Presonus Studiolive 16.0.2

Recently we managed to get hold of the Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2. We installed the soft bundles that come together with the mixer and within minutes the mixers are set and ready to record. The mixer is easy to operate and the sound production is fantastic, comparable to high end digital mixers such as protools (obviously protools have more features and more powerful than this mixer and not so user friendly).

But for layman or musician who want to experience using digital mixer, this is the mixer I recommend you to try. Once you get use to the operation, you will notice that it is the same as using an analog mixer but with digital features. The VSL software is great and it helps you see the overall setting of the mixer i.e. it shows you what features or setting is currently in use or active. It is like using a digital mixer but feels like an analog mixer.

Presonus StudioLive 16.0.2 features:

8 mono mic/line channel inputs, each with:

·         High-headroom Class A XMAX™ mic preamplifier

·         XLR mic and balanced ¼" line inputs

·         60 mm precision fader
 

4 stereo line channel inputs, with:

·         High-headroom Class A XMAX™ mic preamplifier (Ch. 9, 11, 13, and 15)

·         XLR mic inputs (Ch. 9, 11, 13, and 15)

·         Balanced ¼" line inputs (Ch. 9-16)

·         Unbalanced RCA line inputs (Ch. 13-16)

·         60 mm precision fader (4 stereo)

·         4 Auxiliary buses (pre/post-fader send)
 

2 Internal FX buses and 2 stereo 32-bit digital effects processors with customizable reverb and delay presets.

Fat Channel signal processing on all channels and buses, with:

·         3-band semi-parametric EQ (individual band on/off)

·         Full-featured compressor

·         Gate

·         Limiter

·         Phase reverse (12 mic preamplifiers only)

·         Pan with dedicated 15-LED display

·         Stereo link for input channels and aux buses

·         High-pass filter
 

31-band stereo graphic EQ on each main channel (on main outputs only)

PC communication via 16-in/16-out FireWire recording interface (24-bit/44.1 kHz and 48 kHz)

Scene store and recall - Settings can be copied among channels and buses and saved as user presets.

Software bundle for Mac® and Windows® includes:

·         PreSonus Studio One^® Artist digital audio workstation

·         PreSonus Capture™ live-recording software

·         PreSonus Universal Control with Virtual StudioLive™ bidirectional mixer-control software

·         Free downloadable software from the Apple App Store provides wireless remote control, including:

o    PreSonus StudioLive Remote for iPad®

o    PreSonus QMix™ for iPhone® and iPod touch®

Lockout mode protects your settings from meddlers and accidents

MIDI Control Mode provides control over:

·         Scene and FX Preset recall

·         Main Volume, FXA, and FXB output levels

·         FXA and FXB assign/unassign to Mains

Is Analog Audio Equipment dead or still kicking and alive?

These days, high tech and complicated audio system are mostly in digital domain. Although analog audio equipment is still around they are less popular. The main reasons are because of features. Digital equipment has more features, lighter, small in size and very convenient to use. On the other hand analog equipment is heavier, big in size and less features.

Digital equipment is made of either hardware or software based or both (a combination).

As an example, the digital audio mixer, Presonus Studiolive series, it is small in size, many features built in such as 31band EQ, Effect processor and many more that you can insert to all channels mic and Line input. It is a combination of hardware and software digital audio system.

Another example is your home PC. The PC can be configure as virtual guitar power amplifier i.e. Studio Devil Virtual Guitar Amplifier. All you need is an electric guitar, audio cable, quality loudspeaker and good sound card installed in the PC and you are ready to rock n roll. It is extremely easy to setup and the sound is as good as the analog guitar amplifier.

With all these advance features of the digital audio equipment, will the analog audio equipment quickly fade away and vanish? Not so fast, In spite of all the advance features in digital technology, analog is much alive and still kicking and can co-exist in the digital domain.

For example, have you come across The VPR Alliance? No? Yes? Not sure?

Basiclly VPR Alliance is a program of standardization and consistency guidelines for manufacturers who wish to make or produce analog products designed to fit into API's 500 series rack format" (it is a type of equipment rack with built in power supply).

500-6B

6-slot lunchbox® with built-in Power Supply

This rack commonly know as lunchbook, house a variety of audio modules (compact size) including preamps, EQs, compressors and so on (kindly refers below).

With the VPR Alliance, the manufacturers who stick to the specification requirement of the rack can create Lunchbox modules set to one preferences or requirement. This format gives one the freedom to choose and match a variety of analog modules which lead into production of the desirable sound.

Personally, I am comfortable with analog audio equipment because I can actually feel them unlike the virtual digital equipment. The feel is not there, it all virtual, not real. In my opinion, Analog equipment is very far away from dead.