studio-one.exe

PreSonus Studio One Digital Audio Workstation

Application ProcessSafeDigital Audio Workstation

CPU Usage

5-25%

Memory

400-2400 MB

Location

Program Files

Publisher

PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc.

Quick Answer

studio-one.exe is safe. It's PreSonus' official DAW executable that uses multiple processes for the UI, audio engine, and plugin hosting to improve stability and latency.

Is it a Virus?

✔ NO - Safe

Must be in C:\Program Files\PreSonus\Studio One or C:\Program Files (x86)\PreSonus\Studio One

Warning

Many processes normal

Each track + plugin can spawn separate processes for stability

Can I Disable?

✔ YES

Close Studio One to reduce usage; disable startup item if needed

What is studio-one.exe?

studio-one.exe is the main executable for PreSonus Studio One, a digital audio workstation (DAW) used to record, edit, arrange, mix, and master music projects. Studio One uses multiple processes to separate the user interface, audio engine, MIDI routing, and plugin hosting, improving stability during complex sessions.

This architecture isolates UI, audio, MIDI, and plugins, so a fault in one area won’t crash the entire session. Studio One communicates with audio drivers (ASIO, WASAPI, Core Audio) and manages threads for low-latency monitoring and real-time playback.

Quick Fact: Studio One supports advanced plugin hosting and project chaining with per-task processes to help prevent a single plugin crash from halting the entire session.

Types of Studio One Processes

UI Process: Main window and user interface handling
Audio Engine Process: Real-time audio playback and processing
Plugin Host Process: VST/AU hosting for instruments and effects
MIDI/Control Process: MIDI routing and control surface support
Driver/ASIO Process: Interface with audio drivers and device I/O
Background Service Process: Licensing checks, updates, and background tasks

Is studio-one.exe Safe?

Yes, studio-one.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from PreSonus obtained from official sources (presonus.com) or bundled with the installer.

Is studio-one.exe a Virus or Malware?

The real studio-one.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware may mimic names. Always verify the file path and signature.

How to Tell if studio-one.exe is Legitimate or Malware

File Location: Must be in C:\Program Files\PreSonus\Studio One 6\StudioOne.exe or C:\Program Files (x86)\PreSonus\Studio One 6\StudioOne.exe. Any studio-one.exe elsewhere is suspicious.
Digital Signature: Right-click StudioOne.exe → Properties → Digital Signatures. Should show signer "PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc."
Resource Usage: Normal usage is 5-25% CPU per project, 300-1800 MB memory. Extremely high usage when idle is suspicious.
Behavior: Studio One should run when you open the DAW. Multiple instances or background execution when the app is not opened can indicate malware.

Red Flags: If studio-one.exe is in unusual folders (Temp, AppData\Roaming, System32), runs without opening Studio One, lacks a valid digital signature, or uses sustained high resources, scan with antivirus software. Beware of similarly named files like "studio-one32.exe" from untrusted sources.

Why Is studio-one.exe Running on My PC?

studio-one.exe runs when you start Studio One, open a project, or when the DAW is configured to stay active for quick recall or live monitoring.

Reasons it's running:

Active Project Use: You are actively recording, editing, or playing back a project; the audio engine and plug-ins run in real time.
Background Audio Engine: The DAW may keep the audio engine loaded to reduce latency when switching projects or unmuting monitoring.
Plugin/Instrument Loading: VST/AU plugins and virtual instruments loaded for the current project can spawn processes or threads.
Startup Launch: Studio One is configured to launch with Windows or on user login for faster daily access.
License/Cloud Sync: License verification or cloud project sync may run in the background, especially after sign-in or project changes.

Can I Disable or Remove studio-one.exe?

Yes, you can disable studio-one.exe. It's safe to close Studio One when not in use, and you can uninstall it completely if you prefer a different DAW.

How to Stop studio-one.exe

Close Active Projects: In Studio One, save your work and choose File → Close All; then quit the application.
Close Application: Click the X or use Alt+F4 to close all Studio One windows.
End Processes via Task Manager: Open Windows Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), locate studio-one.exe, right-click → End Task
Prevent Startup: Task Manager → Startup tab → Disable PreSonus Studio One
Stop Background Audio: Studio One → Preferences → Audio Setup → uncheck background audio options if present

How to Uninstall Studio One

✔ Windows Settings → Apps → Apps & Features → PreSonus Studio One → Uninstall
✔ Control Panel → Programs → Uninstall a program → PreSonus Studio One → Uninstall
✔ Consider trying a different DAW such as Ableton Live, FL Studio, or Logic Pro (macOS)

Common Problems: High CPU or Memory Usage

If studio-one.exe is consuming excessive resources:

Common Causes & Solutions

Too Many Active Tracks or Plugins: Freeze or bounce tracks, disable unused plugins, and consolidate virtual instruments.
Resource-Heavy Plugins: Disable or update plugins; run problematic ones in isolation; consider 64-bit plugins.
Large Sample Libraries: Use streaming libraries or reduce sample buffer size; preload only necessary samples.
Outdated Studio One or Drivers: Update Studio One to latest version and update audio interface drivers (ASIO/WASAPI).
Hardware Acceleration/Buffer Settings: Increase audio buffer size; adjust ASIO driver settings to prevent drops.
Background Scanning/Indexing: Disable background scan tasks; exclude DAW folders from antivirus real-time protection.

Quick Fixes:
1. Open Studio One Task Manager (if available) to identify heavy tracks/plugins
2. Freeze or bounce heavy tracks to reduce load
3. Disable unnecessary plugins in the Plugin Manager
4. Update Studio One and audio drivers
5. Enable performance modes in Studio One preferences (Memory Saver)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is studio-one.exe a virus?

No, the legitimate studio-one.exe from PreSonus is safe when located in C:\Program Files\PreSonus\Studio One or C:\Program Files (x86)\PreSonus\Studio One and signed by PreSonus.

Why is studio-one.exe using so much CPU?

High CPU is typical with large projects, many plugins, or real-time effects. Use Freeze, reduce plugin count, and optimize buffer settings. Check for rogue plugins or background tasks.

Can I delete studio-one.exe?

Uninstall Studio One from Windows Settings → Apps & Features. Your projects stay in your Documents folder unless you choose to move them.

Can I disable studio-one.exe from running at startup?

Yes. Use Task Manager → Startup tab to disable PreSonus Studio One. You can also close Studio One when not needed.

Why is Studio One slow to start?

A large library, many plugins, or slow storage can cause slow startup. Ensure you’re on an SSD, reduce startup tasks, and keep drivers up to date.

Where are Studio One projects stored?

Studio One stores projects in your user Documents under Studio One Projects (default: Documents\Studio One\Projects). You can configure a different location in Preferences.