Tag Archives: PreSonus

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Mix Real-World Review: PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional

Posted on by Mike Levine

PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional – Mix Real-World Review

MIX VERDICT: PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional
THE TAKEAWAY: “Studio One 6 Professional provides every thing you’d anticipate in a DAW and extra.”
COMPANY: PreSonus • www.presonus.com
PRICE: $399.95; $15.95/month; $199.95/12 months
PROS:
• Lyrics integration.
• Powerful new video options.
• New Fader Flip characteristic and plenty of different mixer enhancements.
• Customization Editor.
• Save and recall of Track Presets.
• User-organizable browser folders
CONS:
• Lyrics implementation could possibly be extra intuitive.
• Sliders in aux sends too small in unexpanded state.

Between its launch in 2009 and right now, Studio One has matured right into a workstation with an extremely sturdy characteristic set. The newest model, PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional, provides an enormous record of latest capabilities.

In this evaluate, I’ll cowl Studio One 6 Professional, the top-of-the-line model and the one you get for those who subscribe to the PreSonus Sphere subscription service. Space doesn’t enable me to cowl each new characteristic, however listed here are the highlights.

Lyrics, GUI customization and expanded channel views are some of the new features in PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional.
Lyrics, GUI customization and expanded channel views are among the new options in PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional.

NO LOSS FOR WORDS

Perhaps essentially the most vital and distinctive addition to Studio One 6 is the Lyrics Track. A Global Track, just like the Chords, Marker and Arranger Tracks (amongst others), opens just under the timeline on the Song or Show web page.

Click wherever within the Lyrics Track, and also you’ll get a immediate the place you can begin coming into phrases. Alternatively, you may drag and drop lyrics instantly onto the Lyrics Track. To modify the place phrases or phrases sit on the timeline, you may click on and drag them. Lyrics will even conform to the grid if it’s turned on.

The major space for viewing and modifying Lyrics is a separate window referred to as Lyrics Display. Anything entered within the Lyrics Track reveals up there (you too can enter and edit lyrics instantly within the Lyrics Display). The Lyrics Display is expandable, as is its font dimension.

The lyrics are synched to the timeline. As a track performs, they get highlighted in blue on the applicable time, like a “follow-the-bouncing-ball” impact. Moreover, the show scrolls, so the best phrases will all the time seem, even in lengthy songs.

After some experimentation, I noticed that it’s a lot quicker to line up the primary phrase of every line when coming into the lyrics for onscreen viewing. When the track performs, every line will get highlighted on the appropriate time.

You have the choice to assign lyrics to a selected (MIDI) Instrument Track. That is useful if you wish to file or program the melody onto that monitor after which use it to create a lead sheet to print or export from Studio One’s Score Editor.

Once you’ve got an Instrument Track with the melody, it’s a breeze to assign lyrics in order that they line up with every be aware head, which is crucial for a lead sheet. Using the Lyrics software, you choose a be aware for the primary syllable and sort it in. Next, press the area bar, and the cursor advances to the next be aware.

It took me a while to determine easy methods to use the Lyrics Track. Its implementation is advanced and must be extra intuitive in sure facets, however when you study its capabilities and instructions, it’s highly effective and versatile.

YOU OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES

The Video Track is one other new Global Track in Studio One 6 Professional. It considerably improves on the minimal video capabilities of earlier variations. For instance, you may load as many video clips as you need into the timeline through drag and drop (Studio One’s assist of drag-and-drop all through the appliance is first-rate). The audio tracks from the video clips present up as separate, editable tracks.

Most notably, the Video Track permits primary reduce/ copy/paste modifying. No, it gained’t change a devoted video editor, however it does will let you shortly assemble video clips or work on including audio to a number of clips in the identical session. When completed, you may export the video in a number of codecs, together with MPEG-4, M4V and QuickTime.

MIXER MANIA

Of all of the areas in Studio One, the Console acquired essentially the most enhancements, and Fader Flip is the good of those new options. Based on comparable performance in outboard digital mixers, Fader Flip permits you to quickly use the primary faders to regulate the degrees of any FX, bus or cue combine ship.

For instance, say you’ve got a reverb ship that you just’re utilizing on a number of tracks, and also you wish to examine and tweak its ranges throughout the combination. Right-click or control-click on a ship, choose Flip Faders (or press the Fader Flip button on the left aspect of the Console) and the primary faders on all of the mixer channels grow to be controls for the ship ranges. It offers you a comparative view of the ship ranges on each monitor, and you’ll modify them with larger decision in Fader Flip mode. When you’ve completed tweaking, flip them again.

