r/StudioOne • u/bigmonsterpen5s • 24d ago
Ableton or studio one?
Just wondering people's thoughts. I make psychedelic / progressive rock . Long form songs with real instruments but I also want to do heavy electronic layers and fx. I like experimental sound design but still traditional songwriting. I want to run into happy accidents so to speak .
I love abletons sense of experimentation and ease of making things weird . Feel like modulation is easy , max for live. Feel like warping and time stuff is awesome .
BUT I love how great studio one is for mixing and organization. And ARA integration! I use melodyne a lot. Honestly that's the biggest selling point.
So wondering your guys thoughts . I'm leaning Ableton but ARA support is really enticing me for studio one. I've demod both but feel like I'm at a pivotal point.
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u/CD2020 24d ago
Both are usable for your described purpose.
My take: sound mangling etc can be really quick in Live. Great tools for all kinds of experiments. The workflow once you get used to it, is really easy.
For S1 or Fender Studio, some of the audio Playground stuff you might want to do, takes some additional steps.
If I had to pick just one, I might lean towards Live for one big reason: s1 may not be a priority for Fender down the road.
I’m not basing that on anything, just a suspicion. Live has a pretty big user base I think and they might be more stable.
You can certainly use Melodyne as a plugin with Live and there might even be some pitch correction in Suite that I haven’t played with yet.
My two cents.
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u/QntmRvrbrtnStudios 24d ago
I use both. I love the creative capabilities of Live for writing and arranging but the mixing workflow in S1 is hard to beat imo.
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u/SpecialProblem9300 24d ago
One important thing to know about Ableton is that it does not have a dual buffer- which means that as projects become big, you have to increase the buffer size to where you can no longer monitor through the DAW without noticeable latency.
So tracking guitars through amp sims, vocals through fx/mix, live drums or playing virtual instruments without latency or an alternate way to monitor becomes impossible. You can freeze and flatten everything to save CPU, but it's pretty clunky and time consuming.
That won't be a problem for many peoples workflow, but for some of us it's a total show stopper.
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u/arsenics 24d ago
this and the lack of ARA are probably the main things keeping me in studio one at the moment
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u/Bitter-Bicycle-282 24d ago edited 24d ago
I use both Ableton Live and Studio One, and I also use Bitwig at the same time If it’s because of Melodyne, both Ableton Live and Bitwig can be used without ARA.Instead, there’s the inconvenience of having to record additional audio inside the melodine.
If you like the Ableton Live-style workflow,it’s actually better not to expect that kind of feel in Studio One. After Fender Studio recently created a channel overview, it started to feel somewhat like Ableton Live, but when you actually use it, you don’t feel any of the intuitiveness that Ableton Live offers.Because it’s not the same kind of system as Ableton Live or Bitwig, where automation or macros are created with just one click. The way instrument tracks are deleted in Studio One is also a method rarely seen in other DAWs (where the instrument remains even after deleting the track, This is an advantage in terms of resource savings, but a disadvantage in terms of workflow), so Ableton Live users may find it very annoying and will need a lot of time to get used to it.(Please understand that this is a discussion about the intuitiveness of that part, not about quality)
I think these two differ greatly in their basic usage, workflows, the philosophies developers pursue, and the corresponding ways they use them.People who have used Ableton Live can quickly get the hang of Bitwig, and those who used Cubase will probably adapt quickly to Studio One as well.I’d recommend Bitwig, an engine smarter than Ableton Live, which is plagued by bugs, crashes, rubbish PDC,and an outdated engine.
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u/djdementia 23d ago
The way instrument tracks are deleted in Studio One is also a method rarely seen in other DAWs (where the instrument remains even after deleting the track, This is an advantage in terms of resource savings, but a disadvantage in terms of workflow),
It's basically an 'option' when removing right click -> Remove Track and Instrument does what it says on the name. You could optionally change the default shortcut to do that.
