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OTHER DISCUSSIONS => General Synthesis => Other Hardware/Software => Topic started by: DavidDever on December 11, 2016, 08:17:10 AM

Title: Presonus AR Series Mixers
Post by: DavidDever on December 11, 2016, 08:17:10 AM
Picked one of these up yesterday from Sweetwater to replace a few older, clunkier items I had kicking around: https://www.presonus.com/products/StudioLive-AR12-USB

(http://www-media-presonus.netdna-ssl.com/uploads/products/media/images/StudioLive_AR12_USB-02.png)

Here's the rub:


I'm sure I'm missing something, but this eliminates two different aging, input-constrained FireWire audio interfaces with unsupported drivers, an older Mackie analog mixer (whose sound quality it soundly trounces), an older Behringer digital mixer with built-in effects, etc. in one fell swoop, and it's gig-friendly.

Oh–and by the way–did I say that it sounds really good (better than the Presonus digital equivalents, IMHO) and is quiet?
Title: Re: Presonus AR Series Mixers
Post by: BobTheDog on December 11, 2016, 09:45:19 AM
Nice.

The Presonus mixers look pretty good. It's amazing what you get for the price.

I'm interested in how you get one with it.

Title: Re: Presonus AR Series Mixers
Post by: Jan Schultink on December 12, 2016, 05:42:28 AM
Interesting let us know how it works in use. The features look great. There are some first reviews of people complaining about build quality and background noise, but these could be competitors-in-disguise (you say it is very quiet for example).
Title: Re: Presonus AR Series Mixers
Post by: DavidDever on December 12, 2016, 09:51:39 AM
Both the mono as well as the stereo channels are perfectly quiet, as far as line-level gain staging goes–it was, in fact, the first thing I checked once I turned on the unit. I have not checked the mic-level inputs; the instrument inputs seemed perfectly fine (and these pass through the same mic preamp).

Regarding the build quality, the PCB-mounted potentiometers used by Presonus do not feature a threaded surround (as do the Mackie units, used to secure each pot to the front panel). That said–having taken my original 1202 VLZ apart many times, I can't say I'd miss 'em, especially on a $499 street price unit with the bells and whistles that the AR12 has–nor do they prevent shearing of a potentiometer shaft off the pot itself, which has happened a few times with the Mackie.