixer View.

Which tracks you see in the Arranger is even controlled by your Mixer View. So here again, you can do something like show only your drum track when you’re in your drum submix.

Or what I do with my strings, I have all my string parts in a folder which is expanded in my Strings mixer view, with no other tracks showing. But when I’m in my tracking and mixing consoles, my Strings folder is collapsed, so I’m just seeing a single “Strings” track in the Arranger, to go with my single “Strings” channel in the mixer.

[nusound mind]

Couple questions;

Can I upgrade from version 4 for the same price? And b) can I install in parallel to keep my old vers. s14 untouched? I don't favor fixing what isn't broke esp. if the new one comes w/ any hiccups.

Those new panning modes might be the clincher for me, along w/ the improvements that came w/ 5 the cumulative improvements across both versions might be worth it for me.

[jamcat]

Yes and Yes.

[nusound mind]

How would I install in parallel? Is that an option in the s1 set-up itself or is it a diy manual thing?

[EnGee]

How would I install in parallel? Is that an option in the s1 set-up itself or is it a diy manual thing?

You just install it! By default it will be installed to v6 folder. However, if you open old projects and want to save them, v6 will notify you that it won't be compatible with a previous version.

I have v5.5 and v6 installed with no problem.

[nusound mind]

Alright thanks guys. Might give it a whirl, I see 5 had some plug in nap feature too which interests me greatly, hopefully it works ok w/ 3rd party stuff.

[EnGee]

Try the demo and see how it will work for you
https://www.presonus.com/products/Studio-One

[Bartone]

S16 window.JPG

In Studio One5 I can open "New Song" directly, but in Studio One 6 it looks like there is this "New..." replacing the old "New Song", and from the S1 6 "New..." opens the Smart templates. Where do you get "New Song" in S1 6?

[jamcat]

There's another tab next to the Smart Templates for User templates.
There's probably an "Empty" template, or if not, you can easily make one.

[Bartone]

Here is the same window in Studio One 5 (you can open New Song right away by clicking "New Song").

S15.JPG

[EnGee]

S16 window.JPGIn Studio One5 I can open "New Song" directly, but in Studio One 6 it looks like there is this "New..." replacing the old "New Song", and from the S1 6 "New..." opens the Smart templates. Where do you get "New Song" in S1 6?

It is both in the Templates and User. It is the first template "Record and Mix, new Studio One song".

[jamcat]

Here is the same window in Studio One 5 (you can open New Song right away by clicking "New Song").

Well, that's not the whole story there...

Once you click "New Song..." a window pops up with 3 tabs: Styles, Interfaces, User

You're used to it being on "User" with "Empty Song" pre-selected, and just clicking 'OK'

The new Templates menu doesn't look all that different. "Styles" and "Interfaces" have been combined and replaced with "Templates" and "User" is pretty much the same as it was in Studio One 5.

Once you select "User" instead of "Templates" that should probably be the page you see from now on when you click "New..." just as it was in Studio One 5.

[BONES]

I have come to use Mixer Views in Studio One extensively as an integral part of how I work.

That's how I have always worked. Just like in a real studio, the mixer is at the centre of everything I do and it is visible 100% of the time, thanks to my dual-screen laptop.

I have one mixer view with amp sims, preamps, print effects and tape which is my “tracking session” console, and these feed other channels via aux sends in another mixer view with channel strips, send effects, and Mix FX, for a “mixing session” console.

I keep my workflow much, much simpler than that so I only need one mixer view to take in everything. In an average song I only use my standard three effects on the master, EQ on my drums and maybe a reverb in a send, plus whatever my vocals need. Everything else uses onboard effects or gets by without any effects at all. I have found over the years that the more shit you add to a project, the more you end up chasing your tail as what should be simple changes cascade out of control.

I switch between the Mixer Views, depending on which “session” I’m working on. I don’t need to see the track with an ampsim and tape when I’m mixing the song. I just want a “guitar track.” This way I see just the one I want and not both.

This is a good example of what I'm talking about. By isolating yourself from your ampsim, you remove the opportunity to enhance your mix by playing around with those controls, instead adding more complexity to your project. e.g. instead of adding an EQ, you might be able to fix a problem by playing with the EQ in the ampsim but if it's hidden, you'll just add an EQ because it seems easier. That's why it is important to me to be able to see and access everything easily, all the time. It is probably also why I dont' see mixing as a separate step in the overall process, rather as something that happens organically as I build an arrangement.

(There are actually technical reasons why you need to isolate ampsims when working with Mix FX, otherwise you wind up with drums and vocals coming out of your guitar amp.)

That's why MixFX are so f**king stupid.

