PreSonus StudioLive 24R Series III Digital Mixer

A Powerful Digital Rack Mixer...

The Series III rack mixers are the result of nine years of development. The StudioLive 24R offers 24 programmable XMAX mic preamps, 16 FlexMix buses that can be defined as aux sends, subgroups, or matrix, 4 fixed audio subgroups, 24 programmable DCA groups, the proven Fat Channel signal processing — now with new additional vintage EQ and compressor plugins — an Ethernet port, an AVB port with Ethercon connector, a built-in USB audio interface, an onboard SD card recorder, and a software suite worth €700. The StudioLive 24R is controlled via the "UC Surface" control software/app, which runs on Mac, PC, iOS, and Android devices.

...and a Perfect Partner for StudioLive Series III Mixers

Thanks to its AVB connector, you can simply hook the StudioLive 24R to a Series III console via CAT5e or CAT6 Ethernet cable and use it as a compact 2U stage box. Preamps and phantom power settings are controlled and switched from the console. The StudioLive 24R can also be used in "Monitor Mix" mode when needed. In that setup the FOH engineer handles the main mix while a second engineer takes care of the musicians' monitor mixes from the StudioLive 24R.

Versatile Connectivity

The front and rear panels of the StudioLive 24R are deliberately simple and clear but still provide all the essential connections you need. Inputs 1–24 are on the front, outputs are on the rear. Each of the 24 channels features a locking combo jack that accepts microphones (XLR) or line sources (balanced TRS). Additionally, there's a phono pair on the back for connecting a smartphone, media player, or other consumer audio devices. On the output side the StudioLive 24R offers Main XLR outputs (L/R), a front-panel headphone jack (1/4" stereo), and 12 balanced "Mix" TRS jacks that can be defined as aux, subgroup, or matrix outputs.

Built-In SD Card Recorder/Player

The onboard SD card recorder is very handy. You can record the main mix (Main L/R) — or any other stereo mix — as a high-resolution WAV file at 24-bit/48 kHz. Conversely, the SD card recorder can be used as a playback source for break music, and future firmware updates can be installed via SD card. The StudioLive 24R accepts SD and SDHC cards up to 32 GB; they must be formatted as FAT32 before use. Be sure to use quality cards with sufficient data throughput — typical examples are "SanDisk Extreme" and "Samsung Pro".

Fat Channel Signal Processing

PreSonus' powerful Fat Channel processing has been comprehensively revised, updated, and expanded with several vintage plugins, including compressors, limiters, and a passive EQ. These are carefully emulated vintage classics that would cost several thousand euros in hardware. Additionally, each of the 12 mix outputs features a fully parametric 6-band EQ and a programmable line delay.

All 24 inputs plus the phono inputs, the subgroups, the mix outputs and the main bus can be assigned Fat Channel processing simultaneously — and, if desired, even twice: the "A/B" button lets you recall or switch between alternative settings instantly. Example: an acoustic guitarist with a classical guitar and a 12-string, one mic, one input channel and two quick soundchecks — first with Fat Channel "A", then with Fat Channel "B". During the show you can switch faster than the player can change instruments. The same applies to dramatically different snare or kick sounds that you want to recall per song or even within a song. It's also perfect for comparisons: if your soundcheck sounds okay but you want to try a different bass drum approach without redoing the whole check, hit the "A/B" button, pick a new approach — maybe more compression, more "kick" — and switch in real time to compare and decide. What sounds better, you keep. Brilliant, right?

For the input channels the Fat Channel provides the following: gain, pan, polarity switch, high-pass filter, noise gate/expander with sidechain and key filter, fully parametric 4-band EQ, compressor, limiter, pan, line delay, aux send, aux mute and aux pan.

Time-saving and extremely useful as a starting point are the many professional Fat Channel presets for common sources — drums, bass, guitars, keys, brass and woodwinds, and vocals. You can also save your own Fat Channel settings in user memories and give them descriptive names. Presets can be previewed (auditioned) during soundcheck before committing. Fat Channel settings can be saved, recalled, and copied from channel to channel in an instant. New are the fantastic-sounding additional vintage plugins (EQ, compressor, delay and reverb).

Scenes and Presets — Flexible and Targeted

Beyond full scenes, the StudioLive 24R lets you save Fat Channel settings individually as user presets with descriptive names. New is that Aux sends and bus assignments are now stored too — in effect the complete individual channel strip.

When saving scenes the Series III now offers a "Scene Safe" feature that allows you to mark individual channels as "safe channels" so they aren't affected by a scene change. On recall you can also specify exactly which settings should be loaded and which should not. In addition, the StudioLive 24R provides a large number of professionally programmed Fat Channel factory presets, which can save you a lot of time.

