Getting Started with PreSonus Studio One: Create Your First Song

Are you ready to dive into music production? PreSonus Studio One is one of the most intuitive and powerful digital audio workstations (DAWs) on the market today. Whether you’re a complete beginner or transitioning from another DAW, this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to create your first song in Studio One.

What You’ll Need Before Starting

Before you can start creating music, gather these essentials:

Hardware Requirements:

• A computer (Mac or PC) that meets Studio One’s system requirements
• An audio interface (like PreSonus Quantum, Audient iO2, or Focusrite Scarlett)
• A microphone or instrument cable to connect your gear
• Headphones for monitoring while you record
• Optional: MIDI keyboard or controller for virtual instruments

Software:

• Studio One installed and activated on your system
• Your audio interface drivers installed and updated

Where to Purchase PreSonus Studio One

Studio One comes in different editions to suit various needs and budgets. Here are the main purchasing options and where to buy:

Pricing Options

Studio One Pro 7 Perpetual License – $199.99 The perpetual license gives you full ownership of Studio One Pro 7 forever. This includes all 45 native effects plug-ins, 7 virtual instruments, and one year of new feature releases included with your purchase.

Studio One Pro 7 with Pro+ Annual Plan – $179.99/year This hybrid model combines the perpetual license with 12 months of Studio One Pro+ subscription access, including cloud collaboration tools, 120,000+ loops and samples, and Notion 6 notation software.

Studio One Pro+ Monthly Access – $19.99/month Perfect if you want to try the software before committing. This includes everything in the Pro edition plus all Pro+ extras.

Where to Buy

• PreSonus Official Store – https://www.presonus.com/products/studio-one-pro Direct from the manufacturer with official support and guarantees.
• Sweetwater – https://www.sweetwater.com Sweetwater frequently offers competitive pricing and excellent customer service with free tech support.
• B&H Photo Video – https://www.bhphotovideo.com Another trusted retailer with competitive pricing and detailed product information.
• NameCheap (if bundled with hosting services) Often offers bundle deals with web hosting packages.

Keep an eye out for sales and promotions, as these retailers often discount Studio One during holiday sales and special events.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your First Song

Step 1: Install and Activate Studio One

After purchasing Studio One, download the installer from your PreSonus account. Follow the installation wizard and create a My PreSonus account to activate your license. Once installed, launch Studio One and you’ll be greeted with the Start Page.

Step 2: Configure Your Audio Interface

Before creating any tracks, you need to tell Studio One which audio interface you’re using.

1. On the Start Page, click the box underneath the Audio Interface icon
2. Select your audio interface from the dropdown menu
3. Set the Device Block Size to 128 (a good balance between latency and stability for beginners)
4. Click OK

If your interface doesn’t appear in the list, make sure you’ve installed the latest drivers from your interface manufacturer’s website.

Step 3: Create a New Song

1. From the Start Page, click New Song
2. Choose a template category (Styles, Interfaces, or User)
3. Enter a Song Title (something like “My First Song” works great)
4. Choose where to save your project
5. Click OK

Studio One will create a blank project with default routing. If you own a PreSonus interface, you can select it from the templates to automatically configure all channels.

Step 4: Create Your First Track

Now it’s time to add your first track. Let’s start with an audio track for recording.

1. Right-click in the track list area (left side of the window)
2. Select Add Tracks… (or press the T key)
3. In the dialog that appears:
   • Type: Select “Audio”
   • Name: Enter a descriptive name like “Guitar” or “Vocals”
   • Color: Choose a color for easy organization
   • Format: Select “Stereo” for most applications
   • Input: Choose which input on your interface the mic/instrument is plugged into
   • Click OK

Pro tip: Check the “Pack Folder” option if you plan to record multiple similar tracks (like multiple guitar parts). This automatically creates a folder to keep things organized.

Step 5: Set Up Your Microphone and Levels

Physical Setup:

1. Plug your microphone cable into your microphone
2. Connect the other end to your audio interface’s input (usually Input 1 for the first channel)
3. Plug your headphones into the headphone output on your interface
4. Turn the headphone volume to about 50%

Adjusting Levels:

1. Press the Record Button on your new track to arm it for recording
2. Speak or play your instrument into the microphone
3. Watch the level meter on your track – adjust the input knob on your interface so the signal stays in the green zone, peaking around -6dB to -3dB
4. Avoid letting the signal turn red (this is clipping and will sound distorted)

A good rule of thumb: Set the input level about 2/3 of the way up on your interface without clipping.

