Rick
Axe-Master
While making comment on another thread involving a Macbook Pro, I mentioned a few loosely related uses involving my FOH and monitor setup. I received a request to elaborate on it a little, due to interest in the application.
DISCLAIMER: This isn't a sales pitch, I don't work for any of the companies involved. I am just sharing personal experiences with gear. As always, use what's useful, discard the rest! Cost of the board varies with location, $3299 is a online standard price, I got mine for $2900 new from a major national dealer.
A little over a year ago I was having a really bad time with a Mackie Onyx 24.4 board breaking down all the time and losing one side of the mains. After two 300 mile each way trips for repair, and another failure, I had it fixed and sold it. I had been using Mackie for 20 years, so I started shopping to see what else was out there. I kept hearing about a console from Presonus, who I had only previously known for studio gear. But it was getting rave reviews for flexibility. So I check and found it was called the StudioLive, and came in 16 and 24 channel versions.
DISCLAIMER 2: It would take me litetally more space than the forum would give to explain everything this board will do. Go to PreSonus, click on products, select mixers, then StudioLive 24.4.2. There are a few videos there, and access to manuals and such. Like Fractal, they update firmware pretty regularly, which can also be downloaded free from this site. BTW, it is a digital board, and I can't begin to extol the virtues of that in actual function.
What I am going to cover here are the wireless capabilities of the console, which are just scary-cool. I am going to be semi-brief, so feel free to ask questions or PM. I will let you know what I do about the unit.
Basic setup: I have the 24.4.2 connected to a Macbook Pro via 400 Firewire. The MBP is direct wired to a Apple Airport Extreme Dual Band, with both bands separated so I can select myself. Remote is a Gen1 Apple iPad. Other options are available (see below). Monitors go out though 25 pin D-Subs on back to a MyMix system. This works great but, as you will see, is no longer necessary.
The board ships with a few products worth noting. One is called Universal Control/Virtual StudioLive (VSL). This is the software that connects your StudioLive to the Mac or PC (either works fine). Another included product is called Capture. In short, it will record your mixer signal in full 24 track (actually even more tracks can be done live, as there are other recordable busses). This recording is fully editable and can be mastered in many other standard DAW suites. It can also be played back into the console for virtual soundchecks if you want to get levels and set the room before the band even gets there. More on these at the site above. Way, way cool... and free.
The wireless apps:
First, let's acknowledge that it is often a nightmare to get the FOH sound man in a good acoustic position to mix. How many times does your guy end up on a wall, in a ceiling height room or balcony, extremely left or right of center, etc? Even when you can put him front and center, you have the manage running a snake through the crowd to get there. This is quite unpopular at upscale black-tie sort of events where they've spent thousands decorating the venue (or when the house manager is just an a$$).
Now... what if you could put your mixing console wherever you wanted, even on or behind the stage, and mix while walking around the audience area?
With this relatively low cost, great sounding mixer this is already a reality. I have been doing it for a year and we don't even unload the case with the snake in it any longer, unless on a large stage to center the "plug in" area. You can connect a computer (PC or Mac, in laptop, tower, cube or whatever format) to the StudioLive via Firewire. You load the VSL software and the controls of the mixer come up on the computer screen in similar format to a recording DAW. You can adjust anything... faders, Fat Channel (you HAVE to go read on this, it is the heart of the console and what sold me on buying it), mains, Auxes, effects, straight from the computer. You can ad hoc a wireless connection to another laptop if you'd like to get it to a second location, but there is a better way...
Get an iPad w/ wifi (any memory size or generation works, I suggest a 32 as minimum) and download the free StudioLive remote app from the app store. To connect you can use the above mentioned ad hoc network, but I don't recommend it. Get a decent router, hook it to the computer, and get HUNDREDS of feet of wireless range. Once connected, the VSL type screen comes up on the iPad and you are wirelessly controlling VSL (and therefor the mixer) with the iPad. Walk wherever you need to hear the mix, adjust levels, effects (with tap tempo), EQ, anything... right from the iPad. If that isn't enough to smoke your brain, you can also do it (albeit with some dexterity challenge) on an iphone or ipod touch! Obviously, you can also set up your iMac with the 27" led screen and wireless to it if you want to impress the masses at a sit-down location that suites your mix-master. But I find the iPad to be a crowd-pleaser, and regular question generator! In landscape it shows the regular VSL display, in portrait it will show much more detail on a single channel (all are selectable, including auxes, sub masters, or mains).
