The Main Meter Section ............................................................................................................................. 45Selected Channel ...................................................................................................................................... 45Subs ........................................................................................................................................................... 46Main .......................................................................................................................................................... 46
The Solo or Cue Section ............................................................................................................................ 50SIP (Solo In Place) .................................................................................................................................... 50PFL (Pre-Fader Listen) .............................................................................................................................. 50Solo or CUE Level .................................................................................................................................... 51
Phones ............................................................................................................................................................ 512 Track In ....................................................................................................................................................... 52
Level Control ............................................................................................................................................. 52Tape .......................................................................................................................................................... 52FireWire or D)) Button ............................................................................................................................ 52
The Talkback System ................................................................................................................................... 52Talkback Mic ............................................................................................................................................ 53Talkback Routing ..................................................................................................................................... 53Talkback Button ....................................................................................................................................... 53
Aux Inputs ...................................................................................................................................................... 54Subgroups ....................................................................................................................................................... 54Mute Groups ................................................................................................................................................. 55
All On ........................................................................................................................................................ 55All Off ........................................................................................................................................................ 56Mute Groups 1–6 .................................................................................................................................... 56
Chapter sIx—Master Control ....................................................................................... 57Navigation ...................................................................................................................................................... 57Value ................................................................................................................................................................ 57Previous and Next ....................................................................................................................................... 57Page Up and Page Down ............................................................................................................................ 57FX .................................................................................................................................................................... 58Scene ............................................................................................................................................................... 58Store ................................................................................................................................................................ 58Recall ............................................................................................................................................................... 58System ............................................................................................................................................................. 58Digital Effects ................................................................................................................................................. 58
Reverb ....................................................................................................................................................... 58Delay ......................................................................................................................................................... 61Setting Up the Effects .............................................................................................................................. 62
Graphic EQs .................................................................................................................................................. 62Assignment ................................................................................................................................................ 63Navigation ................................................................................................................................................. 64Storing and Recalling Settings ................................................................................................................. 64Using the Graphic EQ .............................................................................................................................. 64
System Menu Control Functions .............................................................................................................. 64Page 1: Global .......................................................................................................................................... 65Page 2: Network ...................................................................................................................................... 66Page 3: iOS Setup .................................................................................................................................... 66Page 4: Aux Pre Position .......................................................................................................................... 66Page 5: FX Pre Position ........................................................................................................................... 67Page 6: Digital Info .................................................................................................................................. 67Page 7: Sub Out Delay ............................................................................................................................ 69Page 8: Lockout Mode ............................................................................................................................. 70Page 9: System About .............................................................................................................................. 70
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Chapter seven—unIque Features .............................................................................. 71Virtual StudioLive ......................................................................................................................................... 71
Remote Control via VSL ............................................................................................................................ 74Manage Presets ........................................................................................................................................ 75Lockout ...................................................................................................................................................... 77
Wireless Control via SL Remote ............................................................................................................. 77Smaart Integration ........................................................................................................................................ 77
Smaart Room Analysis Wizard ................................................................................................................. 83QMix/QMix-AI iPhone Remote Control of Cue Mixes ...................................................................... 84Recording Software ..................................................................................................................................... 85
Capture 2 .................................................................................................................................................. 85Studio One ................................................................................................................................................ 85
PART 2: uSing STudioLive foR Live Sound Chapter eIght—tunIng the sound systeM to the rooM ........... 87
Why Each Venue Sounds Different .......................................................................................................... 87The Size .................................................................................................................................................... 87The Shape ................................................................................................................................................. 89The Building Materials Used ................................................................................................................... 90The Fixtures .............................................................................................................................................. 90The Audience ............................................................................................................................................ 90
EQing the Room ........................................................................................................................................... 91Using Smaart to Analyze and Correct a Live Venue ............................................................................ 91A Word About Room EQ Curves ............................................................................................................ 94
Suppressing Feedback .................................................................................................................................. 95Ringing Out the System ........................................................................................................................... 95Using Smaart to Suppress Feedback ..................................................................................................... 96GEQ Draw Mode ..................................................................................................................................... 98
Storing and Recalling a Setup ................................................................................................................... 98Storing a Setup ......................................................................................................................................... 98Recalling a Scene ...................................................................................................................................100
Chapter nIne—stage MonItor MIxes ...................................................................101Analyzing and Correcting the Floor Monitors ....................................................................................102Suppressing Feedback ................................................................................................................................102
Ringing Out the System .........................................................................................................................102Using Smaart to Suppress Feedback ...................................................................................................102
Setting Up Multiple Monitor Mixes ........................................................................................................104QMix iPhone Remote Control of Monitor Mixes ..............................................................................104
Setting Up Wireless Control..................................................................................................................105Connecting Your Computer to the Network (AI Series Consoles) .....................................................106Connecting Your iPhone to the Network .............................................................................................107The Different Views ...............................................................................................................................107QMix Options .........................................................................................................................................108Permissions .............................................................................................................................................109
Bad Gain Staging Examples ..................................................................................................................113Channel and Subgroup Gain Staging ...................................................................................................114
Setting the Levels .......................................................................................................................................115Adding More Instruments ........................................................................................................................116Using the Dynamics ...................................................................................................................................116
Setting Up the Gate ...............................................................................................................................116Setting the Compressor .........................................................................................................................117Using the Limiter ....................................................................................................................................118
Using the EQ ...............................................................................................................................................118
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sUsing the High-Pass Filter .....................................................................................................................119Using the Equalizer ................................................................................................................................119
Creating a Balance .....................................................................................................................................122Dealing with Loud Amplifiers ................................................................................................................123Mixing Up to the Stage Volume ...........................................................................................................123Mixing with Subgroups ..........................................................................................................................123Mixing in Stereo .....................................................................................................................................124
