Presonus Studio One 5.2 vs Cubase 11

[v1o]

I know a few colleagues are using Presonus Studio One and I noticed this integrates with Melodyne which is a vst I use quite a bit. I also use Presonus Notion as my main score software and have this installed on my iPad as well as my studio PC. Also, the ios remote control layout and workflow looks to be much better.

Already there is three pros to switching to Studio One (lower cpu, integrated Melodyne and interaction with Notion). I'm also interested in picking up the Presonus Quantum for lower latency (though am tempted to hang on and see if these will be updated at some point with Thunderbolt 3 and improved specs?).

Can you explain what you mean by Studio One integrated with Melodyne? AFAIK both Studio One and Cubase support ARA2 so they should be the same.

[antic604]

Can you explain what you mean by Studio One integrated with Melodyne? AFAIK both Studio One and Cubase support ARA2 so they should be the same.

In Cubase you can use VariAudio instead of Melodyne. Studio One doesn't have native VariAudio-like features, so it actually integrates Melodyne's editor in its own editor and drop-down menus, as if it was a "native" feature:

https://s1manual.presonus.com/Content/E ... t=melodyne

Skip to around 7:40 here, too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WViA1ScObok

[antic604]

One HUGE thing that Studio One does very well - compared to say Cubase or Reaper - is adding automation when you want to draw it manually.

Not sure if it's at all relevant for you, obviously

In those other DAWs you need to either record it (then delete the points and draw from scratch) or manually find the desired parameter(s) in often huge list of all available stuff, add automation lane and edit it.

In Studio One you just move a knob or slider on the VST or controller, see the name & value of respective parameter pop up in upper-left corner and drag it onto the track where the device sits on (there's also keyboard shortcut for this) or to a completely separate automation track, if that is what you prefer. It's almost as fast as in Bitwig or Live, and miles ahead of Cubase and Reaper.


But there's so much more really clever & useful stuff. I'd highly encourage you to first see this tutorial (first 20 videos):

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnQ- ... y2IUIEVhlB

And then also look at "One Minute" tips:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnQ- ... 0uKCjg8gWd

Also this video really emphasizes their inststence of fluid workflow:

https://youtu.be/82I5_Zl7sAc

[lessera]

One HUGE thing that Studio One does very well - compared to say Cubase or Reaper - is adding automation when you want to draw it manually ... In those other DAWs you need to either record it (then delete the points and draw from scratch) or manually find the desired parameter(s) in often huge list of all available stuff, add automation lane and edit it.

I am certain you'll make some derisive comment about a Reaper user derailing this thread, but you did mention it first...

Your above observation about adding automation in Cubase is correct, but in Reaper, it is much easier than that:

1. Set 'track automation mode' = touch
2. Move a knob or slider on the VST GUI

Instant creation of the automation envelope for that parameter. Ready for editing. (No need to drag anything onto the track).

[Serhii Kot]

Instant creation of the automation envelope for that parameter. Ready for editing. (No need to drag anything onto the track).

IDK what can be easier than S1 in terms of creating an automation track. No need to drag.

1. Touch any parameter, press ATL+A (OPT+A on Mac)
2. That`s it, only one step involved.

What can beat that?

[antic604]

I am certain you'll make some derisive comment about a Reaper user derailing this thread, but you did mention it first...

Yes, I'm a piece of s**t for derailing this thread bringing up Reaper, which I'm not even using which is obvious given I wasn't aware of the workflow you're mentioning - thanks!

Actually I've nothing but admiration for Reaper users. I'm sure Reaper is awesome once you configure it the way you want & convince yourself to (or are one of those people who by nature) not care about GUI inconsistencies.

[v1o]

In Cubase you can use VariAudio instead of Melodyne. Studio One doesn't have native VariAudio-like features, so it actually integrates Melodyne's editor in its own editor and drop-down menus, as if it was a "native" feature:

https://s1manual.presonus.com/Content/E ... t=melodyne

Skip to around 7:40 here, too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WViA1ScObok

Right, I can see no advantage to using Melodyne in S1 apart from a few less mouse clicks. Functionality is just the same with an integrated Melodyne editor window and realtime previewing of the changes to the audio.

