Waiting for SO 7 update news

[THW]

A neat trick that I currently use: I throw the manual (for the DAW or any other software or hardware) together with links to longer YouTube tutorials (at least 30 minutes—preferably longer) into Google's NotebookLM. Then I can easily ask questions like “How can I...” without having to struggle through the entire manual.

That's a clever idea! I've got a couple manuals and youtube playlists that I'd could be useful for -- and I've never tried Google's Notebook LM. I do have a subscription to ChatGPT...wonder if it does similar? edit: It can't.

Scanned the features and it seems Google Notebook LM has features that I'd get a lot of us from (and integrate into current tools I use). Will check that out -- thanks for the suggestion!

 

[MisterE]

We are a long long way out yet.

VP

Which isn't true, but if it was, that way out becomes exponentially longer if Presonus waits for every last i to be dotted and each t to be crossed before building MIDI 2 infrastructure their closest rival has deemed is of primary importance. It wouldn't be the first time the company colossally misjudged the public's appetite for forthcoming MIDI developments. And it would defeat all the good work the company's done in playing catch-up to this point.

 

[nhc]

maybe it is that I would like to see more communication from their leadership on the direction of the daw, especially with so much speculation since the fender acquisition

I think we can't expect any DAW-Company to tell us about their roadmap. Steinberg drops a new version of Cubase every year in November, but except for the release of Cubase 12, when they switched to the new licensing, they didn't tell anything about what to expect. Apple releases an update to Logic every once in a while, without telling anything beforehand. So what should Presonus reply other than "Studio One development is still very active"? Well, there are other examples like Native Instruments or Bitwig, with either some official hints (NI) or public betas.
I really like Studio One but upgraded from V6 to "plus" subscription only a view weeks ago, and I really can understand that users, who bought V7 when it came out, are disappointed about only two instead three to four feature updates. And I think, that there should be better communication on this topic. Maybe they change the subscription /license model once again

 

[MisterE]

I think we can't expect any DAW-Company to tell us about their roadmap.

I agree if the roadmap includes some unexpected or innovative feature worth protecting. MIDI 2 is neither.

 

[Vocalpoint]

Which isn't true, but if it was, that way out becomes exponentially longer if Presonus waits for every last i to be dotted and each t to be crossed before building MIDI 2 infrastructure their closest rival has deemed is of primary importance.

By "long way out" I mean production level ready in Windows. NOT availability on a keyboard in the real world and not on the DEV bench of plugin or DAW maker either.

Apple tried this with Sequoia and now Tahoe and Logic (claiming full support) and if you turn MIDI 2.0 on in there - even with a (so-called fully supported) Native Instruments MKIII S61 connected - nothing works - or it crashes or any number of other weirdness pops up.

Like this for example (Oct 2025)

Still not Midi 2.0 Ready - Community

Using s88 and noticed it has a 2.0 option. Switched, rebooted, deleted midi controls and the keys won't produce sound in either Logic or Ableton. Switch back to 1.0 and they work again. Apple says they're compliant. NI says they're compliant. I don't know who to to trust but one of you is wrong...

community.native-instruments.com

This is key part - right from NI themselves:

"The current blocker for MIDI 2 adoption in the context of a DAW is in the plugin APIs… Apple and Steinberg are actively working on adding MIDI 2.0 capability enquiry features to the plugin APIs. There are also various other DAW profiles that we are working on with the MMA, but these likely won't see widespread DAW support for a number of years"

There is so much that has to fall into place to deliver a complete (stable) solution - it's not even a conversation yet.

I mean let's be real - Presonus doesn't even support the new v2.0 firmware on a MKIII board yet - there is a lot of small fruit to pick well before tackling something as big as MIDI 2.0

Presonus would be very smart to wait until the two major OS's that will support this - support it with full stability and reliability - before getting crazy and rushing it.

VP

 

[MisterE]

By "long way out" I mean production level ready in Windows. NOT availability on a keyboard in the real world and not on the DEV bench of plugin or DAW maker either.

Apple tried this with Sequoia and now Tahoe and Logic (claiming full support) and if you turn MIDI 2.0 on in there - even with a (so-called fully supported) Native Instruments MKIII S61 connected - nothing works - or it crashes or any number of other weirdness pops up.