I know this is a bit more elaborate than some people want to get.

It's not about not wanting to get elaborate, it's about wanting to do the best job and achieve the best result and I have found that by simplifying my workflow, I am getting the best results ever.

You can do the same with drums, and create a separate drum submix mixer view, then just deal with “close mics”, “overheads”, and “room” in your main Mixer View.

I only ever use the stereo output of my drum instruments. Separate outs gets too messy.

Which tracks you see in the Arranger is even controlled by your Mixer View. So here again, you can do something like show only your drum track when you’re in your drum submix.

All these things create discontinuities in your workflow and I have always avoided them. Too much back and forth makes it easy to lose your concentration.

Obviously, depending on what you are working on, it can sometimes be unavoidable but I'll put in twice the effort to avoid those scenarios if I can, because I know it will benefit the result in the long run. That's precisely why I stopped using multiple outs from my drums and embraced Ujam's drum instruments - it was a complication that did not improve the end result. I've left so much of that behind in the last 2-3 years that it's scary to think about it sometimes. But the results speak for themselves with clearer, punchier mixes.

[Bartone]

Here is the same window in Studio One 5 (you can open New Song right away by clicking "New Song").
S15.JPG

Well, that's not the whole story there...

Once you click "New Song..." a window pops up with 3 tabs: Styles, Interfaces, User

You're used to it being on "User" with "Empty Song" pre-selected, and just clicking 'OK'

The new Templates menu doesn't look all that different. "Styles" and "Interfaces" have been combined and replaced with "Templates" and "User" is pretty much the same as it was in Studio One 5.

Once you select "User" instead of "Templates" that should probably be the page you see from now on when you click "New..." just as it was in Studio One 5.

Ok, interesting to know! Thanks for explaining! Maybe the demo version of Studio One 6 will be available soon for testing

[jamcat]

I switch between the Mixer Views, depending on which “session” I’m working on. I don’t need to see the track with an ampsim and tape when I’m mixing the song. I just want a “guitar track.” This way I see just the one I want and not both.

This is a good example of what I'm talking about. By isolating yourself from your ampsim, you remove the opportunity to enhance your mix by playing around with those controls, instead adding more complexity to your project. e.g. instead of adding an EQ, you might be able to fix a problem by playing with the EQ in the ampsim but if it's hidden, you'll just add an EQ because it seems easier. That's why it is important to me to be able to see and access everything easily, all the time. It is probably also why I dont' see mixing as a separate step in the overall process, rather as something that happens organically as I build an arrangement.

I go back to the ampsim all the time. In fact, AmpliTube pops up just by clicking on the track number in the arrange window. I don't actually wall myself off from anything. I just separate the mix into different "sessions" which keeps things clean, logical and organized. The process and mindset of tracking is quite different than mixing. So I keep these separate and operate in different "modes" depending on what my task is. It also creates a linear signal flow where ampsims, printed effects, and tape (tracking session) are always first, and mixing channel strips and aux sends (mixing session) always come after. This keeps it sounding "like a record."

But I don't confine myself to working in linear time as people had to back in the studio era when you recorded in October and mixed in December. I go back and forth between the different "sessions" by a simple click on the appropriate Mixer View, which is always visible.

I only ever use the stereo output of my drum instruments. Separate outs gets too messy.

I would make the same argument you just made here. You're walling yourself off from your drum mix by keeping it tucked away inside of a plugin. I could never stand that. I need to have access to each channel in my mixer. A lot of that has to do with wanting to pan and mix the drums directly, add Pultecs and 1176s and whatnot to different channels, and send just the snare to a plate reverb, etc.

Which tracks you see in the Arranger is even controlled by your Mixer View. So here again, you can do something like show only your drum track when you’re in your drum submix.

All these things create discontinuities in your workflow and I have always avoided them. Too much back and forth makes it easy to lose your concentration.

I see it as the opposite. I'm the kind of person who won't see something in the cupboard that's right in front of me. So if I'm working only on drums for the moment, it's much easier to find the track I'm looking for if all the others are hidden. It actually helps keep me focused on the task at hand.

Obviously, depending on what you are working on, it can sometimes be unavoidable but I'll put in twice the effort to avoid those scenarios if I can, because I know it will benefit the result in the long run. That's precisely why I stopped using multiple outs from my drums and embraced Ujam's drum instruments - it was a complication that did not improve the end result. I've left so much of that behind in the last 2-3 years that it's scary to think about it sometimes. But the results speak for themselves with clearer, punchier mixes.

Really I think that creating a philosophy and routine and sticking with that workflow, whatever it is, is the most important thing. It's not really about the specific process. It's really just about having a process.