What happens when v.9 is released??

[SCartz]

OK - been using S1 since v.1 but just found out that I need to pay to go from v.8.0 to v.8.1, guess that’s the Fender influence - it is what it is!
Anyway, if I skip v8.1 etc.. what happens when v.9 is released will I be able to upgrade at the standard price or will I have to pay extra because I still only have v.8.0?
Regards…

 

[lokeyfly]

OK - been using S1 since v.1 but just found out that I need to pay to go from v.8.0 to v.8.1, guess that’s the Fender influence - it is what it is!

Where is it noted that you have to pay to go from 8.0 to 8.1?

Anyway, if I skip v8.1 etc.. what happens when v.9 is released will I be able to upgrade at the standard price or will I have to pay extra because I still only have v.8.0?

Regards…

Typically, any major upgrade (to point zero), has a general overall fee. In other words, there would be no difference for users going from 8.0 to 9.0, as there would 8.1, or 8.6 to 9.0. Newcomers starring version 9.0 from scratch would pay a higher, full amount as determined upon release.

 

[Gray Wolf]

There lots of confusion on the web about this. I'll try to help clear some of it up:

1. If a user is given a perpetual license, for example a grace period upgrade or a 8.0 perpetual license granted after an annual subscription expires, it's "feature locked" at that version. They don't get subsequent free feature updates. They do get bug fixes in minor updates such as 8.0.1 to 8.0.3, but 8.1 is a feature update that will not activate if the license is locked at 8.0.
2. If a user purchases a perpetual license, they get all updates for a year. After that, the above applies, they only get minor updates, not feature updates. The license is "feature locked" at whaterver the version was at that time when their extended support period ended.

None of the above is new. The days of everyone getting all updates for free all the way up until the next major version died a couple of years ago.

Anyway, from what I can tell, most people complaining about it fall into category #1 above.

Hope that helps.

 

[Vocalpoint]

If you want an easy way to remind yourself on exactly when you need to pay again or not (if on a perpetual license) - is to login to your MyFender Account and check your status:

For me - I will need to either renew (Extend) my Annual Updates plan ($149.00) on Jan 13, 2027 - or do nothing and stay on whatever version I am on as of that day.

This has zero bearing on what version of Studio Pro is available at the time or whether something "big" is right around the corner.

On this day - it is simple - I either pay $149 and start getting updates again - or do nothing - and get nothing.

VP

 

[TheMaartian]

If you want an easy way to remind yourself on exactly when you need to pay again or not (if on a perpetual license) - is to login to your MyFender Account and check your status:

View attachment 3574

For me - I will need to either renew (Extend) my Annual Updates plan ($149.00) on Jan 13, 2027 - or do nothing and stay on whatever version I am on as of that day.

This has zero bearing on what version of Studio Pro is available at the time or whether something "big" is right around the corner.

On this day - it is simple - I either pay $149 and start getting updates again - or do nothing - and get nothing.

VP

My annual update plan is good until Nov. 30th, so don't need to do anything yet. But...this got me thinking about my Bitwig update plan. On checking, it was set to expire on July 2nd. The good news is that Bitwig is having their summer sale right now, so I got the one year upgrade for €125 instead of €169! A big thank you to @SCartz for starting this thread.

 

[Gray Wolf]

On this day - it is simple - I either pay $149 and start getting updates again - or do nothing - and get nothing.

VP

You may still get minor dot updates for bug fixes, but once the first feature update happens, you will be cut off, not get that one or anything beyond it.

That text on the page is specifc when it says "all updates". You won't get "all" beyond your support date, but may get a couple minor ones before being completely cut off.

 

[Vocalpoint]

You may still get minor dot updates for bug fixes, but once the first feature update happens, you will be cut off, not get that one or anything beyond it.

Understood.

Any and all maintenance releases do remain in scope - even if I slide by 01-13-2027

During the v7 cycle - my Annual Update plan ended on 10-09-2025 and then v7.2.3 dropped on 10-25-2025. I was able to apply that update successfully.

The v7 cycle was the shortest on record at just 461 days. Will be interesting to see what the v8 cycle looks like.

VP

 

[stanft]

I can absolutely understand the confusion here and in other forums. And I think the path chosen by Fender is very unfortunate.

If, for example, I buy Cubase 15 from Steinberg, everything is included where there's a 15 in the release version. If I buy Live 12 from Ableton, everything is included where there's a 12 in the release version. With Live, for example, these have been 12.1 to 12.4 and soon 12.4.5... and they were all feature updates with new functions. Live 12 was released in March 2024. So I'll have two and a half years of feature updates with the same license soon.

I know that there are other DAWs that choose this time-based approach, like Bitwig, for example. But honestly, I find that really confusing.

I think it would have really helped if Fender had introduced "time-based versioning" like they initially planned but never did. If I then buy version 2025.1, I have a pretty good idea whether 2025.4 is still included... and 2026.2 probably not. But the way it is now, it doesn't quite fit together.

 

[Vocalpoint]

If, for example, I buy Cubase 15 from Steinberg, everything is included where there's a 15 in the release version.

True. However - once you hit the end of that cycle - it's over. You need to pay again for the next. And the next.

And also remember - you can still upgrade from ANY version of Studio One to Studio Pro and pay the same $149.00 (but was $99 this past cycle).

If you decide to wait it out with Cubase - for example - and let a few years pass you by - you will find out what that waiting actually costs.

Also - the Fender Annual Updates schema - if your dates are cool - you can slide right from one major version to another - without paying a dime.

