Show Page - abandonware?

[Lukas]

Me - I wish there was a toggle to completely hide the Show Page - just like there is one to ensure I never see the ATMOS environment either.

But let me ask: Where exactly do you see anything about the Show Page that you wouldn't want to see? Unless you open the "New" dialog to create a new document and choose a Show Page document, you shouldn't be confronted with it (apart from the "Shows" tab on the Start Page).

 

[Vocalpoint]

But let me ask: Where exactly do you see anything about the Show Page that you wouldn't want to see? Unless you open the "New" dialog to create a new document and choose a Show Page document, you shouldn't be confronted with it (apart from the "Shows" tab on the Start Page).

Lukas

Totally understand - and for the record - I am simply being very nitpicky here.

You are correct of course - the Show area does not "get in the way" - however I would rather be able to turn off any existence of it - at all.

Just like I do with the Shop and Cloud tabs in the Browser and other areas of the program.

I like things extremely clean and focused on my workflow. Any UI bits and pieces that are not useful (AKA taking up space just to take up space) - should be allowed to be hidden - and that applies to the New Document area and of course the Shows tab on the Start page.

Presonus should have added the whole "Show" module to this area:

And allowed the user to completely disable it - just as any of these other specific services and modules can be fully disabled.

Like say the Launcher - if a user has no use for the Launcher - that whole module is invisible if one chooses to leave it that way.

But it is what it is and it is not a showstopper by any means. I have put up this for 5 years now - what's another 5

VP

 

[Lukas]

Thanks for elaborating. The modules that can be disabled in the Options are due technical reasons. There are actual libraries and services that aren't loaded or initialized on startup (like video, Windows MIDI etc.). That's not the case for the Show Page... it's more or less a different view (+ different features...) of a Studio One document. But no other fundamental technical technology is used in comparison to Song and Project. So that's why you can't "disable" it.

 

[Vocalpoint]

Thanks for elaborating. The modules that can be disabled in the Options are due technical reasons. There are actual libraries and services that aren't loaded or initialized on startup (like video, Windows MIDI etc.). That's not the case for the Show Page... it's more or less a different view (+ different features...) of a Studio One document. But no other fundamental technical technology is used in comparison to Song and Project. So that's why you can't "disable" it.

Yep - understood.

VP

 

[MisterE]

Actually, there aren't! MainStage has no timeline, VSTLive is woefully over-designed and unreliable as others have said (every single section of a song re-loads the guitar patches for example - even if it's the same patch - whereas S1 keeps the guitar patch as is until you tell it otherwise, far more sensible), and has a cluttered Mixer set up with different views per song. GigPerformer is a spaghetti Western of connections and again not centred around a timeline. Maybe great for a virtual keyboard rig but not much else.

I'm using Nuendo and the Arrangements at the moment. What I want is a timeline - for clicks, lighting cues, vocal and guitar FX per section or per song and possibly backing tracks for a future project. Studio One is so close to doing this but I won't commit to creating a complete show in it whilst the support and development for the Show page is unknown.

I'm a live performer as well as recording person, and from my observations live shows have really upped the tech requirements in the last few years. Even cover bands are using their own DMX controlled lighting, and processing for effects tied to their backing tracks. The number of Laptops I'm seeing onstage is definitely on the increase- I even saw a Metal band at a local festival using autotune on a Macbook for the main vocalist -my son, a big metal fan, was close to calling them out on Insta for such a transgression! So I think tech on stage is here to stay and the Show Page could be a winner with just a few improvements.

Other multi-media apps are overkill for bands (Millumin, etc) and things like Q-Lab are great for theatres but again not ideal for timeline based musical shows. Believe me, I've looked and tried them all. I did manage to get the Showbuddy DMX running with S1 by sending MIDI program change messages internally on the Mac, but it's just one more layer of apps to run simultaneously and worry about.

We'll see!

No horse in this race but well stated.

 

[Stuart Welwood]

It would be interesting to know what percentage of S1 users use the Show page.

I have been using S1 for just over a year, so it may come as no surprise that I have never seen the Show page, nor ATMOS.

 

[Davey]

Actually, there aren't! MainStage has no timeline, VSTLive is woefully over-designed and unreliable as others have said... <snip>

We can agree on VSTLive! You'd be mad to rely on that for anything at all, especially on a Windows platform. I know folks who do it. Maybe they like the excitement. Maybe they also cross the road with their eyes closed.

You don't want to hear it but Mainstage and Ableton Live dominate the scene between them, depending upon the type of show, with Gig Performer a strong challenger. If anything is going to usurp them it will be an iPad running something like Camelot Pro or Keystage.

I've always thought the show page was something Gregor must have campaigned heavily for! If Presonus are serious about it they should split it off into a sperate product and really focus on the needs of that market and cut out all the baggage that a full-blown DAW carries.

 

[OutrageProductions]

I have been using S1 for just over a year, so it may come as no surprise that I have never seen the Show page, nor ATMOS.

Then you haven't poked around in the dark, dank corners of the basement looking for trouble... good on you!