Check it yourself opportuity: Even if you dont have the equipment, you can download the iPad app free and check it out. There are demo versions of the mix surface in the app you can play with, matching the three sizes of Studiolive mixers.
This is not a flying fader board, that would double cost. But the board will show you graphically where to place the faders to match the current mix should you wish to re-take manual control of the board. Which brings us to the "why a MyMix or Aviom system isn't needed for monitors" section...
There are 10 Auxes on the StudioLive 24, not counting FX which have their own two independent Auxes. These can provide completely independent monitor mixes, can be linked to stereo for IEMs, if desired, have full Fat Channel EQ, compression, FX, gating, etc, and are assignable by permissions to wireless devices. What that means is that you can assign a wireless connection (the drummers ipod touch or ipad, for instance) to allow him to control his own monitor mix. Yes, that also means you can keep the guitarist from turning himself up in the mains while fixing his monitor level! Ha ha. Most band folk have one or more of these items, so you could actually provide a completely musician-on-stage controlled monitor mix without the $6-10K expense of a full networked monitor system. It is in use now, and works great. Our monitors are routed to IEMs or powered wedges, which all work great.
Anyway, I share this great experience with you in the same way as someone also shared an experience with the Eleven rack with me that eventually led me to the Axe Fx. I hope that those who would benefit from such a product check it out. It's cool, and the company is as approachable as FAS about use and improvement. They are located in Baton Rouge, southern Louisiana.
RESEARCH: Check YouTube or Vimeo for a large variety of vids on use. Of patricular interest are those by Presonus featuring Rick Naqvi, Jason Harris, and others. Also check out information by experienced international FOH guy Ace Baker on the unit (you can find him on FB as well), he is currently using the mixer for FOH with the Paul Gilbert band. Paul also has high praise for the ease of use and high fidelity, not to mention raving about getting studio quality demos of every performance. Read the manuals on Presonus.com, ask me for my experiences with it. I am no expert, but I have run into a few things and can probably help in basic decisions. Check out their forum too. They are helpful and have a section for pre-purchase questions too.
They also do a streaming show demonstrating uses of the product (with freebies!). Sign up for their emails for an invite. That might be a very cool future idea for Fractal.
All the best, hope this is helpful to someone.
How's that, Alex?
DISCLAIMER: This isn't a sales pitch, I don't work for any of the companies involved. I am just sharing personal experiences with gear. As always, use what's useful, discard the rest! Cost of the board varies with location, $3299 is a online standard price, I got mine for $2900 new from a major national dealer.
A little over a year ago I was having a really bad time with a Mackie Onyx 24.4 board breaking down all the time and losing one side of the mains. After two 300 mile each way trips for repair, and another failure, I had it fixed and sold it. I had been using Mackie for 20 years, so I started shopping to see what else was out there. I kept hearing about a console from Presonus, who I had only previously known for studio gear. But it was getting rave reviews for flexibility. So I check and found it was called the StudioLive, and came in 16 and 24 channel versions.
DISCLAIMER 2: It would take me litetally more space than the forum would give to explain everything this board will do. Go to PreSonus, click on products, select mixers, then StudioLive 24.4.2. There are a few videos there, and access to manuals and such. Like Fractal, they update firmware pretty regularly, which can also be downloaded free from this site. BTW, it is a digital board, and I can't begin to extol the virtues of that in actual function.
What I am going to cover here are the wireless capabilities of the console, which are just scary-cool. I am going to be semi-brief, so feel free to ask questions or PM. I will let you know what I do about the unit.
Basic setup: I have the 24.4.2 connected to a Macbook Pro via 400 Firewire. The MBP is direct wired to a Apple Airport Extreme Dual Band, with both bands separated so I can select myself. Remote is a Gen1 Apple iPad. Other options are available (see below). Monitors go out though 25 pin D-Subs on back to a MyMix system. This works great but, as you will see, is no longer necessary.
The board ships with a few products worth noting. One is called Universal Control/Virtual StudioLive (VSL). This is the software that connects your StudioLive to the Mac or PC (either works fine). Another included product is called Capture. In short, it will record your mixer signal in full 24 track (actually even more tracks can be done live, as there are other recordable busses). This recording is fully editable and can be mastered in many other standard DAW suites. It can also be played back into the console for virtual soundchecks if you want to get levels and set the room before the band even gets there. More on these at the site above. Way, way cool... and free.