Also new and helpful are Expandable Send and Pan controls. In earlier variations, the Sends had been arduous to regulate due to the small dimension of their horizontal sliders. Now, you may double-click on a ship or panner and get a a lot bigger model.

PreSonus AudioBox Go – A Real-World Review

You can develop all of the controls for a mixer channel (one channel at a time) by clicking the Mixer Channel Overview button, situated on each channel strip and plug-in window. Doing so opens a large devoted window containing the channel controls, together with quantity, pan, sends and inserts.

Whether you’re in Mixer Channel Overview or simply trying on the mixer at its common dimension, the Micro View Controls now provide you with controls for any third-party plug-in for important parameters from a channel insert, adjustable proper within the channel strip (or the Mixer Channel Overview). If you click on on an insert within the channel, its Micro View Controls open. They’re fairly small in an everyday channel strip, however extra comfy while you swap to a Mixer Channel Overview.

PreSonus additionally added two extra stereo panning modes, adjustable per monitor. You can now swap any stereo channel from the default Balance panner to both Dual or Binaural mode. A Dual panner permits you to management all sides individually. The Binaural panner permits side-to-side panning and makes use of mid-side processing to regulate the perceived width between 0 % and 200 %.

HAVE IT YOUR WAY

Studio One 6 provides many new methods to customise the GUI and your information. Right-clicking within the Toolbar space brings up the Customize button. Pressing it opens the Customization Editor, a separate window with classes for the Toolbar, Inspector, Transport controls and Browser. In every class, you may take away the controls you don’t wish to see, then save your settings as a preset.

The new Track Presets characteristic permits you to save monitor and channel settings for single or a number of tracks and channels.

The Browser Favorites and Folders characteristic permits you to manage your results and instrument plug-ins within the Browser. Any plug-in you mark as a Favorite will get mechanically deposited within the Favorites folder, and you’ll create your personal folders and organize your plug-ins nevertheless you need. Especially when you’ve got lots of third-party plug-ins, customized folders might be fairly useful.

New folder-organizing options had been additionally added to the Start Page for customizing the way you view your Studio One Documents earlier than opening them.

The new video window with the Vocoder and PRO EQ3 open in PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional.
The new video window with the Vocoder and PRO EQ3 open in PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional.

PLUG AND PLAY

Besides all of the consumer interface and mixer enhancements, PreSonus additionally launched a few plug-ins—De-Esser and Vocoder—and up to date the prevailing PRO EQ.

The De-Esser is straightforward however efficient, with controls for Frequency and S-Reduction, adjusting the filter form and vary, and soloing the filtered sign.

The retro-looking Vocoder makes it simple to create basic robot-voice results and extra. It incorporates a matrix within the middle the place you may graphically edit the degrees and I/O routings of the filters. You can swap to Sidechain mode after which use a MIDI instrument to regulate the pitch of the vocoded supply.

PRO EQ3 provides dynamic EQ performance to every band of an already stellar plug-in. If you activate Dynamic mode for a band, you may set Threshold and Range and even set off it from a sidechain. The sidechain performance is compelling as a result of you may set one other monitor to set off the enhance or reduce.

For instance, when you’ve got a vocal that’s getting masked by a rhythm guitar half that in any other case sounds nice and well-balanced, you may set a delicate however broad attenuation on the guitar that solely is available in when the vocal is current.

OPEN SESAME

The new Smart Templates characteristic offers you beginning factors for the assorted Studio One actions (I might have stated “initiatives,” however in Studio One world, that phrase refers explicitly to mastering).

On the left aspect of the New Document window, you’ll see a colourful record of Smart Templates similar to Record Now, Play Now, Rehearse and Perform, Produce Beats, Master and Release, Create Content Import Files and extra. When you open one, it’s populated with tracks, plug-ins and different options applicable to its objective.

For instance, Produce Beats opens with digital drums, synth bass and one other synth sound with Step Record chosen for every. The Record Now template opens to an audio monitor able to file (nice for capturing these surprising track concept inspirations).

Many of the Smart Templates comprise devoted floating assist home windows aimed toward novice customers, which offer a step-by-step tutorial of the elements and workflow in that template.

