PreSonus Studio One vs Cubase: Which DAW for Metal?

The "DAW wars" are as old as MIDI itself. Spend five minutes on any production forum, and you'll see people defending their software of choice like it's their favorite band. But when it comes to the brutal demands of modern metal production—tight drum editing, massive guitar stacks, and surgical vocal processing—does your choice of Digital Audio Workstation actually matter?

The short answer is yes… and no.

Look, any major DAW today is a beast. You can absolutely produce a world-class metal record in Pro Tools, Logic, Reaper, Cubase, or Studio One. The core functionality is there. But they all have unique strengths, weaknesses, and workflows that can either supercharge your process or constantly get in your way.

Switching DAWs after you're deep in the trenches is a massive pain, so choosing deliberately upfront is a smart move. Let's break down two of the most powerful contenders in the metal world: the established giant Steinberg Cubase and the modern challenger PreSonus Studio One.

Steinberg Cubase: The Veteran Powerhouse

Cubase has been around forever. It started on the Atari ST and its developers at Steinberg literally invented the VST plugin format. It’s more common in Europe but has a massive, dedicated following worldwide. It’s known for being a do-it-all DAW that’s equally strong with audio and MIDI.

The Pros for Metal Producers

• Rock-Solid Audio Editing: Cubase’s audio editing toolset is deep. Features like advanced comping for tracking multiple vocal or guitar takes are incredibly smooth. Its built-in pitch correction, VariAudio, is a lifesaver for tightening up a vocal performance without needing a third-party plugin like Melodyne.
• Insane MIDI Capabilities: If you program your drums using something like Toontrack's Superior Drummer 3 or a GetGood Drums kit, Cubase is a monster. Its MIDI editors are incredibly powerful, making it easy to create nuanced, human-sounding drum parts. Remember, Steinberg created the VST format—they know virtual instruments.
• Industry Credibility: Steinberg isn't going anywhere. Cubase is a mature, stable platform that’s been battle-tested in pro studios for decades. You’ll find a huge community for support and tons of tutorials.

The Cons for Metal Producers

• The Learning Curve: With great power comes a bit of complexity. The interface can feel dense and a little dated to newcomers. Finding the feature you need can sometimes mean digging through a few menus.
• Confusing Tiers: Cubase has several versions (Pro, Artist, Elements), and it’s crucial to check that the tier you’re buying has the features you need, like the number of audio tracks or specific advanced editing functions. Do your homework before you buy.

PreSonus Studio One: The Modern Challenger

Studio One is the newer kid on the block, but it was created by former Steinberg developers who wanted to build a DAW from the ground up with a more modern workflow. It has gained a fanatical following for its speed and user-friendly design.

The Pros for Metal Producers

• Insanely Fast Workflow: This is Studio One’s killer feature. The drag-and-drop workflow is everywhere. Want to create a send? Drag a plugin onto the send slot. Want to turn an audio clip into a sampler instrument? Drag it into Sample One XT. This speed is a huge advantage when you're trying to stay in a creative flow.
• Integrated Mastering: The "Project Page" is a game-changer. It’s a dedicated mastering environment built right into the DAW, allowing you to sequence your album, add album-wide processing, and export all the necessary files without ever leaving Studio One.
• Built-in Firepower: Studio One Professional comes bundled with a full native version of Melodyne Essential, the industry standard for pitch correction. The stock plugins are also very high quality, from the Pro-EQ to the Fat Channel compressor, meaning you can get a great mix right out of the box.

The Cons for Metal Producers

• Smaller Community: While it's growing fast, the user base isn't as massive as Cubase or Pro Tools. This might mean fewer tutorials for super-specific niche problems and less chance of collaborating with someone who also uses it. If you choose Studio One, you might be the "Studio One guy" in your circle.
• Collaboration Hurdles: Because it’s not the "industry standard," if you're sending sessions to a professional mix engineer or another studio, you'll almost certainly be bouncing down your tracks to audio stems, which can be a workflow killer if you need to make last-minute edits.

Head-to-Head: Key Differences for Metal Production

Okay, let's pit them against each other on the stuff that really matters for heavy music.

Workflow & Speed

For pure speed and getting ideas down, Studio One often takes the lead. Its modern, drag-and-drop-everything approach feels intuitive and removes a lot of friction. Cubase is a powerhouse, but its workflow can feel more traditional and deliberate.

Editing Audio (Drums, Guitars, Vocals)

This is a close fight. Both are exceptional. Cubase’s toolset is incredibly deep and has been refined over decades. Studio One’s editing is fast, fluid, and the built-in Melodyne integration is a massive plus for vocal editing. For the endless, precise edits needed for modern metal drums and chugging guitars, both will get the job done at the highest level.

MIDI & Virtual Instruments

Again, both are top-tier. Cubase might have a slight edge purely due to its legacy and the sheer depth of its MIDI editing capabilities. However, Studio One’s instrument integration is seamless. You can’t go wrong with either for programming drums or synths.

Mixing & Mastering

This is where Studio One's unique features shine. The Project Page makes it the clear winner if you want an all-in-one solution for writing, mixing, and mastering your own records. Cubase has a fantastic mixer, but it doesn't have a comparable integrated mastering suite. When getting surgical with your mix, a solid understanding of fundamentals like metal compression secrets is more important than the stock plugins, but Studio One's workflow gives it an edge here.

So, Which One Should You Choose?

There is no single right answer, but here’s a simple breakdown:

• Choose Cubase if: You value a rock-solid, time-tested platform with one of the deepest feature sets on the market. You don't mind a more traditional workflow and want to be part of a massive, established user community.
• Choose Studio One if: You prioritize a fast, modern, and intuitive workflow that helps you stay creative. You want powerful features like integrated mastering and Melodyne built-in, and you're comfortable using a DAW that's a challenger rather than the established standard.

The Bigger Picture: Your DAW is Just a Tool

At the end of the day, arguing about which DAW is "best" is a waste of time you could be spending making music. The skills of the engineer are infinitely more important than the software they use.

On Nail The Mix, we've had world-class instructors produce mind-blowing metal mixes using Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, and Reaper. In our catalog of sessions, you can see for yourself that the final product is about technique, not the program icon on the desktop.

Whether you're struggling with EQing modern metal guitars or getting your compression to slam just right, the solution is in the "how," not the "what with." So, try the demos for both Cubase and Studio One, see which one clicks for you, and then get back to what really matters: making killer music.