You may be wondering what Studio One, Metal music and Shepherd’s pie have in common.

Well, her name is Linzy Rae. Linzy and her band, The Anchor, are the masterminds behind the viral video YouTube series “Metal Kitchen.” With over 1.3 million views on their first video, and 35K followers on Facebook, they caught our eye–and ear.

Check out her first video “The Ghost Inside makes Shepherd’s Pie” from December 2015.

“The Ghost Inside makes Shepherd’s Pie” from December 2015.

Linzey is the lead vocalist for The Anchor, a Melodic Metalcore band based in Denver, CO. They’re also big fans of PreSonus so we figured we could trade them an interview for some Cajun recipes. They agreed and everyone wins!

• What PreSonus products have you used and which do you currently use?

The band started out with an Audiobox USB 2X2 with a free version of Studio One 2 Artist. We eventually upgraded to the producer version because we loved it so much.  Now we have Studio One 3 Producer.

•  For what applications are you using Studio One Pro?

We have used Studio One Pro for our first two EPs in my band, The Anchor. We have used Studio one for our entire YouTube channel as well.  It has worked great in our home studio.

• What led you to choose Studio One? Was it the company’s reputation, audio quality, ease of  use, specific features, price, other factors?

We originally used it because we needed a USB interface.  We were told the Presonus Audiobox 2X2 would be a great start!  It came with Studio one Artist and we loved it because of its user friendliness.  Also the all the tutorials have been extremely helpful.

• Having used Studio One, what do you like most about it?

We love it’s user friendliness, compatibility with vst’s and plugins.  It also comes with great mixing tools as well as the Project Page is such help with some post mixing/mastering things.

• What Studio One features have proven particularly useful and why?

The project page is particularly helpful in putting final touches on songs.

• Any user tips or tricks or interesting stories based on your experience with Studio One?

Go watch the tutorials and Studio One Experts!  It is so helpful!

• Any final comments about PreSonus and Studio One?

Studio One 3 is a great expansion to the already awesome Studio One 2 we had previously. We will never switch, and can’t wait to see what the future holds for PreSonus.

• Tell us about yourself!

I started uploading some covers to YouTube about a year ago. Now we consistently upload covers on a weekly or biweekly basis.  We have videos such as Metal Kitchen, Scream It Like A Girl, and Pop Goes Metal.

• Where did you get the idea for Metal Kitchen?

We were in the studio and someone was going to order Chinese food for dinner. While I was in the recording booth, they asked me what I wanted to eat and I screamed “crab cheese wantons,” which created a running joke. Afterwards, our friend made a joke saying that I could write a recipe into one of our songs and people wouldn’t know the difference (Since the common opinion of metal music is that you can’t understand what the vocalist is saying). Then the idea sort of grew from there.

• It went viral–what’s that like?

The video completely caught us off guard it was amazing and also scary at the same time.  We have never had so much attention on us all at once!

• What’s next for Metal Kitchen?

We just released a Metal Kitchen about making Black Bean Burgers featuring Miss May I’s song, IHE. For the next metal kitchen we are thinking about making Tacos to an All That Remains songs.  Metal Kitchens format probably won’t change that much but we have a lot of other cool ideas that we can’t wait to try out!

• How can we find you online?
  • Youtube: youtube.com/c/linzeyrae
  • Facebook for The Anchor: https://www.facebook.com/theanchorband
  • Follow The Anchor on Instagram: @the_anchor_band 
  • Follow Linzey on Instagram: @xlinzeyraex
  • Follow The Anchor on Twitter here: @theanchorband
  • Follow Linzey on Twitter here: @xlinzeyraex

Try out Studio One for free like these guys did HERE!  Who knows, you may be the next YouTube sensation! Stranger things have happened…

Only in June 2016—we’re offering 30% off of any item in the entire line of eBass Add-ons for Studio One 3. These recordings of a real-deal 1970s P-bass have been recorded in immaculate detail. Make no mistake—this isn’t a one-sound-per-MIDI note sample pack like that SoundFont from 1998 that you found on some “Free samples” website. There is a LOT for you to work with here—the packs include many different right-hand dynamics, left hand positions, hammer-ons, slides, dead notes and harmonics. There’s also a bevy of scripting at hand here, including valuable presets for you keyboardists out there who want to emulate bass playing via MIDI. Last but not least, each pack includes Musicloops in a variety of styles, including MIDI note data and effects chains per Musicloop.

There are four packs in the e-Bass collection: Vintage Finger, Vintage Pick, Classic Finger, and Classic Pick. They’re also available in an all-in-one combo pack.

For more details on the incredible depth of the eBass collection, click here—but here’s a taste:
“We used a Millenia TD-1 tube channel for the Vintage Bass instruments, and an Avalon DI preamp for the Classic Bass. We also recorded the bass via an Ampeg SVT top with 112 speaker, just as a sound reference. However, we ended up using only the DI signals for our eBass instruments. The DI signal provides great flexibility for additional processing with amp simulators and EQ, so the reference amp recording was a tremendous help when we designed the Instrument+FX presets—we could always compare them to the real thing. Strings were medium 045-105 round-wound for the classic and the same gauge flat-wound strings for the vintage. The pickup set was the original from 1975.”