Example - if your Annual Updates plan started on Nov 12, 2025 - on Jan 13, 2026 - you were entitled to roll right into Studio One V8 - with no additional costs.

VP

 

[Skijumptoes]

If, for example, I buy Cubase 15 from Steinberg, everything is included where there's a 15 in the release version. If I buy Live 12 from Ableton, everything is included where there's a 12 in the release version.

This is true, but version numbers don't tell the full story.

For example, you could receive new features that are far more worthwhile to yourself via a "smaller" x.1 release of Studio Pro than a major Cubase release.

Steinberg generally will hold back until next full version before adding features as a complete set, as that's what fuels their sales and keeps the shareholders happy.

In the past, i've been quite frustrated where it's clear the internal focus has shifted from the current Cubase version and the bugs go unfixed until the next full version release.

So, I do quite like the FSP approach, particularly as the perpetuals go on sale still, so you can wait it out for a good price.
On paper it should make them more flexible to release a feature when it's ready, without it negatively impacting sales because of the cycle they're currently in.

As I see it, If Fender want to reduce the entry price and retain a regular stream through users opting to pay for upgrades more time than not, then it really puts more pressure on them to produce the goods.

The idea that you can fall behind for 3-4 years and still pay the same to update when you're ready, I feel, is a strength for those who opt for perpetual and aren't chasing the latest and greatest updates.

 

[stanft]

True. However - once you hit the end of that cycle - it's over. You need to pay again for the next. And the next.

And also remember - you can still upgrade from ANY version of Studio One to Studio Pro and pay the same $149.00 (but was $99 this past cycle).

If you decide to wait it out with Cubase - for example - and let a few years pass you by - you will find out what that waiting actually costs.

Also - the Fender Annual Updates schema - if your dates are cool - you can slide right from one major version to another - without paying a dime.

Example - if your Annual Updates plan started on Nov 12, 2025 - on Jan 13, 2026 - you were entitled to roll right into Studio One V8 - with no additional costs.

VP

I did not talk about the costs. I just expressed that I find the current perpertual license confusing, especially in combination with the still used number-based, semantic versioning.

 

[SCartz]

Thank you all for the replies.
Promised the wife that v8 would be my last upgrade (now a pensioner) and didn’t fully appreciate that point updates wouldn’t necessarily be available f.o.c.
Some of the v8.1 new features are interesting but not needed for my limited use and I’m not going down the subscription route so I’ll remain a 2nd class (perpetual license) Studio One user and I’ll be giving the v8 point updates a miss, maybe things will be more irresistible by v9…

 

[SCartz]

p.s. like that I’m referred to as a ‘new member’ - had well over a thousand posts on the old Presonus forum. Tend not to post so often these days as the DAW has expanded, since v1, well beyond my needs and capabilities and the limitations of my ageing p.c. so now I leave it to you younger power users to offer advice.
Regards…

 

[Gary Shepherd]

I bought the software originally, then have paid the upgrade price every time (often about every 2 years if the upgrade is a major iteration). I have never been an annual subscriber, so I am eligible for updates till 2029 or when the latest paid upgrade version is released. It is simpler, I don't need all the subscriber additions (I bought what I needed before the subscription model was introduced) and have never wanted any of the community stuff. So I am standalone - it cost more than the subscription but you pay one off for at least 2 years. If you want everything, then subscribe but it is an annual charge. It's how it works.

 

[Lukas]

OK - been using S1 since v.1 but just found out that I need to pay to go from v.8.0 to v.8.1, guess that’s the Fender influence

Okay, that's already completely wrong.

With a perpetual license, you get free feature updates for 12 months. Once those 12 months are over, you can either renew your license for another year of updates for $99 or switch to the subscription.

8.1 is a free update if you purchased a perpetual license or upgrade less than 12 months ago. It simply depends on whether your 12-month update period is still active.

 

[Vocalpoint]

I did not talk about the costs. I just expressed that I find the current perpertual license confusing, especially in combination with the still used number-based, semantic versioning.

Not confusing at all for me. But I get it.

VP

 

[Lukas]

I did not talk about the costs. I just expressed that I find the current perpertual license confusing, especially in combination with the still used number-based, semantic versioning.

To be honest, I'm not sure what is confusing about "With a perpetual license, you get free feature updates for 12 months".

 

[Vocalpoint]

To be honest, I'm not sure what is confusing about "With a perpetual license, you get free feature updates for 12 months".

Me either. It could not be easier.

VP

 

[Skijumptoes]

To be honest, I'm not sure what is confusing about "With a perpetual license, you get free feature updates for 12 months".

It's clear for most people from a feature perspective.

But the bug-fixes do muddy the water somewhat, as it's a lottery when an (example) x.2.0 feature release comes out, if a corresponding x.1.x update is made available for the fixes only.

I'd imagine in a lot of instances it's hard to separate into two updates like that, but the problem is that historically people expect perpetual software to have some kind of minimal updates for bugs or incompatibilities, without expecting or wanting any new features.

We have to be careful calling out people who expect this from companies too, as we're all end users together and should consider the morality of software and longterm users, as well as considering the pockets of the corporations who administer it and whom we like to support so that staff keep their jobs and continue to get paid.

 

[Vocalpoint]

I have never been an annual subscriber, so I am eligible for updates till 2029 or when the latest paid upgrade version is released.

Not sure how that is possible.

Even if you renewed an Annual Updates plan today - the farthest in the future possible for updates would be 06-12-2027.

VP