Introduction
As someone who mixes and masters records every single day, the tools I use aren’t just about features—they’re about speed, workflow, and creativity. About eight months ago, I made the switch from Pro Tools to Studio One by PreSonus, and honestly, I haven’t looked back.
I was hesitant at first. Pro Tools had been my go-to for years. But once I gave Studio One a real shot, I realized I could work faster—and in many ways, better. Everything from vocal tuning to plugin management felt smoother. It was clear Studio One was built for engineers who live in the DAW day in and day out.
So in this post, I’m breaking down five of my favorite Studio One features that I use every single day. These aren’t just bells and whistles—they’re workflow boosters that help me stay creative and save hours each week. If you’re considering switching, or you’re already using Studio One and want to get more out of it, this might be just what you need.
1. Vocalign Integration Makes Doubling Vocals a Breeze
If you’ve ever stacked doubles or harmonies, you know how time-consuming it can be to manually line them up. That’s where Vocalign comes in—and Studio One makes using it incredibly easy.
Instead of bouncing tracks, exporting files, or jumping between windows like you might in Pro Tools, Studio One lets you align your vocals in just a few clicks. I usually just select the tracks I want to sync, right-click, and choose “Edit with Vocalign.” From there, you set your lead vocal as the guide and drop your doubles or harmonies into the dub section.
Once it’s processed, everything’s tight and locked in—but you also have control over how tight. I usually leave it on normal flexibility, but you can tweak it if you want something looser or more locked in. For example, if a section feels off, I’ll split it into a few regions and realign each one for better results.
It’s one of those features that doesn’t just save time—it keeps you focused on the music instead of fighting with the timing.
2. Melodyne Is Built Right Into the Workflow
This was honestly one of the biggest reasons I switched to Studio One. If you’ve ever used Melodyne inside Pro Tools, you know how clunky that process can be—bouncing to Melodyne, waiting for it to transfer, and then realizing you can’t go back without doing it all over again.
In Studio One, Melodyne is just… there. You right-click your audio clip, choose “Edit with Melodyne,” and boom—it’s ready. No bouncing, no transferring. You can instantly dive in and start adjusting pitch, timing, or even key.
What’s even better is that the edits stay fully integrated. You can still move the audio around on your timeline, and Melodyne keeps your changes intact. Need to go back and tweak something later? No problem—it’s all still editable.
This has completely changed how I tune vocals. It’s fast, non-destructive, and it keeps me in that creative flow without breaking momentum. Whether I’m doing quick fixes or getting deep into phrasing and pitch, it just works—and it works fast.
3. Drag-and-Drop Inserts and Sends Save Serious Time
This might seem like a small thing, but if you’re working on a mix with 30 vocal tracks, it adds up fast.
In Studio One, copying plugin chains from one track to another is as simple as clicking and dragging. Literally. Just grab the insert section from one track, drag it over to another, and the entire chain—EQs, compressors, effects—copies right over. No need to reload plugins one by one or dig through menus.
This is huge for how I work. When I dial in a vocal sound I like—say for a verse—I can instantly drag that chain to a double or harmony, then fine-tune it from there. Same goes for background stacks. It keeps things consistent and speeds up the whole session.
You can also drag and drop sends, which is great when setting up reverb or delay buses. Even though you have to do them one at a time, you can drag the same send across multiple tracks in one move.
Little things like this keep me in the creative mindset. I’m not hunting through plugins or recreating the same chain 20 times. I’m just mixing—and moving fast.
4. Custom Insert Presets Speed Up Mix Setup
One of the smartest things I started doing in Studio One is saving my go-to plugin chains as insert presets. If I know I always start my snare with a certain EQ, compressor, and maybe a touch of saturation, I just save that as a preset—and now it’s ready to drop in on any session.
This is especially helpful when you’re mixing a lot of the same genre or working with repeat clients. For example, I’ve got a few vocal chain presets I use as starting points depending on the tone of the artist—some brighter, some warmer, some more compressed. Instead of rebuilding that chain every time, I just load the preset and tweak from there.
It’s not just a time-saver—it helps eliminate decision fatigue. I’m not spending 10 minutes remembering which plugin I used last week. I’m loading it in and making music.
And since you can organize presets by instrument or category, it’s easy to keep everything dialed in and accessible. It’s a small workflow tweak, but it makes a big difference in keeping things efficient.
5. Fast Plugin Search and Favorites Rack Keep You Focused
If you’ve ever spent two minutes scrolling through a massive plugin list just to find that one EQ, you know how frustrating it can be. That’s why I love the plugin browser in Studio One—it’s fast, intuitive, and actually feels like it was built for people who mix all day.
There’s a search bar right at the top. So if I want the FabFilter Pro-Q 3, I just type in “fab” and boom—there it is. No more digging through submenus or losing your flow just because you forgot where a plugin is categorized.
Even better, Studio One lets you create a custom Favorites Rack. I’ve got all my go-to plugins—EQs, compressors, effects—sitting right there, ready to drag and drop. It feels like having a mini analog rack at your fingertips.
This might sound simple, but when you’re deep in a mix and you’re chasing a sound, removing friction is everything. Being able to grab exactly what I need without slowing down helps me stay creative and focused—and that’s what great mixing is all about.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, mixing is about momentum. The more seamless your workflow, the more energy you can pour into the creative side of things—and that’s where the magic happens. For me, Studio One isn’t just a DAW—it’s a tool that helps me mix faster, stay in the zone longer, and deliver better results for my clients.
These five features alone—Vocalign integration, built-in Melodyne, drag-and-drop inserts, custom presets, and fast plugin search—probably save me 5 to 10 hours a week. That’s time I can spend fine-tuning a mix, getting creative with production ideas, or just moving on to the next song without burning out.
If you’re already using Studio One, hopefully this gives you some ideas to streamline your workflow. And if you’re thinking about switching from Pro Tools or another DAW, these features might just be the push you need. Also check out Pro Tools vs Studio One article for more on Studio One.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
If you found this helpful, check out my YouTube channel where I break down more tips like this every week.
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Got a favorite feature in Studio One that I didn’t mention? Drop it in the comments—I’m always down to learn something new too.
