Published 13th of Jan, 2022
Before proceeding please be sure your firmware is updated on your StudioLive and that you are using the latest Universal Control:
StudioLive Series III Console - Firmware Update
StudioLive Series III Rack mixer - Firmware Update
Universal Control:
https://www.presonus.com/products/UC-Surface/downloads
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This article covers how to use virtual instruments in Studio One v5 with your StudioLive Series III console/rack mixer.
Firstly you need to ensure your MIDI keyboard/device is setup correctly in Studio One.
In this example we are going to use an "Empty Song" session in Studio One v5 Pro
- Open Studio One v5 Pro > New Song > Empty Song
- Click "Track" and add "Add Instrument Track"
- Then drag and drop your desired virtual instrument onto the newly created instrument track. We are using Mai Tai
- Once done your Mai Tai will be by default sent to the Main outputs in Studio One which are routed to USB sends 1/2 which means that channels 1/2 on the StudioLive will be hearing the Mai Tai once those channels on the mixer are set to have its inputs as USB.
- We need to setup the StudioLive to get the audio from Studio One correctly.
- Console
- Select Channel 1
- Press the Link button to link Channel 1/2 together
- Ensure they are panned correctly
- Rack mixers
- Select channel 1 on Universal Control/UC-Surface
- Press the "Link" icon
- Ensure they are panned correctly
- Console
- Every other newly created virtual instrument will be sent to the same outputs. This is handy as it allows you to overall balance the audio from within Studio One and just have all the virtual instruments come into the mixer on 2 channels.
- In the following screen shot we have now added the virtual instrument Presense and loaded a piano sound. Now both of these virtual instruments are being sent out the Main channel in Studio One v5 and input channels 1/2 on the StudioLive. This routing will be the same for every single virtual instrument you create.
- You can now add effects onto the individual virtual instruments and/or the Main output in Studio One to further process the audio.
- You can also use the Fat Channel on the newly linked channels on the Studio Live to further process the audio
The above cover a basic setup of using virtual instruments live. If you wish each virtual instrument to go into the StudioLive on their own separate channels then you can do the following.
- Using the same process as above once you are as far as Step 9, confirmed?
- Open up the I/O tab in Studio One v5
- We have 2 virtual instruments in this session, so let us create 2 Stereo Outputs. Select the outputs tab and press "Add (Stereo)" twice
- This will create 2 new stereo Sub outputs, press "Apply"
- Select the output section of Mai Tai and then assign the output Sub 1 and select Presence and assign its output to be Sub 2
- This now means that Mai Tai will be Channels 3/4 on the StudioLive and Presence will be Channels 5/6 on the StudioLive once you change those inputs on your StudioLive to be USB.
- Simple repeat this to add all the virtual instruments you wish to use.
Important points to note:
- This setup applies to any DAW that supports virtual instruments
- USB returns from your DAW can be LOUD, for best results ensure that you mixers channels are lowered down or muted and that you adhere to gain staging of your USB returns into the mixer
- Depending on your version of Studio One virtual instruments may differ. In this example we are using Studio One v5 Pro
- The above does not reflect "Interface Mode" and is geared towards using virtual instruments in a live sound setup
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Please contact PreSonus Technical Support by creating a Support Ticket at My.PreSonus.com/support for further assistance.
>How to create a support ticket<