Like this for example (Oct 2025)

Still not Midi 2.0 Ready - Community

Using s88 and noticed it has a 2.0 option. Switched, rebooted, deleted midi controls and the keys won't produce sound in either Logic or Ableton. Switch back to 1.0 and they work again. Apple says they're compliant. NI says they're compliant. I don't know who to to trust but one of you is wrong...

community.native-instruments.com

This is key part - right from NI themselves:

"The current blocker for MIDI 2 adoption in the context of a DAW is in the plugin APIs… Apple and Steinberg are actively working on adding MIDI 2.0 capability enquiry features to the plugin APIs. There are also various other DAW profiles that we are working on with the MMA, but these likely won't see widespread DAW support for a number of years"

There is so much that has to fall into place to deliver a complete (stable) solution - it's not even a conversation yet.

I mean let's be real - Presonus doesn't even support the new v2.0 firmware on a MKIII board yet - there is a lot of small fruit to pick well before tackling something as big as MIDI 2.0

Presonus would be very smart to wait until the two major OS's that will support this - support it with full stability and reliability - before getting crazy and rushing it.

VP

I don't claim to be up on where Apple is with MIDI 2. Neither have I remotely suggested that Presonus should "get crazy and rush it." What I do know is that on the Windows side, Microsoft couldn't be any more on the case, because they allow their head of MIDI and Audio (Psychlist 1972 user name) to post to his heart's content on Gearspace Music and Computers forum. Which he does, and he regularly answers questions, and keeps everyone in the loop, and what he says is they're working on ironing out some kinks with backwards compatibility and then the new MIDI stuff will be released...and not in some distant star date. They want it out there ASAP.

You've gotten the point across that you're not excited. Fine. Does that mean no one else should be?

 

[Vocalpoint]

You've gotten the point across that you're not excited. Fine. Does that mean no one else should be?

Not at all. But you have no idea whatsoever what Presonus is up to.

Plus - you keeping hyping up MIDI 2.0 like it's some sort of priority or that it "matters" to the overall base of S1 users. IMO - it doesn't at all - at this specific time.

I wholeheartedly agree - MIDI 2.0 is certainly on the horizon but MIDI 1.0 is more than enough for %99.99 of us. There is no sizzle and no steak really - until every device out there supports it AND - it can truly be shown to be a valid update - by somehow proving it's superiority over MIDI 1.0.

Again for most of us - if/when MIDI 2.0 does arrive - fully formed and useful - it will most likely be a bit of a yawn for most. And it is not something Presonus is going to win back the base with in 2026.

What matters to the base right now - is seeing if the new year brings this company back to that place (that we all remember) where they delivered exciting updates and hopefully restore some faith in that process considering the dismal 2025 we all just endured.

What we need is some excitement and some hope. Many of us are bummed out and worried about the radio silence and quite frankly - LOTS is riding on whatever 2026 brings.

For many it could be a beginning or could be an end.

VP

 

[BobF]

I don't claim to be up on where Apple is with MIDI 2. Neither have I remotely suggested that Presonus should "get crazy and rush it." What I do know is that on the Windows side, Microsoft couldn't be any more on the case, because they allow their head of MIDI and Audio (Psychlist 1972 user name) to post to his heart's content on Gearspace Music and Computers forum. Which he does, and he regularly answers questions, and keeps everyone in the loop, and what he says is they're working on ironing out some kinks with backwards compatibility and then the new MIDI stuff will be released...and not in some distant star date. They want it out there ASAP.

You've gotten the point across that you're not excited. Fine. Does that mean no one else should be?

There is one key difference re: discussion/disclosure of future plans. M$ doesn't exactly have to worry much about market share while any/all DAW vendors do. DAW software is a niche market. IMO, it is perfectly valid for us to debate the pros/cons of the effectiveness of a secrecy approach by a DAW vendor. OTOH, there is not a direct correlation between DAW software and OS software.

 

[Crossinger]

M$ doesn't exactly have to worry much about market share

IMHO, the same is true for Cubase (Yamaha) and Logic (Apple). Both vendors make their money mainly with other products, and a year with bad sales shouldn’t worry them. The only difference is: Steinberg cares about product maintenance, while Apple is somewhat neglecting Logic in recent years.

 

[Jemusic]

IMHO, the same is true for Cubase (Yamaha) and Logic (Apple). Both vendors make their money mainly with other products, and a year with bad sales shouldn’t worry them. The only difference is: Steinberg cares about product maintenance, while Apple is somewhat neglecting Logic in recent years.

Don’t agree There was a major Logic update in May this year and another in Sept. (4 significant updates in the last two years) For Mac users it’s actually a very attractive option. It’s an amazing program with a one time payment and free updates for life.

 

[audioworksHU]

MIDI 2.0 is a forward-looking, deep spec with numerous advantages for musicians, artists, and multi-media developers. For PreSonus to ignore it would be suicidal.