The eBass collection is available for all editions of Studio One 3: Artist, Professional, and Prime, and can be purchased on shop.presonus.com or directly from inside Studio One.

Obviously, Willem Rebergen, or better known as DJ Headhunterz, is an incredibly talented EDM artist. A part of his genius is a result of his detailed understanding of the functionality of Studio One 3.2.2 and the ease he’s reached working with the DAW. After our initial conversation with Rebergen a couple months ago, we realized that he is a wealth of knowledge that we would love to hear more from—and we knew you would, too!

Here’s part 2 of tips and tricks for Studio One users from DJ Headhunterz!

“I’m not over exaggerating when I say that Studio One brought back the fun of making music for me,” Rebergen states. “I finally experienced what it feels like to ride the creative wave without constantly falling off it. Studio One motivates me to keep perfecting my workflow and I keep discovering new ways to do so every week.”

Rebergen starts off with tips that will ensure an easy, creative flow with Studio One. “If I were to give a tip it would be to make full use of the browser features and the MusicLoop feature. When I finish a song I completely undress it and save all sounds I made in the form of channel presets,MusicLoops and audio files. With every song I make my library expands and whenever I’m in the creative process I can recall any sound I am looking for without having to get into sound designing or endlessly searching through sample libraries. I make sure that every sound I save in MY library is on point. So they rarely need a lot of tweaking to fit into a song and I can just get on with concentrating on the creative part.”

“On the other hand I spend whole days making new sounds, collecting new drum samples, tweaking them etc. So that when I start a song, I’m loaded with content where I can just pick from very quickly.” Rebergen goes on to say, “Another thing I do is I keep an app open on the side called sticky notes where I type down all my newly made key commands (yes I constantly make new ones). I then force myself to use them all the time so they become a natural part of my workflow. Key commands make everything so much quicker and Studio One allows for using them for almost anything.”

Rebergen goes on to share general production tips that have worked for him over the last decade.

• Another thing that I have learned over time, and often read but always somewhat ignored, is that it is absolutely crucial to work with the right sounds. So often, I have found myself trying to fit things in a mix that simply did not fit. It’s very useful to learn to be honest to yourself when making music. Even if you’ve spent hours on making something. Those couple of hours don’t mean anything when you listen to your song by the time it gets released months later. Try to be alert and not be afraid to throw stuff away. It can open up for new ideas when you clean up.
• Nowadays more and more I make sure I have my pallete of sounds ready when I start a song. So that I don’t stumble upon these issues so much. I make sure the sounds are right so that it really comes down to the idea of the song at this point.
• Some tips on making saw leads like I often do in my tracks. I love to use chords underneath but I also love using portamento. So to keep that intact, I just make 3 copies of my lead, nowadays mostly Spire or Serum and I play on each one a note of the chord. This way I can still play a chord while maintaining the glides that are a big part of how the melody is expressed.
• Set the portamento so that it’s only triggered when two notes overlap so that you have complete control over when and how much it glides. I find that using this function instead of pitch bend automation feels more natural because I assume it has a different curve to it.
• Also in the synth itself I often link an envelope to the pitch of the sound and give it a very short attack and set it to about 2 semitones down. So that each note has just a slight pitching up in the beginning. This also brings more expression into the lead sound and makes it less static.
• Find the sweet spot with detuning. LFOs can also help for nice detuning without making it sound too false.

One last reminder from Headhunterz before we wrap. “Keep a beginner’s mind and acknowledge that the learning process is endless. I still feel like a noob sometimes. But I’m very passionately curious, I always want to keep discovering new ways.”

Keep an eye out for more from Headhunterz with part 3 of this series coming soon.

• Follow HeadHunterz on Instagram!
• Follow HeadHunterz on Twitter!
• Studio One 3 is 25% off in June 2016, including upgrades! Click here for more.

Our friend David Vignola, owner of Home Recording Made Easy, has an incredible new video tutorial series on that ever-mysterious topic: Drum recording! Recording Drums Made Easy is now available for free to anyone who upgrades to or registers a new copy of Studio One 3 Professional during the month of May! BONUS: if you’re already a registered customer, you can save 33% on the series!

Already got Studio One 3 Professional? Cool, thanks. As a bonus to you, you can get 33% off David’s series. 🙂

Click here to learn more about Recording Drums Made Easy and sign up. 

Pete “Boxsta” Martin with Boxsta Music is an award winning, multi-talented producer/songwriter and one of the most sought after mix engineer in the world. He has worked with a variety of top selling artists such as Arrow Benjamin, Jessie J, Sugababes, Alexandra Burke, and Missy Elliot. Here he discusses leaving Pro Tools for Studio One 3.2 and the ease of the transition.

“Studio One is an incredible platform because it’s the best of every DAW out there. It’s totally new and fresh; it encompasses everything you need.” – Pete Martin.

