I've used this board for about a year now and have found it has resolved a lot of issues for me. I go between several venues every month and just load the saved and go, live and recording. Like most I came from the analog world and had no issues making the switch to digital . The recording is a easy to use and sounds great. All in all love it. I must agree (after a years use) IT IS NOT CRAP Great job guys.
"Dancing" faders are for recording studios where you need random access to multiple prerecorded mixdowns. On a live performance gig, motorized faders are the last thing you'd want, they can sabotage your entire mix with a single misplaced mode switch. When you're mixing in real time, you want the faders to stay exactly where YOU put them, not fly around the board every time you switch between mains and monitors.
Can't wait to use it. Just got it the other day, set it up and made sure everything was routed correctly, but the power conditioner has a 20 plug. We have 20 amp service but no 20 amp recepticles. Once that is taken care of, it's lock and load. I am sure this console will handle most of what I need to deliver a great sound out to the listeners. Thanks Presonus!
Thanks Shane! Your right, there is some noise you can pick up from phones and other devices, but this seemed a bit more like cross talk within the board. It didn't "sound" like outside interference and wasn't effected by moving things around it. Again, it was very very slight and only seemed to show up on the analog out so not a huge issue, but worth noting. Thanks for watching!
I have 16.4.2 My issue is the tiny screen and the 31 band eq. You have to use universal control to get to 31 band EQ fast. It's a great console other than that. Certainly not an X32 or a better yet a Midas digital.It sounds great though and the library can get you a quick start quick but you have to watch. Has tendency to put a limiter on things that don't need it. I like setting up side stage and then just taking the ipad out front. Then you can take care of the stage by your self if needed. Especially in a club or a venue where space is limited FOH.
Definitely not crap,I got mine from Sweetwater just as the prices went down another 600 bones,coming from an ancient Behringer analogue board this was the solution for my situation,recording is pretty straight forward on the capture software and everything being bidirectional from software to hardware is awesome definitely worth the 1899$ price tag, next is the RM,16 for another monitor mixer and/or stage box, and ditch the heavy ass snake!
Excellent review. i do wish this had motorized faders, but they do have a reasonable work around. The wireless feature is also great for bands going to venues that can't accommodate a sound man station in the audience.
C'mon man, if it produced that much noise it would be crap for sure lol. Obviously you've heard about the fans. I have the 32 channel version and was nervous because I read a review after I ordered it that said they have loud fans. NOT TRUE. Also there's no digital noise. You'll get popping if you power up you're computer before the mixer. At least in my experience, that has been the times where I heard popping.
Not yet, but we do have some more audio components coming down the pipe over at my main channel. Nothing yet, been working on some other tech... but soon..... Link in the channel description.
Been using the 3242 AI for about a year. Recently A/B’d the 3242 with Behringer XAir 16. XAir blew this crappy mixer off the stage. Not a fan of either mixer but this PreSonus sounds like dirt to me.
I'm really disappointed with the Presonus...guys! because I am waiting for the 16.0.2 ai mixer, and now they release these analog type of mixer. Hey...dude upgrade the 16.0.2 in the ai level and make it affordable for the home recording studio fanatic. Your new mixer is a step backward to the old school...come on, get real.
The main problem with digital mixers is you need to sell them off before a few year as they become worthless. Try selling a 5 year old digital mixer, good luck. A quality analog desk will not only sound better, but typically increase in value.
Analog definitely does not increase in value. I see analog consoles that used to be in the $30,000 to $70,000 range going for $5,000 to $9,000 all the time, with cases and power supplies. I even had a church offer to give me a pristine Soundcraft Europa... just to get it out of the building. The hybrid digitals, such as this PreSonus.... are great general purpose consoles. I own a small sound company.... I use the BBE MP24M which is very similar to the PreSonus. It's a great utility console. I am not big enough to be chasing band riders. I do a lot small stuff and distributed sound stuff. I rarely deal with high channel counts. Often times it's two RF mics, and some playback. Or maybe small bar bands, or a high school orchestra or choir or something along those lines. My clients aren't specific about the gear needed... they just know what the desired result is. So it's my job to bring what works. These smaller hybrid console are excellent for that criteria. And there is a greater return on investment. They are easy to operate... you don't have to spend time programming and building the console. It knows its a console when you turn it on. You can get up and running quickly. They sound decent enough. With this type of product, there's no point in getting into all nuanced audiophile stuff that doesn't really matter in the average public address setting. Most of what I do requires that the gear be a dependable and versatile utility item, that will provide years of service and income. These consoles fit that bill and probably always will.
The Presonus Studiolive mixers are total crap. The internal power supplys are super fragile and fail quite regularly and the there's the dreaded DSP board and system freeze issues due to the fact that the memory gets written to every 15 seconds while the board is powered up and the chips can only take so many writes before they fail. POS. buy a Midas Board if you want reliability, features and superior sound. Can't believe I wasted over $2k on a Studiolive.
I've used this board for about a year now and have found it has resolved a lot of issues for me. I go between several venues every month and just load the saved and go, live and recording. Like most I came from the analog world and had no issues making the switch to digital . The recording is a easy to use and sounds great. All in all love it. I must agree (after a years use) IT IS NOT CRAP
Great job guys.
"Dancing" faders are for recording studios where you need random access to multiple prerecorded mixdowns. On a live performance gig, motorized faders are the last thing you'd want, they can sabotage your entire mix with a single misplaced mode switch. When you're mixing in real time, you want the faders to stay exactly where YOU put them, not fly around the board every time you switch between mains and monitors.
Exactly!
Can't wait to use it. Just got it the other day, set it up and made sure everything was routed correctly, but the power conditioner has a 20 plug. We have 20 amp service but no 20 amp recepticles. Once that is taken care of, it's lock and load. I am sure this console will handle most of what I need to deliver a great sound out to the listeners. Thanks Presonus!