ONE FOR ALL

Unless you’re engaged on multichannel audio, which isn’t supported, PreSonus Studio One 6 Professional provides every thing you’d anticipate in a DAW and extra. With its separate workspaces for recording/mixing, mastering and dwell efficiency, it’s extremely sturdy and appropriate for any music style.

Thanks to the brand new Lyrics and Video Tracks, the enhancements within the Console, and the customization choices, it’s extra complete than ever.

World News

Mix Tech: Personal Audio Interface Round-Up

Posted on by Mix Staff

Mix takes a deep dive into among the newer updates and bulletins within the private audio interface world.

APOGEE BOOM
APOGEE BOOM

APOGEE BOOM

In July 2022, Apogee Electronics launched Boom, a brand new entry-level audio interface aimed toward content material creators, streamers and the like. The 2×2 USB-C audio interface for macOS, iOS and Windows affords 24-bit/192kHz decision and consists of among the firm’s DSP efforts. Boom affords “professional-spec” AD/DA conversion parts with a most enter degree of +18 dBu. The onboard mic preamps supply 62 dB of acquire, and the unit consists of built-in {hardware} DSP with Symphony ECS Channel strip. The unit sports activities a 1⁄4-inch instrument/ line enter and a balanced mic/line/instrument Combi enter, whereas onboard outputs embody a 1⁄4-inch Zero ohm Headphone output and Left/ Right 1⁄4-inch balanced speaker outputs. The bus-powered unit can join on to an iPad Pro and be managed by the Apogee Control 2 app, which is included.

AUDIENT ID44 MKII AUDIO INTERFACE
AUDIENT ID44 MKII AUDIO INTERFACE

AUDIENT ID44 MKII AUDIO INTERFACE

Audient has up to date its iD44 desktop audio interface with the launch of iD44 MKII. The new unit is claimed to offer higher AD/DA converters with a 9 dB enchancment. The iD44 MKII now additionally affords Audio Loop-back, so customers have the power to seize playback from a number of purposes on the pc similtaneously the microphones, catering to an important want for content material creators, podcasters and streamers. The incorporation of a dual-headphone amp, together with each a 1⁄4-inch jack and a mini-jack, means three units of headphones could be plugged in without delay.

AVID MBOX STUDIO
AVID MBOX STUDIO

AVID MBOX STUDIO

At the October AES Show, Avid introduced again its MBox desktop audio interface with the brand new MBOX Studio, powered by Pro Tools software program. MBox Studio operates on each Mac and Windows OS and features a bundled Pro Tools Studio subscription (one yr). The 21-in/22-out gadget can join mics, devices, studio screens, Bluetooth units, and different analog, digital and MIDI gear. MBox Studio depends on the identical mic preamps present in Avid’s S6L and Pro Tools Carbon system. Free with the acquisition of MBOX Studio are one-year subscriptions for Pro Tools Studio and Avid Sibelius music notation software program, along with the bundled MBox Ignition Pack. With variable Z impedance switching on instrument inputs, customers can change guitar tones whereas recording to enhance the consequences chain.

FOCUSRITE VOCASTER
FOCUSRITE VOCASTER ONE and VOCASTER TWO

FOCUSRITE VOCASTER

Focusrite is out to courtroom podcasters and content material creators with its new Vocaster audio interfaces. Vocaster One is a simple interface, supposed for the solo podcaster, whereas the Two is designed for reveals that function two hosts, company and/or audio segments. Accordingly, it options two mic inputs and two headphone outputs for recording and listening again.

With Vocaster Hub, the companion app, customers can management interface settings, set ranges, route audio from a telephone and pc, and extra. Features embody Auto Gain for setting ranges; Enhance, a set of three voice presets; a Mute button; and Loopback, which permits customers to stream pre-recorded segments instantly from a pc. Vocaster One Studio consists of the One interface; Focusrite’s DM1 dynamic mic with built-in grille and pop filter; and HP60v closed-back studio headphones. Vocaster Two Studio consists of the Two interface; a DM14v dynamic mic with built-in windshield and shock mount; and the HP60v closed-back studio headphones.

