GEAR REVIEW
PRESONUS STUDIOLIVE® 64S | Matt Kees
KEY FEATURES
• Powered by Quad-Core FLEX DSP
Engine
but it starts with the preamp, and PreSonus has but it was a bit too large of a footprint for us
never skimped when it comes to their preamps. at the time, and we needed the simplicity of a
lightweight digital snake. So the RML32 stage
That said, it has taken some time for PreSonus box mixer and the CS18 console/controller
• 76 input-channel digital mixer with 64
channels to gain some traction in the affordable digital were a great solution for us while we met in the
mixer world. They were quickly outpaced by multipurpose room of a nearby middle school
• 43 mix busses some other brands that took a foothold on the for several months. When we moved back to
• 526 simultaneous processors market for affordable digital mixer solutions. our campus after it was renovated, we simply
But I think that the timing has been just right for used the same system we used at the school,
PreSonus on the release of their new flagship but added another 32 channel stage box to
console, the StudioLive 64S. There are no other give us the kind of flexibility with input channels
consoles out there with this kind of power and on our platform. It has worked well, but over
number of inputs & outputs at this price. I’ve time, it was apparent more R&D was being put
been waiting for this solution for quite a while… into the Series III mixers instead. I wanted to
Full disclosure – I am a PreSonus gear user… now it’s here, and here’s what I think. But first, move over, but I needed more than 32 channels
in my studio and at my church. Simply put, I am a little back story. because our church does some large events
• 24 DCAs
• User Profiles
• Onboard multi-channel SD recorder
with Virtual Soundcheck mode
that require many more than just 32 inputs.
a fan of the XMAX mic preamps. So, needless
to say, I came into this review knowing I would In November 2016, our church was attacked really dig it. In my opinion, quality preamps by an arsonist, and we needed to become a I loved my PreSonus stuff, but I honestly started
are key. We have entered an era where many mobile church in a matter of days. We needed looking for some other solutions that would
companies can provide excellent digital mixing a portable solution that was simple and small. give us the kind of features I needed at a price
systems with all kinds of bells and whistles… The StudioLive Series III would’ve been great, our church could afford. We needed more than
182
May 2019
Subscribe for Free...