明天，2024 年 10 月 9 日，PreSonus 会正式发售 Studio One 7。哪怕仅仅就在前天我刚刚说过了这个业界新闻，我也不禁再次对这次发售有些双向的看法。
每年付费获得更新的形式令人失望
毕竟，SO 是我从 SO2 开始一路跟随到现在，接着在 SO4 代开始入专业版，一直到 SO6(不要通过产品下方的日期以为那是购买日期，那只是最新版本的更新时间)。
每个版本的真正购买日期需要进入到详情中查看，比如 SO6 的购买日期是 2022 年 9 月：
我还是 PreSonus 绝对忠实的老粉丝，音箱，低音炮，控制器，打击垫，音频接口，几乎随着使用 Studio One 开始，我便陆续的在支持这个品牌。
按说，我的 SO6 版本早在 2022 年 9 月购买的，也是时候付费升级了。不过这次大部分用户对 PreSonus 有所抱怨的，是每年都需要进行付费升级的策略。
我在维基百科查询了 Studio One 的版本发布历史，我们来看看 Studio One 以往的产品升级模式。每一代产品通常需要两年的时间进行大的版本更新，比如从 2009 年 9 月的创始版 1 升级到 2011 年的 10 月发布的 2，历时 2 年。从版本 2 升级到 2015 年的 5 月的版本 3，历时最久长达三年七个月。从版本 3 升级到 2018 年的 5 月的版本 4，为期 3 年也不短。从版本 4 再到 2020 年 7 月 7 日发布版本 5，也长达两年多。再到 2022 年 9 月 29 发布的版本 6，也几乎有一年零 10 个月之久。
Studio One 发布历史 (长表格，点击以展开)
| Year | Date | Version | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Version 1 | ||
| 2009 27 September | 1.0.0 | Initial version. | |
| 15 October | 1.0.1 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 2 December | 1.0.2 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 2010 | 28 April | 1.5.0 | QuickTime video support, enhanced drag & drop functionality, REX2 file support, SoundCloud integration, enhanced automation, dynamic timestretching, MIDI improvements. |
| 23 June | 1.5.1 | MIDI recording offset. | |
| 2 August | 1.5.2 | Bug fixes. | |
| 28 September | 1.6.0 | Infinite nested buses, Mackie HUI support, VST 3.1 support. | |
| 18 November | 1.6.1 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 2011 | 3 January | 1.6.2 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. |
| 30 January | 1.6.3 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 9 March | 1.6.4 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 26 July | 1.6.5 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| Version 2 | |||
| 2011 31 October | 2.0.0 | ARA support, Melodyne integration, transient detection & quantization, groove extraction, multi-track comping, folder tracks, multi-track MIDI editing, new plug-ins, updated browser. | |
| 31 October | 2.0.2 | Bug fixes. | |
| 13 December | 2.0.3 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 2012 | 18 January | 2.0.4 | PreSonus Exchange integration. |
| 11 April | 2.0.5 | Ability to assign MIDI CC messages to any command, updated Ampire XT plug-in, playback stop marker, macro toolbar. | |
| 12 June | 2.0.6 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 12 September | 2.0.7 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 2 December | 2.5.0 | Comping improvements, folder track editing, enhanced track transform, updated Ampire XT plug-in, enhanced automation, updated audio export, ability to re-record from buses. | |
| 2013 | 25 February | 2.5.1 | Ability to enable muted tracks in stem export, loop mode for Sample One plug-in. |
| 23 May | 2.5.2 | Bug fixes. | |
| 29 August | 2.6.0 | Integration with StudioLive AI-series mixing consoles, integration with Nimbit, updated start page, Fat Channel plug-in, updated MIDI engine, displays for CD time and relative song position on the Project page. | |
| 30 October | 2.6.1 | Bug fixes. | |
| 2014 | 23 January | 2.6.2 | Add-on support. |
