Studio Pro 8 - Discussion Thread

[Crossinger]

2 times because I forget, and it opens the stupid mini thing that seriously...nobody uses, but Gregor REALLY loved it when it first came out.

Ok, true story: I didn’t use the mini view either. Until two days ago after dabbling around with v7 while contributing to this discussion and finding answers for customization. I have a S1 project with a quite complex Reason Rack FX, but at the end of the day it’s only one knob to adjust. So I customized the controller access and now I can control that fx in the same way as e.g. a send. Great! So it’s not an everyday thing, but for specific tasks it does the job.

 

[Vocalpoint]

Can I still keep and use Studio One 7 when I install this new Fender DAW?

Yes. All versions install into their own directories by default. You can have numerous versions installed side by side for years in you want

Also, if I ever need to rebuild my SSD for some reason down the road will Studio One 7 still be available to me to download from my account if I wish to?

Yes. Not sure why you would need V7 after a cutover to v8 (as v8 will load all your v7 and prior version songs just fine) but your v7 installers will be in your account forever if need be.

VP

 

[khilts]

Yes. All versions install into their own directories by default. You can have numerous versions installed side by side for years in you want



Yes. Not sure why you would need V7 after a cutover to v8 (as v8 will load all your v7 and prior version songs just fine) but your v7 installers will be in your account forever if need be.

VP

I won't need V7 when V8 is fully functional, but for now, it's back to V7.

 

[Ari]

I recommend (good practice for any significant software update, I guess) that everyone try out 8 using copies of their existing projects so that you don't lose critical info.

You will never lose anything.
If you found a case because of an version upgrade, please tell me.

 

[Vocalpoint]

You will never lose anything.
If you found a case because of an version upgrade, please tell me.

Ari

Folks are understandably nervous about the automation issue (that is beginning to bubble up) and if one opens a v7 session in v8 and makes the mistake of saving - there is no going back - so in effect - one IS losing something: any ability to open that session again in a version of s1 (v7) where the automation IS working..

Working on a copy (in v8) is the best play until at least v8.0.2 arrives and some of these bigger issues have been addressed.

VP

 

[Midiboy]

I think what they mean by losing critical data, is you open a v7 song in v8, and save it, you will not be able to open that again in v7...

HOWEVER...don't forget, you SHOULD have autosave on all your sessions...so even if you save a v7 in v8, you can still go back into v7 and open up a previous copy that will likely have all but maybe one or two changes you made before saving that previous one as a final.

 

[MisterE]

I feel like the issue for me is the branding, not the software itself. Time will tell. Sorry for the self-spam, but I wrote a blog post on how I see the rebrand and overall change of environment that can be read here.

You forgot to mention that the embrace of the guitar-dominated past combined with the rejection of the MIDI Association working on MIDI 2 in the present leaves a bad taste in the mouths of people who realize guitarists this century may do some nice things here and there but will never have the impact of those who invented and perfected the rock, country, rockabilly, or metal genres last century.

Releasing software aimed at allowing customers to copy the inspired efforts of yesteryear may attract some newcomers, but it's sure to alienate others who've had similar, if not better, tools at their disposal for decades.

 

[Vocalpoint]

Combined with the rejection of the MIDI Association working on MIDI 2 in the present leaves a bad taste in the mouths...

Still think your MIDI2 worry will be addressed - but much later (like 2028) when MIDI2 actually begins to take hold in the worldwide marketplace.

Best recent comparison I can think of is when 4K TVs started to trickle out in 2011/12. I didn't buy our first one here until 2018. It took 6 years of availability AND that long for 4K be a thing within A/V receivers etc before it really took off.

This will be no different. It is going to take years for anyone to just give up their perfectly good MIDI 1 devices - especially if it has full backward compatibility in any MIDI 2 scenario.

And even longer for a potential "need" to upgrade is well understood. The worst thing that can happen to a new product or standard like this is an inability to clearly show why I would need it.