Try moving the computer around maybe cell phones to sometimes that causes some computer communication noise on our 32.4.2
Thanks Shane! Your right, there is some noise you can pick up from phones and other devices, but this seemed a bit more like cross talk within the board. It didn't "sound" like outside interference and wasn't effected by moving things around it. Again, it was very very slight and only seemed to show up on the analog out so not a huge issue, but worth noting. Thanks for watching!
Using presonus digital board for years without any issues.
Where can I locate the ID card?
I have 16.4.2 My issue is the tiny screen and the 31 band eq. You have to use universal control to get to 31 band EQ fast. It's a great console other than that. Certainly not an X32 or a better yet a Midas digital.It sounds great though and the library can get you a quick start quick but you have to watch. Has tendency to put a limiter on things that don't need it. I like setting up side stage and then just taking the ipad out front. Then you can take care of the stage by your self if needed. Especially in a club or a venue where space is limited FOH.
Definitely not crap,I got mine from Sweetwater just as the prices went down another 600 bones,coming from an ancient Behringer analogue board this was the solution for my situation,recording is pretty straight forward on the capture software and everything being bidirectional from software to hardware is awesome definitely worth the 1899$ price tag, next is the RM,16 for another monitor mixer and/or stage box, and ditch the heavy ass snake!
Right on man! We just put that one into a medium size church system in LA. It works great.
No it's not. Youll find out the hard way like the rest of us lol!
Fabian Vasquez Jr can I hook it up my computer via usb?
I'd like to get in contact with you guys to ask some questions privately on this consult
I actually use the 32.4.2. AI and its is pretty efficient!
WHATS UP GERARD!!!!!!! Long time buddy! hope your doing well.
All is well my friend! Let's get together next week buddy!!
Excellent review. i do wish this had motorized faders, but they do have a reasonable work around. The wireless feature is also great for bands going to venues that can't accommodate a sound man station in the audience.
I'm considering getting a mixer like this... but would like to know the real difference between the 16.4.2 and 16.4.2AI
What about the fan noise in the background? Are those the cooling fans in the mixer?
No. I used a camera mounted shotgun mic and the garage has a bit of ambient noise. Its not the mixer! =)
Thanks. :)
C'mon man, if it produced that much noise it would be crap for sure lol. Obviously you've heard about the fans. I have the 32 channel version and was nervous because I read a review after I ordered it that said they have loud fans. NOT TRUE. Also there's no digital noise. You'll get popping if you power up you're computer before the mixer. At least in my experience, that has been the times where I heard popping.
Need Help on this product for Saving scenes and loading each channel with correct mixes?great review Thanks!
Hi there guys - Is this a powered mixer? Or do you need a separate amp?
Awesome! so with that WL USB adapter, i don't need a router to control when i use an ipad, right?
Were you using a power cleaner for the power supply? These mixers are super sensitive to power conditions.
Hello..! What do you recommend for a recording room .... studio live 16.4.2 or a firestudio 2626 ????
have y'all done a is it crap on the avid c24?
Not yet, but we do have some more audio components coming down the pipe over at my main channel. Nothing yet, been working on some other tech... but soon..... Link in the channel description.
Been using the 3242 AI for about a year. Recently A/B’d the 3242 with Behringer XAir 16. XAir blew this crappy mixer off the stage. Not a fan of either mixer but this PreSonus sounds like dirt to me.
I’ve been considering upgrading from an X-Air to a used Studio Live, is it really that much worse?
20 minutes of my life ill never get back...DAMN!
I'm really disappointed with the Presonus...guys! because I am waiting for the 16.0.2 ai mixer, and now they release these analog type of mixer. Hey...dude upgrade the 16.0.2 in the ai level and make it affordable for the home recording studio fanatic. Your new mixer is a step backward to the old school...come on, get real.
Strangle title - why being so negative ?
The main problem with digital mixers is you need to sell them off before a few year as they become worthless. Try selling a 5 year old digital mixer, good luck. A quality analog desk will not only sound better, but typically increase in value.
No
These days one almost has to give an analog mixer away - especially if it's a larger format console.
Analog definitely does not increase in value. I see analog consoles that used to be in the $30,000 to $70,000 range going for $5,000 to $9,000 all the time, with cases and power supplies. I even had a church offer to give me a pristine Soundcraft Europa... just to get it out of the building. The hybrid digitals, such as this PreSonus.... are great general purpose consoles. I own a small sound company.... I use the BBE MP24M which is very similar to the PreSonus. It's a great utility console. I am not big enough to be chasing band riders. I do a lot small stuff and distributed sound stuff. I rarely deal with high channel counts. Often times it's two RF mics, and some playback. Or maybe small bar bands, or a high school orchestra or choir or something along those lines. My clients aren't specific about the gear needed... they just know what the desired result is. So it's my job to bring what works. These smaller hybrid console are excellent for that criteria. And there is a greater return on investment. They are easy to operate... you don't have to spend time programming and building the console. It knows its a console when you turn it on. You can get up and running quickly. They sound decent enough. With this type of product, there's no point in getting into all nuanced audiophile stuff that doesn't really matter in the average public address setting. Most of what I do requires that the gear be a dependable and versatile utility item, that will provide years of service and income. These consoles fit that bill and probably always will.
your are wrong!
The Presonus Studiolive mixers are total crap. The internal power supplys are super fragile and fail quite regularly and the there's the dreaded DSP board and system freeze issues due to the fact that the memory gets written to every 15 seconds while the board is powered up and the chips can only take so many writes before they fail. POS. buy a Midas Board if you want reliability, features and superior sound. Can't believe I wasted over $2k on a Studiolive.