Studio One vs Logic Pro X

Studio One and Logic Pro X are two very capable DAWs that give producers and musicians just about everything they need to record, edit, and produce professional-sounding music and other audio products. 

Studio One is more expensive than Logic, and it doesn’t quite have as intuitive of an interface. That said, Logic Pro X is only available for Mac, limiting its functionality if you don’t want to use Apple’s ecosystem. 

I’m Donovan, and I’ve been writing, recording, and producing music for decades. I’m a passionate home studio enthusiast who has worked in the music industry and have experience with Logic Pro X and Studio One. 

This post will compare and contrast Studio One versus Logic Pro X. I’ll provide you with some key information on each of these apps to give you a better understanding of which might be the best choice for your studio and production needs. 

Let’s get after it. 

Quick Comparison

	Studio One	Logic Pro X
Ease of Use	Fairly easy to use and can be figured out by beginners willing to spend some time learning.	Very intuitive interface, especially if you are familiar with Apple products. Easier for beginners.
Features/Functions	Lots of pro-level features and functions, including a built-in Melodyne and other plugins.	Tons of high-level features and functions to take advantage of. Comes with many software instruments and plugins.
Professional Production	Fully functional in a professional production setting. Good for recording, editing, and producing.	Many professional production capabilities and an industry-standard DAW.
Limitations	Not many limitations, works with multiple systems and interfaces	Only available on Mac
Workflow	Efficient workflow considerations. Different views and layouts for customization.	Excellent workflow possibilities with many views, shortcuts, and custom options to take advantage of.
Pricing	$399.95	$199.99 one-time purchase

Detailed Comparison

Here is a more detailed breakdown of Studio One versus Logic Pro X to give you a good understanding of how these two DAWs hold up side-by-side. 

1. Ease of Use

Ease of use is an important consideration for musicians and producers who are just learning how to use a DAW or anyone who is looking for an option that can streamline workflow to help you get more done. 

Studio One isn’t the simplest DAW to figure out, but it has a relatively easy user interface that shouldn’t pose many problems for the average musician or producer. If you have even a bit of experience working with other DAWs, you should figure this one out quickly. 

One nice feature of Studio One is that it has a pretty sweet Smart Tool that allows you to hold your cursor over different parts of the project window to let you know what that feature does. This basically works like live help is an awesome thing to take advantage of. 

Logic Pro X is also very user-friendly and can be an excellent option for beginners or anyone looking for an easy-to-use DAW. The app’s basic functions are simple and very similar to GarageBand and other basic DAWs. 

Logic Pro X also has a Quick Help feature similar to the Smart Tool I mentioned above. You can learn about all aspects of an open project window by using this, which goes a long way toward helping you crank out a project. 

Studio One and Logic Pro X can get complex when trying to use higher-end features. But that doesn’t prevent you from getting the hang of the basics when you first learn to use either. 

Winner: Tie

2. Features/Functions

One of the keys to getting everything you want and need out of a DAW is the ability to take advantage of features and functions to unlock your creative potential. You need a lot of these features if you want to record or produce pro-level projects. 

Studio One is packed with features and functions you can use to your benefit. From basic tools like easy project setup to more complex features that help you fully produce a track, this is a high-level DAW built for professionals. 

I like the arrangement tools that come built into Studio One. These are great for keeping your creative ideas within the DAW and can boost your workflow and productivity. The Scratch Pad is another fantastic tool to take advantage of. 

Logic Pro X also gives you a seemingly endless amount of tools and features. Logic comes with a pretty extensive library of sounds and plugins that can help you add depth and texture to your tracks, and you can download most of these for free. 

Logic also has a lot of different views and windows, which are some of my favorite features of using the app. These are easy to shift between by learning key commands or by clicking on the icons on the top of the screen. 

There isn’t a clear best option here, and I think both apps will give users just about everything they need to get rolling quickly and effectively. It really just comes down to your personal preference or specific features you want. 