| 15 July | 2.6.3 | Ability to drag & drop audio to third-party plug-ins, CAF file support, ability to drag & drop slices to the quantize grid. | |
| 5 November | 2.6.4 | Increased recording buffer, 64-bit processing by default for Mac, stereo mode in Fat Channel plug-in. | |
| 8 December | 2.6.5 | Support for new SoundCloud API. | |
| 2015 | Version 3 | ||
| 2015 20 May | 3.0.0 | Arranger track, scratchpads, updated browser, chains for effects & virtual instruments, note-level MIDI effects, macro controls, new plug-ins, automation curves, Studio One Remote. | |
| 26 June | 3.0.1 | Updated manual, enhanced multi-touch. | |
| 5 August | 3.0.2 | Studio One Prime edition. | |
| 6 October | 3.1.0 | Integration with Studio 192 interfaces, option to colorize track controls. | |
| 16 December | 3.1.1 | Plug-in search context menu, ability to filter hidden plug-ins from search, enlarged instrument channel output list. | |
| 2016 | 25 February | 3.2.0 | Mix engine effects, VCA faders. |
| 30 March | 3.2.1 | Pass-through mode for mix engine effects, mix engine effects for downstream buses, show/hide VCA targets. | |
| 19 May | 3.2.2 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 9 June | 3.2.3 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 25 August | 3.3.0 | Ability to disable tracks / instruments / plug-ins, enhanced multi-track drum editing, MIDI editing improvements, single-click options for global effects on/off, Notion 6 integration, new video engine. | |
| 6 September | 3.3.1 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 29 November | 3.3.2 | FaderPort 8 integration, ability to copy automation via copy/paste of events, ability to access QWERTY keyboard software device via Caps Lock key. | |
| 19 December | 3.3.3 | Bug fixes. | |
| 2017 | 21 February | 3.3.4 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. |
| 23 May | 3.5.0 | Full mixer & plug-in undo, native low-latency software monitoring, updated CPU multi-processing, Fat Channel XT plug-in, file-independent track markers on the Project page, Project-level loudness metering. | |
| 27 June | 3.5.1 | Reduced virtual instrument latency, updated CPU balancing, updated quick-zoom, updated mixer undo. | |
| 26 September | 3.5.2 | Arranger track for Prime & Artist editions, updated song information window, blacklist for incompatible VST3 plug-ins. | |
| 28 November | 3.5.3 | FaderPort 16 support. | |
| 4 December | 3.5.4 | Bug fixes. | |
| 2018 | 30 January | 3.5.5 | Cakewalk Sonar shortcut setting. |
| 28 March | 3.5.6 | PreSonus Studio 1810 & 1824 support, PreSonus StudioLive III DAW remote support, macro option for channel renaming. | |
| Version 4 | |||
| 2018 22 May | 4.0.0 | Chord track, chord detection/transposition/substitution, drum & pattern editors, expanded drum machine (Impact XT) & sampler (SampleOne XT) plug-ins, AAF-format import/export, import from existing songs, ARA version 2 support, new GUI customization options. | |
| 10 July | 4.0.1 | Usability improvements & bug fixes, Studio One Prime version 4. | |
| 13 September | 4.1.0 | Support for PreSonus ATOM Pad Controller, new Pipeline XT routing plug-in, tempo automation, new ‘Time Scale’ tool for manual tempo mapping, expanded note repeat feature, expanded AAF export options. | |
