StudioLive AR-Series ™ Hybrid Digital/Analog Production Mixers Owner’s Manual ® www.presonus.
Table of Contents 1 Overview — 1 4 SD Recording and Playback — 18 1.1 Introduction — 1 4.1 SD Recording — 18 1.2 About This Manual — 1 4.2 SD Playback — 19 1.3 Summary of Features — 2 5 Resources — 20 5.1 EQ Frequency Guides — 20 5.2 Block Diagrams — 22 1.3.1 Hardware Features — 2 1.4 What is in the Box — 3 1.5 What is in your My PreSonus Account — 3 2 Getting Started — 4 2.1 Level-Setting Procedure — 4 3 Hookup — 6 3.1 Connections and Controls — 6 3.2 3.5 3.6 5.2.
1 1.1 Overview Introduction 1 Overview 1.1 Introduction StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Thank you for purchasing a PreSonus® StudioLive™ AR-series mixer, the world’s most advanced hybrid digital/analog production mixer. PreSonus Audio Electronics has designed the StudioLive AR-series mixers utilizing high-grade components to ensure optimum performance. Loaded with high-headroom microphone preamplifiers; a built-in USB 2.
1 1.3 Overview Summary of Features 1.3 Summary of Features StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual 1.3.
1 1.4 Overview What is in the Box 1.4 What is in the Box StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual In addition to this manual, your StudioLive package contains the following: •• PreSonus StudioLive AR22 USB, AR16 USB, AR12 USB, or AR8 USB hybrid digital/analog performance mixer •• 6-foot (1.
2 2.1 Getting Started Level-Setting Procedure 2 Getting Started StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Before you begin, here are a few general rules of thumb: •• Always turn down the Main, Control Room, and Phones level controls before making connections. •• Before plugging or unplugging a microphone while other channels are active, mute the channel to which you are connecting. •• Channel levels should be set on or near the “U” mark whenever possible.
2 2.1 Getting Started Level-Setting Procedure StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual 6. If your microphone requires phantom power, engage the 48V button on your StudioLive AR mixer. 7. Turn on your amplifier or powered monitors. 8. Speak or sing into your microphone at approximately the same volume you expect during the performance. 9. Turn the trim knob on Channel 1 clockwise while watching the signal indicator.
3 3.1 Hookup Connections and Controls 3 Hookup 3.1 Connections and Controls StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual 3.1.1 Inputs Microphone Inputs. Your StudioLive AR-series mixer is equipped with high-quality microphone preamplifiers for use with all types of microphones. 48-volt Phantom Power. The StudioLive AR mixers provide global 48V phantom power for all microphone inputs.
3 3.1 StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Hookup Connections and Controls Ring (In) Tip (Return) Tip (Out) Insert-connector wiring: Tip Ring (Send) (Return) From processor output Tip (Send) Tip = send (output to inserted device) Ring = return (input from inserted device) Sleeve = common ground To mixer channel insert To processor input 3.1.2 Outputs 1 2 3 4 5 6 1. Main. The StudioLive AR-series mixers feature with XLR main outputs. 2. Control Room.
3 3.2 StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Hookup Channel Controls 3.1.3 Rear Panel Connections USB 2.0 port. Use this port to connect your StudioLive AR-series mixer to a USB port on your computer when using the mixer as an audio interface. See your StudioLive AR-series Software Reference Manual for further information. Power-input. Plug in the provided IEC power cable here. Power switch. Push the top part of the switch ( | ) to turn on your StudioLive AR mixer.
3 3.3 Hookup The Super Channel StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual 9. Monitor sends. These are the level controls for each channel to the corresponding monitor mix. The AR22 USB, AR16 USB and AR12 USB provide two monitor mixes, and the AR8 USB provides one monitor mix. See Section 3.4 for more information on creating monitor mixes. 10. FX send. This is the level control for each channel for the effects mix. See Section 3.5 for more information on creating effects mixes. 11. Pan.
3 3.4 StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Hookup Monitor Buses 3.3.1 Pairing a Bluetooth Device To pair a new device to your StudioLive AR-series mixer: Hold 3 sec 1. Press and hold the Bluetooth pairing button for three seconds. 2. The Bluetooth button will flash once every second. 3. Search for new Bluetooth devices from the device to which you’d like to pair (smartphone, tablet, etc). 4. Select “StudioLive AR22/16/12/8 USB” from the available Bluetooth devices list on the pairing device. 5.
3 3.4 StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Hookup Monitor Buses 3.4.2 Creating Monitor Mixes Creating custom monitor mixes is critical. If musicians can’t hear themselves or their bandmates, their performances will suffer. A monitor mix can be mono or stereo. Most often, an individual live monitor mix is mono and is sent to a floor-wedge or sidefill monitor. (The obvious exception is in-ear monitor systems.
StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual 3 3.5 Hookup Internal FX Bus 3.5 Internal FX Bus Each StudioLive AR-series mixer is equipped with an internal effects processor with 16 effects presets. This section will cover each preset, as well as how to add and use effects in your mix. 3.5.1 Effects Presets To select an effects preset, simply turn the encoder until the desired preset number is displayed and press the encoder. Preset Descriptions and Uses No.
3 3.5 StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Hookup Internal FX Bus 3.5.2 Internal FX Bus Return The internal FX return allows you to adjust the amount of the effects output you would like in your main and monitor mixes. 1 1. Monitor sends. These are the level controls for the effects output in each monitor mix. The AR22 USB, AR16 USB and AR12 USB provide two monitor mixes; the AR8 USB provides one monitor mix. See Section 3.4.2 for more information on creating monitor mixes. 2 2. Balance.
