The latest update for PreSonus’ popular Studio One DAW is now available, and the headline feature is something which many users have been waiting for: support for immersive audio formats including Dolby Atmos. The software’s Score Editor has also been updated, along with a number of other general enhancements and improvements, and the company have also announced a public beta version of the DAW for Linux users.
Immersive Support
Studio One now supports channel formats up to 9.1.6, and is equipped with dedicated Surround (above) and Object Panners.As of version 6.5, Studio One Professional is now capable of handling channel configurations up to 9.1.6, and features native integration of the Dolby Atmos Renderer. This means that it is possible to create, mix and deliver immersive content without the need for any additional plug-ins or software applications. New Surround and Object Panners have been implemented, and there is also support for third-party panning plug-ins.
Binaural monitoring is also provided, making it possible to listen to Atmos content via standard headphones; helpfully, there is a dedicated headphone channel which makes it possible to monitor via headphones and a speaker setup without the need to reconfigure the DAW’s output settings.
PreSonus have also updated the software’s plug-ins in order to support the new extended channel configurations, allowing all of the standard effects and processors to support multi-channel signals, as well as processing individual channels (or pairs) within them. The Open Air convolution reverb plug-in now boasts a collection of 7.1.4 impulse responses, and there is a new Surround Delay effect that has been designed from the ground up with spatial audio in mind.
Other Features
Studio One’s Score Editor has also been further optimised for producing tablature, lead sheets and drum maps. New features include the addition of rhythm slashes, a chord display that is dynamically linked to the Chord Track, custom string tuning and more expressive options for guitar tablature such as bends.
There are also a number of changes designed to enhance user experience and workflow. ARA plug-ins will now be supported as audio editors on the project page, allowing for a more refined mastering experience.
The update also introduces support for .dawproject, a new open-source file exchange format which aims to allow users of different DAW platforms to share projects that include all critical session data. It is currently supported by PreSonus and Bitwig, and aims to become a universal import and export format.
Compatibility
Studio One is supported on PCs running Windows 10 20H1 or Windows 11, and Macs running macOS 10.14 or higher. It is also now available as a public beta for Ubuntu Linux.
Pricing & Availability
Studio One 6.5 is available now, and is a free upgrade for anyone with a Version 6.x licence, or active Studio One+ subscription. For those wishing to purchase the DAW, prices are as follows:
- Studio One +: $19.99/month or $179.99/year
- Studio One Professional: $399.99
- Studio One Artist: $99.99
- Studio One Prime: Free
There is also a free 30-day trial of Studio One Professional.