The wireless apps:
First, let's acknowledge that it is often a nightmare to get the FOH sound man in a good acoustic position to mix. How many times does your guy end up on a wall, in a ceiling height room or balcony, extremely left or right of center, etc? Even when you can put him front and center, you have the manage running a snake through the crowd to get there. This is quite unpopular at upscale black-tie sort of events where they've spent thousands decorating the venue (or when the house manager is just an a$$).
Now... what if you could put your mixing console wherever you wanted, even on or behind the stage, and mix while walking around the audience area?
With this relatively low cost, great sounding mixer this is already a reality. I have been doing it for a year and we don't even unload the case with the snake in it any longer, unless on a large stage to center the "plug in" area. You can connect a computer (PC or Mac, in laptop, tower, cube or whatever format) to the StudioLive via Firewire. You load the VSL software and the controls of the mixer come up on the computer screen in similar format to a recording DAW. You can adjust anything... faders, Fat Channel (you HAVE to go read on this, it is the heart of the console and what sold me on buying it), mains, Auxes, effects, straight from the computer. You can ad hoc a wireless connection to another laptop if you'd like to get it to a second location, but there is a better way...
Get an iPad w/ wifi (any memory size or generation works, I suggest a 32 as minimum) and download the free StudioLive remote app from the app store. To connect you can use the above mentioned ad hoc network, but I don't recommend it. Get a decent router, hook it to the computer, and get HUNDREDS of feet of wireless range. Once connected, the VSL type screen comes up on the iPad and you are wirelessly controlling VSL (and therefor the mixer) with the iPad. Walk wherever you need to hear the mix, adjust levels, effects (with tap tempo), EQ, anything... right from the iPad. If that isn't enough to smoke your brain, you can also do it (albeit with some dexterity challenge) on an iphone or ipod touch! Obviously, you can also set up your iMac with the 27" led screen and wireless to it if you want to impress the masses at a sit-down location that suites your mix-master. But I find the iPad to be a crowd-pleaser, and regular question generator! In landscape it shows the regular VSL display, in portrait it will show much more detail on a single channel (all are selectable, including auxes, sub masters, or mains).
Check it yourself opportuity: Even if you dont have the equipment, you can download the iPad app free and check it out. There are demo versions of the mix surface in the app you can play with, matching the three sizes of Studiolive mixers.
This is not a flying fader board, that would double cost. But the board will show you graphically where to place the faders to match the current mix should you wish to re-take manual control of the board. Which brings us to the "why a MyMix or Aviom system isn't needed for monitors" section...
There are 10 Auxes on the StudioLive 24, not counting FX which have their own two independent Auxes. These can provide completely independent monitor mixes, can be linked to stereo for IEMs, if desired, have full Fat Channel EQ, compression, FX, gating, etc, and are assignable by permissions to wireless devices. What that means is that you can assign a wireless connection (the drummers ipod touch or ipad, for instance) to allow him to control his own monitor mix. Yes, that also means you can keep the guitarist from turning himself up in the mains while fixing his monitor level! Ha ha. Most band folk have one or more of these items, so you could actually provide a completely musician-on-stage controlled monitor mix without the $6-10K expense of a full networked monitor system. It is in use now, and works great. Our monitors are routed to IEMs or powered wedges, which all work great.
Anyway, I share this great experience with you in the same way as someone also shared an experience with the Eleven rack with me that eventually led me to the Axe Fx. I hope that those who would benefit from such a product check it out. It's cool, and the company is as approachable as FAS about use and improvement. They are located in Baton Rouge, southern Louisiana.
RESEARCH: Check YouTube or Vimeo for a large variety of vids on use. Of patricular interest are those by Presonus featuring Rick Naqvi, Jason Harris, and others. Also check out information by experienced international FOH guy Ace Baker on the unit (you can find him on FB as well), he is currently using the mixer for FOH with the Paul Gilbert band. Paul also has high praise for the ease of use and high fidelity, not to mention raving about getting studio quality demos of every performance. Read the manuals on Presonus.com, ask me for my experiences with it. I am no expert, but I have run into a few things and can probably help in basic decisions. Check out their forum too. They are helpful and have a section for pre-purchase questions too.
They also do a streaming show demonstrating uses of the product (with freebies!). Sign up for their emails for an invite. That might be a very cool future idea for Fractal.
All the best, hope this is helpful to someone.
How's that, Alex?
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