Studio One Pro is now Fender Studio V8

[Yan]

https://intl.fender.com/pages/fender-studio

• This topic was modified 2 months, 2 weeks ago by Yan.

5

[Brian]

Well-  I should not be surprised, but it gives me pause.  As a Studio One user since V3 it seems like they are throwing away some market familiarity among current DAW users.  Wonder if there is any change to price and licensing model?

 

2

[Brian]

Answering my own question re: licensing- I logged in and my cost to upgrade is $99.  My Studio one 7 upgrade was purchased over a year ago, so it was in “perpetual mode”.  Looks like the same formula as before.  Updates for one year, and perpetual license after that.  Very interesting that they appear to be completely dropping the Presonus branding for hardware too.  It’s all Fender now.

Here is the “What’s New” for v8:  https://www.fender.com/pages/fender-studio-pro-new-features

 

• This reply was modified 2 months, 2 weeks ago by Brian.
• This reply was modified 2 months, 2 weeks ago by Brian.

3

[LinkedMusicians]

If I were Fender’s CMO, I would have been more inclined to re-brand the product, “Fender Studio One Pro.” It’s a small difference, but it maintains a level of familiarity with longtime Presonus Studio One Pro users that I think would have been subtle, but useful, even if they phased out the “One” after one product version. In any event, I think it’s a good sign that current Presounus Studio One Pro users — which include me — should be happy about.

Why (and, btw, this is exactly the kind of topic I’ve written about as a marketing/branding/business strategist)?

Investing in a rebranding of the product line requires an investment that a masterbrand (in this case, Fender) is almost certainly unlikely to do with a product line/subbrand that they were about to shut down or are uncertain about. This rebranding requires new artwork, new packaging, and additional PR, and marketing expenditures. Doing this right before NAMM tells you that Fender wants to talk about this product there. Those are really good signs that this product line is very important to Fender. Current Studio One Pro users — which include me — should be happy to see this change, regardless of how they feel about the new naming; they should see it as a reflection of Fender’s commitment to the product line and the importance of the product to the company.

For those of us who came from Cakewalk Sonar, a DAW that’s still far behind Fender Studio Pro and the lead developer has recently acknowledged that it is far behind — and consider that Bandlab is a company valued at $450 million primarily as a software company and NOT making the kind of investments and progress that Fender has with their DAW — it says a lot about the product line. Fender clearly wants their DAW to be a leader and grab more market share. As a Studio One Pro — as of this week Fender Studio Pro V8 — user, I am very glad to see this, regardless of the name.

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7

[LinkedMusicians]

On Brian said

Answering my own question re: licensing- I logged in and my cost to upgrade is $99.  My Studio one 7 upgrade was purchased over a year ago, so it was in “perpetual mode”.  Looks like the same formula as before.  Updates for one year, and perpetual license after that.  Very interesting that they appear to be completely dropping the Presonus branding for hardware too.  It’s all Fender now.

Here is the “What’s New” for v8:  https://www.fender.com/pages/fender-studio-pro-new-features

 

That is what I’d expect.

It’s A LOT cheaper for a company to manage one brand, so that, of course, is one of the big areas of savings every company that does a strategic acquisition of another company serving the same market is looking at, and with the Presonus acquisition, Fender clearly looked to widen its reach not only in terms of types of musicians but recording professionals and hobbyists. It makes sense. That is what I expected when I read the first announcement, but I didn’t read anything that indicated that Fender was dropping the Presonus name from hardware.

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1

[mustakatu]

@linkedmusicians, agreed, not the best rebranding strategy. Fender Studio Pro has no recognition effect, majority of users (especially those on other DAWs) won’t read it as a former Studio One Pro.

Fender Studio One would be a far more logical and strong name, combining both the heritage of Studio One and Fender’s own brand power. They had to drop the “Pro” part instead, it’s nonsense to keep it since there was no Artist or any other versions for over a year. “Studio One” itself means the main studio in recording business, it was a solid naming. Studio Pro? Generic AF.