3 3.5 StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Hookup Internal FX Bus 3. Use the FX send controls on each channel the same way that you use the faders to set the output level to your main mix. The higher a channel’s level is in the effects mix, the more processed (“wetter”) it will sound. Let’s say that you are using reverb to liven up a relatively dead room.
3 3.6 Hookup Master Section Controls 3.6 Master Section Controls 1 2 StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual 1. USB 1-2 Send. By default, the main mix can be recorded to your computer on the last USB send pair (21-22 / 17-18 / 13-14 / 7-8). If you are only recording the main mix on your computer, engaging the USB 1-2 Send button will simplify setup in most situations. Note: When this button is enabled, Channels 1 and 2 cannot be recorded individually, although they will still be a part of the Main mix. 2.
3 3.7 Hookup Typical Band Setup Diagram 3.
3 3.8 Hookup Typical Home Studio Setup Diagram 3.
4 4.1 SD Recording and Playback SD Recording 4 SD Recording and Playback StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual StudioLive AR-series mixers are equipped with an onboard stereo SD recorder that allows you to record the main mix as a stereo WAV file to any FAT16formatted SD card or FAT32-formatted SDHC card. You can also load stereo WAV and MP3 files onto an SD or SDHC card to play audio during a show. 4.1 SD Recording This section explains on how to record the main mix as a stereo WAV file: 1.
4 4.2 SD Recording and Playback SD Playback 4.2 SD Playback StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Playing files from the SD card is a great way to listen to a performance right away, and it can be useful during a performance. SD cards can be preloaded with backing tracks for performance or rehearsal. Or load an SD card with your favorite break music and never be caught without the right adapter or cable again. To play audio from your SD recorder: 1.
5 5.1 Resources EQ Frequency Guides 5 Resources 5.
5 5.
5 5.2 Resources Block Diagrams 5.2 Block Diagrams StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual 5.2.
StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Resources Block Diagrams Main Mix L Main Mix R Solo Bus L Solo Bus R Mon 1 Mon 2 FX 5 5.
5 5.2 StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Resources Block Diagrams 5.2.
StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Resources Block Diagrams Main Mix L Main Mix R Solo Bus L Solo Bus R Mon FX 5 5.
5 5.3 Resources Recall Sheets 5.3 Recall Sheets StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual 5.3.
5 5.
5 5.3 StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Resources Recall Sheets 5.3.
5 5.4 Resources Technical Specifications 5.4 Technical Specifications StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Microphone Preamp Type XLR Female, Class A Maximum Input level (unity gain) +18 dBu (Mono Channels), +5 dBu (Stereo Channels) +/- 1.0 dB Gain Control Range Mono Channels: 50 dB, ±1 dB (Unity to +50 dB), Stereo Channels: 40 dB +/- 1 dB (+5 to +45 dB) Frequency Response to Analog Outputs 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB Frequency Response to USB (Direct) 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.
5 5.4 StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Resources Technical Specifications Main, Control Room, Monitor, and FX Outputs Type (Main Outputs) XLR Male, Impedance Balanced Type (Control Room, Monitor, FX Outputs) ¼” TRS Female, Balanced Rated Output Level (Main Outputs) +24 dBu, ±1.0 dB Rated Output Level (Control Room, Monitor, FX Outputs) +18 dBu Frequency Response 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB Dynamic Range (A-wtd) > 108 dB THD+N (Bandwidth 20~20 kHz, -1 dBFS, unwtd) < 0.
5 5.4 StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Resources Technical Specifications SD Recorder Supported Media Format FAT16-formatted SD Card, FAT32-formatted SDHC Card Media Storage Capacity SD Card: 2 GB, SDHC Card: 32 GB Recording File Format Stereo WAV Playback File Formats Stereo WAV, MP3 Sampling Rate (WAV) 44.
6 6.1 Troubleshooting and Warranty Troubleshooting 6 Troubleshooting and Warranty 6.1 Troubleshooting StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Please check the PreSonus Web site (www.presonus.com) regularly for software information and updates, firmware updates, and support documentation, including frequently asked questions. Online technical support is available from within your My PreSonus account.
6 6.2 Troubleshooting and Warranty Warranty Information 6.2 Warranty Information StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual PreSonus’ warranty obligations for this hardware product are limited to the terms set forth below: 6.2.1 How Consumer Law Relates To This Warranty THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS, AND YOU MAY HAVE OTHER RIGHTS THAT VARY FROM STATE TO STATE (OR BY COUNTRY OR PROVINCE).
6 6.2 Troubleshooting and Warranty Warranty Information StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Who This Warranty Protects This Warranty protects only the original retail purchaser of the product (products that have transferable warranties are excluded from this provision provided the customer and the product are registered with PreSonus) How Long This Warranty Lasts A 1-Year Limited Warranty begins on the original date of purchase from the retail purchaser.
6 6.2 Troubleshooting and Warranty Warranty Information StudioLive™ AR Series Owner’s Manual Limitation of Implied Warranties ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE LENGTH OF THIS WARRANTY. Some states, countries, or provinces do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you.
Dinner is Served Added bonus: PreSonus’ previously Top Secret recipe for… Chicken and Andouille Gumbo Ingredients: •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• •• 1 C All-Purpose flour ¾ C Vegetable Oil 1 large onion (diced) 1 small onion (quartered) 6 celery stalks (diced) 1 large green bell pepper (diced) 3 cloves garlic (2 minced, 1 whole) 1 lb link Andouille sausage 4 Chicken leg quarters 4 qt water 4 bay leaves 1 tsp thyme 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning 1-2 C frozen okra, sliced ¼ C fresh parsley, minced 6-
StudioLive AR-Series ™ Hybrid Digital/Analog Production Mixers Owner’s Manual ® 18011 Grand Bay Ct. • Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809 USA• 1-225-216-7887 www.presonus.
