How to demo v8 on v6 songs

[darren]

Still on v6 but I notice there’s finally a v8 demo and although there’s nothing in v7 or v8 that I really want or need I thought I may give it a go and see if anything changes my mind.

However, to test it properly I need to use one of the proper songs that I made in v6 but I want to make sure I can go back to v6 once the demo expires (assuming I don’t upgrade). I’m fairly sure that once you’ve opened a song in v8 (and save it) you can’t then open it up in v6 so I’ll be sure to make a copy of the entire song structure and sub-directories but is there anything else I need to be wary about?

 

[Vocalpoint]

I’m fairly sure that once you’ve opened a song in v8 (and save it) you can’t then open it up in v6 so I’ll be sure to make a copy of the entire song structure and sub-directories but is there anything else I need to be wary about?

This is the way. Work on copies of everything.

VP

 

[Craig Anderton]

I’ll be sure to make a copy of the entire song structure and sub-directories

Just save the Session to a new folder, and it will include everything needed to use that session.

FWIW a lot of what makes FSP8 useful for me isn't the marquee features like Moises and pitch correction, but numerous small fixes that make a difference in everyday workflow.

 

[Crossinger]

And if you accidentally forgot to work on a copy, then Lukas’ https://s1toolbox.com/ is the way to go for reverting back to an older file format.

 

[Vocalpoint]

Aa lot of what makes FSP8 useful for me isn't the marquee features like Moises and pitch correction, but numerous small fixes that make a difference in everyday workflow.

This. I strip away anything and everything that does not apply and continue to focus on my workflow only (while reaping the benefit of the countless quality of life changes) and of course larger enhancements that apply to my work daily.

VP

 

[darren]

Thanks for the replies, very helpful. I’ll give it a go next week when I’m back in the studio. I know there are no headline features of any interest but, as Craig says, there may be some under the hood changes which could be helpful.

One further question, is this going to change any of my configuration files that are shared with v6? Stuff in the windows “roaming” sub-directory that studio one uses or will it create a different config sub-directory for v8 config files?

 

[darren]

I finally had a moment to download the demo and give this a go. It definitely starts quicker but, apart from that and some visual changes I'm really struggling to notice any real differences from v6. Although I do like the pan control option on the track header in the arranger view - that's quite nice.

Ignoring all the new stuff that's been bolted on (like Moises) and the virtual instruments, what kind of stuff is there to help me in the basic arranger/console workflow?

 

[Lukas]

I finally had a moment to download the demo and give this a go. It definitely starts quicker but, apart from that and some visual changes I'm really struggling to notice any real differences from v6.

Which is good, isn't it? Nobody likes cluttered UIs.

Ignoring all the new stuff that's been bolted on (like Moises) and the virtual instruments, what kind of stuff is there to help me in the basic arranger/console workflow?

Have you watched my video...

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...and all the other feature demo videos?

Fender Studio Pro 8 Tutorials | Studio One / Fender Studio Pro

Discover Studio One & Fender Studio Pro tutorials tailored to Fender Studio Pro 8. Explore our extensive collection of tutorials by product experts like Gregor Beyerle, Joe Gilder, Lukas Ruschitzka and many more!

s1toolbox.com

 

[Craig Anderton]

In addition to what's in those videos, there are many small UI changes that you notice only after using the program for a while. They may be a little frustrating at first because your muscle memory doesn't expect them, but then you realize you're working a bit faster.

Of course, there's also the Fender amp sims. They're not only for guitar players, because they include a lot of "stompbox" effects that are useful with all kinds of signal sources. Just bypass the amp and cab.

The audio-to-MIDI conversion is way better, and does drums as well as polyphonic melodic instruments. But don't overlook being able to sing solo parts to drive VIs. The main limitation is the audio-to-MIDI doesn't recognize pitch bend.

 

[darren]

Thanks @Lukas and @Craig Anderton for the pointers. Spent an hour or so and, as I suspected, there's not a lot in there for the way I use Studio One Pro. I do like the pan option on the track header and the ability to customise the inspector window but I can't say there's a huge number of "quality of life" improvements for the way I work and my current toolset.