| 30 October | 4.1.1 | Usability improvements (including new features for the ATOM controller) & bug fixes. | |
| 2019 | 15 January | 4.1.2 | New incremental version save option, support for volume/gain automation in AAF export, bug fixes. |
| 22 January | 4.1.3 | Support for PreSonus’ USB-C audio interfaces, bug fixes. | |
| 26 March | 4.1.4 | Support for PreSonus’ StudioLive S-Series mixing consoles, bug fixes. | |
| 21 May | 4.5.0 | Input channel gain staging & polarity, plug-in manager, M4A (AAC/ALAC) support, video export, RMS metering, pre-fader metering, CPU multi-core optimization, macro expansions, batch audio conversion/processing add-on. | |
| 29 May | 4.5.1 | Bug fixes. | |
| 11 July | 4.5.2 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 3 September | 4.5.3 | Support for Native Instruments Komplete Kontrol MkII keyboards. Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 17 September | 4.5.4 | Bug fixes. | |
| 19 November | 4.5.5 | Expanded FaderPort 8/16 support & bug fixes. | |
| 10 December | 4.6.0 | Re-designed & ‘Ampire’ guitar amplifier and effects plugin, new effects pedal plugin, re-designed content browser, new templates & macros for podcast production. | |
| 2020 | 21 January | 4.6.1 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. |
| 3 June | 4.6.2 | Expanded ARA functionality for chords (increasing compatibility with version 5 of Melodyne) and bug fixes. | |
| Version 5 | |||
| 2020 7 July | 5.0.0 | Score editor, ‘Show Page’ for live performances, polyphonic expression support, custom ROLI device support, support for recording in 64-bit floating-point WAV. | |
| 11 August | 5.0.1 | Bug fixes. | |
| 1 September | 5.0.2 | Bug fixes. | |
| 20 October | 5.1.0 | Retrospective recording. Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 17 November | 5.1.1 | Support for PreSonus Revelator microphone. Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 2021 | 19 January | 5.1.2 | Improved ARA integration for VocAlign, bug fixes. |
| 9 March | 5.2.0 | “Sound Variations” articulation management. “Sound Variation API” for communication between 3rd-party instruments and Studio One (in cooperation with Vienna Symphonic Library). Revised score view with drum notation and tabulature. New Studio One Remote features. Usability improvements. | |
| 27 April | 5.2.1 | Bug fixes. | |
| 29 June | 5.3.0 | Sound variations system enhancements. Conversion from chord track to note events. | |
| 14 September | 5.4.0 | Native Apple silicon support. Performance optimizations for plug-ins & mix FX. autosave improvements. Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 14 October | 5.4.1 | Bug fixes. | |
| 2022 | 11 January | 5.5.0 | Automation, gain envelopes, and listening bus for mastering projects. Target peak and loudness settings. Chord extraction from MIDI data. Bulk export for digital formats. MIDI strum patterns. |
| 22 February | 5.5.1 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 5 April | 5.5.2 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| Version 6 | |||
