Studio Pro


Studio Pro is a digital audio workstation application, used to create, record, mix and master music and other audio, with functionality also available for video. Initially developed as a successor to the KRISTAL Audio Engine, it was acquired by PreSonus and first released under the name Studio One in 2009 for macOS and Microsoft Windows. PreSonus and Studio One were then acquired by Fender in 2021, which led to the product's rebranding as Fender Studio Pro in 2026.
Since 2024, users who purchase and register a copy of Studio Pro receive a permanent license for the software, alongside one year of subsequent feature updates. It is also available as part of the Studio One Pro+ monthly subscription program.

History

Studio One early development and release (2004–2011)

Studio Pro originally began development under the name K2, as a follow-up to the KRISTAL Audio Engine. Although development for this follow-up began in 2004, it transitioned in 2006 to a cooperation between PreSonus and KristalLabs Software Ltd., a start-up founded by former Steinberg employees Wolfgang Kundrus and Matthias Juwan. Kundrus was one of the developers for initial versions of Cubase, and established concepts for the first version of Nuendo. Juwan was the author of the original KRISTAL Audio Engine, wrote the specification for version 3 of the VST plug-in standard, and had also worked on multiple Steinberg products, including Cubase, Nuendo, and HALion.
KristalLabs then became part of PreSonus in 2009, at which point the software was renamed to Studio One. The former KristalLabs logo was used as the basis for the Studio One logo.
The first version of Studio One was announced on 1 April 2009 at Musikmesse, and released on 27 September 2009. The final update for version 1 was released in July 2011.

Versions 2 & 3 (2011–2018)

Version 2 of Studio One was announced on 17 October 2011, and released on 31 October 2011. This release of the software introduced multiple enhancements, including integration with Celemony Melodyne, transient detection & quantization, groove extraction, multi-track comping, folder tracks, multi-track MIDI editing, an updated browser, and new plug-ins.
The integration of Studio One version 2 with Melodyne was achieved via the creation of a new plug-in extension, known as Audio Random Access. This extension, developed jointly by PreSonus and Celemony, allows an audio plug-in to appear as an integrated part of the application.
Version 3 of Studio One was released on 20 May 2015. The new features included an arranger track, scratchpads for idea experimentation, the ability to chain together different effects and instruments, MIDI note effects, new plug-ins, and the ability to use curves in automation.

Versions 4 & 5 (2018–2022)

Following teaser images on social media websites in the preceding weeks, version 4 of Studio One was announced via a YouTube live stream event on 22 May 2018, and released simultaneously. New features in version 4 included a chord track, a dedicated drum editing interface, expanded drum machine & sampler plug-ins, AAF-format import/export functionality, and support for version 2 of the ARA plug-in extension.
Almost exactly a year later, on 21 May 2019, this functionality was expanded further with the live stream announcement and simultaneous release of version 4.5. New functionality introduced with version 4.5 included input channel gain staging and phase/polarity options, a built-in plug-in manager, M4A support, video export options, new grouping options, RMS metering, pre-fader metering, CPU multi-core optimization, and expanded macro features, alongside a new [|add-on] for batch audio conversion & processing.
The release of version 4.6 was preceded by a launch party event, hosted by PreSonus at the Red Bull Studios building in London. Its release on 10 December 2019 included a re-designed and expanded version of the Ampire guitar amplifier and effects plugin, a re-designed content browser, and new templates & macros for podcast production.
Version 5 of Studio One, described as "ten years in the making", was announced via live-stream video on 7 July 2020. Features added in this new version included a full score editor, a show interface focused on supporting live performances, MIDI support enhancements. Version 5 also added support for recording in 64-bit floating-point WAV format, bringing the maximum precision for recording & processing to 64-bit/384 kHz and thereby making Studio One one of the highest-resolution audio production and mastering applications available. Version 5.4 of the software, released in September 2021, added native support for Apple computers with Apple silicon chips, thereby providing improved performance on such machines.