You can do a quick test yourself, which one of these give you an instant recall effect:

PreSonus Studio Pro

Studio Pro

Studio One

So you have one product on the table, and you chose to keep “Pro” instead of “One”, the word everyone knew you by? Sorry, but you’ve just wasted years of brand equity.

1

[LinkedMusicians]

@mustakatu I agree that the Pro part isn’t very important, but Studio One is. My main concern would have been maintaining a sense of familiarity for longtime Studio One Pro users. But yes, “Fender Studio One” would have been a smart choice and I can certainly agree with your logic that they can remove Pro from the name — although, I’d want to at least do some marketing research to validate that before I dropped it. It may mean something to some of their users in relation to competitor offerings. While there are no longer different tiers for this line (e.g., Artist, Standard, Pro) competitors may have such distinctions in their lines with Standard and Pro versions and some incorporate the term Pro in the name. For example: Logic Pro and  Avid Pro Tools.  The distinctions, while it may seem silly at first glance, can actually be meaningful to consumers, communicating that this is not the barebones, budget version of the DAW.

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[MagicRuss]

I’m a bit annoyed because I just registered my copy of v7 last week and I don’t see an update in my account.  Meanwhile some people on KVR report that they have received the upgrade despite their update periods having expired in November.

 

EDIT: OK, I guess I missed it, it’s installing now.

 

• This reply was modified 2 months, 2 weeks ago by MagicRuss.

2

[mustakatu]

@linkedmusicians, I’ve read a bit more on this, and apparently they got a free-tier version as well now, without the “Pro” tag, or maybe it’s just an app, there’s not much information so far. The official Fender Studio page currently includes only a video dedicated to Studio Pro (again, not the best way to introduce your new product line/ecosystem).

So… Fender Studio app was released in May 2025:

 

In the meantime, Logic Pro 12 is to be released on Jan 28: https://www.apple.com/logic-pro

2

[lamia6]

Sorry just had to post this blast from the past.

CINZ NET Radio    |    Radio Registry

1

[peter]

Continuing down the strategy analysis path, Fender is clearly trying to take market share from BandLab. But BandLab has one of the most difficult strengths to displace, the social ecosystem they’ve built. While they’ve done a terrible job on the DAW end, my guess is that they’ll soon bail on Cakewalk Sonar and buy an established DAW to grab the technology and user base. Plain and simple, Sonar is a very obvious product failure and its not managed like an important product for BandLab.

They’re simply not going to get there on the path they’re on. A $450 million valued software / social media company with an obvious product failure that’s simply not on par with the category to the point that even the CEO’s own music publication doesn’t even mention Sonar when it does an article on the best DAWs available today (granted, sometimes it puts in a plug for Sonar, other times it doesn’t — but it’s very clear that Sonar only gets a plug because it’s owned by the same company; plugin developers, reviewers, producers, and influencers rarely mention Sonar).

But BandLab can afford to buy a successful DAW. I think the greater challenge is for another player, like Fender, to attempt to duplicate BandLab’s ecosystem — especially with Gen Z. I’m surprised Apple hasn’t tried that yet (of course, Apple lacks a presence on Android and Windows).

LinkedMusicians Founder. Your friend who keeps the beat.

Check out my music. 

2

[mustakatu]

@peter, well, Apple has GarageBand as a free app and a DAW, and then Logic Pro, so in a way they settled this long before others, just decided to keep the already established brands and the starter/pro segments clearly separated. (Building a unifying platform for two totally different audiences doesn’t seem realistic. And building a third, entirely new product just for the sake of it? Not worth the risks). At this point, we don’t even know whether Fender Studio Pro and Fender Studio app have anything in common at all besides the umbrella naming lol

1

[psionx]

Did you guys check the 3rd party plugins they are giving this time? 🙂

• This reply was modified 2 months, 2 weeks ago by psionx.

1

[Yan]

I had a subscription to Studio One Pro + that expired in October 2025. I now have Fender Studio Pro V8 added for free in my account.

