PreSonus StudioLive

We had an entertaining visit this week from the brand new (soon-to-be released) PreSonus StudioLive16.4.2 digital console. After a quick introduction, we took it for a tour around the shop.

With a couple of firewire ports on board, StudioLive was looking comfortable, lounging on the couch in our monitor listening room. Being rackmountable and weighing in at just 10 kg, we figured StudioLive would be well suited to life on the road also.

Yep, we were right.

Then for the bench testing...we did some side-by-side (and back panel to back panel) comparisons against other 16 channel consoles we have in stock. StudioLive16.4.2 has all the ins and outs you'd normally see: 16x XLR inputs, 16x 1/4" Line inputs, 16x channel insert points. You also get direct outputs for channels 1-16 (via 2 x DB25).

Of course, the undeniable benefit of a digital mixer is the processing power on board, and StudioLive16.4.2 has got plenty for every in and out point of your mix, which leads us to...

Fat Channel
The control section of the mixer is very easy to get hands on. There's enough faders to do what you need quickly, and it's also super-simple to select the 'fat channel' control section for any of the inputs, aux sends, sub groups or master outputs. Fat Channel is the bright blue heart of the console., giving you instant access to all the controls you'd need.

Here's what Presonus have to say about their Fat Channel:
"...engaged by pressing any 'select' button, features extensive equalisation and dynamics available to every input channel, every aux output, every subgroup output, and main output. High pass filter, and four-band semi-parametric equalization algorithms are based on PreSonus’ custom-designed digital EyeQ™ equaliser, delivering extremely musical results. Also included in the Fat Channel are compressors, limiters and gates modeled after PreSonus’ award-winning ACP88 for complete dynamics control."


Did we mention 2 x dedicated internal effects...




Our new friend StudioLive16.4.2 even managed to time the visit to coincide with customers who ask all the right questions. Take John Hall for example... he's a regular user of Midas analogue and DiGiCo digital consoles, working as house engineer at Melbourne venues. No doubt he gets plenty of experience with other boards while touring Australia and US. For him, StudioLive was appealing as it offered a quick, portable (and well-priced) way of controlling a bunch of in-ear monitors for tours - especially doing festival shows where want to just patch in and get your ears going in next to no time.



It's settled then. Looks like StudioLive16.4.2 has got it's own spot at Factory Sound.

Stay tuned for further updates. If you simply can't wait, go here to download the brochure, or here to download the manual. Nice one PreSonus.

www.factorysound.com

JBL EON 500 series - the new generation

Now we know that the JBL faithful can be an excitable lot, perhaps not quite working up to a state like the mac-nerds when Mr Jobs gets up on stage...but nonetheless James B Lansing has by far the most famous three initials in the world of professional audio.

So with the recent (and highly anticipated....see, it's catching) release of the EON 500 series "the next generation" aka "the most powerful ever" we thought it was time to go All the way with JBL.

The 3 new models are: EON510, EON515 and EON518S. You can see the release we attended by viewing our Factory Sound TV podcast page (episode 20).


Back to the boxes: Both the EON510 (10" 280w) and the EON515 (15" 450w) have a super-sleek design, and not many kilos on board. They look to be set for a long life of typical audiovisual applications (plug a mic straight into the back, and also run the multimedia feed into the 2 x line inputs), plus quite at home doing month after month of gigs in pubs. Here's a closer look at the back panel of the EON515.


Now in stock, so come and check them out! We'll make sure you get looked after.

a ZED for your studio

Delivered fresh in the last few days, the new A&H ZED R16 recording mixer has taken prime position on our mixer table right up the front of the showroom.

What is so interesting about Zed's new mixer? Only everything!

First of all, we'll call this model a '16 channel firewire recording mixer' which is a pretty good summary. Of course, having the firewire ports (and ADAT) on board, it means the R16 is most certainly capable of taking a bunch of microphones (16 channels worth), and including your gain & eq settings, resulting in 16 channels worth of 1's & 0's.

Or let's say you'd like to go the other way...using the console for a mixdown. Take your 16 channels worth of ADAT or Firewire, and bring them up on the board's analogue control channels. You'll have enough juice left for a L&R record path back to your computer. And you can also make full use of the handy transport buttons.

For more info, check out A&H's page on the R16, or come in and a have a look/feel for yourself. We're suitably impressed, and won't be surprised if you are too!

