Studio One developers PreSonus have just announced a major new update to the DAW that not only sees Dolby Atmos integration for the first time, but also a raft of other features designed to make life easier for both music and post users. We have all the details…

The Story So Far

It’s easy to forget the time when DAW users had to make harder choices about which platform to use. Not so much difficult choices, but more ones based on functionality in a DAW universe that saw different platforms used for different tasks. With some excelling in either audio editing and mixing, or in music production, the developers of Studio One saw a landscape that was ripe for a tool with its feet planted firmly in both camps.

In the present, Studio One has provided a home for both engineer and creator alike. This manages to balance the tools needed by professionals with the drag-and-drop simplicity that used to be mutually exclusive. Studio One is known primarily as a cross-platform DAW for music production, however in its latest incarnation, those working in Post or immersive music workflows are now invited to the Studio One party. Adding to the DAW’s universal leanings, it can now also run on Linux. A new open source project exchange format also cements Studio One’s intent as a one-stop option for anyone working in audio production across different platforms and operating systems.

Studio One 6.5 New Features In Detail

Dolby Atmos Native Integration

While other DAWs require additional purchases, plug-ins, or inter-application audio routing and/or synchronization for Dolby Atmos, Studio One 6.5 is Dolby Atmos ready straight out of the box, meaning there is no additional cost to start mixing in Dolby Atmos. The new Studio One update ensures every Dolby Atmos mix can meet all delivery requirements and will provide users with a seamless workflow along with monitoring in Dolby Atmos with up to 9.1.6 channel speaker layouts supporting sample rates of up to 96kHz.

Dolby Atmos Binaural Headphone Monitoring

Monitor Binaural Dolby Atmos mixes using conventional stereo headphones. Studio One 6.5 features a dedicated headphone channel for simultaneous Binaural monitoring, eliminating the need for switching configurations.

Integrated Spatial Audio Production Workflow

Experience end-to-end workflow designed for producing in spatial audio from recording with multi channel microphones to mixing with enhanced plug-ins, and exporting files in a variety of formats. Mix in Dolby Atmos or additional formats that support up to 9.1.6 channels.

Updated Spatial Audio Plug-ins

Studio One’s plug-in set has been entirely upgraded to support processing of multichannel signals or any individual channel or pair of channels per plug-in.

OpenAir2 convolution reverb features true 7.1.4 HDIRs – With its new look and feel and a brand-new library of true 7.1.4 impulse responses, Open Air2 sets out to create authentic, believable immersive 3D spaces.

Multi-Tap Surround Delay is a brand-new audio plug-in specifically designed with immersive audio in mind. This is an eight-tap delay with individual surround panners. In addition, delay taps can be synchronized to the song tempo for exciting dimensional and rhythmic effects.

Tablature And Lead Sheet Enhancements

Studio One’s Scoring and Note Editing capabilities have been streamlined and further optimized for tablature, lead sheets, and drum maps. These features include the addition of rhythm slashes, a chord display that's dynamically linked to the Chord Track, custom string tunings, and more expressive options for guitar tablature such as guitar bends and rhythmic display.

ARA Support On Project Page

ARA-enabled plug-ins are now available as audio editors on the Project Page. With the number of available ARA-enabled plug-ins steadily increasing, there are more and more reasons to reach for them at the mastering stage. ARA-plug-ins can now be utilized easily and in real time without any additional fuss.

Studio One Remote For Spatial

Studio One Remote for iOS, Android and Windows has been updated to include support for surround mixing, including proper visualization of the updated mixer. Additionally, a dedicated Surround Panner view has been added to support 3D panning with multitouch; a major benefit when writing pan automation in the absence of a suitable hardware remote controller.

Brand New DAW Project Exchange

Studio One 6.5 introduces a new open-source file exchange format designed to let users share sessions across multiple digital audio workstations. For the first time, users of DAWs from different manufacturers can exchange sessions in a format that includes all critical data. Starting with PreSonus and Bitwig, .dawproject will be provided as a universal import/export format.

Linux Support

In addition, for the first time, Studio One is available for the Linux operating system. Beginning today, a public beta version will be available to all Studio One 6 and Studio One+ users and will require Ubuntu 23.04.

PreSonus On Studio One 6.5

HOLLYWOOD, California (September 26, 2023): PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. today announces the most recent iteration of the brand’s award-winning music production software, Studio One 6.5, complete with ground breaking Dolby Atmos immersive audio. This latest update is a milestone for the best selling DAW and features industry-leading innovations in workflow, mixing, and note editing enhancements. In addition, Studio One 6.5 features state of the art immersive audio recording, editing and mixing capabilities through seamlessly integrated Dolby Atmos tools. The sheer power of Dolby Atmos in tandem with these latest updates will allow users to unlock the full potential of their mixes created within Studio One unlike ever before and transform their creations into full fledged immersive experiences. Studio One 6.5 makes audio content creation fast and easy, with everything you need to record, produce, mix, master and perform in a single intuitive application.

Studio One 6.5 New Features At A Glance

• Integrated spatial audio production workflow.

• Dolby Atmos integration.

• Support for Dolby Atmos Binaural Headphone Monitoring.

• Updated spatial audio compatible plug-in set.

• OpenAir2 convolution reverb with true 7.1.4 HDIRs.

• New Multi-Tap Surround Delay plug-in.

• Tablature and lead sheet enhancements.

• ARA plug-in support on Project Page.

• Studio One Remote update for spatial audio mixing.

• Support for DAW Project file format (.dawproject).

Studio One 6.5 New Features In Full

Recording, Mixing, And Mastering

• Spatial audio recording, editing and mixing with mixing and monitoring layouts up to 9.1.6 channels

• Dolby Atmos Renderer natively integrated

• Parallel headphone output for Binaural monitoring in Dolby Atmos

• NEW Surround Panner and Dolby Atmos Object Panner

• Support for 3rd-party Panner Plug-ins

• Surround Panner in Sends

• Extended export/mixdown for multichannel audio

• Dolby Atmos (ADM) export with multiple simultaneous downmix formats

• Extended audio I/O setup

• Dolby Atmos Renderer remote panel in Mixer

Plug-ins and Instruments

• Updated plug-in set with multichannel support

• Speaker mapping for native and 3rd-party plug-ins

• Flanger/Phaser with additional surround modes

• Surround Chorus

• Updated Mix Tool with multichannel level controls,

• Mute and Solo options

• NEW Surround Delay

• NEW OpenAir2 convolution reverb with location images

• New impulse response library with true 7.1.4 HDIRs

• IR Maker supports up to 9.1.6 for capturing custom impulse responses

• Improved Bitcrusher

Arrangement and Editing

• Loop length tooltip shows loop length in ruler timebase

• Drag & Drop copying of plug-ins in Inspector

• New commands for “Write Automation to Start/End”

• Tab through automation lanes when renaming

• Legato command extends note events to Part end

Score Editor

• Display chords from Chord Track

• Rhythm Slashes

• Custom string tunings

• Display and edit guitar bends

• Tablature Rhythmic Display

• Reset option for Drum Maps

• Reworked Text Editor for Lyrics

ARA plug-in support on Project Page Browser

• Merge option for multichannel audio files

Start Page

• New “Mix in Surround” Smart Template - Interactive Dolby Atmos tutorial

General

• DAW Project format support (Import and Export)

• Public beta version for Ubuntu Linux

• Studio One Remote 1.8 update features touch-enabled surround panning

Pricing

Studio One 6.5 is a free update to current Studio One+ members with an active membership and Studio One 6 Perpetual licence holders.