5

[MagicRuss]

On psionx said

Did you guys check the 3rd party plugins they are giving this time? 🙂

That HitVerb could be nice.  A couple of Eventide plugins isn’t a bad thing.  A couple from Newfangled Audio and a couple from UJam.   I hear good things about the Safari Pedals effects, although it would be nice if they integrated with the Mustang Native.

3

[LinkedMusicians]

 

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1

[peter]

This video covers the amp modeler included with Fender Studio Pro.

LinkedMusicians Founder. Your friend who keeps the beat.

Check out my music. 

1

[fretman]

Hmmm, now I’ve gotta go check any of those “cheapest upgrade price” threads to see what  deals are still active…

(some time later……)

Nope. No sales, but my normal upgrade price is $99, which isn’t that far off from the old sale price.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 2 weeks ago by fretman.

Studio One, Windows, RME UFX, Yamaha MSP7

3

[Xandre]

I had an unregistered Fender Mustang Plug lying around for this reason: now I can try out Studio sorry Fender Studio Pro for half a year

5

[fretman]

Turns out code “save10” still works at Audio Deluxe, bringing the crossgrade price down to $89 plus you get a freebie plus you can use your Deluxe Bucks. Done deal  for me…

Studio One, Windows, RME UFX, Yamaha MSP7

21

[LinkedMusicians]

Good point, @fretman. For anyone who wants to buy Fender Studio Pro 8 or an upgrade from an earlier version, use the code SAVE10. You can help support the site using the below affiliate links. Plus you’ll earn and can use Deluxe Bucks to further lower the price + get a free plugin.

Fender Studio Pro 8 Upgrade
$90 with the code SAVE10
Previous Studio One Artist, Producer or Pro license required for eligibility
https://audiodeluxe.com/products/fender-studio-pro-8-upgrade?sca_ref=9905602.8KvuZSaQ9x

Fender Studio Pro 8 Crossgrade
$135 with the code SAVE10
https://audiodeluxe.com/products/fender-studio-pro-8-crossgrade?sca_ref=9905602.8KvuZSaQ9x

Fender Studio Pro 8
$180.00 with the Code SAVE10
https://audiodeluxe.com/products/fender-studio-pro-8?sca_ref=9905602.8KvuZSaQ9x

 

Fender Studio Pro 8 and 12 Months Pro+
$162 with the Code SAVE10
https://audiodeluxe.com/products/fender-studio-pro-8-and-12-months-pro?sca_ref=9905602.8KvuZSaQ9x

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1

[fretman]

Best Service now has the upgrade for $86.88 – Best Coin. No freebie like Audio Deluxe (above) but you earn 2.67 BestCoin toward your next purchase.

https://www.bestservice.com/en/fender_studio_pro_upgrade.html?aid=ZBgL2roqVxRSujmR

Studio One, Windows, RME UFX, Yamaha MSP7

2

[Hoppy]

I’ll echo what others have said about the name change from Studio One to Fender Studio Pro. Yes, Fender made a very poor decision with the new name. However, as bad as the new name is, it could have been a lot worse. For example they could have called it “Fender DAW”.

Soul, Blues, & Jazz on a Wurli or Rhodes

2

[Brian]

On fretman said

Best Service now has the upgrade for $86.88 – Best Coin. No freebie like Audio Deluxe (above) but you earn 2.67 BestCoin toward your next purchase.

https://www.bestservice.com/en/fender_studio_pro_upgrade.html?aid=ZBgL2roqVxRSujmR

Studio One, Windows, RME UFX, Yamaha MSP7

 

Purchased from BS with LM code and installing!