I do not question the importance of MIDI 2.0. Like any new music technology (if MIDI can be called new), I fully support it.

What I wanted to note is that until there is a significant user base with MIDI 2.0 compatible devices and broad operating system support (including Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, iOS), there is no point in prioritizing this development over others.

 

[Vocalpoint]

Until there is a significant user base with MIDI 2.0 compatible devices and broad operating system support (including Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android, iOS), there is no point in prioritizing this development over others.

Nailed it.

VP

 

[Craig Anderton]

considering the dismal 2025 we all just endured...what we need is some excitement and some hope.

I see you switched the topic from DAWs to the world at large

Seriously, although I completely understand why these kinds of threads exist, no one at PreSonus is going to read this and think "OMG! I completely forgot to work on the program this year!" They have to be doing something. You might not like what it is when it appears, you may think "wow, the wait sure was worth it!," you might be sorely disappointed and switch DAWs, you might see new users flock to Studio One as a result, or you might think you got value received. Or not. But overall, I doubt this thread will have any impact on these outcomes. PreSonus is going to do what it plans to do, and won't talk about it until it's done. That's how they roll.

MIDI 2.0 should probably be a separate thread.

 

[Vocalpoint]

PreSonus is going to do what it plans to do, and won't talk about it until it's done. That's how they roll.

MIDI 2.0 should probably be a separate thread.

Agreed on both fronts.

On the first one - Presonus had this mapped out years in advance and have been cranking away for a while. There will be no communications, no apologizing for 2025 or anything related to how the crew feels about things.

We can either take what they are giving, use what we have (v7.2.3) or move on.

On point # 2 - yes. Separate thread. MUCH bigger conversation - and not one that will have any closure in the next long while.

VP

 

[TimC340]

I see you switched the topic from DAWs to the world at large

Seriously, although I completely understand why these kinds of threads exist, no one at PreSonus is going to read this and think "OMG! I completely forgot to work on the program this year!" They have to be doing something. You might not like what it is when it appears, you may think "wow, the wait sure was worth it!," you might be sorely disappointed and switch DAWs, you might see new users flock to Studio One as a result, or you might think you got value received. Or not. But overall, I doubt this thread will have any impact on these outcomes. PreSonus is going to do what it plans to do, and won't talk about it until it's done. That's how they roll.

MIDI 2.0 should probably be a separate thread.

Absolutely correct that PreSonus won't be making any decisions as a result of this thread, but I suspect that those at PreSonus who do watch the various user groups will be getting the general impression that their customers are underwhelmed by their performance in the last year or so and would be grateful for some engagement and indication that Fender's commitment to Studio One is reliable and not in doubt. We certainly are not reassured that that is the case right now. Yes, you could take the position that we are simply consumers and should have no say or interest in the company's product decisions, but I would suggest that that would be a very, very unwise line for Fender to take.

As for MIDI 2.0, it's still too far out as a working technology that we can all experience to be a priority for any DAW. I would expect all of the software, firmware and hardware companies to be keeping a close eye on it and developing strategies to exploit it when it's available and stable and offers tangible benefits to users, but that's a distance off just yet.

 

[Sombreuil]

I think we can't expect any DAW-Company to tell us about their roadmap.

I'm pretty sure FL Studio has (or at least used to) a public beta version in which you can try what's coming next. On top of that their lifetime license with free updates costs less than $200.

 

[Jemusic]

Except it’s F L Studio

 

[Sombreuil]

Except it’s F L Studio

What do you mean by that? I'm not sure to understand.

 

[Jens]

S1 will support MIDI 2.0. But they won't be the first. Each DAW maker pushes their own agenda. S1 was first with ARA and ARA2. Bitwig pushed DAWproject and CLAP. Steinberg advertised Cubase 13 as "MIDI 2.0 ready". Then it wasn't anymore because Cubase 14 was needed. And there's still not even a finished spec for MIDI 2.0 plugin compatibility.

 

[Craig Anderton]

The other point to remember is that MIDI 1.0 didn't just appear. It rolled out over decades. MIDI 2.0 will be the same. Anyone who's waiting for it to be "finished" will have a long wait . But if you want higher resolution for controllers when playing a synthesizer's internal sound generators, you can do that with the Yamaha Montage M with firmware 2.0. It's the only synth I know of that applies high-res controllers to its internal generators, but I suspect we'll see more at NAMM. Or maybe not. Maybe an asteroid will hit Anaheim, and we'll have other things to worry about