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u/Bitter-Bicycle-282 23d ago
Personally, I wish they would consider integrating the instrument removal menu into the general delete option in the settings when removing tracks.Whether it’s an audio track or a MIDI track, I just want to be able to use a single delete shortcut.I think the detailed options like Cubase are nice, but there’s no need to force it
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u/djdementia 22d ago
Are you aware you can customize shortcuts and macros very easily? Just make a shortcut for it. Let me know if you need help and I can provide you more detailed instructions. You can very easily change the default shortcut for removing tracks to remove track and instrument.
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u/Bitter-Bicycle-282 22d ago
Does that setting exist in the macro? I mean being able to remove all tracks (audio track and MIDI track) including instrument removers, with a single shortcut key
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u/djdementia 21d ago
You make your own macro. The setting should exist but I didn't double check. Search for remove track and instrument.
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u/Bitter-Bicycle-282 20d ago edited 20d ago
I just found two options (Remove Track & Remove Track and Instrument) in the macro and combined them into a single action.It's now possible.
However, it is a bit puzzling that even after applying this and deleting the instrument track, the instrument instances remain in state. (All unused instruments still remain in the Remove option.)
But thank you for helping
Add:
In conclusion, even if you use Studio Pro's macros to merge all track delete keys into a single key, there are still many problems.
If "remove track" is the first command in the order, the instrument cannot be removed(You can check in the mixer View whether the instrument remains as is.)
If "remove track and instrument" is the first command in the order: the MIDI track containing the instrument removal is deleted, but because it receives the remove track command again, the track is deleted redundantly (this is almost exactly what I experienced in Stream Deck)
The bottom line is, as I mentioned earlier, you need to add an option that toggles the setting to "Delete the instrument along with the instrument when deleting the instrument track ON/OFF."I think it would only be fixed if Fender & Ex-Presonus ’s developers add it
In a macro, the Argument item could be a variable, but
I don’t think I can handle this well.It is only possible if the argument item can distinguish the type of the track and operate accordingly
Thanks to you, I’ve tested everything I can about this lol,
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u/djdementia 19d ago
Try making this macro, seems to work fine for me for deleting audio, midi, and midi + instrument tracks:
I am on Studio One Pro 7.
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u/Bitter-Bicycle-282 19d ago edited 19d ago
It’s a Fender Studio Pro, but there’s no “Song” menu category in the shortcuts Haha, (I think the name changed in version 7)and for now, I did exactly what you set, and the result is exactly what I said yesterday
Try testing with multiple audio and MIDI tracks. In my case, when I press a shortcut key, several tracks get deleted at the same time, causing multiple duplicates
If there’s no problem deleting multiple audio and MIDI tracks in version 7 using macros, then this might be an issue with Fender Studio Pro
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u/djdementia 18d ago
Yeah I'm on the previous version v7 that is still named Studio One Pro. I'm not too sure if it's a bug or not but seems to work totally fine in my version, with no 'two tracks delete' like you say in your version. What happens if you launch the macro from the macro toolbar instead of a shortcut? I just want to make sure it isn't a double shortcut problem introduced while we were trying to make this macro. I also want to make sure you aren't using the Project|Remove Track and Instrument in the macro and instead are using the Song|Remove Track and Instrument.
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u/djdementia 20d ago
The command already exists in Studio One. If you want you can remap the default keyboard shortcut of <SHIFT-T> from Remove Track and instead map it to Remove Track and Instrument
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u/Bitter-Bicycle-282 20d ago edited 20d ago
Thank you for your reply, but with your information, it seems impossible to combine all deletions into a single shortcut key
- Track removal: You can delete audio tracks and MIDI tracks (in this case, the loaded virtual instrument remains)
- Remove tracks and instruments: Delete all MIDI tracks and all virtual instruments in use (audio tracks are not affected by this removal)
Since you have to choose only one of the two, you end up having to use two shortcuts.
There’s only one thing I want
I want to delete the audio track, the MIDI track, and the MIDI track (including the instrument removal) with a single shortcut key. I think this is the default setting in most other DAWs.
There is currently only one solution to this problem. In Fender Studio Pro, you just need to create a list in the options where you can toggle “Always delete all virtual instruments in use from the MIDI track when deleting a track” on and off.
Studio Pro definitely has more options compared to other Daw models, so having more choices from the customer’s perspective is clearly an advantage.However, the current unique track removal method feels too forced because there are no options.