| 2022 29 September | 6.0.0 | “Smart” templates, UI customization, video track, lyrics track, cloud-based collaboration (via PreSonus Sphere), new plugins including de-esser and vocoder. | |
| 9 November | 6.0.1 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 13 December | 6.0.2 | Bug fixes. | |
| 2023 | 22 March | 6.1.0 | Mastering project templates. Usability improvements & bug fixes. |
| 30 March | 6.1.1 | Bug fixes. | |
| 25 May | 6.1.2 | Bug fixes. | |
| 18 July | 6.2.0 | Rebranding of PreSonus Sphere as Studio One+. Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 1 August | 6.2.1 | Bug fixes. | |
| 26 September | 6.5.0 | Spatial audio mixing and Dolby Atmos support. Import & export support for DAWproject files.Linux support. | |
| 1 November | 6.5.1 | Bug fixes. | |
| 2024 | 16 January | 6.5.2 | Bug fixes. |
| 2 April | 6.6.0 | Support for Apple Spatial Audio, direct integration with TuneCore, new synth instrument ‘Lead Architect’. | |
| 8 May | 6.6.1 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 9 July | 6.6.2 | Usability improvements & bug fixes. | |
| 24 September | 6.6.3 | Connectivity fix for SoundCloud integration. | |
| 这里是我手动补充的 | 2024 年 10 月 9 日 | 7 | |
在 2024 年的 10 月发布版本 7，差不多两年，符合 Studio One 重大版本升级的常规历时，这都没毛病。
问题在于从 7 开始，PreSonus 改变了销售策略，今后的版本依然会定期更新，但需要每年持续付费，这是用户最大的抗议之处。以年费的形式发售产品有什么弊端呢？
- 产品售价翻倍。以前几乎两年才需要付费升级，期间产品不间断更新，性价比非常高。而如今一年一付，售价却和以往相同，可以说就是价格翻倍了。
- 后期维护懒散，隐藏重要更新。为了吸引用户每年持续付费，产品开发与维护会将最重要的技术突破压在箱底，等刚过了一年的周期后才发布，以强制用户付费购买。
以上是我从版本 5 升级到版本 6 的升级费用，150 美元，日期也就是在版本 6 发布的同时。而这 149 美元我一直用到了今年，也就是 2024 年的 10 月，整整两年，非常划算。但以后，我需要每年都花费这个金额，来维持版本的更新，这令 Studio One 的性价比就开始下降了。
当然，我们可以做出选择，当 Studio One 某一年的更新满足不了我们的胃口时，我们可以停住，仅仅使用当前的版本，跳过这些付费更新。但我深深的怀疑，在音乐科技日新月异的当下，当 Studio One 在过了一年后，突然发布一个爆款功能，我们真的能抵挡住诱惑吗？
我只是单纯的不太喜欢这种不断被后手挑衅的感觉。作为一款 DAW，这是音乐创作和后期的基石，你们负责苦心开发技术，我们负责购买和安心的使用，哪怕单次售价昂贵，但量大管饱，我们也会前赴后继。但如果三不五时的在官网秀下新技能，然后让用户在版本追逐中疲于奔命，这已经远离了一个 DAW 克己本份，低调沉稳的行事风格，而像是拍卖会上待价而沽的炒作品。
这不仅仅是我，一个资深 Studio One 用户的想法，而是很多 SO 用户的真实想法。让我们看看 PreSonus 官网的油管号发布 Studio One 7 宣传视频后，网友们的评论吧：
PreSonus 有一点做的还不错的，就是他不会删除评论，这倒挺令人欣赏，但也仅此而已。评论区并非偏激的恶意留言，而是真心的对这次升级策略和费用有太多的失望。
我们对 SO 系列非常忠实，不停的在各个留言区和论坛中宣传 SO 的优点，是因为我们感受到了 SO 初衷的美好，创造出一款更人性化，更直观易用，扩展性无穷的 DAW。我真的不希望这个招牌，在错误的决策下跑偏，Waves 这样做了，一度让经理出面全网道歉，NI 正在这么做，但这次的 Kontakt 8 和 Komplete 15 并没有引起一丝水花。Studio One 未来的策略究竟是什么，希望不要辜负一帮老粉。
可能的惊喜之处
不过，由于我的版本 6 也使用了两年，现在到了 7，也确实是该升级的一代了，我也许会跟进这次升级，同时看看 7 到底会给我们带来些什么。其中一个对我个人比较利好的消息是，SO7 将会解锁 Presence XT Editor。
Presence XT 是 SO 系列中非常优质的一款采样器，它其实有非常棒的音色制作功能，但遗憾的是 Studio One 一直将音色制作功能，也就是 Editor 模式锁定，并且需要额外的 600 多元人民币的费用才能解锁。
售价高达 647 港币
你可能会说，有了 Kontakt 和 HALion，还需要这种看起来简陋的采样器吗？事实上，我在早期的 SO 版本上使用过破解的 Presence XT Editor，它的可用性比前两者大很多。一是它支持直接拖放音频文件作为采样，并有着完整的力度分层模式，可以用不同力度击发不同采样，也有完整的 Keyswitch 模式，通过按键切换音色分组，它还支持通过 java 语言进行编写 (当然这个对我有点难)。二是，它属于 Studio One 的原生插件，调用快，出错率低，资源占用小。
当你在 Studio One 中拖入 Kontakt，三次就有一次引发崩溃的话，你就知道有一个稳定靠谱的采样器有多么重要了。我还记得我当时使用 Presence XT Editor 制作了一两个音效库，然后将所有杂乱的音色打包为 Studio One 专有的一体化文件，一并放入 Studio One 的 Soundsets 音色资源文件夹中，后面即使不适用 Editor，而是普通的 Presence XT，也能直接读取，使用异常方便。在那之后，由于开始使用正版，Presence XT Editor 也不复存在了，而其高昂的售价，也让我望而却步。
如果这次 Studio One 7 会解锁 Presence XT Editor，那这次的升级，暂且来说，是值得期待的。
