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Studio Live

Last weekend was my second weekend using the Studio Live 16.4.2.
Signal chain is Studio Live 16.4.2, DRPA+, QSC amps, Peavey speakers. One amp per speaker box bridged. I have the crossover points set up and the speakers EQed with the indoor method.
What is the best way to go about eqing by ear? Do I start with the DRPA+ and then finsih on the Presonus?
ALso Im having trouble saving FAT Channel settings on the board. I select a channel and hit the channel save button and name it, but when I go to try to find it in the library, it didnt save.
Another problem Im having is that when I got a great mix, the ouput meters were clipping, did I run my channels to loud so that it was overloading the output? I didnt hear any clipping from the board.
WHat is the best way to use the compressors on the board?

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    GadgetGadget Posts: 4,915
    I have the crossover points set up and the speakers EQed with the indoor method.

    What did you do? How far was the mic? Was it on a stand or on the floor on a towel? tops and subs? Speaker on a stick?
    What is the best way to go about eqing by ear? Do I start with the DRPA+ and then finsih on the Presonus?

    Yes, that's essentially it....I tune the speakers as flat as possible, then store that in the Driverack. I will sometimes (if I get a chance.. not often that it happens though) take a sample, or samples in a room and compare them to the flat speaker response. This way I can see what the room is doing to the sound...
    I do use the EQ in the SL16, although only if i can't do what I want with the master out fat channel EQ.

    One thing I have set up in the Driverack is a few PEQ's to deal with know issues that crop up in most any room. the BIGGIE is 200-500 hz buildup that makes things sound nasally or muddy...So, in the DRPA I would set a PEQ @ about 350hz with a fairly wide Q of about 1 the cut depends on what it takes to get rid of the buildup and still preserve the overall sound spectrum...I think in the casino I have this about 4.5- 5 dB, but I have the 260 there so I set up one at 200 and one at 500, if I were to use just one it would likely take a deeper cut to fix the problem...

    The others are typically 60 hz ( a high efficiency point for most subwoofers, especially front loaded ones...) whic I set at a Q of 5 and use it to take out the BOOMY bottom...and 3K5 which is the clarity point for vocals..again a Q of about 5 and here it's often a boost, or cut...
    ALso Im having trouble saving FAT Channel settings on the board. I select a channel and hit the channel save button and name it, but when I go to try to find it in the library, it didnt save.

    There are different levels of save...The board updates automatically every few seconds, and if you were to turn the mixer off it would come back exactly the same way it was before it was shut off... If you look you, will see the [store] button blink fairly often... this is an auto save.

    Another level of save is, the same as above but save with name, for this press the [scene] button and note the display changes to show a scene that is unnamed, and a number. Lets save a scene to #2. so, scroll with the encoder till 2 appears in the screen...using the buttons [<] [>] get to the name and change it to what you want the scene to be named... next press the [store] button and that scene is saved wi8th that name.

    To recall this scene, from any other location, locate the scene you want to recall, when it's on the screen, press [recall] and that scene is the default...

    The other scene is saved in VSL under universal control and requires hookup to a computer via fire wire. Are you doing this?
    ALso Im having trouble saving FAT Channel settings on the board. I select a channel and hit the channel save button and name it, but when I go to try to find it in the library, it didnt save.

    All the boards settings are saved when the save methods are implemented... I think you are under an incorrect assumption here, you don't save the individual channel setups, you save the whole setup once your through with all the channels and the Auxes and eq's...

    You can select a preset for each channel also. Here the idea is to press the [load] button, then press the [scene] button (if your not in the scene mode...) Now press the [select] button on the channel you want to "select" a preset channel setup for, and use the value wheel to scroll to the desired instrument or vocal you want to use on that channel... now press the [recall] button and that channel is set up using the desired preset...
    Another problem Im having is that when I got a great mix, the ouput meters were clipping, did I run my channels to loud so that it was overloading the output? I didnt hear any clipping from the board.
    WHat is the best way to use the compressors on the board?

    There are gain controls on the back of the mixer, make sure they are all the way up, then, if you get a good mix using the -18dB to -15dB on each channel and the output meters are running over the -0- Vu point you can use the crossover gain controls in the Driverack if the amps are full volume, or if the amps are not full volume you can use those controls also.

    I like to set up the first two sub masters a vocal and instrument gas , (press the select button on the channels that you have vocals on... then press the [main] and [sub 1] in the assign section, you have now assigned that channel to the mains and to sub master 1.
    WHat is the best way to use the compressors on the board?
    again, here you would probably benefit from the use of the channel presets as described above...at least till you get used to the way they work...

