HC Exclusive Preview! PreSonus StudioLive Digital Mixer

[Anderton]

[Don't ask how we got it, but we have some advance Frankfurt info in our hot little hands and couldn't resist sharing it with you! This looks very cool indeed...pictures to come!]

PreSonus Audio Electronics will be announcing the StudioLive 16.4.2 Digital Performance and Recording Mixer at the 2008 Frankfurt Musik Messe. The company claims that StudioLive is the most powerful and flexible sixteen-channel digital mixer ever, loaded with sixteen high headroom XMAX microphone preamplifiers, built-in 22x18 FireWire recording and playback engine, "Fat Channel" processing with 4-band EQs, compressors, limiters and gates, DSP effects, six aux buses, four sub-groups, extensive LED metering, talkback and more.

StudioLive seamlessly integrates a powerful and easy-to-use digital mixer with a complete multi-channel recording system delivering the most creative environment available for both live performance and studio music production.

Analog Inputs and Outputs

Sixteen award-winning class A, high-headroom, low-noise XMAX microphone preamplifiers are featured on StudioLive for clarity, transparency and musicality. All sixteen channels of StudioLive include line input, balanced inserts and balanced direct output. StudioLive includes six balanced auxiliary sends and two dedicated auxiliary effects sends for flexible monitor mixes and aux effects. Four subgroups are also included for maximum flexibility. Two sets of balanced main outputs as well as control room outputs are located on the back panel.

Digital Conversion

Analog input and output is converted to digital audio with the highest-quality digital converters available delivering dynamic range of +118dB for spectacular sonic results and unmatched musicality.

Digital Mixing

StudioLive features an innovative and intuitive "QuickTouch" design allowing fast access to every parameter, mix, effect, and aux, allowing quick and creative control during music production. Load and save functions are also included to create snapshots of channel settings, save effect settings, totally recalling a mix, and more. All digital mixing and effects processing is done with 32-bit floating point precision for unmatched musicality.

Fat Channel

The heart of StudioLive is the "Fat Channel" engaged by pressing any "select" button, and features extensive equalization and dynamics available to every input channel, every aux output, every subgroup output, and main output. High pass filter, and four-band semi-parametric equalization algorithms are based on PreSonus' custom-designed digital EyeQ equalizer, delivering extremely musical results. Also included in the Fat Channel are compressors, limiters and gates modeled after PreSonus' award-winning ACP88 for complete dynamics control.

DSP Effects

Two programmable 24-bit stereo DSP effects engines are loaded in StudioLive with a wide range of reverbs, delays, and time-based effects with easy to use parameter adjustment, tap tempo, store, recall, and scene selection for ultimate creative flexibility.

Metering

Fast-acting LED metering is displayed all over StudioLive for quick and easy viewing of settings, parameters, inputs levels, gain reduction, and more. Fat Channel metering displays EQ frequency, cut/boost, as well as compressor and limiter gain reduction. Main meters can be switched between a number of viewing modes including input, output, gain reduction, main mix and pan.

Talkback Communication

StudioLive has a comprehensive Talkback system that enables direct communication with each stereo aux mix separately. This allows communication between the mixer and the musicians using in-ear monitors, without disturbing other performers during a performance or recording session.

22 X 18 FireWire Recording

StudioLive includes PreSonus' award-winning FireWire technology with JetPLL synchronization delivering 22 channels of recording and 18 channels of simultaneous playback. Each FireWire recording channel can be set to record either pre- or post-Fat Channel signal processing, giving total flexibility and power. StudioLive can also return 18 FireWire playback channels from your recording and production software for remixing and live performance with pre-recorded tracks, as well as studio mixing using the mixer's internal signal processing and summing algorithms.

Multi-Track Recording Software – CAPTURE

StudioLive also ships with CAPTURE multi-track recording software for Macintosh- and Windows-based computers. CAPTURE software was specifically designed to interface with StudioLive perfectly and allow instant setup and recording of performances. StudioLive software also gives the user full editing capability and export to WAV file formats for complete compatibility with ProTools, Cubase, Logic, Sonar and others. With the look and feel of industry-standard digital multitrack hard disk recorders, StudioLive software is instantly familiar to every musician and engineer.

"This is the perfect mixing board for the serious band, nightclub, small church, and home studio," says Director of Marketing Brad Zell. "It opens the door to record every show, record in the studio as well as use recorded tracks during performances - bringing the cool sounds, beats, and effects to the gig."

StudioLive Key Features:

* 16 inputs, 6 auxiliary mixes, 4 subgroups
* 16 class A XMAX microphone preamplifiers
* Hi-Definition analog to digital converters (118dB dynamic range)
* Unlimited headroom 32-bit floating point digital mixing and effects processing
* 22x18 FireWire digital recording interface
* Compact 19" rack-mountable rugged steel chassis
* Fat Channel Select
o High Pass Filter
o Compressor
o Limiter
o Gate
o 4-band semi parametric EQ
o Pan
o Load/Save/Copy/Paste
* 2 Master DSP Effects (reverbs, delays, time-based effect, with load/save)
* Load/Save Mixer "Scenes" - all settings
* 100mm long throw faders
* Military grade quick touch push buttons
* Fast-acting LED meters
* Talkback communication system
* StudioLive multi-track recording software

PreSonus Audio Electronics | 7257 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
T 225.216.7887 F 225.926.8347 | www.presonus.com

[arracado]

Pictures:

http://www.harmony-central.com/ProductImages/Large/000031121.jpg
http://www.harmony-central.com/ProductImages/Large/000031122.jpg
http://www.harmony-central.com/ProductImages/Large/000031124.jpg

[d. gauss]

cost?

any mention of motorized faders?

