PreSonus users rage at Studio One Pro 7 upgrade prices and lack of new feature mentionsLast week, PreSonus unveiled Studio One Pro 7, the latest version of its flagship DAW. The move will see the discontinuation of the Studio One Artist and Studio One Prime Editions, with Studio One Pro being the one-stop solution for everything moving forward.
Exciting as it may sound, the announcement has generated significant backlash from the PreSonus user community, who described the company’s latest pricing strategy as a “slap in the face” to their most loyal users.

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Much of the contention surrounding Studio One Pro 7 revolves around the new pricing structure for upgrades. Previously, users with the perpetual license could upgrade from one major version to the next for $149, which included several years (typically two) of updates and bug fixes. With Studio One Pro 7, however, the expectation is that users will pay the same amount for just one year of updates.
As stated by PreSonus, “A full year of new feature releases will be included with all licences and upgrades going forward.” New users will pay $199, while a subscription model is still available for $179 per year.
Some longtime Pro users have also expressed their frustration at being required to pay the same $149 upgrade fee as those transitioning from cheaper, lower-tier versions like Artist or Prime. One user explained, “The upgrade from any Studio One PRO (SOP) version to SOP 7 should be priced lower than it is, because SOP owners are being treated no better than Studio One Artist owners. That is, the difference in the investment already made is neither recognised nor properly appreciated.”
And while the promise of more frequent updates – three to four major releases each year – has been welcomed, fans were disappointed by the complete lack of detail regarding those features in the announcement video.
“Can’t believe that in 2024 a company like PreSonus makes a video like that without mentioning a single new feature,” a user commented.
Check out the launch video below.

Studio One Pro 7 arrives on 9 October. Learn more at PreSonus.
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