If Studio Pro 9 or 10 or 11 continues to fully support MIDI 1 - which is guaranteed - it will be a tough sell trying to show me why I would need to change.

VP

 

[Vocalpoint]

Community update for all those wondering about Studio Pro 8 supporting the new Native Instruments MKIII V2 firmware release from Fall 2025.

To be darn sure I wasn't missing anything - I examined the Studio Pro 8 master installer and extracted all the control surface xml settings for Komplete Kontrol and the S-Series boards.

Did a line by line compare in Visual Studio and confirmed that my current surface data files (v7.2.3) - are identical to those shipped within the new installer - confirming that the new firmware is currently not supported.

The waiting continues...

VP

 

[Henrik]

This is a great thread with observations, tips, questions, troubleshooting and people helping. Really useful and so appreciated.

 

[Midiboy]

This is actually a great forum. A lot less toxic than just about every other forum out there. The admins do a great job.

 

[Vocalpoint]

This is actually a great forum. A lot less toxic than just about every other forum out there. The admins do a great job.

As do all our members.

Calm, cool and collected. Even when the going sometimes get tough.

VP

 

[Wolfger]

I would miss this.! Is it really the case that there's no more access to Circle of Fifths like we used to here.? Hmm... bad move if so...

I couldn´t find a way to make the circle of fifth available. Maybe I miss something....

 

[MisterE]

Still think your MIDI2 worry will be addressed - but much later (like 2028) when MIDI2 actually begins to take hold in the worldwide marketplace.

Best recent comparison I can think of is when 4K TVs started to trickle out in 2011/12. I didn't buy our first one here until 2018. It took 6 years of availability AND that long for 4K be a thing within A/V receivers etc before it really took off.

This will be no different. It is going to take years for anyone to just give up their perfectly good MIDI 1 devices - especially if it has full backward compatibility in any MIDI 2 scenario.

And even longer for a potential "need" to upgrade is well understood. The worst thing that can happen to a new product or standard like this is an inability to clearly show why I would need it.

If Studio Pro 9 or 10 or 11 continues to fully support MIDI 1 - which is guaranteed - it will be a tough sell trying to show me why I would need to change.

VP

It's the absence from the MIDI Association and handshaking with other companies operating in the same arena (the NI S-series mkIII and the like) that's particularly off-putting, as you have a point that the complete MIDI 2 rollout could take another few years; I think it'll be sooner, but you could just as easily be correct, which I acknowledge.

That said, when it comes to behaving as if MIDI 2 and the MIDI Association don't exist, a parallel would be every auto manufacturer joins together for the common good when it comes to agreeing on things which benefit them all like standardized safety testing—while maintaining the cutthroat competition for sales. While it could be said that governments force them to do that, nonetheless improved safety obviously benefits all, so they all cooperate without complaint.

I don't think you can counterargue that emphasizing guitar recording makes a regressive statement while emphasizing MIDI 2 makes a progressive one. Some things in life I appreciate being regressive as in harkening back to the good old days, like taking a road trip to an unchanged charming small village in Vermont. My DAW isn't one of them. YMMV.

 

[Midiboy]

I guess I don't understand why you and a few others on various Facebook groups think that this new version emphasizes guitar recording. Just because of the name? Really? It's the same team working on the software. No MIDI tools were removed. A few were even added. (Audio to notes, audio to drums).

Let's face it though...more and more people are starting to learn guitar, so why not have a DAW with the Fender name? That might attract those people as well. Is that a bad thing? Is it really? You mean there might be a DAW out there that can both be beginner friendly and pro level at the same time? What a concept!

With some of the other products Fender announced like the Motion 16 and 32, those certainly aren't "guitar" oriented and most definitely MIDI oriented.

I don't see what some of you are seeing, I guess.

 

[MisterE]

I guess I don't understand why you and a few others on various Facebook groups think that this new version emphasizes guitar recording. Just because of the name? Really?