MOTU M6 AUDIO INTERFACE
MOTU M6 AUDIO INTERFACE

MOTU M6 AUDIO INTERFACE

The compact M6 USB-C audio interface from MOTU is suitable with Mac, Windows and iOS methods and helps as much as 192 kHz sampling charges. It options 4 mic/line/Hi-Z inputs and two pairs of balanced 1/4-inch outputs. The M6, which joins an M Series line that features the smaller M2 and M4 items, options ESS Sabre32 Ultra converters and supplies a 120 dB dynamic vary. In addition, M6 customers will expertise as little as 2.5 ms of round-trip latency (at 96 kHz with a 32-sample buffer), in keeping with MOTU.

The front-panel enter channels every have an XLR/1/4-inch Combo enter, Gain management, switchable 48V phantom energy, and a Monitor mode change. The again panel consists of two further 1/4-inch line inputs, which may deal with balanced or unbalanced alerts. Full-color LCD meters present every particular person enter and output. The M6 additionally encompasses a pair of unbiased TRS headphone outputs, every with its personal quantity management.

NEVE 88M DUAL MIC PREAMP & USB INTERFACE
NEVE 88M DUAL MIC PREAMP & USB INTERFACE

NEVE 88M DUAL MIC PREAMP & USB INTERFACE

Neve launched the 88M, its first Dual Mic Preamp and USB Audio Interface, on the NAMM present in early June. Using the identical transformer-balanced expertise as Neve’s flagship large-format 88RS, the 88M is meant to convey sound of AIR, Abbey Road and Capitol Studios into residence and transportable studio setups. The front-end recording system, with plug-and-play connectivity, is complemented with mastering-grade AD/DA conversion. Analog and digital parts are integrated at each stage all through the whole sign path.

PRESONUS AUDIOBOX GO
PRESONUS AUDIOBOX GO

PRESONUS AUDIOBOX GO

AudioField Go from PreSonus is USB-bus-powered with Mac and Windows computer systems, iOS telephones and tablets, and plenty of Android units. It’s additionally USB-class-compliant and helps as much as 24-bit 96kHz audio. Though AudioField Go is a 2-in/2-out interface, it has just one mic enter, which is on an XLR/1/4-inch mic/line combo jack with switchable phantom energy. The second enter is 1⁄4-inch instrument. For outputs, the unit encompasses a pair of TRS balanced outs for feeding screens and a 1⁄4-inch TRS headphone out. The entrance panel sports activities enter acquire knobs for channels 1 and a pair of, and the unit encompasses a Mix knob that lets customers dial within the ratio of audio getting back from a DAW and the direct sign being recorded. The entrance panel homes a big knob for controlling the extent of the primary outputs and a smaller one for the headphone quantity.

SOLID STATE LOGIC SSL 12
SOLID STATE LOGIC SSL 12

SOLID STATE LOGIC SSL 12

The SSL 12, a 12-in 8-out USB bus-powered audio interface, expands on the unique SSL 2 and SSL 2+ fashions with: 4 SSL-designed mic preamplifiers (-130.5 dBu EIN efficiency and 62 dB acquire vary); Hi-Z instrument inputs for guitars, bass or classic devices; two headphone outputs; and next-generation 32-bit /192 kHz AD/DA converters Advanced routing and monitoring choices, mixed with ADAT enter supporting eight further channels of digital audio, supply a complete of 12 tracks of simultaneous recording and eight channels of playback.

The bundle consists of SSL’s 360° software program mixer, Alternative Monitor Switching, Mono Sum, Invert Phase Left, Dim, Cut, in addition to entry to an onboard talkback microphone. Creating as much as 4 unbiased, near-zero-latency foldback mixes is feasible. SSL 12 additionally consists of the SSL Production Pack, a collection of software program devices, sounds, plug-ins and DAW that features the Vocalstrip and Drumstrip 2 plug-ins in addition to 3-month entry to SSL’s Complete subscription.

UNIVERSAL AUDIO VOLT SERIES
UNIVERSAL AUDIO VOLT SERIES

UNIVERSAL AUDIO VOLT SERIES

The new Volt vary represents Universal Audio’s first foray into native audio interfaces, with USB-C, tabletop-style units designed for private recording, podcasts and different low-input-count purposes. The fundamental Volt fashions, the 1×2 Volt 1 and a pair of×2 Volt 2, include built-in Vintage Mic Preamp mode, which supplies a switchable emulation of the Universal Audio 610 mic pre. The Volt 176 and 276 additionally embody 1176-style compressors on their inputs. The 4×4 Volt 476 options two mic preamps and two line inputs, whereas the 4×4 Volt 476P (Mac/ Windows/iOS) is the one Volt to this point with 4 mic preamps. It additionally has 4 XLR/TRS combo jacks to deal with mic, line or instrument-level alerts, to go along with a pair of 1/4-inch TRS headphone outputs, every with its personal quantity management. The again panel incorporates six 1/4-inch outputs—Monitor L and R, and 4 line outputs—in addition to the USB-C port for connecting to your pc, an influence jack for the included adapter, and a big Off/On change.