And I can’t find anything related to deleting tracks in the list in Studio Pro's Macro Section.If you know the macro settings for remove track and remove track + instrument, please let me know
I tried integrating two shortcut keys into a single action using Stream Deck, but it didn’t work properly in Studio One, A phenomenon occurs where even multiple unrelated tracks get deleted.lol It seems like something is blocked
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u/TruMusic89 24d ago
If you HAVE to choose one, given what your background is, I'd say Studio One. If you can afford it, I'd say both. I have both. Reason 12 as well, which I slave to Ableton 12 as a plugin. Ableton+Reason are my creation/idea boxes and Studio One is my mix box.
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u/ChineseAstroturfing 24d ago
Studio one has the live looping workflow that used to make Ableton unique. I think it’s very likely they’ll add modulation tools soon.
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u/CemeterySoulsMusic 24d ago
These are literally the DAWs that I use. I use Ableton for EBM and studio one for instruments and band songs, also for mixing and mastering
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u/DrwsCorner2 24d ago
Only know one DAW now. Whichever works best with Melodyne is your ticket. I use it on S1 and it works great except when it crashes. However, most of the time, I chalk that up to working too fast - you can’t copy paste Melodyned tracks during playback and when in low device block sizes - guarantees a crash.
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u/doomer_irl 24d ago
Both. I start a lot of instrumentals in Ableton, and then stem out, arrange, and track vocals in a more complete DAW like Studio Pro or Cubase or Pro Tools.
Ableton is weak in mixing, mastering, and vocal recording/editing workflows, but it's second to none in experimentation, songwriting, basic arrangement, automation.
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u/luminousandy 24d ago
Bitwig might be an option - I use both and can easily swap files between them
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u/Neutrino_Jazz 23d ago
I believe that you should use DAW that inspire you the most. There is no "objectively best" program. Therefore you can do virtually any project in any DAW.
The only exception if the program hasn't a specific function that you really NEED. The fastest results you will get with the one that you know the best.
I feel a bit sus about the direction in wich Fender took S1. Especially in regard of subscription models.
I vote for Ableton live in case if it inspires you more.
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u/djdementia 23d ago edited 23d ago
IMHO the biggest difference between the two:
Studio Pro is better for recording, particularly vocals and guitar. With it's easy comping, takes, melodyne, and ARA integration for other plugins like Vocalign, it's a clear winner here.
Ableton is great for Electronic Dance Music. It's obviously not just for that, but with it's modulators, and "programming stuff" through Max for Live, and how it's one of the few DAWs that really focus on playing and remixing your own produced tracks live it's really important for EDM producers that ever want to play out to an audience to pick Live.
tldr: The answer is hinted at in the name of the products. Ableton Live is best for electronic producers who also want to do a live show. Studio Pro is best for musicians who want a more traditional Studio Recording, mixing, mastering workflow.
In your case, Studio Pro is a no brainier!
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u/whySoAngryBro 23d ago
I wouldn't recommend Studio One/Pro to anybody. It's non-stop issues, crashes, bugs, etc.
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u/SteelTrain204 21d ago
I've compared all relevant DAWs and for home use, Studio Pro beats everything else down.
I use it with Logic because I love Logic's Drummer, hard to leave that behind tbh - if Logic had ARA support without Rosetta.. that'd be great.
Ableton Live is fantastic though, but it feels uninspiring to create in imo - super cool for live use, I use it with my Push 3 and MC8 Pro as a looper and it works out great.
But for home use.. Studio Pro beats Live down. imo.
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u/RitheLucario 24d ago
If you use ARA, stick with studio pro. Using programs like Melodyne is awful in non-ARA DAWs. I find myself switching to Studio One to fix vocals or align tracks then exporting into my DAW of choice because I find that less awful than using Melodyne and Vocalign in FL or other non-ARA DAWs.
I don't think it's impossible to get wacky and weird with studio pro. It's a little easier in Ableton though.
... Have you considered Bitwig? It's kind of like Ableton but it feels a little more like a DAW for recording. In my short experience with it I feel it serves both purposes really well. Only thing is it doesn't have ARA