Putting together a live rig? There are a lot of options out there. In fact, sorting through them can get downright daunting. Luckily, PreSonus has made it easy. Their StudioLive series of digital mixers, AVB stageboxes, powered speakers, and personal monitor mixers provides you with everything you need to deliver a great-sounding performance. And because everything is tightly integrated into the same ecosystem, you won’t need to worry about compatibility issues — everything just works.
Choose a StudioLive Series III Digital Mixer
A StudioLive rig starts with a Series III digital mixer. Available in 16-, 24-, and 32-channel configurations, these mixers are loaded with PreSonus’s Fat Channel signal processing, providing you with vintage-style EQ and compression on every channel, as well as a range of reverbs and delays. Studio-quality XMAX preamps supply high headroom and a low noise floor, resulting in a clean, clear sound that you wouldn’t expect from a live console. Flex Mixes offer a ton of freedom for any mixing application. You also get touch-sensitive motorized faders for precision mixing, a built-in SD card slot for multitrack recording and virtual soundchecks, Bluetooth streaming, remote operation via your computer or smart device, and more.
Add a Rackmount AVB Stagebox
Getting sound from the stage to your console is a breeze with StudioLive, thanks to PreSonus’s SL16R, SL24R, and SL32R AVB stageboxes. With this system, you can say goodbye to bulky analog snakes — all you’ll need is a Cat 5e cable. These indispensable stageboxes are outfitted with the same great-sounding XMAX preamps as the StudioLive Series III digital mixers, along with their Fat Channel processing and integrated digital effects. Beyond that, you’ll benefit from a flexible array of I/O and comprehensive routing. Best of all, you can control these stageboxes wirelessly via your computer or smart device right from front of house. These versatile stageboxes also pull triple duty as rackmount mixers and AVB audio interfaces.
Upgrade to EarMix Personal Monitor Mixers
If you can’t hear yourself onstage, your performance will suffer. That’s where the PreSonus EarMix personal monitor mixer comes in. Combine the EarMix with your favorite set of in-ear monitors, and you’ll be able to hear yourself anywhere onstage. In fact, there will be less stage noise to begin with. Packed with 16 channels, the EarMix features a simple, easy-to-navigate layout making it a breeze to optimize each channel’s volume, place it in the stereo field, then apply EQ and limiting. Beyond that, you can save up to 16 preset mix scenes for instant recall.
Record with Studio One
We can’t talk about StudioLive without mentioning PreSonus’s Studio One DAW software. It’s tightly woven into the StudioLive ecosystem, allowing you to capture your performance, then edit, mix, and master it in your studio. This powerful software is famous for its easy-to-use single-window workspace, intuitive drag-and-drop workflow, and robust mastering capabilities. On top of that, its Fat Channel XT plug-in is identical to the Fat Channel in StudioLive Series III digital mixers, giving you the same routing and processing capabilities. You can also control your mixer’s mic preamps and Fat Channels directly from Studio One.
Sample StudioLive System Configurations
StudioLive’s modular, integrated design allows you to cover an endless variety of situations. Whether you’re outfitting a small group of musicians, a medium-sized worship service, or a massive live venue, you can build a StudioLive rig that will work for you. And StudioLive is easily expandable, so if your needs change in the future, your system can grow with them. The systems below cover several common applications; however, these examples are merely a beginning. StudioLive rigs can be configured in an infinite number of ways.
Consisting of a StudioLive 32 digital mixer, a pair of NSB 16.8 stageboxes, four EarMix 16M personal mixers, and an SW5E AVB switch, this system is tailor-made for a small band. There’s plenty of I/O for a full drum kit, a couple of guitars, a bass, and a vocalist, with inputs to spare. Four performers can craft their own monitor mixes. Beyond that, there’s enough DSP on tap to ensure a polished, pro-sounding mix.
This system includes a StudioLive 32 digital mixer and a pair of NSB 16.8 stageboxes. There’s enough I/O here to accommodate a medium-sized musical ensemble or worship service and enough DSP to craft a great-sounding mix. Since it lacks an AVB switch and personal mixers, this system works best in a 1-room setup that uses wedge-style stage monitors. That being said, the simplicity of this system makes it great for novices and volunteers.
With a StudioLive 24 digital mixer, a quartet of NSB 8.8 stageboxes, and an SW5E AVB switch, this system can easily handle a medium-sized musical ensemble or worship service. Your mixes will sound amazing, thanks to the StudioLive’s advanced DSP. There are no personal mixers with this rig, so it works best in environments that use wedge-style stage monitors. The inclusion of an AVB switch allows you to connect four different stageboxes without daisy-chaining, so it’s easy to route this rig’s I/O to multiple spaces, making it a great fit for seminars with presenters in separate breakout rooms.
If you need personal monitoring but not a lot of I/O, this is the system for you. It features a StudioLive 16R rackmount digital mixer, a quartet of EarMix 16M personal mixers, and an SW5E AVB switch. This is a great option for performers who don’t have a front-of-house tech, since you can mix from anywhere in the venue using your iOS device. There’s not a lot of I/O in this rig, so it’s ideal for small bands or worship services. Four performers can create their own monitor mixes, and like all StudioLive systems, this one gives you plenty of DSP to make your mixes sound great.
Complete with StudioLive 32 and StudioLive 16 digital mixers, an NSB 16.8 stagebox, two NSB 8.8 stageboxes, eight EarMix 16M personal mixers, and three SW5E AVB switches, this system is built to tackle large, complex setups. The StudioLive 16 in this configuration allows for an easy live-stream feed or monitor mixing console. The system’s massive rack full of I/O is sufficient for nearly any application, and there are enough personal monitor mixers for eight performers. Beyond that, you can create amazing live mixes using StudioLive’s legendary DSP. If you’ve got a large number of performers with a lot of mics and instruments, this is the system for you.
