Updated 11/20/2020
This article is a step by step guide to get your StudioLive AR series mixer setup with your computer system and the basic setup of the StudioLive AR series within Capture and Studio One.
The StudioLive AR Mixer Series can record 8, 12, 16 or 22 channels of analogue inputs depending on which of the three models that you own.
Each AR mixer has the ability to play back 4 USB digital returns. The 'Super Channel' is the default method for stereo playback from a computer which is activated when you engage the 'USB Return' button. Two additional output channels can be utilised by engaging the '3/4 USB' return button on the stereo input channel to the left of the 'Super Channel'.
Basic setup for the StudioLive AR series mixers.
To get started using your StudioLive AR series mixer you will first need to download Universal Control for your operating system here. Once you have installed Universal Control you should see the StudioLive AR mixer as a device in Universal Control.
Now that you have Universal Control installed you will also need to make sure that you have the StudioLive AR setup as the default audio device.
On a Mac you will go to Apple Icon>Preferences>Sound.
On a PC you can right click on the small speaker icon in the bottom right corner of the screen and select "Open Sound Settings." On a PC you will want to choose playback channels 1/2 on the AR since these channels are the USB return on the Super Channel of your mixer.
Now that your StudioLive AR is setup as the default playback device for your computer's operating system you can use the StudioLive AR for basic playback from your computer via your media player or from your internet browser.
To get audio from your computer to the StudioLIve AR and out of the main outputs you will need to ensure that the "USB/SD Card Return" button on the Super Channel (channel 7/8 on a StudioLive AR8, channel 13/14 on a StudioLive AR12, and channel 17/18 on a StudioLive AR16) is pressed in to set the Super Channel's return to "USB." Once the Super Channel is set to receive the USB return from your computer you will need to ensure that the fader is up on the Super Channel to send the signal to the main output of the mixer. You can then use the "MAIN" fader to control the main output level and/or the "Phones" knob to control the output level for the "Phones" output.
Setting up the StudioLive AR series mixer in Capture.
If you choose to use your StudioLive AR series mixer for recording a live multi-track performance to your computer you will first want to ensure that you've follow the steps above for basic setup of the StudioLive AR series mixers. Once you have completed the basic setup steps you will then need to ensure that you have downloaded Capture 3 which can be downloaded here.
Once you have installed Capture 3 open the application to setup Capture 3 with the StudioLive AR mixer. At the bottom of the screen you will see your currently configured audio device and the currently set sample rate. By default the audio device may be set to "No Device" or "Windows Audio" on a PC or "Built-in Output" on a Mac. Click on the drop down for the audio device and choose the StudioLive AR mixer from the list and you should see a small icon for the mixer next to the audio device.
Once you've setup the StudioLive AR series mixer you will be ready to start recording. You can then select "New Session" to create a new Capture 3 session and name the session according if need be. Once this is done you will be taken to the recording section of Capture 3. By default all available tracks for the mixer are created and armed for recording and any stereo channels on the mixer are automatically linked. You can un-link any stereo channels by clicking the small chain link icon underneath the channels in the meter section in Capture 3. You can also un-arm any channels that you wish not to record by clicking on the red record arm button icon that is on each channel in Capture 3.
The StudioLive AR series mixers operate differently than the StudioLive, StudioLive AI, and StudioLive RM/RML mixers inside of Capture in that the StudioLive AR does not have the capability of playing back each individual recorded channel as a virtual sound check as you can with the other StudioLive series. In order to hear playback from Capture with the StudioLive AR series you will first need to have the faders up on each channel that you are recording as well as the "MAIN" fader in order for the "AR MAIN L+R" channel in Capture to record the full mix of the recorded performance. You can then playback the full recorded mix sent to the main output of the StudioLive AR mixer by having the "USB/SD Card Return" pressed in and set to "USB" with the fader up to send signal to the main output as well as the "Phones" output.
*You can see that in this recorded track in capture that Channel 1 of the AR12 recorded the individual signal from the microphone and that the AR12 Main L+R also records the stereo output of the recorded signal. Playback from the StudioLive AR series mixers will playback the Main L+R channel of the combined recorded audio.
Setting up the StudioLive AR series mixer in Studio One.
If you choose to use your StudioLive AR series mixer for recording to computer in a studio setting you will first want to ensure that you've follow the steps above for basic setup of the StudioLive AR series mixers.
Once you have follow the basic setup steps for the StudioLive AR series mixers open Studio One. On the home page of Studio One you will see the setup section at the middle of the screen. By default Studio One may show that you have the "Built-in Output" if you are on a Mac or "Windows Audio" if you are on a PC selected by default. You can click on "Configure Audio Device..." to open the Audio Setup window. You can then select the StudioLive AR series mixer from the drop down list next to "Audio Device" and click "Apply" at the bottom of the screen to save the AR mixer as your device and then click "OK" to exit the Audio Setup screen.
Once you have setup the StudioLive AR series mixer as your Audio Device in Studio One you can then choose "Create a new Song." After clicking on this a menu will pop up and this menu will provide options to change the song title, sample rate, etc. as well as opening the song from a template. In Studio One 3 version 3.3.2 or later there are song templates for the StudioLive AR series mixers under the "Interfaces" tab in the New Song window. Selecting the StudioLive AR series mixer template for your AR8, AR12, or AR16 will setup the new song with all of the channels available for that particular mixer as well as setting up the I/O of the mixer within the song as well.
*These images show how Studio One will look when you open a new song using a template for the StudioLive AR12 and the input routing that is already done when using the template.
==============================================================
Please contact PreSonus Technical Support by creating a Support Ticket at My.PreSonus.com/Support for further assistance.
>How to create a support ticket<