For more on Studio One 3.2, click HERE.

Try Studio One Professional Demo for FREE for 30 days!

For a limited time, we’ll give you a copy of Studio One Artist—a $99 value—with purchase of the PreSonus Ceres 3.5BT or 4.5BT speakers! This is an ideal combo if you or someone you know is interested in getting started in music production. Good speakers are a must for audio work, and Studio One 3 Artist offers one of the most intuitive music production experiences available.

The Ceres are versatile, powerful speakers for their size, and are ideal for working at the computer or as desktop speakers in the living room, bedroom or den. They offer a wide variety of physical audio inputs in addition to a wireless Bluetooth connection, allowing you to amplify nearly any audio signal you can imagine in true PreSonus quality.

Interested but not sure if Studio One is right for you? Click here to learn more about why Studio One is the fastest-growing Digital Audio Workstation on the planet. All you need to do is register your Ceres at my.presonus.com and Studio One Artist will appear in your account.

• Click here to shop online!
• Click here to find a dealer in the USA

Paul Drew is the D of DWB Music Ltd/ DWB MIXING. The DWB Music team have sold in excess of 50 million records and have worked with a plethora of artists from around the globe. Here Paul discusses the ease of transition from Pro Tools to Studio One 3.2 and the speed of the workflow with the DAW.

Paul is also a member of the Studio One Expert team where he shares his tips and tricks with thousands of users. Paul states, “As a long term Pro Tools user I’m finding this DAW really inspiring to work on. With Studio One my workflow has been refined, I’m excited and inspired every morning I travel in to the studio.”

If you’ve been holding off on crossing over to the most quickly-growing DAW on the planet, there’s never been a better time than now! Save $50 to crossgrade until April 30! –See more here!

Earth Moments is a team of producers, musicians, and engineers based in Chennai, South India. They offer world-class high-quality sample collections of instruments that you just can’t find from anyone else. We’re proud to partner with them, and equally proud to announce that there are five new Earth Moments sample packs available for Studio One! If you’re getting a little tired of bass, guitar, and drums then you will definitely want to check these out. Check out the descriptions below—and further below, we’ve got a couple videos on the making of the Laya Project, as well as audio demos!

Click here to visit the PreSonus online shop.

EarthMoments Hamsa – Arabic Percussion: 300+ samples of traditional and nontraditional ethnic and Oriental grooves and beats from various countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, Jordan, Yemen, Israel and Greece. The samples are divided by instrument AND performance style, and includes percussion instruments like the Darbuka, Doholla, and Rick, performed in no less than seven styles.

EarthMoments Laya Project – Producer Collection: An exceptionally high-quality bundle of rare recordings from the award-winning production Laya Project, a journey of music and visual discovery through six countries affected by the 2004 tsunami. Contains authentic and organic folk instruments and vocals, recorded in the remote villages of Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives using warm Neve and SSL preamps.

EarthMoments Oriental Orchestra – Producer Bundle: An unmatched, top-end quality bundle of live strings recordings recorded in world-class studios around the world using warm Neve and SSL preamps and Neumann vintage tube mics. Recorded on metronome clicks, the live strings – without any keyboards or digital inputs—link to the rules of western music, allowing music producers coming from any style or genre to easily use these complex orchestral lines in their music. Oriental Orchestra Bundle contains 3 types of string sections: Quartet, Octet and Ensemble.

EarthMoments Tribal Vocals FX: An amazing pack of tribal vocals FX from the Indian Ocean countries such as: India, Indonesia, Reunion, Madagascar, Mauritius, Balkan and the middle east. This unique package presents a mix of west and east, acoustic and digital, and organic and synthetic—pasted and processed to fit perfectly in electro, tech, dubstep, trap, drum and bass, house, or any production that needs that extra spice.

EarthMoments World String Series – Celtic Harp Bundle: The Celtic Harp, also known as folk harp, is an ancient instrument that dates back over 4000 years. While the Celtic Harp brings to mind the Celtic green isles that have influenced Celtic culture and music through the centuries, the harp developed in many variations in Africa, Europe, North and South America and Asia. Traditionally a popular instrument with medieval bards and troubadours, classical music composers through the ages have been inspired to create music that does true justice to the harp’s spectacular range of sound and tones.
Click below to hear audio demos of these samples:

Check out these videos on the making of the Laya Project:

Grammy-winning music producer, engineer and songwriter Pete Stewart with Fourth Wall Music Production has over a decade of experience in the industry and a trophy case of awards. Here Pete shares about his frustrations with Pro Tools and why he chose to try Studio One for free for 30 days. After the trial he was hooked and his workflow has never been the same. Now with 3.2, it keeps getting better.

If you’ve been holding off on crossing over to the most quickly-growing DAW on the planet, there’s never been a better time than now! Save $50 to crossgrade until April 30! – See more HERE!

Follow Pete on Twitter and Instagram!

Learn more about StudioOne 3.2 and try Studio One for FREE here!