FlexMix: Assign Subgroups and Buses as You Need

The StudioLive 24R provides 16 freely assignable signal buses (FlexMix), 12 of which have balanced analog outputs. These can be set up as aux, subgroup, or matrix outputs as required. In addition you can program up to 24 filter-DCA groups so that all channels in a previously defined group can be controlled simultaneously.

Choose an Operating Mode

If you use the StudioLive 24R as a stage box for a StudioLive Series III mixer, you can choose from four operating modes:

• Stagebox
  The StudioLive 24R functions as a pure I/O unit for the FOH console. Preamps' gain, phantom power settings and all mixes — both main and monitor — are handled on the FOH console. In this mode the rack mixer's DSP section is bypassed; the StudioLive 24R main output (L/R) carries the FOH console's main signal, and the mix outputs are driven by the FOH console's FlexMix buses 1–6.
• Monitor Mix
  In this mode the StudioLive 24R retains full functionality of its DSP section and FlexMix buses including their mix outputs. The monitor mixes are therefore created on the StudioLive 24R rather than on the FOH console. However, you have no control over the main mix, gain settings, or phantom power from the StudioLive 24R in this mode — these remain under FOH control.
• Monitor Mix + Preamps
  This mode is the same as Monitor Mix, but you can also control gain and phantom power from the StudioLive 24R.
• Off
  If "Off" is selected, the AVB connection between the StudioLive 24R and the FOH mixer remains available in principle, but each mixer is operated completely independently.

In general: regardless of the selected mode, presets and mixer scenes always apply only to the respective mixer. That means saving or recalling a preset or scene on the FOH console does not save or load any settings on the rack mixer (and vice versa).

Multi-Platform Software

The StudioLive 24R comes with a comprehensive suite of software and apps at no extra cost. "UC Surface" lets you control the rack mixer from Mac, PC, iPad or an Android tablet, wired or wirelessly via an optional Wi-Fi router. For wireless control the musicians can use the "QMix-UC" app to set their own monitor mixes — all they need is an iPhone, iPod touch, or Android smartphone. If you use the included DAW "Studio One 3 Artist" you can also set input gain directly from the DAW.

Another included component is "Capture", a dedicated recording application for Mac and PC. Capture is extremely easy to use, very CPU-friendly, and produces high-resolution WAV files at up to 48 kHz. With just one click you'll be ready to record all 26 tracks (the input channels plus the main bus) without complex setup.

Network, AVB, and USB

The StudioLive 24R has an AVB port with a locking Ethercon connector on the rear for connecting a Series-III mixer, the AVB switch "SW5E", or an AVB-capable computer. The integrated AVB audio interface allows you to stream up to 55 channels to and from a Mac or Windows computer. Modern Mac systems already support AVB audio; Windows systems require a third-party AVB network card and drivers. Alternatively you can of course use the built-in USB audio interface. The separate 1 Gb Ethernet port provides wired (or wireless with an optional Wi-Fi router) control of the rack mixer from Mac, PC, iOS or Android devices.

Superior Sound Quality

The StudioLive 24R uses PreSonus' own ultra-low-noise XMAX preamps, built on three principles:

1. High Voltage — XMAX preamps operate on a 30-volt supply. Standard op-amps typically run at 10–18 volts. The higher voltage delivers more headroom, fuller bass, silky highs, and a generally richer sound.
2. Discrete Design — XMAX preamps use no operational amplifiers (op-amps) at all, only discrete transistors, resistors and capacitors. Op-amps are often responsible for coloration, added noise and a "hard" character. Discrete designs are ultra-low-noise and excel with a transparent sound.
3. Class-A Topology — In Class-A the circuit is always in a conducting state with optimal voltage supply. This avoids crossover distortion and yields a cleaner, more musical sound than op-amps operating in conventional Class-B or Class A/B modes.

Studio One 3 Artist and the "Studio Magic" Plugin Suite — Free!

A great added value comes from the free extras you can download after registering the StudioLive 24R on your PreSonus account: Studio One 3 Artist — the world-class DAW with an intuitive fast workflow — is valued at €109 and includes 1.5 GB of samples and loops. The real highlight is the "Studio Magic" plugin suite: you also get, specially unlocked for the "Artist" edition, VST plugins with a combined value of over €600: Mäag Audio EQ2, Eventide H910, Eventide Stereo Room and Brainworx bx-opto — plus freeware like the SPL Attacker, Lexikon MPX-i Reverb and the Arturia Analog Lab Lite instrument with 17 legendary keyboards and 500 editable presets.