 

Don’t miss the Mix Tech: New Mixer Round-Up!

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PreSonus AudioBox Go – A Real-World Review

Posted on by Mike Levine
PreSonus AudioBox Go
PreSonus AudioBox Go.
MIX VERDICT: PreSonus AudioBox Go
THE TAKEAWAY: “The Audiobox Go is a capable and exceptionally portable interface that’s an excellent value.”
COMPANY: PreSonus • www.presonus.com
PRICE: $79.95
PROS:
• Extreme portability.
• Great ease of use.
• Amazing value.
CONS:
• Only one line input.
• Can’t record stereo-miked sources.

I’m not sure which is more notable: the price of the AudioBox Go or its size. It costs $79.95 and is a mere 4.25 inches wide—a quarter the width of a standard rack device. It only weighs about half a pound and can fit in the palm of your hand.

The AudioBox Go is USB-bus-powered with Mac and Windows computers, iOS phones and tablets and many Android devices, making it even more potent as a mobile interface. It’s also USB- class-compliant and supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz audio.

PreSonus markets the AudioBox Go as “designed to meet the needs of those new to recording, as well as those looking for a flexible, mobile solution.” Considering that most Mix readers aren’t recording newbies, I’ll focus here on the “flexible mobile solution” aspect.

The AudioBox Go is a 2-in/2-out interface—sort of. It has only one mic input, which is on an XLR/1/4-inch mic/line combo jack with switchable phantom power. The second input is 1⁄4- instrument. On the output side, the unit features a pair of TRS balanced outs for feeding monitors and a 1⁄4-inch TRS headphone out.

You make all adjustments from the front panel and access all connections—except the headphone output—on the back. The front panel sports input gain knobs for channels 1 and 2.

The Oven — Mix Real-World Review

Because it’s so compact, there’s not a lot of room on the AudioBox Go for meters and indicators. What’s there consists of an LED power indicator, LED overload indicators for each channel, and a blue 48V phantom-power button that lights up when you turn it on.

To avoid latency when recording, the AudioBox Go features a Mix knob that lets users dial in the ratio of audio returning from a DAW and the direct signal being recorded. The front panel houses a large knob for controlling the level of the main outputs and a smaller one for the headphone volume.

PreSonus also includes a USB-C-to-USB-B cable and four stick- on rubber feet in the box. Make sure you attach the latter to the bottom of the interface immediately. The AudioBox Go is so light that it slides around way too easily without the feet.

Software includes PreSonus’ generous Studio Magic bundle, which features Studio One Prime, a feature-reduced version of the company’s flagship sequencer, and a selection of processor and instrument plug-ins from Brainworx, iZotope, Lexicon and others. Some are feature-reduced, while others are full versions.

Considering the price of the AudioBox Go, I was impressed with the sound quality. The preamp is an XMAX-L, a variation of the company’s proprietary preamp design. One of the ways I tested it was to record acoustic guitar, banjo, mandolin and vocals, and then use the same mic to record similar parts through a significantly more expensive preamp. The AudioBox Go held its own when I compared the tracks; It did not sound like an entry-level unit.

That said, the unit does have some limitations. Despite being a two-channel interface, there’s only one preamp, so you can’t record stereo-miked sources. It also has only one line input, so a stereo recording off the board at a live show isn’t possible either.

But if those restrictions aren’t problematic for your workflow, the Audiobox Go is a capable and exceptionally portable interface that’s an excellent value.

World News

PreSonus Debuts Retro Mix Legends Plug-Ins

Posted on by ProSoundNetwork Editorial Staff
PreSonus Retro Mix Legends Plug-Ins
PreSonus Retro Mix Legends Plug-Ins

Baton Rouge, LA (June 2, 2021)—PreSonus has dropped Retro Mix Legends, a new set of Mix Engine Effects plug-ins for the Studio One DAW. Available separately and as a bundle, the three plugs— Alpine Desk, Brit Console, and Porta Cassette—work within the company’s Mix Engine FX architecture

The Alpine Desk plug-in aims to emulate the sonic textures of a popular American console. Unique to Alpine Desk is a variable output transformer that lets users switch from a 1:1 to 3:1 gain ratio for higher drive settings.