On the flip side, I'm impressed by how all my various customisations just magically appear in the new version - they've done a great job of not breaking any of those and if I wanted to pay for an upgrade then the transition would be seamless.

 

[lokeyfly]

Spent an hour or so and, as I suspected, there's not a lot in there for the way I use Studio One Pro.

Love the syntax, here. : ). I think we should all call it, Studio One Pro

I do like the pan option on the track header and the ability to customise the inspector window but I can't say there's a huge number of "quality of life" improvements for the way I work and my current toolset.

On the flip side, I'm impressed by how all my various customisations just magically appear in the new version - they've done a great job of not breaking any of those and if I wanted to pay for an upgrade then the transition would be seamless.

Yeah darren, you can maintain your songs folder and all songs & subfolders exactly how you have in any past Studio One upgrade. Just keep going with that same folder/file structure you already have in place. Certainly no need to create other folders which could lead to things getting convoluted, fast. The only thing I do is when saving a song in version 8, is just add to the song title, a suffix such as _8a, _8a1, _8b, etc. This way, you'll instantly see from Explorer/Finder that a song was a part of the Fender Studio Pro 8 venture.

I feel the same on the overall version 8 impressions. The vitals, and conventions are thankfully the same. Even a little better placed, where relocated. I wouldnt even try Moises if it fell on my lap, and effectively it has. My only minor concern is that the developers actually tend to keyboardists, and synth development needs, the way Ableton Live, and Bitwig have. Such as modulation, randomization, MIDI note triggering, etc.with
With Studio One Pro, there are past features that are severely unfinished, and seemingly left to rot. Well, not actually, but if one looks at the insatiably boring Arpegiator, and no real MIDI randomization that is worthy of anything musically adaptive, then one will use terms like "unfinished, boring, rot. and forgotten". From version 4 no less. Horrible.
My take on shaking the tree.
Mind you, this is no reflection on Lukas who still creates very useful feature scripts, and helps convey to development, some needs. Only, the needs are far more numerous than any one person can muster. So we press on using what is indeed, still a very good DAW.

 

[Vocalpoint]

With Studio One Pro, there are past features that are severely unfinished, and seemingly left to rot.

Don't even get me started on the Launcher.

Can't imagine being the guy/gal that was assigned this "Major V7 Feature" from the big ole DEV whiteboard - only to be told to stop work on it immediately - as soon as it was able to loop a file.

Which - to this day - is about all it does.

VP

 

[lokeyfly]

Lets see if I can say this in the best way possible.

On the bathroom door in one of the stalls, outside the Fender development area is...
"Here I sit, broken hearted. Tried to sh__, but only far__d."

I think that covers, some of the more essential past Studio One Pro development.

 

[Crossinger]

I wouldnt even try Moises if it fell on my lap, and effectively it has.

My main concern is that they try to keep up with the competition by implementing interfaces to 3rd party vendors and provide shabby “we teamed up with…” offers rather than doing solid housekeeping. I could pick out any of the common competitors blindfolded and he would currently provide better and more extensive updates in any case.

 

[Vocalpoint]

My main concern is that they try to keep up with the competition by implementing interfaces to 3rd party vendors and provide shabby “we teamed up with…” offers rather than doing solid housekeeping. I could pick out any of the common competitors blindfolded and he would currently provide better and more extensive updates in any case.

I am still wondering - who asked for any of these?

And why would a DAW that clearly needs to establish/reestablish itself with the pro ranks - need to be skulking around with dinky addons from Moises and Splice? None of this stuff is making SP any better and quite frankly - the more of this crap they add - the more diluted the product becomes before it caves in on itself as a patchwork of duct taped junk that no one really uses or cares about.

I also get a sick feeling in my gut every time the crew over at Ableton issue a major update. The release notes are usually about 7-8 pages long and take 20 minutes to read through all the quality fixes and enhancements they seem to get.

Exactly like we used to see - 5 years ago when DEV was killing it for Studio One v5 and v6.

