[NAMM] PreSonus StudioLive 16.4.2

PreSonus announced it is shipping its new StudioLive 16.4.2 digital recording and performance mixer.

The StudioLive has various inputs and outputs. In addition to 16 mic inputs with XLRs, each channel has 1/4-inch TRS balanced line inputs and insert points. The four Subgroup outputs and six Aux bus inputs and outputs are also on 1/4-inch balanced jacks, and the main outs are on both XLR and 1/4 inch TRS jacks, along with a 1/4-inch mono output. Stereo tape sends and returns are on RCA jacks. There’s a mic input for the talkback channel, 1/4-inch control-room outputs, a 1/4-inch headphone jack, and coax S/PDIF digital outputs.

The mixer also serves as a dual-port FireWire audio interface that can route all channels and buses to and from a Mac or Windows PC. It works with any ASIO-compliant audio application, including Logic, Cubase, Live, Digital Performer, Sonar, and Audition. Latency is designed to be low that you can use your host program and plug-ins with your StudioLive in real time for live performances.

Further emphasizing its dual nature, StudioLive comes bundled with PreSonus’s new Capture™ recording software for Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista. Capture is preconfigured to record with the StudioLive, so all mixer channels are correctly routed to Capture tracks. Launch Capture, open a new session, click once to arm all tracks, click on Record, and you’re capturing the audio from all 16 channels and the stereo bus. You can drop markers on the fly to separate songs, do basic edits, return the recorded tracks to the mixer via FireWire, process them further, and send a stereo mix back to Capture, where you can export WAV and Open TL files to other audio programs. Capture also can import WAV files so you can bring prerecorded loops and backing tracks to a live show.

“Once you have a setup you like, you can save scenes (all settings), Fat Channel settings, and individual digital effects and recall them at the touch of a button. Record at home and re-create the mix live, set up a mix in one venue and recall it for the next gig, and save your sound-check settings so you’re ready to go when the show starts, ” PreSonus said.

MSRP: $1,999, available now.

For more information, visit their web site at www.presonus.com.