The PreSonus StudioLive 16 Series III Digital Mixer is designed for live sound reinforcement, live recording, and studio recording applications. In its third released version, the mixer features an integrated hardware and software system with 17 touch-sensitive, motorised faders and 17 recallable XMAX preamps. The redesigned digital Fat Channel was re-engineered from the ground up and features vintage-style EQs and compressors on every channel, recallable scene presets, virtual sound cheque, remote control using a Windows computer, Mac, or iPad, remote monitor mixing using an iPhone or iPod Touch, and all the software you need for live mixing, recording, and distributing your music online.
The unit features 24 total inputs with eight +48V phantom powered XLR XMAX microphone preamplifiers and 8 mic/line inputs via XLR-1/4" combo jacks. Additional inputs include four 1/4" aux inputs and a dedicated XLR talkback mic input with phantom power. The mixer includes a balanced XLR mono output, a left and right pair of balanced stereo XLR main outputs, 6 XLR mix outputs, four 1/4" mix outputs, and a pair of 1/4" monitor outputs. A digital output of the main mix is available via XLR AES/EBU. Additionally, unbalanced stereo RCA tape inputs and outputs are provided.
For effects, the mixer features 32-bit, floating-point processing with 4-band parametric EQs on inputs, 6-band parametric AEQ on outputs, eight 31-band graphic EQs, high-pass filters, limiters, compressors, expander/gates with key listen and key filter, reverbs, and delays.
For mixing, each channel features a touch-sensitive, motorised fader. Users can choose a 1-to-1 workflow, which assigns all channels to the top layer (with one fader per input channel), or a split-layer workflow, which splits the faders between inputs and outputs, including DCAs and aux outputs. The RGB select buttons offer user-assignable colours, while user-assignable buttons are provided for mute groups, scenes, and more. The new Fat Channel control offers 8 scribble strips, encoders, multicolour buttons with a customisable user layer, and a 7" colour touchscreen.
The mixer comes with an actively integrated software library. UC Surface allows for touch-control via an iPad, Mac, or Windows computer, while QMix-UC is a free, downloadable app that enables wireless aux-mix control via iPhone or iPod touch. Capture is a multitrack recording software that allows for virtual soundchecks and recording without a computer, and Studio One Artist is a professional digital audio workstation well suited for music recording, mixing, mastering, sharing, and collaboration.
Features
General Controls
- 17 touch-sensitive, motorised faders with 1-to-1 workflow
- RGB select buttons with user-assignable colours
- Transport control
- Updated Fat Channel controls including
- 8 scribble strips, encoders, and multicolour buttons
- Customisable user layer
- 7-inch colour touchscreen
Inputs and Outputs
- 24 total inputs
- 16 channel inputs: 8 mic, 8 mic/line
- 1 XLR talkback mic input with recallable XMAX Class-A preamp
- 2 stereo aux inputs
- 10 FlexMix outputs: 6 XLR, 4 balanced TRS
- Unbalanced stereo (RCA) tape input and output
- Bluetooth 4.1 wireless tape input
- Stereo AES/EBU digital output
- 2 XLR (L/R) main outputs
- XLR main summed mono output
- 2 TRS monitor outputs
- Stereo headphone output
Channels and Buses
- 16 input channels
- 16 with recallable XMAX Class-A mic preamps
- 16 via USB and AVB
- 2 stereo aux inputs
- 20 buses:
- 10 FlexMixes (can be designated as aux, subgroup, or matrix mixes)
- 4 internal effects sends
- Stereo main bus
- 2 filter DCAs for easily and flexibly controlling groups of channels
Networking Connections
- 1 Ethernet control network port
- Dynamic, self-assigned, and manual IP address modes
- 1 Ethercon AVB audio network port
- Complete ecosystem of AVB solutions, including stageboxes and personal monitor mixers (available in 2017)
Recording
- Onboard 34 x 34 SD recorder (using Capture)
- 38 x 38 USB recording interface
- 55 x 55 AVB recording interface
Signal Processing
- Intuitive Fat Channel signal processing on every channel with:
- A/B settings comparison
- High-pass filter and polarity reverse
- Gate/expander with sidechain
- Compressor with sidechain
- 4-band parametric AEQ on inputs
- 6-band parametric AEQ on outputs
- Limiter
- Delay on every input
- Delay on every output
- Professionally programmed library of presets
- Vintage AEQ and compressor models available on every input
- Passive AEQ
- Vintage AEQ
- Tube compressor
- FET compressor
- Eight 31-band graphic EQs
- Four internal effects buses, featuring a combination of reverbs and delays with modern and vintage options
- Built-in, real-time analyser and signal generator
Metering/Displays
- 7" colour touchscreen
- Input metre on every channel
- Full-size Fat Channel metering
- Input metre
- Gate gain reduction metre
- Compressor gain reduction metre
- Full-size stereo main output metres
Scenes and Presets
- Create, save, and edit up to 100 scenes
- Scene management with:
- Scene Safe—prevents a scene change from affecting designated “safe” channels
- Create, save, and edit channel settings and copy/paste between channels
- Advanced channel preset options can save and recall:
- Channel type and name
- Input settings (preamp, +48V phantom power, polarity, pan)
- Fat Channel A & B settings
- Bus assignments
- Aux and effects send levels and pan
- Select button colour
- 8 Quick Scenes
Digital
- Studio-quality convertors with 115 dB dynamic range
- 48 kHz operation with 24-bit resolution (44.1 kHz option coming soon)
Actively Integrated Software
- UC Surface touch control software for Mac, Windows, and iPad
- Studio One Artist digital audio workstation software for Mac and Windows
- Capture multitrack recording software for Mac and Windows
- QMix-UC aux-control software for iOS and Android available free from Apple App Store, Google Play, and Amazon App Store
- Includes Studio Magic Plug-in Suite with Maag Audio AEQ 2, SPL Attacker, Arturia instruments and more
