In the Road Test you are about to read, I am combining a review of the PreSonus StudioLive 16.4.2 digital mixing console with the PreSonus Studio One Pro software. Either one of these products warrants its own review, but I had the opportunity to use them together. So, here goes.
The Gear
Let's start with the StudioLive digital mixer. This mixer has been designed for live performances as well as recording. PreSonus uses 16 of their high-headroom XMAX microphone preamps (one per channel) in this board along with a 32×18 FireWire recording and playback engine. The board is very analog in look and feel – especially the centerpiece of the mixer, the "Fat Channel" processing.
The Fat Channel is the heart of the PreSonus StudioLive mixer. With the touch of the "Select" button you have control over equalization, compressors, limiters and expander/gates, plus a highpass filter. All dynamic processing, routing and panning for every input and output can be routed through the Fat Channel. It is not only the heart of the mixer, it makes this digital console extremely user-friendly. Rather than a monitor screen, you have this very functional analog-looking section.
Along with EQ, compressor, limiters and expander gates, your aux sends, subgroups, effects and main outs are at your fingertips. The six aux sends operate in with a solo button, pre and post fader button and output level control. [While the aux sends seem to operate in the analog world, the aux buses are only analog at the output jack, after the digital-to-analog converter. Once signals go through the preamps, trim pots, and ADCs on the way in, everything in the StudioLive is digital until it passes through the DACs on the way out.]
The aux sends are mono but can be linked to create a stereo bus. The effects sends have mute, pre and post button and level controls. The Effects master section is loaded with banks of effects, parameter controls and scene and recall buttons (to name a few). With all aux and effects sends, the Select button routes their signal through the Fat Channel for processing. Of course, most of these settings can be saved, copied and reloaded.
The patch bay section of the mixer features 16 XLR mic inputs, 16 ¼ inch balanced TRS line inputs and 16 inserts. There is a talkback mic input that is always energized with Phantom power. An XLR mono output and left and right main outputs in XLR and TRS are grouped together and all feature output level controls. I just set them all to 12 o'clock. Next we have RCA tape in/outs and ¼ inch control room outs. You also get a pair of DB25 connectors, covering channels 1-8 and 9-16. [These are direct outs and occur before the converters, so the signal at the DB25s stays entirely in the analog domain – which could be useful if you want to use the StudioLive in tandem with a larger console that has Tascam-type DB25 inputs.]
Of course you would expect there has to be FireWire on a mixer like this. There are two, along with an S/PDIF out. The PreSonus sports six aux outs, four sub-group outs and two stereo aux returns. We are left with a plug for an IEC power cable and an on/off power switch and that takes care of the patch bay section of the mixer.
As you look at each individual channel strip, you will see that it is very similar to your analog mixer. Each strip begins with an input gain (trim) control followed by a 48-volt phantom power button – then something you may not have on your mixer, a FireWire playback on/off. This button routes a playback signal from your recording software to the PreSonus mixer channel input.
Next we have the now-famous Select button which (as previously described) routes the signal to Fat Channel. A Solo button and Mute button precedes the channel fader. The channel fader itself sports a 100mm-long throw control. Subgroup and Main faders are also of the 100mm design. The subgroup section has solo and mute buttons along with the ever-important Select/Fat Channel button.
The mixer main output is also fitted with a Select button. The master section features a talk back section with a level knob, Aux Inputs A and B with select buttons and level control knob, a 2 Track In with a tape input on/off button (to the mains) and FireWire on/off (to the mains) and level control. A Cue bus with level control, AFL and PFL listening button also has a SIP (solo in place) button to mute every unsoloed channel. Lastly, a monitor bus features Phone and Monitor (control room) level knobs with solo, tape, FireWire and main buttons that assigns the signal to the monitor bus.
This is where I would normally describe how the PreSonus StudioLive digital mixer performed in a live setting, but instead, we will jump into the PreSonus Studio One software. Studio One Artist and Capture are bundled free with StudioLive; you can upgrade to Studio One Pro for $199 more. The fact that it's bundled together is a good thing; the recording software is beautifully matched to the mixer.
MSRP for the StudioLive 16.4.2 is $2,499; street price is $1,999. Capture is bundled free with StudioLive only, not available separately at this time. Studio One Artist is bundled free with the StudioLive (and with any PreSonus interface), available for $199 separately. Studio One Pro is $399, or as an upgrade from Studio One Artist, $199.
