It's on the short list of things I need to buy next. I'm thinking I can get away with the 16.0.2, but may need to go with the 16.4.2.

The appeal for me is that you can set a live mix, store it, record "dry", then go back and mix the multichannel recording. Evidently this is super-simple to do ... for sound guys, which I'm not, nor is really anyone else in my band.

Does anyone here use one? What kind of experience did you have before the StudioLive - is it much easier to use? What about anyone without any live-sound experience - how much time did you have to put into it before you felt confident using it?

I use it live quite a bit. Love it. Now, we multitrack record just about every show we play. With the studiolive remote app, Its a really great way to get into a personal mixer without breaking the bank. It functions pretty flawlessly. I use a 1st gen iPad, and it hasn't crashed on me yet.

Plus, its nice to be able to walk around the venue and get the front mix just right.

Hey Jason,
I'm using the 16.4.2 and also spent about two months using a 16.0.2.
Fantastic mixers. I'm using it with my band, when I do live sound for other bands, and for recording at home. I find it very easy to use. The "live mix, store it, record...." feature is far better than that. You can be setting up a show and play a song for sound check getting stage levels right first. Then play back that song while you go out to FOH position and mix the room. I'm not sure how to explain how powerful that is, but it's huge.

For example, I did sound last week for a band that I worked with about a month prior. I recorded the prior show. I was able to set up my system, play back the tracks while getting (recalling and fine tuning) monitor mixes, set up the initial mix for the room(again, recalling and fine tuning), and tune the room.
This was before the band arrived. And believe me, doing this without the band noodling around was fantastic.

I could go on and on, but maybe there are some specific questions that you have?

Difficulty of use? Way easier than setting up an analog mixer with compressors, EQ, gates, etc. Any system requires some knowledge of signal flow. It will not mix for you. But the tools are well laid out and the channel presets are really thoughtfully done.

What makes you think you need the 4.2 vs 0.2? I could easily answer those questions.

Feel free to hit me offline, but others might be interested in the dialog.

In a hurry, so can't elaborate too much, so I'll just say "what RedKey said, +1".

Love my 16.4.2... just need to buy my own iPad, because now that I've mixed from out in the house (with the mixer on-stage next to my keyboard rig), I'm hooked.

Wow - I had no idea you could do that (use a previously recorded song to mix the room).

Yeah, and pretty instantly. Record your sound check song, move the cursor back to the beginning, play back and mix the house while the band goes and gets you a drink. You will finally know if your keys are actually in the mix for once.

An iPad can control every feature down to eq curves, fx, dynamics, aux sends, etc. We just started playing with Qmix which allow iPod touch and iPhones to control aux mixes.

iPod example.
Singer has iPod and is assigned aux 1 monitor (wedge or IEM). Landscape mode shows all 16 channels + fx to mix into aux 1. Switch to portrait mode and tell iPod that their vocal channel is ch6. The big volume control will turn up (or down) channel 6 until it hits it's limit, then start to bring down the rest of the mix uniformly. It's the "more me in the monitor" knob. Brilliant.

Mixer stays on stage. iPad does FOH, iPods on stage to do monitors.

I use the 24 channel....awesome 10 aux sends means everyone get their own monitor mix!

Sweet!

Another huge advantage to the StudioLive is that you can replay those multitrack recordings at home through the mixer and change the channel settings so that you'll sound better next time you play live. For example, you can play with the compressors, EQs and the noise gates after the fact and take those settings the next gig. This is really cool if you aren't already familiar with what those things are. It makes it really easy to learn very quickly just what a tweak here & there means to the FoH sound.

Regardless, LP filtering, noise gates, compressors, EQ, limiters on every channel, graphic EQs, and lots of AUXs and SUBs makes these boards a no-brainer to buy. a SL is a better mixer without any attached computer already... add a computer (for multi-tracking, virtual sound checks w/o the band present, iPad/remote control, etc) and it just gets better and better.

I have a 16.0.2 and despite its limitations I love it. In additions to all of the features touted above, it just sounds great to me. Very transparent.

What RedKey and Sven said, +1 . PreSonus absolutely nailed it with the StudioLive series.

Back in 2011 - when I did some contracted work for the area rep firm that handled PreSonus - I did a lot of observing, and learning at several PreSonus presentations. As I'm no longer doing any work in that capacity, and can speak without any conflict of interest, I'll say that the gear impressed the tar out of me.
I've used PreSonus interfaces for several years; they're good, working class pieces - both FW, and USB. But those soundboards are something special. My goal, live rig-wise, is to eventually submix my keys using a 16.0.2. I would more than be pleased if the company ever issued a relatively compact rack mixer based on StudioLive technology. Granted that can already be done with an AudioBox 1818VSL and a laptop, but it would be cool to see a self contained rack mixer.

