Presonus Studio One article
Presonus Studio One for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A practical start for PreSonus Studio One beginners — setting up your audio device, recording audio and MIDI, basic mixing, and exporting your first finished track.
Starting with PreSonus Studio One is straightforward if you follow a clear order: learn the interface layout first, understand how audio and MIDI signals flow through the session, and record something simple before trying to configure the advanced features. Most of what beginners need is in the first layer of the interface, and the learning curve is gentler than many other DAWs.
The First Session: Setting Up Audio
Before recording anything, configure your audio device. Go to Studio One > Options (Windows) or Studio One > Preferences (Mac) > Audio Setup. Select your audio interface from the device dropdown. Set the sample rate to match your project (44.1 kHz for music production, 48 kHz if you are working with video). Set the buffer size: higher buffer sizes reduce CPU load but increase latency; for recording, 128 or 256 samples is typical. Close the settings, and your interface inputs and outputs are now available throughout the session.
Creating a New Song
Select File > New Song. Choose a template or an empty session. Name the song and set the tempo. Studio One creates a Song folder on your hard drive with all associated audio, and all recordings are saved there automatically — you do not need to manage file locations manually. The Song page opens with the arrangement timeline at the top and the mixer at the bottom (toggled via the Mix button).
Recording Your First Audio Track
Click the + button to add a track, and select Audio Track. Choose your input (microphone or instrument) from the input dropdown. Click the record-arm button on the track (the R button). Enable monitoring to hear yourself through the software (the speaker icon). When ready, press the transport record button or the asterisk key to start recording. Press the spacebar to stop. The audio region appears on the timeline — you can double-click it to open the Audio Editor for any editing.
Recording MIDI with Virtual Instruments
Add an Instrument Track. Drag a virtual instrument from the Instruments browser (the keyboard icon) onto the track, or use the instrument input dropdown to select one. Arm the track, connect your MIDI keyboard if you have one, and record as with audio. The Piano Roll opens when you double-click a MIDI region — this is where you draw, edit, and quantise notes. You can also draw notes directly in the Piano Roll without recording in real time.
Basic Mixing
Open the Mix page (the Mix button at the bottom right). Each track appears as a channel strip. Adjust the volume fader, pan knob, and use the Fat Channel plugin to apply EQ and compression. Send channels to a reverb or delay effect bus via the Sends section. The main output level shows at the right. Start with balance and panning before adding effects — many beginners reach for reverb and compression too early, masking mix problems that clean balance would resolve.
Saving and Exporting
Studio One saves the session automatically if AutoSave is enabled. To export a finished mix, go to Song > Export Mixdown. Select the file format (WAV 24-bit at 44.1 kHz for most purposes), choose the export range, and click OK. The rendered file saves to the Song folder. For mastering within the software, create a Project and link the song to it — this is a Studio One Professional feature and allows the final output to be mastered without leaving the application.
For a full feature explanation, the PreSonus Studio One guide covers every section in depth. For help choosing the right version, see the buyer's guide.
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