Studio One and Megadeth’s David Ellefson

When he’s not working with metal giants Megadeth, internationally acclaimed bassist David Ellefson keeps busy with an impressive range of his own projects. His DAW of choice for these projects is easy-to-use PreSonus® Studio One® Professional.

“To be honest, I have been somewhat ‘DAW-dumb,’ mainly because I never invested a lot of money into an elaborate home studio,” Ellefson observes. “I did it years ago but it seemed like by the time I got done with an 18-month world tour, everything I’d bought was completely obsolete. I just like to sit down, write, and get ideas right into the computer with the least amount of effort possible. I find that as soon as I start getting into the engineering mindset, my musical ideas are gone, and then I end up frustrated and walk away with nothing. So for me, the simpler the better.”

Recently, Ellefson used Studio One to record the audio-book version of his autobiography, My Life with Deth: Discovering Meaning in a Life of Rock and Roll. He has also provided narration for the documentary Battlefield of the Mind, which addresses the tragic circumstances of homeless veterans and those with PTSD.

“Studio One looks great, it’s simple, and it’s easy to navigate, and for me that’s what it’s all about,” he concludes. “I’m not an engineer. I am a songwriter, a musician, and a bass player. I want to plug in and play and get my ideas down easily and painlessly. If you have to stop and go looking for things, your focus is away from your music. Having it all right there on a single screen, with all the tools at your disposal, allows me to stay in a creative place. For me, Studio One is my go-to DAW.”

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