Step 6: Enable Input Monitoring

To hear yourself while recording, click the Speaker Icon on your track. This activates input monitoring, so you can hear the microphone signal through your headphones. This is essential for staying in time and feeling confident while recording.

Step 7: Set Your Click Track (Metronome)

To keep time while recording:

1. Look for the Metronome Icon in the top toolbar
2. Click it to enable the click track
3. Adjust the tempo (BPM) as needed – 120 BPM is a good starting point for most songs
4. The click will play through your headphones during recording

Step 8: Record Your First Track

You’re ready to record!

1. Make sure your track is armed (red record button visible)
2. Click the Red Record Button in the transport controls at the bottom of the screen (or press the * key on your keyboard)
3. Studio One will count in and start recording
4. Play your instrument or sing into the microphone
5. When finished, press the Stop Button (or press the spacebar)

Congratulations! You’ve recorded your first track. You’ll see the audio waveform appear as a region on your track.

Step 9: Add More Tracks (Optional)

To create a full production, add more tracks:

1. For a second vocal or instrument part: Right-click on your first track and select Duplicate Track
2. Change the track name to something new (like “Vocals” if your first was “Guitar”)
3. Disable the record button on your first track
4. Enable it on the new track
5. Record the next part

Repeat this process for as many parts as you’d like.

Step 10: Basic Mixing

Once you’ve recorded your tracks, it’s time to blend them together:

1. Click the Mix button (or press F3) to open the mixer view
2. You’ll see vertical Faders for each track
3. Drag the faders up and down to adjust the volume of each track
4. Create a balance where all elements are audible but no single track overwhelms the others
5. Pan instruments left and right for stereo width using the Pan Controls

Start with all faders at 0dB (center position) and make small adjustments from there.

Step 11: Add Effects (Optional)

Studio One includes 45 built-in effects. To add reverb, delay, or EQ to your tracks:

1. Click the Effects tab in the right panel
2. Browse and find an effect (try “Reverb” for a natural spacious sound)
3. Drag the effect onto your track
4. Double-click the effect to open its controls and adjust to taste

Don’t overdo effects on your first song – a little goes a long way!

Step 12: Set Song Markers

Before exporting, mark where your song begins and ends:

1. Look at the ruler above your tracks
2. Click and drag the blue Start Marker to the beginning of your song
3. Drag the blue End Marker to where your song ends

This tells Studio One exactly what portion to export.

Step 13: Export Your Song

Now for the exciting part – saving your finished song as an audio file!

[Insert image: Studio One export mixdown menu options]

1. Click Song in the top menu
2. Select Export Mixdown from the dropdown
3. In the export dialog:
   • File Name: Enter your song title
   • Format: Choose “WAV” for highest quality (or “MP3” for smaller file size)
   • Export Range: Select “Between Song Start/End Marker”
   • Settings: Leave at default settings (24-bit, 48kHz for WAV)
4. Click OK

Studio One will process your song and save it to your project folder. You can now listen to it in any media player, share it with friends, or upload it to streaming platforms.

Tips for Success

Start Simple: Don’t feel pressured to use every feature. Focus on recording clean audio with good levels first.

Use Headphones: Always record with headphones to monitor your performance and maintain timing with the click track.

Save Often: Use Ctrl+S (Windows) or Cmd+S (Mac) to save your project frequently to avoid losing work.

Take Breaks: Fresh ears make better decisions. Step away and come back to your mix with new perspective.

Experiment: Studio One is designed to be intuitive. Don’t be afraid to explore menus and try different effects and settings.

Use Templates: Once you get comfortable, create a template with your preferred routing and effects. This speeds up future projects.

Study the Included Content: Studio One ships with thousands of dollars worth of sounds, loops, and samples. Explore them in the Browser panel on the left.

What’s Next?

Once you’ve created your first song, here are natural next steps:

• Learn Mixing: Dive deeper into EQ, compression, and balance for professional-sounding results
• Explore Virtual Instruments: Create parts with MIDI and Studio One’s included synthesizers
• Study Arrangement: Learn how to structure songs with intros, verses, choruses, and outros
• Discover Advanced Features: Studio One has mastering tools, automation, and creative effects to explore
• Share Your Music: Use the integrated TuneCore distribution to get your song on Spotify, Apple Music, and more

Conclusion

Creating your first song in PreSonus Studio One is an exciting milestone. The software’s intuitive interface and powerful features make it perfect for beginners while still offering professional-grade tools for experienced producers. Remember that music production is a journey – every song you create teaches you something new.

Start with the basics outlined in this guide, build confidence with your first project, and gradually explore more advanced features as you grow. The music production world is waiting for your unique voice and creativity.

Happy creating!