I posted earlier my knee-jerk reaction that I thought Fender might have made a misstep with naming, but I now “see the light”.  We are a bunch of music nerds that are quite familiar with Presonus’ DAW.  ‘Fender’ clearly is going to have massively more recognition as a “music making company” than ‘Presonus’ to the general public though.  I also mused that they might be dropping the Presonus branding entirely, because the released info on a couple new MIDI controllers, as well as their audio interfaces that are replacing the Presonus products and will be ‘Fender’ branded.  I learned from Jonny Lipsham’s YT that Fender is (thus far) keeping the Presonus branding for mixers, speakers, mics, headphones, etc.  The Fender brand is going on MIDI and i/o stuff that more directly interfaces with Studio Pro.  If you are interested, the link to Jonny’s video is set to the approximate time that he covers this.  HE IS  A FENDER (Pro Studio team) EMPLOYEE.  So if that bothers you, skip it, or add salt 🙂

2

[LinkedMusicians]

@bluescat The customer/musician side of me wants Fender to maintain the Presonus name for all of this stuff. But the business side of me understands that it’s a lot more efficient to brand everything Fender. For me, the bottom line is that Fender is clearly continuing to invest in the products we once called — or still call — Presonus. I think, especially for those of us (which is most of us here) who are early Cakewalk (version / company one) users, it’s hard to see the DAW you spent so much time getting familiar with go away or face an uncertain future and fall far behind. In light of those possibilities, I look at the rebranding of Presonus products as relatively small potatoes.

As a Fender Studio Pro V8 user (okay, only as of this week with an update!), I just want to see the product — and related products — flourish. I think Fender is putting out an excellent, state-of-the-art product in a highly competitive market and am glad to see that them maintain a perpetual license option.

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4

[William Heins]

To be honest I have a Presonus Quantum 2626 TB interface and it works great! With that said the name Presonus in no way conjures up music making to me, just electronic devices, while Fender says music making(albeit with a heavy guitar emphasis 😉 ).

A lot of demo stuff here- https://www.reverbnation.com/daylight

3

[thesteven]

On fretman said

Best Service now has the upgrade for $86.88 – Best Coin. No freebie like Audio Deluxe (above) but you earn 2.67 BestCoin toward your next purchase.

https://www.bestservice.com/en/fender_studio_pro_upgrade.html?aid=ZBgL2roqVxRSujmR

Studio One, Windows, RME UFX, Yamaha MSP7

LOL looking at the Fender website I can’t figure out** why I would shell out the extra $$ vs just the upgrade.
**I haven’t listened to / watched all the videos but hell with that – they should just spell it out in plain English.

[LinkedMusicians]

On thesteven said

On fretman said

Best Service now has the upgrade for $86.88 – Best Coin. No freebie like Audio Deluxe (above) but you earn 2.67 BestCoin toward your next purchase.

https://www.bestservice.com/en/fender_studio_pro_upgrade.html?aid=ZBgL2roqVxRSujmR

Studio One, Windows, RME UFX, Yamaha MSP7

LOL looking at the Fender website I can’t figure out** why I would shell out the extra $$ vs just the upgrade.
**I haven’t listened to / watched all the videos but hell with that – they should just spell it out in plain English

I agree with your analysis. They could do a much better job showing users why the upgrade is worth it, you wouldn’t think that people would have to search for it. I asked Google if there was a page and the best response seems to be this AI summary:

New Features in FSP8:Channel & Arrangement Overviews: Major workflow enhancements for mixing and arranging.
New FX & Instruments: Fender-branded amps, updated SampleOne & Impact.
Redesigned UI/Plugins: New look, though polarizing for some users.
Chord Assistant & AI Tools: Added creative features.
Fender Studio Integration: Seamless mobile-to-desktop workflow with the free Fender Studio app.