Meanwhile, Brit Console is intended to recreate the general sound of a well-known UK analog console. Brit Console features three Style options: Vintage, Super, and Modern. Vintage offers a bit of top-end roll-off and a 1980s vibe; Super gets more clean, and Modern provides a variable harmonic distortion that yields a gentle bass boost.

PreSonus Revelator USB Microphone – A Real-World Review

Lastly, Porta Cassette aims to recreate the sound of four-track cassette recorders of the 1980s and ’90s. Its character control includes low settings that govern the amount of console coloration, while taking things higher introduces tape wow and flutter. A Pitch control allows users to detune or up-tune every element as well.

The Retro Mix Legends bundle is currently available at $79.95, while they can each be purchased individually for $29.95. All three Mix Engine Effects plug-ins is included in PreSonus Sphere memberships.

PreSonus • www.presonus.com

World News

PreSonus Revelator USB Microphone – A Real-World Review

Posted on by Fela Davis
PreSonus’ Revelator USB microphone is aimed at content creators of all kinds.
PreSonus’ Revelator USB microphone is aimed at content creators of all kinds.

The Revelator is PreSonus’s latest venture into USB microphones, touting three different microphone polar patterns—Omni, Cardioid, and Figure 8—as well as onboard DSP, software, accessories and more. We recently used it on The Art of Music Tech Podcast throughout an entire episode as I tried each polar pattern and even featured my co-host Denis performing a song on an acoustic guitar. At $249, it’s meant for podcasting, solo musical performances, livestreaming and more, and it handles those duties well.

The microphone comes with an optional table-top weighted base with a great sleek appearance, but it can also be mounted to a traditional mic stand using an included adaptor. We used that adapter on the podcast so it was easier to record Denis and myself on the couch in our studio.

The Revelator comes with access to PreSonus’ Universal Control software, which can also control other PreSonus products like its StudioLive console and StudioLive RM32 audio interface. It also controls the Revelator’s audio preferences like sample rate (44.1-96 kHz), clock source, input and output format, and Device Mode.

One of Device Mode’s key features is the Multi option, which lets you send audio simultaneously to three different platforms—for instance, YouTube, DAW and Skype. A pop-up software control panel lets users control every aspect of the mic, providing four preset modes that can be tweaked and room for another eight user-definable presets.

PreSonus Unveils MicroStation Bluetooth Monitor Controlle

On the mic itself, those four main preset modes can be changed via a preset button, while both gain and headphone levels can be adjusted via the monitor button and volume knob. If you’re familiar with PreSonus’s StudioLive consoles, this is where you can dig into what they call the Fat Channel settings that control the gain, EQ, limiter, high pass filter, compression, gate and effects.

Revelator’s software mixer simplifies sending dedicated mixes to certain destinations by providing two dedicated channels just for loopback audio on both macOS and Windows. This means users can mix and record the audio from two different applications on a computer along with a voice, all at the same time. Everything that’s tweaked in the Universal Controller can be recorded or heard through the platform being used, whether it’s a DAW, Zoom, Twitch, Skype or something else. This is also useful for musical performers who want to use a preset reverb or delay effect for a livestream.

I recorded our podcast using the Revelator to Logic via my MacBook Pro and the results were great. For podcasting purposes, this microphone can be used for any situation you could possibly run into, whether you’re home and recording a podcast via Zoom, or face-to-face with a guest but with only the one microphone. As an audio professional, I’d stick with having multiple mics, but I would suggest this set up to a beginner that needs a budget-friendly set up. At times in omnidirectional mode, I felt there was a slight delay, but I just needed Denis to get closer to the microphone for the best sound. Overall, I’m very impressed by the Revelator’s flexibility and possibilities for so many content creators.

PreSonus • www.presonus.com

World News

PreSonus Unveils MicroStation Bluetooth Monitor Controller

Posted on by ProSoundNetwork
PreSonus MicroStation Bluetooth Monitor Controller
PreSonus MicroStation Bluetooth Monitor Controller

Baton Rouge, LA (May 5, 2021)—PreSonus is now shipping its new MicroStation BT Bluetooth 5.0 stereo monitor controller, which can receive audio from a phone, tablet or other Bluetooth source and feed it to powered speakers. The MicroStation BT also can be hardwired to a powered subwoofer to create a 2.1 listening environment.