Of course, this program will also work with other mixers or with a variety of computer operating systems – but Capture is bundled free with StudioLive only, and is not available separately. Studio One Artist is $199 when bought separately, and Studio One Pro bought separately is $399. The software supports ASIO, Core Audio (Mac OS X), Direct Sound (Windows XP), and Windows Audio Session API (Windows Vista) devices.
The Studio One software is simple to operate, it is very deep in its ability and applications and it has great samples, effects, loops, instruments and outboard gear. You have to imagine that for PreSonus to even attempt to create pro recording software they would have to spend a lot of time evaluating the competition. I believe they have done their homework and have come up with a brilliant piece of programming.
Obviously, I cannot cover every aspect of the software in this review, but here are some highlights: 64 bit signal path and a 64 bit effects library with 25 dynamics processors, reverbs, modulation effects, some very cool amp simulators, 32 drum kits, 300 virtual instrument samples and 3,791 drum loops. The work environment is in a single window with simple and powerful drag and drop functionality. You get full-featured flexible automation with integrated mastering and automatic mix updating and unlimited tracks, real time auto/manual time-stretching and a resampling engine. The software also works with key commands from Pro Tools, Cubase and Logic, and when used with any of PreSonus' FireStudio-series interfaces, you can also set up zero-latency cue mixes from within Studio One.
The Sessions
I have a niece who writes songs and has a great singing voice, so we decided to record a song she had written. I loaded the software into a Mac and was up and running quickly.
The Studio One learning curve is pretty short. This is a very important aspect, as I am not a recoding software guy, I am a live sound guy. That's why I am reviewing the StudioLive digital mixer. The software came after the mixer, so here I am.
That said, this recording software may be simple to operate, but it is deep enough for you to spend a great deal of time mastering all aspects of it. Anyway, I launched Studio One and was taken to the start page. I chose "create a new song" to begin. Once you have begun work on a song, you would choose "open an existing song" to get back to it. You can also choose to create a new project or open an existing project when multiple songs are being recorded.
Studio One will automatically select the StudioLive mixer from a list of devices on my computer. There are demo songs that were very helpful in exploring the various aspects of the Studio One. The song page is your multitrack working environment. From this single window, I recorded, edited and arranged my tracks. I was also able to drag various devices into this window.
Prior to recording an acoustic guitar track it pulled in a virtual tuner (very handy) to check my tuning. I initially plugged the guitar into the StudioLive mixer and via FireWire I was taken into the Studio One program on my computer. I added a bass guitar (through a virtual bass amp), real percussion against a loop, and, of course my niece's vocals to the song.
The recording process was simple, intuitive and creative. Basically lots of fun. I haven't yet used the mastering tools within the Studio One. Mainly because I have started recording another song. With the PreSonus StudioLive mixer and Studio One software in hand you posses most of the tools you will need to produce any recording you can imagine. However, you will still need some talent.
Okay, I know some of you just got to know how well this mixer works in the real world of live music. The advantages of this mixer are, it is small and it has everything on-board you will need for a great mix. I used the StudioLive at a church event with a variety of acts but my favorite was a three-piece female Mariachi group. Setting up the StudioLive took me a little more time mainly because I had so many options I had to listen to all the possibilities.
Anyway, I found a nice compression for the bass, a beautiful reverb for the singers and a very expressive EQ for the acoustic guitar. The board also allowed me to EQ the main outs and aux sends to my taste. All in all the mixer sounds amazing and it is just a ton of fun to operate. If you think of your analog board as a propeller plane, the StudioLive is like a little jet. I would like to see it in a 24, 32 and larger chassis – although for larger shows you can use the second FireWire jack to daisy-chain two StudioLive 16.4.2 mixers, giving an integrated 32x8x2 or 32x4x2 console. You can also daisy-chain any FireStudio-series interface with the StudioLive to add more inputs, up to a maximum of 52 inputs.
PreSonus StudioLive 16.4.2 / PreSonus Studio One Pro
What They Are: Mixer and software
Who They're For: Bands, sound companies, churches
Pros: User friendly mixer, simple, powerful software
Cons: None yet
How Much: MSRP for the StudioLive 16.4.2 is $2,499; street price is $1,999. Capture is bundled free with StudioLive only, not available separately at this time. Studio One Artist is bundled free with the StudioLive (and with any PreSonus interface), available for $199 separately. Studio One Pro is $399, or as an upgrade from Studio One Artist, $199.