Yes and yes. Add to that the non-ignorable chief buying incentive being the Mustang guitar and bass stuff as if guitar sims are a new revelation. Fender compounds the annoyance by claiming its formerly Presonus hardware interfaces have HiZ inputs with some magic fairy dust as if they just invented them and they haven't been around for decades, too. Not all of them had high ohm-age which is key to sounding great—but plenty of them did. Fender did nothing to advance this technology despite claiming they did.

I have a feeling people somewhere around age 50 or so and up are going to be way more turned off by corporate branding and takeovers than people under that age who are used to it and accept it as normal. I think that's it more than one's viewpoint's right and one's wrong.

 

[TimC340]

Community update for all those wondering about Studio Pro 8 supporting the new Native Instruments MKIII V2 firmware release from Fall 2025.

To be darn sure I wasn't missing anything - I examined the Studio Pro 8 master installer and extracted all the control surface xml settings for Komplete Kontrol and the S-Series boards.

Did a line by line compare in Visual Studio and confirmed that my current surface data files (v7.2.3) - are identical to those shipped within the new installer - confirming that the new firmware is currently not supported.

The waiting continues...

VP

I didn't expect it, tbh. I think that'll be an announcement of its own when (if!) it eventually happens.

 

[TimC340]

Yes and yes. Add to that the non-ignorable chief buying incentive being the Mustang guitar and bass stuff as if guitar sims are a new revelation. Fender compounds the annoyance by claiming its formerly Presonus hardware interfaces have HiZ inputs with some magic fairy dust as if they just invented them and they haven't been around for decades, too. Not all of them had high ohm-age which is key to sounding great—but plenty of them did. Fender did nothing to advance this technology despite claiming they did.

I have a feeling people somewhere around age 50 or so and up are going to be way more turned off by corporate branding and takeovers than people under that age who are used to it and accept it as normal. I think that's it more than one's viewpoint's right and one's wrong.

Although I already have mine, I was a bit annoyed that they withdrew the Quantum ES2 and ES4 and replaced them with the LT2 and LT4, which have no metering and lack the rather useful desktop format. And the price of the Quantum HDs has gone up hugely!

 

[Midiboy]

Yes and yes. Add to that the non-ignorable chief buying incentive being the Mustang guitar and bass stuff as if guitar sims are a new revelation. Fender compounds the annoyance by claiming its formerly Presonus hardware interfaces have HiZ inputs with some magic fairy dust as if they just invented them and they haven't been around for decades, too. Not all of them had high ohm-age which is key to sounding great—but plenty of them did. Fender did nothing to advance this technology despite claiming they did.

I have a feeling people somewhere around age 50 or so and up are going to be way more turned off by corporate branding and takeovers than people under that age who are used to it and accept it as normal. I think that's it more than one's viewpoint's right and one's wrong.

Well, I'm over 50. Almost 60. Personally, and this will be last comment on this particular subject of branding, I think some people are over reacting about this. I personally love the Fender amp sims. Are they a new concept? Nope. Been using Guitar Rig, Ampire, etc. for ages. I don't even play guitar, but I do use a lot of guitar VSTs like Impact Soundworks Shreddage, or Native Instruments various guitar VSTis. LOVE them. And bonus! I have a new amp sim to play with! That's not a bad thing.

 

[Vocalpoint]

That said, when it comes to behaving as if MIDI 2 and the MIDI Association don't exist, a parallel would be every auto manufacturer joins together for the common good when it comes to agreeing on things which benefit them all like standardized safety testing—while maintaining the cutthroat competition for sales.

Still not quite sure where you are confirming this. We have no idea what their plans are for MIDI 2 - but I am pretty sure that just because Fender is not front and center on some MIDI website marketing list of "Preferred" vendors - does not mean they are ignorant of this tech.

Also pretty sure - especially during this last 12-18 months - Fendersonus has had much more important things on their plate - like the global rebranding of a new acquisition that occurred 5 years ago.

I am willing to overlook MIDI 2 in favor of seeing my (still) favorite DAW continue to grow.

We need to remember - there is a LOT going on over there - probably not a good time to read too much into any one area.

VP