I have the Studio One Pro version as well... I don't use it much because I really only want to know one DAW.
 
I agree with the guys that have pointed out how fantastic it is.
 
 

I agree with you Mike in that one DAW is preferable. But to kill a few myths though, it is much easier to learn a new DAW than everyone thinks. Also once you get into a program like Studio One you will probably never use anything else anyway. (there is actually little need) I have probably opened Sonar up now only a handful of times in the last almost three years and it usually only to view or play a previous/older project anyway.

I own both SONAR X2 and Studio One 2.5 Producer. They are both great programs.
 
I use Studio One exclusively for the Project View, for mastering and publishing. It is fantastic. I'd say "nothing else comes close" but I haven't used that many other apps... but that said, I can't believe anything else comes close.
 
I have not "moved on" from SONAR - all my projects are created and tracked in SONAR X2, and I'm using it despite my misgivings about the whole "X" series.

I have the Artist version that came with a Fishman Triple play unit. Never installed it.
 
If I thought that the Producer (not professional) version brought more to the table for midi soft synths and editing I would buy it in a minute for the $85 price tag.
 
I am 99.5% in the box midi/soft synth oriented and X2a is giving me some heartburn. I call tech support, explain the issue and process and they can duplicate it while were on the phone but no guarantee when/if it will get fixed. I'm not getting much work done and not really sure where Sonar is heading but touch screen stuff is of little interest to me.
 
Also curious how well my existing Melodyne singletrack would work with the Producer version and if it supports the Mackie MCU and extenders?

I've been with Cake since Sonar Studio 6 & have updated all the way to Sonar X1d-X2a.
 
I also have Studio One Professional 2.5.
 
Because I do mostly MIDI, I was not as productive in Studio One as I had hoped - definitely not as well as Sonar in that regard.
 
 
Studio One would not record nor playback certain aspects of 'advanced MIDI use', where as Sonar had no trouble either way.
 
So that was a deal breaker for me. I doubt I'll pay for the next update, unless they do the completely unanticipated, and break out some serious MIDI enhancements.
 
I was also disappointed to learn that Presonus are admittedly not all that concerned with adding/updating MIDI features, and seem to gloss over it at large. There's even a line in their manual - "Look Mom - NO MIDI".
 
Now that would be the last thing I would boast about!
 
There is apparently 2.6 coming out in a few weeks, [based on the last Presonus live broadcast with Rodney Orphus], but it seems that us MIDI users are consistently past over in light of other feature and additions.
 
For those that do mostly audio, I think they would really like it. Stability is excellent.
 
I will definitely be checking out the Mastering options & features in Studio one though, as they do look top notch.
 
In the meantime, I've recently bought Cubase 7.0.5, and I'm really enjoying it so far.
 
So because of that, that now makes Studio One 2.5 my #3 DAW - out of 3.
 
But many like Studio One, and it would be easy to see why, once you get familiar with it.

jimusic
 
There is apparently 2.6 coming out in a few weeks, [based on the last Presonus live broadcast with Rodney Orphus], but it seems that us MIDI users are consistently past over in light of other feature and additions.
 
For those that do mostly audio, I think they would really like it. Stability is excellent.
 
In the meantime, I've recently bought Cubase 7.0.5, and I'm really enjoying it so far.
 

I bought Studio One originally to get the full version of Melodyne for $149.00.
I was very impressed with Studio Ones gapless audio & other features but now Cubase is getting used here more.
Great to hear 2.6 is coming. Cubase 7.0.6 & free update will be released Sept. 19 too.

jim usic,
 
Thanks for your review! The midi would be my main interest. Guess I will just put it on my watch list.
 
It does look like there will be an announcement tomorrow afternoon by Presonus, maybe it will be the 2.6 ver. I did visit their forum and see a few old Sonar users over there but not many are speaking too highly about the midi implementation within Studio One. It does seem like the audio only folks really like it.
 
Thanks again,
Rick

Ya, your welcome Rick.
 
Don't want to discourage anyone at all, BUT...I also feel that we all deserve to know what's what, and I think the best way is to share our experiences - and maybe save each other some dollars here & there - maybe for some other options & things.

carl
I bought Studio One originally to get the full version of Melodyne for $149.00.
I was very impressed with Studio Ones gapless audio & other features but now Cubase is getting used here more.
Great to hear 2.6 is coming. Cubase 7.0.6 & free update will be released Sept. 19 too.

Yes - I scooped up full Melodyne for $149.00 as well.
 
I really like the advanced MIDI options in Cubase.
 
Cubase 7.0.6 soon? 
 
Another update already?
 
Wow!
 
I'm lovin' it even more - especially with the free version of HALion 4 - & free update to 5 just recently. 
 
Rock on!

Rick - consider checking out some [or all] of the MIDI goodies & editing options in Cubase.
 
I was pleased to see they also have their own equivalent to Sonar's 'Event List'.
 
The very reason I bought it was because of those extras in the 'MIDI arena'.
 
Another pleasant surprise I found just yesterday - 5 years ago, I bought but have never used Garritan Personal Orchestra 4 [now 4.0.2.], and not only is it 64 Bit ready, which I migrated to 2 years ago, but I read last night in the manual that it is optimized for Cubase VST Expression [or maybe 'VST Note Expression'] - another Steinberg exclusive!
 
Yay!
 
I did my very first orchestration this morning using just 6 tracks in Garritan PO 4 & Cubase only & my Mrs & I were blown away!