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Studio One pricing -- indicating what?

C

CHA66

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I have become confused by Studio One's new pricing model for perpetual licenses. I've been content on v.6 as v.7 hasn't yet brought much to the table that interests me, and I'm just an occasional user (I use different DAWs for differing purposes; Mainly S1 for composing).

A new user (or coming from a competing DAW) can get a FULL Version of the pro S1 for just $140 (or with 10% discount available for $126) on the current special sale. Which means this is the current street "value" of the program. How can S1 continue to be developed at this pricing model? Is this (race to the bottom) being driven by the unique financial models of Reaper and Logic, perhaps S1's closest competitors by feature sets? Somehow, Cubase and Pro Tools (even Samplitude, realistic or not) are continue to charge professional prices for initial entry and upgrades.

Wondering what the model is communication about future development and user base.
 
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Welcome to the Forum!

The current pricing is related to extended Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Holiday pricing.
All the vendors are currently in this mode...
 
And another "hasn't yet brought much to the table" and "race to the bottom" and "communication about future development" and "financial models" and "confused".

How about just buying something that you consider worth your money? Or using a DAW (or DAWs) that matches your preferences best?
 
Jens said:
And another "hasn't yet brought much to the table" and "race to the bottom" and "communication about future development" and "financial models" and "confused".

How about just buying something that you consider worth your money? Or using a DAW (or DAWs) that matches your preferences best?
Click to expand...

Have you ever considered trying to be, you know, a bit nicer to folks?
 
Jens said:
And another "hasn't yet brought much to the table" and "race to the bottom" and "communication about future development" and "financial models" and "confused".

How about just buying something that you consider worth your money? Or using a DAW (or DAWs) that matches your preferences best?
Click to expand...
If I were cynical, I would say that now is a very bad time for change, regardless of the direction. The competitors are all on the decline as well, either technically or in terms of their business model.
 
Davey said:
Have you ever considered trying to be, you know, a bit nicer to folks?
Click to expand...
Being nice(r) is a two-way street. Instead of responding to my question you responded only with an insult. I do think it's a valid question and also a good way to look at things in general.

I read other forums as well and the vibe/mood everywhere has drastically changed since PreSonus introduced subscription and then Fender bought PreSonus. No other DAW (or company) gets this much abuse. I barely visited the old forum anymore because it was reduced to lengthy rants about evil subscription, evil Fender etc. Who wants to visit such places?
 
Presonus has only one thing in mind ... trying to find some kind of balance in its pricing that will continue to generate an income stream from the DAW. Really, for maybe a decade, DAWs have been treading water and reinventing the wheel, because seriously— what else do we need? Studio One has been fully featured for a long time and it's no surprise that many users are happy sticking with version 5 or 6. There will always be users asking for near-bespoke improvements and upgrades, or features that benefit their particular workflow, but in general DAWs are now incredibly powerful.
So, how does Presonus keep users paying more money, which in turn funds development and Support? It's a difficult challenge. I'm happy sitting on an S7 perpetual license. If we all do that, how does Presonus pay the bills?
The best answer is hardware. Monitors, interfaces, headphones, etc ... income from these sales underwrites the DAW.
The cost of S7 has little to do with the perceived value of the software itself as a standalone DAW, and is mostly about attracting new users and a user-base who will go all-in with the hardware to create a Presonus-centric studio.
Don't get me wrong, S1 is a great DAW and should be priced accordingly, but every DAW is painting itself into a developmental corner ... what can be introduced that will appeal to a majority of users enough to pay for an upgrade?
The business model for the software isn't a reflection of its professional appeal. Reaper and others don't have a hardware component that underwrites it. Pro Tools continues to hang its hat on the "industry standard" reputation, otherwise its been pretty messed up lately.
My idea would be a much cheaper subscription that provides ONLY fast Support and perhaps a few tasty plugins, rather than the S1 Pro + thing now that has little appeal to long-time and traditional studio users.
Wow ... didn't I tend to write so much. Sorry!
 
As a hobbyist I could live with 7.2 for years, but if development continues, I am sure that on average I'd update every two years if the pricing was what I'd call reasonable (say $150-175) for a perpetual license. Every firm has to grow new customers as they will only retain a percentage of their current customers for various reasons. With AI's influence on the music industry, it will be very interesting to see how all DAW manufacturers react.
 