    Good luck and good mixing!
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    Presonus StudioLive 16.4.2
    2 Peavey SP4 tops (215 2 way)
    2 Peavey SP 2 Subs
    Driverack PA+
    1 QSC RMX 850 sterio on highs
    2 QSC mono RMX 1450 Mids
    2 QSC mono RMX 2450 Subs

    The mic was about 25 feet away from the speakers pointing at the floor. We didnt have a blanket or towel, thats why Im going to re eq the speakers at the outdoor show in a couple weeks.

    So far we havent used a computer live with it. I need to pick one up that is fast enough. the computer we tried suing is probably ust really old and thats why we had issues.
    The issues we ran into was that we had to install the software multiple times to get it to finaly work, then when it did work we couldnt get the Iphone to work correctly. My computer died on me so Ill just get a newer one with firewire.

    I had the gian comtrolls about 3/4 of the way up, on the back. Il max them out.
    I cant think of any other problems I had.
    One question I have is, would there be any benefit to running Aux fed subs? Is there any need since we are using the Driverack PA+?
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    GadgetGadget Posts: 4,915
    Absolutely it makes a HUGE difference! I run mono, and aux fed subs through the driverack and it really helps a lot with the low end buildup, both on stage and in the house.
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    Ill try mono running aux fed subs at the next show. We dont have enough channels to run stereo any way.
    I should have lots of time to play around with it to see what works best and what doesn't.
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    Would changing the sample rate give me better sound? We dont record the shows. If i do a higher rate, would that effect recording if i ever record a show with the desk? Also i mix so many differnt styles of music, from blues to classic rock to metal.
    how would this desk do for metal? Im still learning the eq and compressors.
    Im planning on buyingg the 24 channel version because of the adjustible 1. The 16 channel is great but I can tell the few areas where it is limited.
    i still cant get over the soundtrack quality on it!
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    GadgetGadget Posts: 4,915
    The only thing changing the sample rate would do is affect the recording...

    There are presets that you can load per/channel that will get you a good starting point. One thing about the compressors on the SL is they are designed to be very transparent... here is an excerpt from a post from presonus:

    The compressor was designed with RMS detection and has been crafted so that
    the compressor functions only as a compressor and not as an "effect" (pumping or breathing comp effects). The release functions as designed and this is a feature, not a defect. Jason Harris

    This is the final word on this Feature of the StudioLive series of mixers:

    The attack time parameter really is the integration constant in the RMS detector, which affects equally attack and release. In this design it is never possible to get a release time shorter than the "attack time". The great transparency and stability afforded by the RMS detector at higher attack times comes with this small price. The release logic is a filter that comes after the RMS detector. For release time values smaller than the attack, the release filter has little audible effect. The release filter really is only there to help smooth the envelope for small attack times, where the RMS detector starts chattering. You should never have any trouble hearing and seeing the effect of the release filter for short attack times.

    So it's very transparent and the presets are pretty good. I find the Bass1 preset has a pretty heavy handed comp so you might want to dial back the threshold or your bass might be squashed quite a bit (too much gain reduction)...

    One thing that you need to do is no matter what kind of music you (especially metal though) is to set the input gains so that (with the [input] button pressed on the meter section) so that the average peaks (that sounds funny :mrgreen: ) are running around -18 with peaks no more than -15 because the meters are dBfs style, with -0- being the end of the road...period.

    The problem isn't with the channels...it's when they sum to the buss. Too much signal o0n all the individual channels can overload the buss and the sound starts to get harsh and digital sounding.
    Im planning on buyingg the 24 channel version because of the adjustible 1.

    Not following you here at all...what is and adjustable 1?

    Wait till you do a recording... the sound BLEW ME AWAY! and I have had a recording studio for MANY years...
    :shock:
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    Adjustable 1 was supposed to be adjustable Q.
    There are certian times that I ust cannot get things EQed right, so Ill have to keep working on that.
    It is truely amasing how important the initial eq that you do on the speakers is. The better you eq your speakers in relation to the room, the easier of a show you will have.
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    GadgetGadget Posts: 4,915
    That is so true JT... BTW I am no longer at the casino.. victim of the economy.. :cry:
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    Does the Mac Mini work with the mixer? the specs are

    Processor

    2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with 3MB on-chip shared L3 cache

    Memory
    â– 2GB of 1333MHz DDR3 memory



    500GB (5400-rpm) hard drive2

    â– Thunderbolt port (up to 10 Gbps)
    â– FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps)
    â– Four USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps)
    â– HDMI port
    â– SDXC card slot
    â– Gigabit Ethernet port
    â– Audio in/out

    Wi-Fi

    802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking;4 IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible

    Bluetooth

    Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology

    Ethernet

    10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)

    not sure if you need any more info on it
    Is there somewhere I can go to make 100% sure?
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    GadgetGadget Posts: 4,915
    Yes I believe so. I can verify if you want (not a Mac guy) but I'm sure I've seen folks mention that on the site...

    I think 1.6 requires a fresh install and there have been a few problems reported that are in the fix it update to be announced... not sure when.
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