[antic604]

Right, I can see no advantage to using Melodyne in S1 apart from a few less mouse clicks. Functionality is just the same with an integrated Melodyne editor window and realtime previewing of the changes to the audio.

Pretty much, yeah.

The difference is you have no native choice in S1, whereas you have VariAudio in Cubase. So Presonus had to make it a bit easier - and bundled with S1 Pro license - to compensate for that. But it's still the same - lowest tier, I believe? - Melodyne you can use in any ARA2 capable DAW.

[lessera]

Instant creation of the automation envelope for that parameter. Ready for editing. (No need to drag anything onto the track).

IDK what can be easier than S1 in terms of creating an automation track. No need to drag.

1. Touch any parameter, press ATL+A (OPT+A on Mac)
2. That`s it, only one step involved.

What can beat that?

The parentheses part of my post was meant as an aside; suggesting that creating an automation envelope in Reaper might even be easier/quicker than Studio One (which was already determined to be pretty easy).

[lessera]

I am certain you'll make some derisive comment about a Reaper user derailing this thread, but you did mention it first...

Yes, I'm a piece of s**t for derailing this thread bringing up Reaper

Nobody accused you of any such thing.

Your description of the convoluted steps involved in creating an automation envelope in Reaper was wrong (or at least, incomplete). You were corrected.

[Serhii Kot]

Instant creation of the automation envelope for that parameter. Ready for editing. (No need to drag anything onto the track).

IDK what can be easier than S1 in terms of creating an automation track. No need to drag.

1. Touch any parameter, press ATL+A (OPT+A on Mac)
2. That`s it, only one step involved.

What can beat that?

The parentheses part of my post was meant as an aside; suggesting that creating an automation envelope in Reaper might even be easier/quicker than Studio One (which was already determined to be pretty easy).

I understand. BTW I am a pretty confident reaper user. In my reaper config, a created an action that does exactly as in studio one. Just touch any parameter and pres ALT+A. So it's a draw in that regard.

[lessera]

I understand. BTW I am a pretty confident reaper user. In my reaper config, a created an action that does exactly as in studio one. Just touch any parameter and pres ALT+A. So it's a draw in that regard.

Hmmm. I like the sound of that.

I have always just switched the automation mode between 'trim/read' and 'touch' ... but I think I would prefer your method even more. Do you know off-hand what the action you mention is called within the action list?

[apoclypse]

Right, I can see no advantage to using Melodyne in S1 apart from a few less mouse clicks. Functionality is just the same with an integrated Melodyne editor window and realtime previewing of the changes to the audio.

Pretty much, yeah.

The difference is you have no native choice in S1, whereas you have VariAudio in Cubase. So Presonus had to make it a bit easier - and bundled with S1 Pro license - to compensate for that. But it's still the same - lowest tier, I believe? - Melodyne you can use in any ARA2 capable DAW.

The cool thing is that Melodyne is almost always having some kind of sale. So you can update to Editor at a decent price. Once you get to that its a bit of a game changer as it lets you work with polyphonic audio. I've used it on some guitar tracks to fix some errant chords and it works really well.

[Serhii Kot]

I understand. BTW I am a pretty confident reaper user. In my reaper config, a created an action that does exactly as in studio one. Just touch any parameter and pres ALT+A. So it's a draw in that regard.

Hmmm. I like the sound of that.

I have always just switched the automation mode between 'trim/read' and 'touch' ... but I think I would prefer your method even more. Do you know off-hand what the action you mention is called within the action list?

I checked, actually, this is a built-in feature I guess
FX: Show/hide track envelope for last touched FX parameter

[antic604]

I checked, actually, this is a built-in feature I guess
FX: Show/hide track envelope for last touched FX parameter

Oh, wow. I guess I need to give Reaper another, deeper look.

Since most of the time recently I'm on Linux, Bitwig + Reaper would be a great combo