From Ejay to Studio One — A Journey 20 Years in the Making
A personal reflection on finding the right music production environment
A few years ago, I felt the itch to make music again. The spark had been lit decades earlier, during my youth, when I first tried a DAW made for electronic and house music: Ejay. It was incredibly simple — a loop-based system with a library of ready-made electro and house sounds. I had fun for a while, arranging tracks and experimenting, but I quickly hit a wall. The sounds were limited, repetitive, and my creativity eventually stalled. So, I gave it up.
Fast forward more than 20 years. The urge to create music returned, this time with more determination. Before diving in, I did my research. I wanted to know which software would be best for a beginner, and one name came up repeatedly: FL Studio. It was praised as easy to learn, flexible, and perfect for newcomers.
FL Studio: A Tough Introduction
At first, FL Studio seemed promising, but our relationship quickly turned sour. The interface wasn’t intuitive for me. Assigning a track to the mixer took ages to figure out. Panning felt out of reach. Managing plugins was a mess — endless windows, confusing menus, and a plugin folder that felt like a black hole. Like many beginners, I downloaded every free VST I could find, thinking more tools would help. It didn’t. Instead, the clutter made it harder to focus. Sidechaining was a nightmare, and I often found myself frustrated rather than inspired.
There were moments I thought about quitting entirely.
Studio One: The Game Changer
Then one day, on the advice of a fellow beatmaker, I tried Studio One. And within minutes, I felt something click. Everything was intuitive. The drag-and-drop workflow, organized windows for instruments and effects, built-in sound libraries — it all just made sense.
In under an hour, I felt like I was home. I could focus on ideas, not on figuring out how the software worked. Mixing was smooth, routing made sense, and I actually enjoyed the process of creating music again. Studio One gave me freedom — the kind FL Studio never had.
Not a Diss Track
Let me be clear: this isn’t about trashing FL Studio. It’s a powerful tool and clearly works well for many artists. But for me, it didn’t align with how I think or create. Music production is deeply personal, and each of us connects with tools in different ways.
The best DAW is the one that gets out of your way. The one that lets your creativity flow without technical obstacles. Whether it’s Ableton, Logic, Bitwig, Cubase, or something else — what matters is workflow and enjoyment.
Final Thoughts: Tools Should Inspire, Not Block
Switching DAWs was one of the best creative decisions I’ve made. It wasn’t just about features or interface — it was about rediscovering joy in making music. Studio One gave me that.
If you’re struggling with your current setup, don’t be afraid to try something new. Sometimes the problem isn’t you — it’s the tool.
Have you switched your DAW and found your perfect workflow? Share your story on audiartist.com and connect with a passionate community of independent music creators.
