When it comes to Studio One 6 Artist vs Studio One 6 Professional, one will offer what you need as a producer, but which one is the best? Today we take a look at both, and compare features of both so you can make an informed decision.
Studio One 6 Artist vs Studio One 6 Professional: What’s The Deal?
PreSonus Studio One has earned its place as a heavyweight contender in the DAW world. With a range of versions to choose from, it caters to musicians, producers, and engineers of all stripes. Among these offerings, Studio One 6 Artist and Studio One 6 Professional stand out as two distinct options, each with its own set of features, plugins, capabilities, and limitations.
Both editions offer a lot of great tools for musicians and producers that no other DAW features. Studio One has become a real contender when it comes to home recording enthusiasts, as well as professional studios. But when it comes to which version is for you, it can be confusing at first.
There are three different versions of Studio One, and each one offers different features, with the lower priced options like the Artist Edition having certain restrictions. These limitations can be tracking inputs, as well as usable virtual instruments and plugins. Studio One 6 Artist vs Studio One 6 Professional will come down to the fine details. Both versions support 3rd party plugins.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to dive into music production or a seasoned pro seeking a comprehensive production suite, the choice between these two versions can significantly impact your creative journey. In this in-depth comparison, we’ll explore the differences between Studio One 6 Artist and Studio One 6 Professional to help you decide which one is the perfect fit for your needs.
Studio One 6 Artist: The Essential DAW
Studio One 6 Artist serves as an entry point into the world of Studio One, providing a wealth of tools for musicians and producers looking to kickstart their creative endeavors. It strikes a balance between affordability and functionality, making it an attractive option for beginners and those on a budget.
Key Features of Studio One 6 Artist:
1. Unlimited Tracks and Busses:
Studio One 6 Artist lets you work with an unlimited number of audio and instrument tracks, giving you room to experiment and expand your projects without track limitations.
2. Studio One Instruments:
You’ll have access to a variety of virtual instruments, including Presence XT, Mai Tai, Mojito, and Impact XT, to add diverse sounds to your music. All of the synths offer a ton of edit options, and you can create your own sounds from scratch!
3. Advanced Editing Tools:
Studio One 6 Artist offers essential editing tools, such as comping, automation, and MIDI editing, to fine-tune your music. While you can use external MIDI controllers, you can also point and click to edit MIDI tracks, like drums.
4. Studio One Effects:
You can enhance your tracks with a selection of effects like amp simulators, reverbs, delays, and EQs, providing sonic versatility.
5. Third-Party VST/AU Support:
Studio One Artist allows you to integrate your favorite third-party plugins, expanding your sonic palette.
6. Arranger Track and Scratch Pads:
The Arranger Track helps you experiment with different song arrangements, while Scratch Pads enable creative exploration and arrangement testing. Want to move the chorus to the verse?
7. Studio One Remote Support:
Control Studio One 6 Artist remotely using your tablet or smartphone, enhancing your workflow.
8. PreSonus Ecosystem Compatibility:
Enjoy seamless integration with PreSonus hardware, such as StudioLive mixers and interfaces, for a complete production setup. Studio One also supports AKAI, and other “plug & play” type MIDI controllers.
9. Project Page for Mastering:
Prepare your music for distribution with Studio One Artist’s Project Page, where you can apply mastering techniques and export your tracks professionally. This shrinks the UI to a bite-sixed portion, where the user can focus on the details.
Studio One 6 Artist excels as an introductory DAW, offering an array of essential features for music production. It’s perfect for budding musicians, songwriters, and home studio enthusiasts who want a robust but cost-effective platform for their creative pursuits.
However, it does limit the amount of MIDI tracks you can have at one time, as well as regular audio tracks. You also get less plugins and instruments to use, which can be a big deal if you work within certain genres like EDM or industrial music styles.
Maybe you are a professional that already has a preferred DAW, and you want to use the Studio One mastering options, then all you need is the Artist Edition. Many producers often use multiple DAWs to get their tracks finished, since every DAW has stand-out features that are unique.
However if you are someone that just wants to get down musical ideas, with an easy to use user interface, the Studio One Artist is a great way to start your DAW journey. The Artist Edition of Studio One offers a great intro to DAWs in general, and new users will not miss the features that are left out.
Studio One 6 Professional: Elevate Your Craft
Studio One 6 Professional, on the other hand, represents the pinnacle of PreSonus’s DAW technology. It’s a powerhouse designed for professionals and experienced producers who require a comprehensive suite of tools and advanced features to craft their musical masterpieces.
Key Features of Studio One 6 Professional:
1. Complete Studio One Instruments:
In addition to the instruments available in the Artist version, Studio One 6 Professional includes Sample One XT, the XT version of the Impact drum sampler, and additional Presence XT libraries, expanding your sonic possibilities.
2. Extended Effects Arsenal:
Experience a broader range of effects, including the Channel Strip Collection, Ampire XT Metal Pack, and the Fat Channel XT collection, enhancing your sound shaping capabilities.
3. Advanced Editing and Automation:
Studio One 6 Professional introduces features like the Arranger Track, Scratch Pads, and Score View, elevating your music composition and arrangement capabilities.
4. Expanded VST Instrument Support:
With support for VST3 and AU virtual instruments, you gain access to a wider selection of third-party plugins to further customize your sound.
5. Multi-Instrument Part Support:
Effortlessly manage multiple instrument parts within a single track, simplifying complex arrangements.
