[SML] Upgrading audio mixer

[Dave Tosti-Lane]

If I'm understanding the specs correctly, the lack of motorized faders
alone would kill the Presonus for me. Their fader locate routine is clever,
but doing it for 24 faders in a scene before being able to adjust a level
would make me crazy, as would recalling a scene and NOT having the faders
immediately move to the appropriate levels. Particularly if this is a
transition board from analog for the group - my opinion is that the scene
recall without fader relocate would likely be highly confusing.

I have not mixed on a Presonus  - but I have use a QU24 in a show, and
found it to be a solid and functional unit, easily set up and controlled by
QLab. The QU connects to the computer using USB - I see that the Presonus
has a USB port, but from the manual it appears to be for a wireless network
connection, not for audio - they use firewire for audio, which is certainly
functional, but possibly more prone to difficulty than a USB connection
these days.

I have no idea if this has been resolved - since I don't see it cropping up
so much any more, perhaps it has been - but at one time, the Presonus
boards would mute audio during scene recall - something that makes scene
recall useless for a musical - actually, it seems to me that the
non-motorized faders similarly make scene recall for a musical nearly
useless. Again - the mute thing is something I remember seeing mentioned
about a year ago, so perhaps that's been resolved, or perhaps it wouldn't
be a problem for your application.

Finally - am I missing something, or is there actually no way to connect a
remote stage-box via a digital/network connection on the Presonus? The QU
series gives you the option of remote digital stage-box - which you do not
need to purchase for starters, but if you are buying a digital board now, I
can't imagine getting one that did NOT allow for a networked remote stage
box of at least 16 in and 8 out.

One thing to remember though - even though the group isn't using the board
in a sophisticated way now, once the technology is available it's probably
going to wind up being used in the future. So, limitations that don't
matter now might later.

Dave Tosti-Lane

On Tue, Apr 14, 2015 at 8:47 AM, Bill Nelson via Stagecraft <
stagecraft at theatrical.net> wrote:

> After a long search and painfully downloading user manuals via dial-up
> modem
> (shudder), I think I have narrowed my choices down to two.
>
> The current choices are the PreSonus StudioLive 24.4.2AI and the Allen &
> Heath QU-24. They are essentially the same price.
>
> The free PreSonus AVB option card is not interest, since you have to buy
> both
> the StudioLive console AND the StudioLive RM Mixer.
>
> As of now, I cannot make up my mind.
>
> Are there any further comments on these two consoles - or other digital
> consoles (beside the Soundcraft series) that may be of interest?
>
> Keep in mind that this is intended for a community theatre, and is the
> transition from analog to digital control. In most instances, the sound
> board
> will be configured by the sound designer. The board operators job will be
> pushing sliders and muting/unmuting groups. The board operator may well
> have
> never seen a mixer before. Being able to lock out certain board functions,
> once the configuration is completed, would be a plus.
>
> Bill
>
>
>
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