Using Effects ................................................................................................................................................125Two-Delay Setup ....................................................................................................................................125Reverb and Delay Setup ........................................................................................................................125Two-Reverb Setup ..................................................................................................................................125Two-Delay Two-Reverb Setup (AI Series Only) ...................................................................................125
Storing Presets and Scenes ......................................................................................................................126
Chapter eleven—ControllIng studIolIve reMotely ...................127Setting Up Wireless Control ...................................................................................................................127
On a Mac Running OS X 10.6 to 10.8 ...............................................................................................127On a PC Running Windows 7 ...............................................................................................................128
Connecting Your iPad to the Network ................................................................................................128Using SL Remote ........................................................................................................................................129
The Start Page ........................................................................................................................................129The Different Views ...............................................................................................................................130
Scenarios for Remote Control ...............................................................................................................134
Chapter thIrteen—reCordIng your perForManCe..........................143Recording with Capture 2 ........................................................................................................................143
Using Capture 2 .....................................................................................................................................143Virtual Soundcheck ................................................................................................................................144Session Lock ............................................................................................................................................145File Management ...................................................................................................................................146Big Meter Mode .....................................................................................................................................147Markers ...................................................................................................................................................148
Using an Outboard Recorder..................................................................................................................149Setting the Record Level ........................................................................................................................151Two-Track Recording .............................................................................................................................151
PART 3: uSing STudioLive in The STudioChapter Fourteen—treatIng your rooM aCoustICs ...................153
Acoustic Quick Fixes .................................................................................................................................153Tuning Your Speakers to the Room ......................................................................................................158The Type of Curve to Look For .............................................................................................................160
Step 1: Choose the Best Place in the Room ........................................................................................161Step 2: Choose the Right Mic ...............................................................................................................162Step 3: Choose the Mic Placement ......................................................................................................163Step 4: Avoid Phase Cancellation .........................................................................................................165
Basic Mic Placement ..................................................................................................................................166The Secret to Good Sounds .........................................................................................................................167The Drum Kit ................................................................................................................................................167Bass Guitar ....................................................................................................................................................172Electric Guitar ................................................................................................................................................173Acoustic Guitar ..............................................................................................................................................174Electric Keyboards.........................................................................................................................................174Acoustic Grand Piano ....................................................................................................................................174Acoustic Upright Piano .................................................................................................................................175Hand Percussion ...........................................................................................................................................176Drum Percussion ...........................................................................................................................................176Individual String Instruments .......................................................................................................................177String Ensembles ...........................................................................................................................................177Brass ...............................................................................................................................................................178
Stereo Miking Techniques ........................................................................................................................180X/Y ..........................................................................................................................................................180ORTF .......................................................................................................................................................181Spaced Pair .............................................................................................................................................181Stereo Mic ...............................................................................................................................................182
Chapter sIxteen —reCordIng wIth studIolIve ......................................183Setting Record Levels ................................................................................................................................183
Headroom ...............................................................................................................................................184How to Set the Recording Level ...........................................................................................................185Recording with or without Signal Processing .......................................................................................186Setting the Recording Level with Signal Processing.............................................................................187DI Setup ..................................................................................................................................................187Saving Your Settings ..............................................................................................................................188
If Something Is Noisy or Distorting .......................................................................................................188Cue Mixes ....................................................................................................................................................189
Setting Up a Cue Mix ............................................................................................................................189The Players Control Their Own Cue Mixes with QMix ......................................................................192
Studio One ...................................................................................................................................................195Versions ...................................................................................................................................................196Uploading to Soundcloud ......................................................................................................................196Uploading to Nimbit ..............................................................................................................................196
Chapter seventeen—studIo MIxIng wIth studIolIve ...................197The Difference between Live and Studio Mixing ................................................................................197How Long Should a Mix Take? ...............................................................................................................198Configuring StudioLive for Mixing ..........................................................................................................199Setting Up Solo In Place ............................................................................................................................199Building the Mix ..........................................................................................................................................200Creating a Balance .....................................................................................................................................200
The Rhythm Section ...............................................................................................................................200The Lead Element ..................................................................................................................................203The Rest of the Mix ...............................................................................................................................204
Panning ..........................................................................................................................................................204Panning the Drums ................................................................................................................................204Stereo Instruments .................................................................................................................................205Background Vocals .................................................................................................................................205
Using the Equalizer ....................................................................................................................................206Frequency Areas to Look At ..................................................................................................................206The Principles of Equalization ...............................................................................................................207
Using the Dynamics ...................................................................................................................................207Using the Gate .......................................................................................................................................207Using the Compressor ...........................................................................................................................208Using the Limiter ....................................................................................................................................210
Using Effects ................................................................................................................................................210Recalling FX Presets...............................................................................................................................210Using Reverb ...........................................................................................................................................211Using Delay .............................................................................................................................................212Add an Artificial Double .......................................................................................................................212EQing Effects ..........................................................................................................................................213Storing Presets ........................................................................................................................................213
Watch the Meters ......................................................................................................................................214Storing and Recalling Scenes ....................................................................................................................214
Chapter eIghteen—nIMBIt ..................................................................................................215Nimbit Features ..........................................................................................................................................215
Free Plan .................................................................................................................................................216Plus Plan ..................................................................................................................................................216Premium Plan .........................................................................................................................................217
Accessing Nimbit ........................................................................................................................................217Uploading a Song to Nimbit ...................................................................................................................218
Index ................................................................................................................................................................220
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IntroduCtIonYou’re probably wondering why The PreSonus StudioLive Handbook book came about when there’s a perfectly good manual for the PreSonus StudioLive console already.