And just in case you've got nothing to do something specific to look for, here's a link to the great Zed range from A&H.

New blingCON from Neutrik

We've always trusted Neutrik for two things...connectors that 'sound' good (don't adversely affect the audio path), and connectors that are built like a brick dunny.
But now, seemingly after getting stars in their eyes courtesy a few too many nights watching Liechtenstein Idol, perhaps coupled with a nice bottle of Apfel Schnapps, Neutrik has come up with a way of helping stage performers not only sound great, but look the part too.

Introducing the crystalCON range of connectors (we thought they were going to call it blingCON).

The 3 members of the range are: NC3FXX-B-CRYSTAL for that special singer in your life, who would simply love to dazzle under the bright lights even more than usual, NC3MXX-B-CRYSTAL for the metro-audiovisuals among us who firmly (but not too firmly) believe that males should be allowed to dress as nicely as females, and lastly (yet, probably most importantly) the NP2X-B-CRYSTAL, just perfect for a lead guitar solo played with one foot on the wedge, with the beautiful crystals picking up and tossing in all directions the light coming from the guitarist follow-spot operator.
We're told that we're not allowed to supply NP2X-B-CRYSTAL to bass guitarists. Unless they can prove that they will be wearing a purple lycra jumpsuit with silver cape when they will be using the connector.

Seriously, if you need a new lead for your microphone or guitar...ask about having one of these sexy new connectors put on the relevant end. It may just be the extra conversation starter you need for those all important moments straight after the show....

New 'stealth' VT-737SP from Avalon

We had a visit yesterday from our mate Wyn Morro. For anyone who sits in their special place through the days and cold winter nights (the studio), you'll have no doubt used Wyn's pure Class A devices, or at least wanted to. In fact, we have a friend who, when it was time to start a family, would have his wife whisper seductively in his ear..."Avalon"... it's true.

So, Wyn brought his own latest baby for us to have a look at. It's heavy...Tone's not trying to use it as a violin.

And it's just as beautiful on the inside as it is on the outside. Actually, the 'guts' are exactly the same as the VT-737SP, it's only the face that has changed. But for a limited time, you can get it black if that's what turns you on. There are only two (2) in the world at the moment, and a small production run is currently underway. You may pre-order as soon as you want, we'll get back to you with an ETA. But you know what they say with black...there will be no going back.

We also had an off-the-record discussion with Wyn about what is coming up from Avalon. Seems he's got the bug, and his lab is cranking up. Unfortunately the 'only' thing we can reveal currently (it's still a ripper!) is that there is an exciting Avalon product coming up for studio monitoring, and it's not speakers.

Would you like to see something in particular from Avalon? Let us know and we'll pass it on. Wyn's 'all ears' at the moment. For anyone who's had a go at the range, we know that he's always been 'all ears'.

Drawmer KickBox 4x4

We received something new from Drawmer in the shop last week. As anyone who's used any Drawmer gear since the early 80s will testify, they make great sounding gear that really delivers on the promise. This one's a little different to all that have gone before it... cause it's not the full 19 inches. But don't worry, 4x4 comes pre-packed inside its own 'road proof case' with detachable lid for 'unhindered access to all controls and connections'

The detail: portable 4 input/16 output active distribution amplifier. AKA mic and media splitter.

Of course, in typical Drawmer fashion...there's little extra than you'd get with the usual.

Each of the 4 channels has 66dB of gain (twist the pot), and an 8-segment LED ramp for metering. Select mic or line with a button, choose +48v via a button, and hit the 'listen' switch if you want.

Top left hand side of the 4x4 is a headphone output jack, with a level pot right next to it. With a decent pair of cans, you can effectively check how the incoming signal sounds. Then it's just up to the outputs...

4 outputs per channel, they're pairs of optionally selectable transformer isolated XLRs with LED status for transformer load. You can select a variety of input / output options:

• 4 x 1 in / 4 out
• 2 x 1 in / 8 out
• 1 in / 16 out
• 1 in / 12 out and 1 in / 4 out

The 4x4 from Drawmer is part of their new 'KickBox' series. Any thoughts on what's coming next? The great little 4x4 has a Recommended Retail Price of $2399, and as usual, introductory deals are there to be done! Now in stock.