While the unit can pair with a Bluetooth-enabled device with the press of a button, a stereo ⅛-inch input is also provided, allowing users to still connect via a wired input. Accordingly, the unit also sports a Bluetooth On/Off button that can toggle between Bluetooth and analog sources.

PreSonus Studio One V5.2 Debuts

Other onboard inputs include balanced left and right ¼-inch TRS inputs, which can route audio from pro-audio hardware to speakers, while the balanced ¼-inch TRS or unbalanced RCA Subwoofer outputs can send audio to a sub. An ⅛-inch stereo headphone/aux output lets users connect headphones or send stereo audio for streaming, recording and more.

Front and center, the main control is a large, ergonomic Volume knob that controls the overall level of connected speakers and subwoofer. A Sub Bypass button mutes the subwoofer feed, allowing users to toggle between a 2.1 system and just full-range speakers. A main Mute button with an LED status indicator let users silence your speakers or headphones as needed.

The PreSonus MicroStation BT is available now with a street price of $129.95.

PreSonus • www.presonus.com

World News

PreSonus Studio One V5.2 Debuts

Posted on by ProSoundNetwork Editorial Staff
PreSonus has released Studio One 5 Professional V5.2, marking the second feature update to its long-running DAW.
PreSonus has released Studio One 5 Professional V5.2, marking the second feature update to its long-running DAW.

Baton Rouge, LA (March 10, 2021)—PreSonus has released Studio One 5 Professional V5.2, marking the second feature update to its long-running DAW. The new edition adds more than 30 new features and improvements.

Studio One 5.2’s new Sound Variations is intended for use corralling complex virtual instruments and orchestral libraries. Central to it is a mapping editor that provides tools for managing complex articulation maps. Each Sound Variation can be customized with its own name and color, and can be dragged-and-dropped in any order and placed into custom folders. Sound Variations can be triggered by key switches, as well as from remote commands, including hardware controllers, keyboard shortcuts, custom macros and more. All Synchron-enabled Vienna Symphonic Instruments, as well as instruments from UJAM fully support dynamic  Sound Variations mapping with Studio One, and a new API allows third-party developers to enable their VST2 and VST3 instruments’ articulations to be queried by Studio One so that Sound Variation maps are automatically generated.

The Score View has been updated with the addition of drum notation and tablature. Users can choose between viewing standard notation with tablature or select tablature only to print lead sheets and more. A new drum-map interface lets users add both the drum and note names to a corresponding notated pitch. A General MIDI map is included for quick setup. New symbols in the Score View allow open/closed/half-open techniques to be added as well. A new Voices icon allows up to four voices per staff to be created.

PreSonus Debuts Eris Sub8 Subwoofer

For performers, the relatively new Show Page has gained a new feature—the Arranger Track—letting users experiment on the fly with new arrangements. Each Arranger section in every Setlist item has five playback mode options: Continue, Stop at End, Skip, Loop, or Loop and Continue; the latter can repeat any section for a specific number of times before playback continues to the next Arranger Section, aiding impromptu extended solos and breakdowns on stage. The new Arranger Track also supports patch changes mid-song.

Version 5.2 adds a number of other features, including the ability to create multiple clip versions, allowing the user to apply clip-based edits in Gain Envelopes or Melodyne independently to Events sharing the same audio; a new “Smart” tool for editing Note Events in the Piano Roll editor; and deeper integration with both ATOM SQ and FaderPort-series controllers. PreSonus Sphere workspaces are also now available directly from the Studio One Browser for bidirectional file transfer. And Studio One is now officially supported for Apple Silicon ARM processors in Rosetta 2 compatibility mode.

Studio One 5.2 is a free update to all registered Studio One 5 customers and is available free to PreSonus Sphere members.

PreSonus • www.presonus.com

World News

After 500 Episodes, ‘Grumpy Old Geeks’ Has a Slick Audio Workflow

Posted on by Jim Beaugez

grumpy old geeksNew York, NY (March 4, 2021)—The first big lesson Jason DeFillippo learned about podcasting was a crucial one. When he and Brian Schulmeister started Grumpy Old Geeks tech podcast eight years ago, they were running two USB microphones on a glass desktop, in a hardwood-floored room, underneath an airport runway. It’s difficult to imagine a more unforgiving audio environment.