StudioLive’s manual is indeed well-written and contains a lot of details about the console, some which will also be covered here and some not, but I never intended for this book to be just a rehash of the manual.
The real reason why I wrote this book is because so few StudioLive owners actually use this excellent console to anywhere near its full potential. In fact, the typical user only scratches the surface of what it can do, which is a shame because if you do tap into its power, it can help make your gigs and recordings sound so much better, as well as solve a number of typical user problems along the way. My goal is to show you scenarios where these features can be helpful in the hopes that you’ll give them a try.
This is also a book about “why.” Many users, especially those new to mixing, aren’t sure why many of StudioLive’s features and controls are included or what they may be used for. The StudioLive Handbook is intended to give you some background regarding the real-world situation that caused each feature to be created. Every parameter is on the console for a good reason, and if you understand the problem it solves, it makes it a lot easier to apply them to your own mixing situation.
Like many of my other books, The PreSonus StudioLive Handbook is divided into three parts:
• part 1 is a general overview of StudioLive, with an in-depth look at all the controls, parameters, and functions as well as an explanation of why they’re included and the situations where they’re normally used.
• part 2 is about using StudioLive specifically in the live sound environment, with a look at how the console can solve some typical problems in situations where you’ll most likely be using it.
• part 3 is about using StudioLive in the studio, with a look at recording, miking, and mixing techniques used by top pros that go beyond what’s found in a typical owner’s manual.
StudioLive is an amazing achievement in that it packs so much bang for the buck in terms of features, although many are never even touched by some users. It’s also highly flexible and updatable, things that many other consoles in the price range can’t claim, and its feature set blooms when connected to a computer.
As PreSonus vice-president of sales Rick Naqvi says, “The worst that your StudioLive will ever be is on the day that you buy it!” That’s a bold statement, but I hope to show how it’s absolutely true. Let’s dig into the features that StudioLive can contribute to make your live sound and recordings sound better than ever before.
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FiguRe 1.12: The STeReo Link buTTon.
Stereo LinkMany stereo instruments or vocals are easier to control during a mix if their channels are linked together, which is what the Stereo Link button does. This allows you to change the EQ, compression, or effects on both channels simultaneously from just a single channel, so the adjustments are faster and more precise.
To engage the stereo link function, select two channels and then the Stereo Link button (see Figure 1.12). The only caveat is that they have to be adjoining odd and even channels, such as 1–2, 5–6, or 21–22, to successfully link together.
AssignmentsThe Assignment section allows you to assign the channel to either the main console outputs or any of the four subgroups (see Figure 1.13). Large groups of faders (12 drum channels, for instance) can be impossible to move all at the same time even with two hands, so subgroups were created to make that operation easier. That means you can assign a number of channels (such as the drums) to a single subgroup fader and a number other similar channels (such as vocals) to another subgroup fader so you don’t need four hands on the console to do a mix.
FiguRe 1.13: The ASSignMenT SecTion.
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Figure 4.1: the meter switches.
4METERINGMetering is important in any piece of audio gear, but especially so in anything digital. That’s because a signal that exceeds 0dB on the meter usually results in distortion that often sounds worse than when it happens in its analog counterpart. That’s why we have to take metering seriously, and StudioLive does, with the ability to visually monitor far more than it initially appears to. This chapter provides an overview of the various meters on the console and their functions.
the Fat channel metersThe Fat Channel meters are actually multipurpose in that they can display much more than the individual functions of the Fat Channel. With the buttons located below the Digital Effects | Master Control (see Figure 4.1), the meters can be switched to look at input, output, gain reduction, auxes, and fader position, as discussed in the following sections.
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