PreSonus StudioLive 16R 18-input, 16-channel Series III Stage Box and Rack Mixer

We have moved some of our events outdoors and did not wish to drag a full analog sound reinforcement system outside every week. Since we have an existing indoor Presonus fixed installation, this rack mounted unit was a good match for us. We are combing this mixer with a JBL Eon One as a center "Speaker as Monitor" connected to AUX 1.Although there are racked mounted mixers available with built in WiFi, users complain of poor WiFi connectivity or poor mixer dependability. We racked mounted this unit along with a Dual Band WIFI router and a power strip into an SKB 4u Flyer rolling case. We connected a small bluetooth receiver to the RCA inputs in the back of the unit (Channels 23 and 24). We can stream background music from an iPhone over bluetooth before and after events. WiFi connectivity has been good and "tablet battery anxiety" can be alleviated by carrying a backup external battery pack. Setup properly, using line output, this mixer is very quiet with excellent preamps.We are running subgroups for vocals and instruments. We have programmed in multiple mute groups including: speakers only, vocals and instruments only, FX only, complementing the existing mute all group. It is possible to keep the mute groups available above the channel sliders by using the quick view. This allows us to say, mute the effects when a vocalist needs to talk. It is important to select Device Mode --> Mixer --> Link Aux Mutes --> Main Mute Auxes if you want to link the Main channel mutes to Aux 1 (Our center channel). You can create DCA filter groups on the fly to maximize the use of the available real estate on your mobile tablet, by filtering out any channels not currently in use.The Universal Control software did work on a Windows Surface Tablet, a Mac Portable Computer and an Apple iPad. If you loose connectivity, the mixer continues to function. When you save a scene, the scene is saved directly onto the 24R. To use a Mac, I had to update the 24R firmware connecting to a Mac over USB while the Mac computer was simultaneously connected to the Internet over WiFi. Finally, it is possible to use this 24R rack unit as a stage box and control it with a PreSonus 32SC board over Ethernet.So are there negatives to using a tablet controlled mixer over a FOH console? Yes. First, it only makes sense that an AC powered, ethernet connected FOH console mixer with physical sliders is probably going to be more reliable than a battery powered WiFi connected tablet controlled mixer. Second, there is no actual audio signal being transferred to the tablet, so listening to a single channel using the solo button is not possible. Third, there is no audio being sent from the tablet to the mixer, so there is no built in talk back function from the tablet.For portable sound reinforcement, the primary advantages are simplicity and safety in setup and takedown since there is no need for a snake: all mic and instrument inputs go directly to the on stage rack mounted mixer, eliminating one trip hazard.

I love this piece of equipment! It put into one deep rack space an entire mixing board that took up external space to my rack.

This is without a doubt the best rack mount mixer bang for the buck. We only tour with Oreos us and this rig is rock solid. No problems and so customizable that we haven’t even begun getting to the limitations of the mixer. Don’t waste your time with behringer/tascam/soundcraft rack mixers. Just get a presonus 16R and know that is performs circles around everything else.

La mejor consola de rack que existe

An amazing digital rack mixer. I'm using it as a standalone mixer. Controlling it via my Android tablet and multi-track recording on my Laptop via the PreSonus Capture software.

I tried for a full day to get it to connect to my higher quality gaming computer made by Ibuypower but their driver which is called Universal Control just would not work to connect it to my computer via USB.And, they have no phone support so I was on my own with their sometimes confusing website . There were some tips on there for such issues as I was having but nothing worked . So rather than keep being frustrated I just gave up and returned it .

I purchased this to replace my old Aardvark Pro Q10 recording. Being that the company no longer makes the units or supports them, and they only work with Windows XP, I needed a major upgrade. The PreSonus StudioLive 16R is a great upgrade. It sounds really good. It has all the channels I need, for now. I can record my full drum kit of 9 mics and still have room for bass, electric guitar, keyboards (L & R), Vocals, Sax and Acoustic Guitar.It took some time to get used to, but I am close to being comfortable with it. Couple of things that I think should've been built it are as follows:1) A boost for line level guitars (Electric, Bass, etc) without the use for a DI. The Aardvark Pro Q10 actually had a button for guitars that would boot the signal. For guitars I'm maxing out the Pre-Input button and it could be louder2) Output Aux Channels should be stereo. When I output these channels to my PreSonus HP6 headphone monitoring system, I have to set it to Mono because the outputs of this unit is only Mono. The inputs for the Aux in the HP6 are stereo.3) There should be an output to the Control Room/Phones. I'm having to send the signal from the Phone output into my HP60. That output is in the front. It would be great to have that in the back of the unit.4) Ability to send signal to the phones mixer through routing in the software. In addition to the phone volume knob on the unit.I don't regret purchasing this unit. It's a great replacement to my old Aardvark Pro Q10 module. But, because of some of the limitations, I had to make some "creative" adjustments.

Used it to build a live box. Works perfectly!