6. Extended Export Options:
Export your projects with added flexibility, including the ability to export in MP3 format, making it easier to share your music. FLAC audio and other lossless formats are also supported.
7. Melodyne Integration:
Enjoy seamless integration with Melodyne Essentials for advanced audio tuning and manipulation. It is often confused with Auto Tune, but Melodyne is more precise.
8. Impact XT XTended:
The Impact XT drum sampler in Studio One Professional includes additional capabilities, offering even more creative drum programming possibilities. You can program it with a mouse step-by-step, or use any of the programmed loops to spark creative ideas.
9. Studio One Console Shaper:
Add analog console emulations to your mix with the Console Shaper plugin, enhancing the warmth and character of your tracks. This is like plugging your tracks into an old-school NEVE board, something many of your favorite albums probably featured.
Studio One Professional is aptly named, as it has everything a producer needs to render a fully professional sounding track, without needed external plugins. Within the Studio One Professional ecosystem you will find a treasure trove of plugins and instruments that the Artist Edition lacks.
Studio One Professional has everything you need to track, edit, and fully produce musical projects. It even has a built-in video editor for content creators. The whole point, is that PreSonus designed the DAW to be an all-in-one system for any project imaginable.
What is Studio One+?
While most home studio artists might be wary of subscription fees, most pro studios are very accustomed to this practice. Subscription services are usually a very good deal if you have a studio that is being used constantly.
PreSonus Studio One+ can be paid for on a yearly of monthly basis, with the yearly fee being the best deal for studios that need all of the tools available, and the list of these tools is vast. So what does the membership offer?
- Exclusive backup, sharing, and collaboration tools built right into Studio One’s Browser.
- Every Studio One add-on and plug-in made by PreSonus, including Audio Batch Converter, Retro Mix Legends, and Deep Flight One.
- Mastering Tools that get your content ready for streaming. This includes plugins for surround sound mixing.
- Exclusive access to video courses and lessons, livestreams, and mix critiques. A rich community experience, to say the least.
- Connect with other Studio One users in the Studio One+ Community. Share your music, favorite presets, tour dates, and more.
Studio One+ monthly membership is $19.99, and annual membership is $179.99. This subscription includes unlimited access to professional software, exclusive content, and an active user base. You can also promote your music, and find other artists to collaborate with on projects.
Studio One+ gives you every plugin available, as well as updates when a new plugin is released. Along with the cloud backup system, this version is by far the best for working studios with clients that need to be able to work within varying genres and styles.
Choosing Between Studio One 6 Artist and Studio One 6 Professional: A Summary
The choice between Studio One 6 Artist and Studio One 6 Professional ultimately boils down to your specific needs and aspirations as a music producer or creator. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:
- Choose Studio One 6 Artist If:
- You’re a beginner or budget-conscious musician.
- You want essential tools for music production and mixing.
- You’re looking for a cost-effective way to start your music journey.
- Choose Studio One 6 Professional If:
- You’re a professional or experienced producer.
- You require an extensive feature set for music composition, mixing, and mastering.
- You demand advanced editing capabilities and a broad range of instruments and effects.
- Choose Studio One+ If:
- You want everything that the Professional Edition offers.
- You want access to all plugins, even the new ones as they release.
- You run a professional studio, and you need cover all kinds of genres.
In the PreSonus Studio One ecosystem, both Studio One 6 Artist and Studio One 6 Professional serve distinct purposes, ensuring that there’s a Studio One version tailored to your creative goals. As you progress in your musical journey, you can always consider upgrading from Studio One Artist to Studio One Professional to unlock additional capabilities and take your craft to the next level.
Studio One+ offers everything that the Professional Edition offers, and it is by far our favorite choice. There is more freedom, and if there is a specific plugin that you need for a project, then you have the entire PreSonus library at your disposal.
So, whether you’re just starting or you’re a seasoned pro, PreSonus Studio One has you covered, providing the tools you need to turn your musical dreams into reality. Choose the version that best fits your needs and budget.
PreSonus Studio One 6 Artist is a DAW built to remove the roadblocks and learning curves of creating music in the digital age, providing you with all the inspiring tools you require to create. Featuring every tool you need to get from idea, to fully-realized project.
- Slick Tools For Editing Audio & Video
- Tons of Pro Features
- Mixing & Mastering Tools
- Cloud Collaboration
- Full Library of Instruments & Plugins
Studio One 6 Artist vs Studio One 6 Professional: Which One Is Best?
Choose Studio One 6 Artist If: You’re a beginner or budget-conscious musician.
You want essential tools for music production and mixing.
You’re looking for a cost-effective way to start your music journey.
Choose Studio One 6 Profession You’re a professional or experienced producer.
You require an extensive feature set for music composition, mixing, and mastering.
You demand advanced editing capabilities and a broad range of instruments and effects.
Studio One 6 Artist vs Studio One 6 Professional: Which Does Video?
Only Studio one Professional has a video editor. Likewise, you can also purchase Studio One+ since it features everything that the Professional Edition includes, plus more features and plugins.
Studio One 6 Artist vs Studio One 6 Professional: What is Studio One+?
PreSonus Studio One+ can be paid for on a yearly of monthly basis, with the yearly fee being the best deal for studios that need all of the tools available, and the list of these tools is vast. You get every plugin that PreSonus offers, along with regular updates.
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