TheBassBagwhan said:
Really, for maybe a decade, DAWs have been treading water and reinventing the wheel, because seriously— what else do we need?
Click to expand...

Current DAWs can satisfy current needs, but those needs will change:

  • MIDI 2.0 continues to develop and all DAWs will need to integrate its capabilities within the next year or so. We are close to a tipping point where MIDI 2.0 features will creep into DAWs. This would also provide the motivation for Studio One to up its MIDI implementation game.
  • Changes in MIDI will also mean changes in controllers. DAWs will need to integrate MIDI 2.0's bi-directional communication (MIDI Capability Inquiry) to make setting up hardware controllers, fader boxes, editing hardware synth parameters, etc. a no-brainer.
  • Live performance is making a comeback after covid drove a stake through its heart. Furthermore, the "AI backlash" is starting to manifest itself. So far, live performance is one area where Suno can't suck all the soul out of the music. I believe people will want authenticity and live performance delivers that. About six months to a year from now would be a really good time to step on the acceleator for Studio One's Show Page.
  • Cool accessories. For example, why not integrate a rhyming dictionary and thesaurus with the lyrics function? Right-click on a word, and choose "rhymes" or "synonyms." Or, integrate visualizers that sync with the music to generate instant videos. I assume visualizers are easy to program, because there are so many of them.
  • More controller support. Having a clip launcher without APC controller support is a missed opportunity.

Those are just some ideas off the top of my head. I think the solution for DAWs is to worry less about adding features, and instead, make existing features more developed (I'm looking at you, Harmonic Editing) and easier to use. I believe if DAWs delivered enhanced ease of use and deeper feature development with updates, people would pay for those updates.
 
Craig Anderton said:
  • Cool accessories. For example, why not integrate a rhyming dictionary and thesaurus with the lyrics function? Right-click on a word, and choose "rhymes" or "synonyms." Or, integrate visualizers that sync with the music to generate instant videos. I assume visualizers are easy to program, because there are so many of them.
Click to expand...
Integration of idolumic's rhyme genie / tunesmith would VERY kool. Clunky to use as is ...
((https://www.rhymegenie.com/rhyme-genie.html))
 
Hi everyone, I've decided to leave my DAW, which I was a beta tester for, due to the company's absurd decision to only offer a subscription.
I believe a pro should own the tools they use, and PreSonus is currently in a situation that could be described as hybrid... I saw Gregor's recent interview, and I think companies are finally reconsidering the subscription thing.
My first production in Studio One is coming out, and I hope to see significant improvements to the DAW every year I purchase them.
 
TheBassBagwhan said:
Presonus has only one thing in mind ... trying to find some kind of balance in its pricing that will continue to generate an income stream from the DAW. Really, for maybe a decade, DAWs have been treading water and reinventing the wheel, because seriously— what else do we need? Studio One has been fully featured for a long time and it's no surprise that many users are happy sticking with version 5 or 6. There will always be users asking for near-bespoke improvements and upgrades, or features that benefit their particular workflow, but in general DAWs are now incredibly powerful.
So, how does Presonus keep users paying more money, which in turn funds development and Support? It's a difficult challenge. I'm happy sitting on an S7 perpetual license. If we all do that, how does Presonus pay the bills?
The best answer is hardware. Monitors, interfaces, headphones, etc ... income from these sales underwrites the DAW.
The cost of S7 has little to do with the perceived value of the software itself as a standalone DAW, and is mostly about attracting new users and a user-base who will go all-in with the hardware to create a Presonus-centric studio.
Don't get me wrong, S1 is a great DAW and should be priced accordingly, but every DAW is painting itself into a developmental corner ... what can be introduced that will appeal to a majority of users enough to pay for an upgrade?
The business model for the software isn't a reflection of its professional appeal. Reaper and others don't have a hardware component that underwrites it. Pro Tools continues to hang its hat on the "industry standard" reputation, otherwise its been pretty messed up lately.
My idea would be a much cheaper subscription that provides ONLY fast Support and perhaps a few tasty plugins, rather than the S1 Pro + thing now that has little appeal to long-time and traditional studio users.
Wow ... didn't I tend to write so much. Sorry!
Click to expand...
I agree that companies need revenue, but they could charge more for the full license and then charge less for annual updates.
I would have gladly paid €250 instead of €140 for the full license, but then €40 or €50 for subsequent full versions.
By charging more affordable prices, even hobbyists would upgrade their DAWs, and they are a significant percentage of PreSonus customers.
That's my opinion.
 