 

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[LinkedMusicians]

On thesteven said

On fretman said

Best Service now has the upgrade for $86.88 – Best Coin. No freebie like Audio Deluxe (above) but you earn 2.67 BestCoin toward your next purchase.

https://www.bestservice.com/en/fender_studio_pro_upgrade.html?aid=ZBgL2roqVxRSujmR

Studio One, Windows, RME UFX, Yamaha MSP7

LOL looking at the Fender website I can’t figure out** why I would shell out the extra $$ vs just the upgrade.
**I haven’t listened to / watched all the videos but hell with that – they should just spell it out in plain English

I agree with your analysis. They could do a much better job showing users why the upgrade is worth it, you wouldn’t think that people would have to search for it. I asked Google if there was a page and the best response seems to be this AI summary:

New Features in FSP8:Channel & Arrangement Overviews: Major workflow enhancements for mixing and arranging.
New FX & Instruments: Fender-branded amps, updated SampleOne & Impact.
Redesigned UI/Plugins: New look, though polarizing for some users.
Chord Assistant & AI Tools: Added creative features.
Fender Studio Integration: Seamless mobile-to-desktop workflow with the free Fender Studio app.

 

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[thesteven]

On LinkedMusicians said

On thesteven said

On fretman said

Best Service now has the upgrade for $86.88 – Best Coin. No freebie like Audio Deluxe (above) but you earn 2.67 BestCoin toward your next purchase.

https://www.bestservice.com/en/fender_studio_pro_upgrade.html?aid=ZBgL2roqVxRSujmR

Studio One, Windows, RME UFX, Yamaha MSP7

LOL looking at the Fender website I can’t figure out** why I would shell out the extra $$ vs just the upgrade.
**I haven’t listened to / watched all the videos but hell with that – they should just spell it out in plain English

I agree with your analysis. They could do a much better job showing users why the upgrade is worth it, you wouldn’t think that people would have to search for it. I asked Google if there was a page and the best response seems to be this AI summary:

New Features in FSP8:Channel & Arrangement Overviews: Major workflow enhancements for mixing and arranging.
New FX & Instruments: Fender-branded amps, updated SampleOne & Impact.
Redesigned UI/Plugins: New look, though polarizing for some users.
Chord Assistant & AI Tools: Added creative features.
Fender Studio Integration: Seamless mobile-to-desktop workflow with the free Fender Studio app.

 

The official LinkedMusicians account

I asked Google
“what is fender pro + and how is it different than the $99 upgrade?”
and the answer was several paragraphs of verbiage that essentially said nothing.

For any did the ‘upgrade’ did you get access to all the additional content & services?

[fretman]

Yes, there were a LOT of upgrades – even to really old addons like CTC-1 (among others).

Studio One, Windows, RME UFX, Yamaha MSP7

[Brian]

On thesteven said

…

For any did the ‘upgrade’ did you get access to all the additional content & services?

Only had it for a day- Upgraded from 7 that “expired” Dec 21.  IMHO I guess it is the ever present debate any time ANY DAW releases a “major” ($) rather than “point” (free) update.  For ME I guess I think it should have been a free point upgrade, but if they added something that is really a help to your workflow, I can understand feeling it was worth the cost.  They DID add a few free VSTs that you have to get from the “my Fender” page, but I already owned what I considered to be “the good ones”.

There is a Features matrix at the bottom of https://www.fender.com/products/fender-studio-pro that shows by column the difference between Perpetual and Plus, but you DO get some third party VSTs with the Perpetual.  Oddly, there is a row labelled “Pro+ Library of 120,000+ Loops and Samples” that no one gets ?  Maybe my browser is not reading it correctly.

1

[MagicRuss]

On peter said

This video covers the amp modeler included with Fender Studio Pro.

LinkedMusicians Founder. Your friend who keeps the beat.

Check out my music.

I think this guy does a pretty good job of making this thing sound better than my results.

I’m not really in love with the amps here for the most part.  The Twin, Princeton, JC, and Orange sound fine but I haven’t heard anything yet that would really be a goto.

I will say that the reverbs sound nice and the 2290 delay was a welcome surprise.

[Eugene Tsepenuk]

In Studio 8, “Return to Start on Stop” option gone from the Trasport’ right click menu. There’s still a shortcut and menu item, so I wouldn’t say it’s downgrade 🙂 Still… These little things here and there, I hope will be fixed in 8.1.

• This reply was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by Eugene Tsepenuk.

1

[Author]

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