 

[Andy_P]

I have never seen the Show Page nor the Mastering thing

But as far as I can see most features stay as they are first impemented in Studio One except a few minor additions.
There has not been any solid improvements for Browser, Sampler, Impact, Launcher, Notation, Sound Variations, Scratchpad, Video etc either.

 

[Vocalpoint]

There has not been any solid improvements for Browser, Sampler, Impact, Launcher, Notation, Sound Variations, Scratchpad, Video etc either.

The internal instruments (Impact etc) were actually last redone back in the v4 era.

But I do agree. Many - if not all of the key S1 tools provided - rarely get any update love.

They are simply "there".

VP

 

[Craig Anderton]

Maybe the Show Page will follow the same evolution as the Project Page. The Project Page was birthed when CDs were still a big deal. Then CD sales dropped off a cliff and the Project Page went unchanged for multiple revs. But after streaming had started to pick up, the Project Page received an update that made it more useful in the streaming world via more editing and export options.

The Show Page was released in 2020, only four months after Covid was declared a global pandemic. Covid basically drove a stake through the heart of the live performance industry. Slowly but surely, band and live performance activity is picking up. However, it's also taking on new forms (e.g., Helix Stadium, which provides what's needed to do solo shows in addition to the guitar processing). I have no inside info, but if I was PreSonus, I'd wait a bit longer to see what the new shape of live performance looks like, and include those observations in an updated Show Page.

I doubt that it will accommodate the bands that wear motion-capture suits and control giant holograms to create "virtual idols," but you never know...

 

[AAV]

I agree with this Craig, but Presonus hasn't demonstrated an interest in incrementally improving features they introduce beyond the initial roll out. The Launcher is a recent example. I love Studio One, but I'd personally also love some love for both the launcher and the show page. While it is likely true (to Lukas's point) that the show page is largely just a different view of different features that already exist in the song page/view, how can they not include a video track in the show page in 2025/26?? The best professional sports team owners let team management run their teams. The worst tend to interfere with management in order to sell more guitars - err......stadium/arena tickets, or $10 beer.
In 2025, I would think a small venue live show is likely to include (in addition to virtual and external instrumentation, audio and mixing), multi-media, video, visualizers, and lighting. All of which can be "done" in the song view. (Visualizers like Imaginando's VS, VST to DMX plugins like Lightjam , and USB to DMX controllers like Enttec). Except no video, automation.... Seems like, as for the Launcher, Presonus was more interested in listing the feature than in making it useful.

 

[John Vere]

I have used computers for live performances since about 1986. Atari and onwards. I had software called the Pro midi Player?? On the Atari that played midi sequences as well as we used midi to control our effects and lighting.
I’ve seen almost zero improvement since then!!
The lack of development for dedicated software for live musicians is just not there.
So people have to put up with using Daw’s that are not at all designed specifically for the task.
Live performance features are always badly implemented. Sonars Playlist as a good example. Hasn’t been updated since???
My Atari software would also display the lyrics.
I could control playlists and playback with a foot switch.
I’ve always kept my eyes open for software that was specifically designed for live shows and Ive yet to find it.

The wish list.
Multi track audio 4 track or more.
Midi tracks for hardware and other controls
Lyric display doesn’t have to scroll.
On the fly playlist editing
Video playback for the video wall or?
Foot switch control of playlist and player.
Not important to me but I guess VST hosting would be popular.

 

[AAV]

I have used computers for live performances since about 1986. Atari and onwards. I had software called the Pro midi Player?? On the Atari that played midi sequences as well as we used midi to control our effects and lighting.
I’ve seen almost zero improvement since then!!
The lack of development for dedicated software for live musicians is just not there.
So people have to put up with using Daw’s that are not at all designed specifically for the task.
Live performance features are always badly implemented. Sonars Playlist as a good example. Hasn’t been updated since???
My Atari software would also display the lyrics.
I could control playlists and playback with a foot switch.
I’ve always kept my eyes open for software that was specifically designed for live shows and Ive yet to find it.

The wish list.
Multi track audio 4 track or more.
Midi tracks for hardware and other controls
Lyric display doesn’t have to scroll.
On the fly playlist editing
Video playback for the video wall or?
Foot switch control of playlist and player.
Not important to me but I guess VST hosting would be popular.

I believe the show page can display lyrics from the song page, John. VST hosting, etc is a given. I use Cantabile, currently and I am looking at Steinberg's Live VST - I have not spent a bunch of time with the Presonus Show page. Sure would like to though if they could flesh it out a bit more.

 

[John Vere]

I’ll check it out later but I’ve retired from those types of gigs anyway. Not that there’s even that many left to play at these days.

I’ve have an almost uncountable collection backing tracks both as midi, Wave and lately as video. A lot of the older midi files still contain patches for control of my old Yorkville lights and my hardware effects.

A retirement project I started is I have many midi backing tracks for obscure songs that are not available elsewhere. I am going to convert them to General Midi and find a site to post them on like Midi World. And I “fixed “ a lot of the typical badly done downloads. Zillion hours of work so might as well share it.