I'm surprised how many people seem to 'know' what PreSonus's marketing and product strategies are! And that they are making decisions based on this 'knowledge'.

All we know is that the software continues to be available in a perpetual licence form, and that a subscription exists that brings some extra content which may or may not be of interest to some users. Both Lukas here, and Gregor in his videos, have confirmed that development is continuing and thus we can look forward to some improvements and bug fixes in due course. Whether the improvements are 'major' (and what is 'major'?) will depend on the individual's perspective.

There are a lot of changes happening in the computer hardware and software industries right now; the rapid recent and ongoing increase in memory prices potentially threatens the future of individual ownership of computing hardware, and how software adapts to the developments in AI is no doubt causing a great deal of re-thinking in several specialisations. I wouldn't blame any company for holding off on announcing new versions of anything right now.

In the meantime, Studio One (or Cubase or Logic or Ableton or WHY) continues to enable us to create music with a complexity and quality of production that we could only dream of not so long ago, and in Studio One's case (and IMO, obvs) does it in a particularly intuitive and pleasant way.
 
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BobF said:
Integration of idolumic's rhyme genie / tunesmith would VERY kool. Clunky to use as is ...
((https://www.rhymegenie.com/rhyme-genie.html))
Click to expand...

Or just give us a ChatGPT (or similar) window. Example:

---
Give words that rhyme with orange
---

Here are the closest real-word rhymes and near-rhymes for orange (since perfect rhymes basically don’t exist in standard English):

Best Near-Rhymes (single words)
  • sporange (a VERY rare botanical term — closest true rhyme)
  • door-hinge (spoken slurred: “dor-inj”)
  • foreign
  • porridge
  • storage
  • scavenge (near-near rhyme)
  • lozenge (slant rhyme)
  • challenge (slant)
  • melange (meh-lahnzh — slant)
Two-word close rhymes
  • four inch
  • porch hinge
  • more range
  • core hinge
  • floor hinge
Funny / creative near-rhymes
  • blorenge (a hill in Wales — legit place name)
  • door hinge (classic Eminem trick)
  • cow flange (thoroughly not real but fun)
  • warm tinge
  • syringe (slant)
  • range (slant)
  • fringe (slant)

----

Now I'm off to write that song about different coloured door hinges (although I'm also tempted by the cow flange).
 
TimC340 said:
I'm surprised how many people seem to 'know' what PreSonus's marketing and product strategies are! And that they are making decisions based on this 'knowledge'.

[...] Both Lukas here, and Gregor in his videos, have confirmed that development is continuing.
Click to expand...
The bigger problem is that you and others thought or at least feared that S1's development has or will cease. There was never any source for it, just repeated misleading speculation (or lies) presented as facts.

There's a study saying that people believe social media/forums/YouTube more because they're perceived as personal and authentic.
 
And on another note, I've always wondered why huge companies like Intel and AMD have no problem offering roadmaps for development that extend years into the future...while DAW companies act as if the sky would fall if anyone knew their ultra top secret plans.

I can only speak for myself, but even though I really don't need much if anything more to produce in S1, if the company was more forthcoming or at least slightly engaging I'd want to reward them by buying updates in whatever form whether I really need them or not. As Craig notes, MIDI 2 is dropping sooner than later, and I'd sure like to see that developed. However, there's not word one about whether S1 is going in that direction while competitors had no problem making no secret of their involvement in the MIDI 2 consortium. For example, if I knew Presonus was committed to MIDI 2 and approximately when, I'd upgrade now just so they have money for development.
 
You may have answered your own question there. When you're big you can throw your weight around. Even when you mess up there's no way around you. But when you're in a delicate position, when competition is fierce and pickings are small, then you have to be careful. Don't make promises you can't keep because they can come back to haunt you. Roadmaps are excellent for getting hit over the head with.
 
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GIM Productions said:
I would have gladly paid €250 instead of €140 for the full license, but then €40 or €50 for subsequent full versions.
By charging more affordable prices, even hobbyists would upgrade their DAWs, and they are a significant percentage of PreSonus customers.
That's my opinion.
Click to expand...
I am not sure I agree - not sure others will either.
Click to expand...
 
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