A USB mixer designed for life on the road
Published: PRODUCTS
Touring musicians are the target demographic for PreSonus with its StudioLive AR USB-series hybrid mixers. The series comprises three models: the 18-channel StudioLive AR16 USB, 14-channel StudioLive AR12 USB and 8-channel StudioLive AR8 USB, all of which are designed to be compact, lightweight and versatile, allowing for simple transportation, while maintaining the analogue connections and digital tools required for both studio and live performance applications.
Each of the StudioLive AR USB mixers is compatible with Windows and Mac OS via a USB 2.0 audio interface that captures all input channels as well as the main mix. Included with the mixers is the manufacturer’s Capture live-recording and Studio One 3 Artist DAW production software, enabling users to record, mix and distribute music. An onboard stereo SD recorder also features on the AR16, AR12 and AR8, allowing the recording of a main mix without computer, while also providing the ability to play up to 32GB worth of Mp3 and WAV files as a backing track.
Additionally, the mixers include PreSonus’ Super Channel, facilitating the simultaneous playback of audio from four stereo sources. These sources are Super Channel’s unbalanced RCA inputs, an 1/8-inch stereo input, the onboard SD recorder and the USB connection. Bluetooth 4.1 is also built-in to each of the mixers, enabling users to pair a smartphone or tablet and gain wireless access to their music libraries.
The I/O connections also featured on the USB mixers include Class-A mic preamps, instrument and line inputs. Also included are semi-parametric 3-band EQ and an internal stereo effects processor.
On the software side of things, PreSonus has updated its VocALign audio alignment tool to be compatible with the ARA (Audio Random Access) extension. ARA technology is the result of a collaboration between PreSonus and Celemony Software and provides audio plug-in interfaces with enhanced DAW communication and instant audio data access. Existing VocALign licensees can download the updated ARA versions of VocALign Project and VocALign Pro for free.