"Analog input and output is converted to digital audio with the highest-quality digital converters available"

hmm, really? better than apogee? lavry? mytek? :)

[Anderton]

My questions as well...but I'll be at the press conference in Frankfurt and get to ask those kinds of questions :)

[musiklife]

cost?

any mention of motorized faders?

"Analog input and output is converted to digital audio with the highest-quality digital converters available"

hmm, really? better than apogee? lavry? mytek? :)

------------------------------------------
Price on StudioLive is TBD.

The quality of the A/D/A converter is typically measured by Dynamic Range. PreSonus StudioLive converters have a Dynamic Range of 118dB (Apogee lists the Rosetta's converter dynamic range at 114dB.)

Another spec that is a big part of the quality of the digital audio is the clock jitter (the lower the better).

Clock Jitter of the StudioLive is handled by JetPLL (jitter elimination technology).

StudioLive's Jitter specs are:
<20ps RMS, 20Hz-20kHz
Attenuation >60dB, 1 nanosecond in, 1 picosecond out

[d. gauss]

jitter, smitter, what about the moving faders? :)

[Anderton]

All will be revealed in a couple of days...

[Mike Martin]

I actually had dinner with some of the Presonus guys last night. They're on their way to Messe later today. StudioLive looks pretty amazing.

They were pretty clear, this product is designed as a LIVE SOUND mixer with computer recording capability. It won't have control surface capabilities as the studio is not the primary use that this was designed for. Obviously with the 118dB dynamic range, I would imagine that this product will get a lot of use in studio's too.

I can't wait to hear it.

[MikeRivers]

[QUOTE=arracado;26817472]Pictures:

I know it's hardware, but it looks like a computer simulation of a mixer.

[Wheelomatic]

I don't get the proprietary software route -- CAPTURE? Why wouldn't they open it up as a controller to popular software, e.g. Logic, Cubase, etc.? I understand they're aiming at the VENUEs and other live desks of the world, but I think they're missing an even bigger opportunity with project studios by not having at least bare minimum control over popular DAW. Given the pricing structure of Presonus, this would be an awesome option over the Tascam DM3200/4800 and Yammerha O1/O2vs of the world.

Really scracthin' my head over this one. For a second there I was like, whoa, this might be huge. Weird.
Wheels

[Mike Martin]

It will work as an audio interface with any standard DAW so you don't have to use CAPTURE if you have another solution. I haven't seen CAPTURE yet, but that I understand they've put a lot of development into it. The primary goal of CAPTURE is to make it easy to track during a live gig.

[Anderton]

No moving faders, but it does have nulling-style automation with total recall of parameters. The LEDs blink faster as you get to the null point -- like the old SSL consoles.

No 96kHz, either. BUT the price I keep hearing is around $2K, which is pretty interesting in itself given the EQ and processing.

As a competitor said to them, "Welcome to the digital mixer wars."

[d. gauss]

do the line-ins bypass the preamps and go straight to the converters or are they just padded?

[Wheelomatic]

Thanks Mike for the clarification on CAPTURE. I still don't get the dedicated software route even for live recording. I'm assuming you're still bringing a laptop as a recorder. Who'd bypass their favorite DAW in favor of CAPTURE for a remote? Sorry, don't mean to be thick. Just still not getting it. And not in a Tom Hanks in Big way, but in a "that kid's just plain slow" way. Oh well, I guess it has an attraction to others.

I get that it'll work too as a front end for the DAW, but without even the bare minimum of front-end control and no midi, jeez it's a tough sell for me personally. But Presonus do make it tough on you with the insanely low price tags. Glad to hear that this is first salvo in many more of the digital mixer wars.
Wheels

[peeder]

Can we use the analog insert points coming in from the firewire input from the DAW? I.e. I can patch in my analog compressors etc at mix time? Or are those only for the preamps/line ins? How much of the analog section is like that (e.g. groups)?

What is the latency spec for this digital mixer i.e. the delay from analog in through ADC/DSP/DAC and back out analog? Does a firewire recording lengthen the latency?

Where is the recording point tapped,and is it adjustable? I.e. can I print wet with the effects or must it always be dry or can it even be dry? I assume that's the Dig out section with Post EQ/DYN switch. Where exactly in the chain are those options...post polarity inverter/HPF?

What are the recall settings saved via in a DAW other than CAPTURE and can they be?

Will this play nice with other interfaces so I can patch in digital outboard via the computer?

As for headphones/monitor control, you're supposed to buy a central station. :poke:

[smetaxas]

When will it be available for purchase?

[Mike Martin]

I heard summer. Maybe July.

[Anderton]

I still don't get the dedicated software route even for live recording.

This is intended as a live performance mixer. Capture is ridiculously easy to use. If you've ever done the setup routine on most DAWs (like with Cubase -- set up devices, choose drivers, etc.) it's hard to imagine the concept of software that just opens, you do a couple clicks and bang, you're capturing all your tracks to hard disk. By being so closely dedicated to the StudioLive board, they can get away with zero setup issues. It's designed to be super-fast. You can always use your regular software, but I suspect that most users will opt for Capture, then just load the tracks into their software of choice later on for editing.