Winner: Tie

3. Professional Production

If you want to be a professional musician or producer, you need professional-level production tools at your disposal. And with so many different DAWs out there, it can be challenging to know which of these is best with that in mind. 

Studio One and Logic Pro X are designed for the professional, which means they can give you a high level of functionality and reliability. You can easily create a home studio based on either of these apps. 

Logic Pro X is more well-known from a professional standpoint in the music industry. It has a good reputation for being used in professional situations and is a favorite for many different musicians and producers for its creative potential. 

If you are looking for a DAW that is used by many others in the industry and comes with good customer service and a network that you can tap into for resources and help, Logic Pro X is an excellent option for pros and beginners alike. 

Studio One is also really capable from a professional perspective. You’ll have everything you need to make quality music, and lots of it, if you choose this app. It’s just not quite as commonly used across the industry as Logic. 

That doesn’t mean Studio One is less capable. It just means it’s not as popular. I have more experience working with Logic, so I am a bit biased here because I know how to take advantage of its professional capabilities to a great extent. 

Winner: Logic Pro X 

4. Limitations

Another important aspect of creating high-quality audio projects is not being held back by limitations. Every app or software you use will have at least some sort of limitation, so it’s good to know about these ahead of time. 

Logic Pro X is somewhat limited when it comes to compatibility. The app is only available on Mac, so you’ll need to like using Apple products and have a Mac to run it. And there isn’t a mobile version of Logic either. 

Logic works great if you have the system it’s intended for. If you like using Windows or Linux, you’ll want to use another DAW, as Apple will never likely make Logic compatible with those systems. 

Studio One is compatible with both Mac and Windows systems, so it doesn’t have as many limitations with compatibility. It also works with various interfaces, so you shouldn’t experience many equipment compatibility issues. 

The built-in instruments in Studio One are not that expansive or as good as those in Logic, which can be a definite disadvantage if you like to make electronic music. This can also be a limitation for anyone who doesn’t play or record live instruments.  

You might also run into an issue if you use the free/demo version of Studio One and want to use plugins. The free version of the app doesn’t support as many plugins, but that’s to be expected in a free DAW. 

Winner: Tie

5. Workflow

If you’re like me, a dialed-in workflow is key to your productivity and success in the studio. You always want to ensure the DAW you use has custom workflow possibilities to help you achieve your best work. 

Logic Pro X is one of my favorite DAWs regarding workflow. There are so many ways you can tweak your workflow until you have things set up just the way you like them. And there are so many ways you can go about doing this. 

The shortcuts and key commands available in Logic can improve your efficiency in the studio, which can help you complete projects faster or save your clients time and money. You can also customize views and windows to boost things in your favor. 

Studio One also allows you many options related to workflow. It’s not quite as easy to get everything dialed in at first, but once you get the hang of the app, you can make adjustments that will easily affect workflow for the better. 

Studio One has a nice Track Search feature that is especially useful on large projects. This allows you to effectively filter through a project with many tracks and make edits or adjustments without getting lost in the mix. 

Winner: Logic Pro X

6. Pricing

Money is a factor for most of us, and it’s always something to consider when you are setting up a home studio. The cost of a DAW is a necessary one, but some options are much more expensive than others. 

Logic Pro X is available for a one-time purchase of $199.99. This gets you set up with lifetime updates to the app and allows you to use it on multiple Mac computers, so long as you are the owner of those devices. 

Logic Pro X is one of the most affordable professional-level DAWs, and getting free updates with it is also nice. 

Studio One will cost you $399.95 to download, and you’ll also need to pay an upgrade fee when a different version of the app is available. It’s quite a bit more expensive than Logic. 

Winner: Logic Pro X

Final Verdict

Studio One and Logic Pro X are both capable professional-level DAWs that give you many tools and features in the studio. You can dial in an effective workflow and produce incredible music with either of these. 

Studio One is compatible with more devices than Logic Pro X, but Logic is much more affordable. They both can work well as the brains of your studio, but pay attention to the information above to see which best meets your other needs. 

Have you used Studio One and Logic Pro X? Which did you like better and why? Let me know in the comments below.