VP

 

[lokeyfly]

My main concern is that they try to keep up with the competition by implementing interfaces to 3rd party vendors and provide shabby “we teamed up with…” offers rather than doing solid housekeeping.

Great points, and something we all share as a concern. Currently, the AI buzz is just a lot of logarithmic hoodoo, yet the general populous say "ooooh, ahh!". So companies grab the coat tails of me too development. Putting little more than a link into their program to shout, we now utilize these new features. I'd much rather see some under the hood, get your hands dirty, development, and solidifying this DAW with appointments that place Studio One Pro the way it first came out of the gate. With eyes watching, and ARA and innovation. Then continue the process of improving.

 

[Crossinger]

And to add insult to injury: Lukas is fighting a lonely war to provide quality functionality where the developer team (or their product owner) has completely lost any “vision” for their product.

I still can’t justify myself to pay 89 bucks for the upgrade to Fender Studio Pro v8, while it took me just a couple of minutes to purchase the Pro Navigator.

 

[TimC340]

Actually, I think Splice is a useful addition and I know a lot of people who use it - and the free tier is actually not bad at all. Moises and Tonalic I can do without - I don't have anything against them per se, but I don't think they add anything to Studio Pro. Pro Tools and Ableton have also included Splice, and Cubase has gone for Tonalic, so Fender isn't shouting in the dark here. But I agree with VP that a bit more effort on the core DAW would be nice.

 

[Vocalpoint]

Actually, I think Splice is a useful addition and I know a lot of people who use it - and the free tier is actually not bad at all. Moises and Tonalic I can do without - I don't have anything against them per se, but I don't think they add anything to Studio Pro. Pro Tools and Ableton have also included Splice, and Cubase has gone for Tonalic, so Fender isn't shouting in the dark here. But I agree with VP that a bit more effort on the core DAW would be nice.

Fair enough. However these inclusions are starting to feel more like desperate vendors knocking on every DAW vendor door they can find - offering their wares in exchange for prime placement within that DAWs workspace.

Then they hope to piggyback off our usage - to somehow bolster theirs.

The key fact that none of these addons are ever the full meal deal (each one has some sort of upgrade/paywall/"next level") just tells me that this is another way for Fender to insert yet another non-native vector (that they had nothing to do with) into the program and then get to brand it as another "super cool" feature for Studio Pro - without writing a single line of code that actually benefits those of us paying the bills.

I do not want my upgrade fees going to license Moises or Splice or any of these lame addons.

I want that fee going to function and form that make this program better than all the rest.

VP

 

[TimC340]

I understand your suspicion of the bundling of payware bolt-ons, and to some extent I agree - none of these products are difficult to source or integrate if you buy them separately. Would SP be better if they weren’t included? I don’t think it’s so easy to claim that; and the idea that it would be better than all the rest is, these days, probably difficult to support - all of the popular DAWs are bloody good, and really only the workflow differentiates them. As I’ve said before, my daughter (a far better musician, songwriter and producer than me) swears by FLStudio whereas I can only swear at it!

But I agree (and have before) that the momentum of effective effort at PreSonus/Fender does seem to have tailed off, and that we see more ongoing change at Cubase, Bitwig and Ableton. Are these changes fundamentally improving those DAWs? That’s not always so easy to argue - and their fora are often engaged in exactly those arguments!

I’m a hobbyist; I have no financial skin in this game, so my opinion is moot. However, I like SP and I do feel it’s improved in the mutation from PreSonus to Fender, but I don’t feel it’s improved across the board and there are big gaps - as you’ve identified - that they seem mysteriously unwilling to close. The seeming policy to concentrate each point update on one aspect of the DAW is an interesting approach, but some of the gaps it leaves are getting uncomfortably wide.

But I feel I’m dancing on the head of a pin here somewhat. Like I say, all the main DAWs are excellent; they all enable a phenomenal gamut of creativity. I happen to prefer this one, but I’m happy to acknowledge that, in some areas, others may be better. I just don’t think it’s possible now for one DAW to stand above the crowd for more than a few weeks at a time.