Studio Pro 8 - Discussion Thread

[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.

 

[Surf.Whammy]

I have downloads in my Gear on myFender.com for all the versions I've ever had, so I assume it will be for v7 as well. And as always, v8 is a seperate install, you can run them both on you systems, just not 2 versions at the same system at the same time...

I can run both at the same time in playback and even get them synchronized so it sounds like slapback echo.

This is on the Mac . . .

 

[Surf.Whammy]

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.

Yes!

I did this on the Mac, and the version for PreSonus Studio One 7.2.3 later would not open in the PreSonus version, but of course would open in Fender Studio Pro 8.

Yet, as you indicated there was an AutoSave version that was still in PreSonus Studio One 7.2.3 format.

 

[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

 

[GIM Productions]

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

OK, I wanted to upgrade to Studio Pro 8 right away, but I didn't expect all these problems. Can you confirm that the software is separate and that I can save with both 7 and 8, and that I can save projects in the same folder where I save Studio One projects?
Or if I open a 7 project with 8, do I have to save it in a different folder to avoid any issues?

 

[Midiboy]

Once a project is saved with 8, you cannot open again with 7. However, you will still be able to open all of your auto saves.
What you can do is either manually copy the file, or go into your project with 7 and Save a copy of it from there.

 

[Vocalpoint]

Can you confirm that the software is separate

All installs are pointed to a unique folder - by default. You can of course change it to whatever you want (not recommended tho)

and that I can save with both 7 and 8, and that I can save projects in the same folder where I save Studio One projects?

If you have BOTH 7 and 8 Installed - you can use both the fullest as always. If it were me - I would be saving my v8 projects into a slightly different area - just for general housekeeping. But all existing songs (by software version) should be good to go

Or if I open a 7 project with 8, do I have to save it in a different folder to avoid any issues?

If you open a v7 project in v8 and hit Save - without doing anything else - and choose Yes (after all the warnings you will get) - your v7 project is no more and will now only ever open in v8.

Conversely - yes - you could open a v7 project in v8 - and do a Save As and redirect the whole thing to a completely new folder - preserving both versions.

But if it was me - I would copy ALL v7 song structures (including ALL files) into a new "v8" master folder and only use these in v8.

Then you know you will have a way back to the original v7 version - should you need it.

VP

 

[MisterE]

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.

First questionable statement is "I think some people are over reacting about this." Unfortunately, your contention that people who disagree with you are wrong isn't particularly helpful on any level.

Secondly, Guitar Rig and Ampire appear on few people's list of favorite guitar sims, so beating those out in your mind doesn't take much.

Third, you say you don't even play guitar, yet you want us to honor your opinions about sims, which makes no sense. Perhaps other people come into your studio and use your sims?

Fourth, apparently you love all guitar sims despite not being a guitar player, so loving the new Fender ones doesn't differentiate them in any way from the pack.

 

[GIM Productions]

Once a project is saved with 8, you cannot open again with 7. However, you will still be able to open all of your auto saves.
What you can do is either manually copy the file, or go into your project with 7 and Save a copy of it from there.

ok thanks I imagined that there was no backward compatibility and for this reason having projects that are closing I will not continue them with Studio 8