I've worked with more than a few club acts whose PA setup was a mess, and a StudioLive could've helped a lot. One road act that has hired me from time to time - and mixes from stage - needs a StudioLive and/or an Aviom monitoring system yesterday; their IEM setup, while 'working' somewhat for them, was a nightmare for any extra players...

How are the built-in DSP effects? Can they replace an outboard effects unit?

For me, yes. Absolutely. They are versatile and musical. Great for live and just as comfortable in a studio environment. Keep in mind, they are reverb & delay fx. You might still want outboard gear for modulation and other types of fx. I don't typically use that stuff live. During studio mix down, you've got software available, so no outboard stuff needed.

Fx presets can be individually saved and saved with mixer presets. And there is a dedicated tap tempo button. I do wish for a tap tempo button in the remote iPad app. Right now you just enter the time numerically. Still pretty good for remote use.

Thanks, brother RedKey. Much appreciated.

Ever since the PSL came out I've been intrigued by it. I really like the idea of replacing my entire PA rack (mixer, EQs, effects, compressors) with a single unit that does everything my current gear does and much, much more. Since my band days are currently on hold, I'm not likely to rush into a purchase, but it gives me comfort that I can go ahead put my current PA gear up on Craigslist....

Noah

On the 16.4.2 you get (qty 8) 31 band eqs for the main outs and each of the 6 aux sends. With the Fat Channels, you've got a HP filter, phase, gate, compressor, limiter, and 4 band semi-parametric eq on every channel, aux, and main outs. There are two independent stereo fx processors for reverb and delay stuff.

IIRC, the 16.0.2 has the 31band only on the main outs (but rumors hint it might come to the 4 aux sends through a update later). It also has 4 aux sends instead of 6 (16.4.2) or 10 (24.4.2). Also, it has a 3 band eq per Fat Channel instead of 4.

To my surprise, the Fat Channel also has a save and recall library. The presets are fantastic. Clearly made by a group that knows sound and went out in the field and tested it. Not just theoretical values that would only work in a vacuum.
I've tweaked my presets a bit, but the starting point was so close to ideal.

That's huge .. I didn't think of that at all, but that's an incredible application!


Not at the moment ... I'm pretty sold on it as is, and the more I read about it, the more my head spins regarding its applications and possibilities.


That's a relief. My experience with any mixer has always been (a) set it up, and (b) never touch it again!

I'm okay with signal flow, but anything beyond basic routing gets confuses me quickly. Add the digital side to that, and it's sorcery to me.


Well, initially it was the cost and the fact that I don't need 16 individual channels. But, I read this post on the Presonus forum and decided the 16.4.2 seems better for us. The poster (scottmckenna) pointed out some very important differences that evidently aren't pointed out explicitly in the literature:

1. FX routing in the 16.0.2 is all-or-none; you can't, say, give one singer more reverb in their monitor and another singer less.
2. The 16.4.2 has a better compressor.
3. The 16.0.2 doesn't have on-board level meters, doesn't support sub-groups, and doesn't have insert connections; the 16.4.2 does all those.
4. The 16.0.2 has a 3-band EQ; the 16.4.2 has a 4-band EQ.

That is mainly a function of real estate. The 16.0.2 has a much smaller footprint, so less room for knobs and buttons. It has a 3-band semi-parametric, the 16.4.2 has a 4-band semi-parametric. The 24.4.2 has a 4-band fully parametric. (again mainly a function of surface area)

Also, the 16.4.2 can be linked via firewire...up to 4 of them (64 channels). The 16.0.2 cannot.

I think 16 channels would be enough ...

3 vocal mics, 2 guitar mics, 1 bass (direct), 4 drum mics, 1 keys (yes, I run in mono)

That leaves 5 more channels ... so, I guess we'll need to get a horn section and a couple of backup singers, too!

16.0.2 - 12 Mic pre
16.4.2 - 16 Mic pre
24.4.2 - 24 Mic pre

Believe it or not I use the 16.0.2 with a 9 piece band and it works well. I do agree that the "all or none" FX for the monitors is a compromise. And I still need an outboard EQ for the monitor busses. The 16.4.2 would alleviate these issues but it seems to be twice the size.

After the responses in this thread and some homework I've done, we're pushing the button on this very soon.

I'm really looking forward to getting this integrated into our setup!