Versions 6 & 7 (2022–2026)

Version 6 of the software was both announced and released on 29 September 2022. The new release included enhancements focused on making the application "simpler more intuitive", such as "smart" templates, additional UI customization, song lyric support, and cloud-based collaboration. Following the launch, Evan Jones, Fender CMO, stated that the company was "fully invested in supporting the continued expansion and adoption of Studio One as the total solution for professional and committed at-home creators." In addition, version 6 introduced a video track with basic editing tools.
Subsequently, version 6.5, released on 26 September 2023, introduced support for spatial audio mixing and Dolby Atmos, as well as import and export support for the new open-source DAWproject file format which, at time of release, was also supported by Bitwig Studio. This version also added Linux support to Studio One for the first time, in the form of a public beta.
In September 2024, it was announced that version 7 of Studio One would be released on October 9th. The announcement also confirmed that the lower-priced Artist and free Prime editions of the software would no longer be offered, shifting instead to "one DAW for all," specifically called Studio One Pro.
PreSonus' general software manager, Arnd Kaiser, described version 7 as an iteration which "breaks down the barriers between different workflows..." A number of the release's features included aspects augmented by artificial intelligence, including stem extraction, enhanced tempo-detection, and full integration with the Splice platform and it's AI-powered search features. Other features included within this version on initial release included dynamic song-wide transposition, looping for both audio & MIDI events, a dynamic grid of loops and patterns, and support for the open-source CLAP plug-in format.

Version 8: Fender Studio Pro (2026–Present)

Alongside the first announcement of Studio One version 7 in September 2024, PreSonus also announced multiple changes to the software's release model, which were made as a "direct result of user feedback." They stated that, "to deliver more major new features, faster, as soon as they’re ready," they would be moving to "a faster feature release cycle with multiple major new feature releases each year." Because of this change, Studio One 7 was stated to be the final numbered release, with future versions using time-based naming conventions.
To support the change in release schedule, it was announced that each perpetual license of Studio One Pro would "include one full year of new feature releases from the time of registration," so that users can "upgrade licence on schedule... without worrying about the timing of major releases."
On January 13, 2026, it was announced that the latest version of the software was being released under the new name of Fender Studio Pro; however, despite the previous confirmation, it retained the numbered release model, releasing as version 8 of the application. Acknowledging that the change to a more guitar-focused name might be alienating for some established Studio One users, Max Gutnik, Fender’s CPO, said that "There will definitely be some hot takes on the name. We're sure about that, but we understand it. You know, PreSonus is a really loved brand, and we love it too."
With the release coinciding with new Fender hardware and an update to its Fender Studio mobile app, allowing real-time Wi-Fi integration with Studio Pro, the company described the products as a "connected music ecosystem." Alongside an uplifted user interface, version 8 introduced audio-to-MIDI transformation capabilities, new Fender-branded amp and effects pedal plug-ins, and a 'Chord Assistant' tool, to recommend chord progressions.

Features

Standard DAW features

In addition to its other functionality, Studio Pro includes fundamental features which are common across most digital audio workstation software, such as the functionality found in multi-track recorders and audio mixing consoles, plus additional functions not possible with analog recording.
Studio Pro has no fixed limits on the number of inputs/outputs, tracks, and buses available to users. Its audio engine supports 64-bit audio resolution with sample rates up to 768 kHz.

Supported formats, plug-ins, and standards

Studio Pro features support for importing & exporting multiple audio and video file formats, including WAV/AIFF, M4A, FLAC/MP3, DDP, and MPEG‑4/M4V. For third-party plug-in support, it is compatible with the VST/VST2/VST3, Audio Unit, CLAP, and ReWire formats, plus the ARA/ARA2 plug-in extension.
Other standards supported by the software include MIDI Polyphonic Expression / Poly Pressure, spatial audio mixing, and MTC/MMC. To enable connectivity with third-party hardware, Studio Pro supports integration with Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol series keyboards, plus the Mackie Control Universal communications protocol, for interfacing with audio control surfaces.
Additionally, Studio Pro includes support for the importing & exporting of open-source DAWproject files, to exchange project information with other DAW applications.