“If you go back and listen to the first episodes, it was right on the flight path to Santa Monica airport in Venice [Calif.],” laughs co-host and producer DeFillippo. “[In] the first 20 episodes or so, there’s a plane every five minutes.”

Jason DeFillippo, co-host and producer of Grumpy Old Geeks.

DeFillippo’s perfectionism and growing experience as a producer of professional podcasts like The Art of Charm, Foodist and The Jordan Harbinger Show helped accelerate his hobby podcast’s production values. These days, after nearly 500 episodes and millions of downloads, Grumpy Old Geeks has evolved into a force all its own.

“All of this stuff that I’m doing also translated to Grumpy Old Geeks,” he says. “Actually, a lot of times, I would experiment on Grumpy Old Geeks because nobody was listening to that show. We could get away with doing crazy experiments to see if they worked before we took them over to a show that anybody was actually listening to.”

His quest to make the podcast sound as smooth as radio coincided with the decision to begin recording remotely. After upgrading to a Universal Audio Apollo Twin interface, Electro-Voice RE27N/D broadcasting mic and Rode PSA-1 boom, now he carries a pack with him all over the U.S. and maintains consistent audio quality with an Electro-Voice RE20 dynamic microphone, Sound Devices MixPre-6 preamp audio recorder and his secret weapon: a PreSonus Studio 192 interface.

“You can do all sorts of crazy cable routing with it, and I still use it to this day,” he says. “It’s sitting on my desk in a [double rack unit] with a Furman power conditioner so I can pick it up and take it anywhere in the world, like a little briefcase. I’ve actually got two of them because if one ever broke, I’d be out of business.”

While DeFillippo previously used Skype to connect with Schulmeister and guests—through a three-computer setup of one iMac and two Mac Minis, one for each Skype feed—he switched to the Zencastr platform. “Once Zencastr came out and it got somewhat decent, we switched over to that full-time and got rid of Skype altogether,” he says. “I haven’t used Skype for a podcast in years at this point.”

Recording NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk Concert’ Podcast at ‘Home’

Six Voices, One Podcaster, No Problem: Inside Kelcey Ayer’s One-Man Show

Creating A ‘Quest for the North Pole’ Sound Library

In their latest pivot, Grumpy Old Geeks has begun using Squadcast as well as Riverside to record audio for the podcast. The latter platform also records 4k video, which DeFillippo’s other podcast clients use to publish content to YouTube. “Riverside and Squadcast are so great because everybody’s got a browser, everybody’s got a laptop nowadays,” he says. “If you have headphones and a MacBook Pro, I can make that sound like you’re in a studio.”

There is another key benefit, particularly for DeFillippo’s outside clients: Riverside has a Co-Producer mode that allows him to set up clients and then login as a non-participating attendee. He can be “in the room” and communicate with the host and guests, but not be seen or recorded.

Still, one area remains off-limits in DeFillippo’s dedication to high-quality production values: Phone audio is not allowed.

“We’ll just reschedule the show if we have to go to a phone,” he says. “It’s just one of the conditions of any of the shows I work on: We don’t use phones. We want everything to sound like it’s in a studio. If we have to send you a mic, we’ll send you a mic and headphones. The people I usually work with, they want the best quality that you can get.”

Grumpy Old Geeks • https://gog.show

World News

Peek Inside the Home Studio of One Direction’s Liam Payne

Posted on by Clive Young
Former One Direction singer Liam Payne sold his Calabasas, CA mansion for $10.16 million to pop chanteuse Halsey.
Former One Direction singer Liam Payne sold his Calabasas, CA mansion for $10.16 million to pop chanteuse Halsey.

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne sold his Calabasas, CA mansion for $10.16 million to pop chanteuse Halsey, and it’s fair to say she got a lot of bang for the buck. The 4.75-acre compound includes a 9,659-square-foot main house, two guesthouses, a teahouse, pool, koi pond, waterfall, fire pit, vineyard, wine cellar, home theater and a jaw-dropping two-story library. And for that kind of money, maybe Payne threw in his well-appointed home studio, too.

Let’s take a look at that home studio then. While many artists who are primarily known for singing have comparatively lightweight home studios that only nod towards professional standards, this is a well kitted-out room intended for getting usable results. In addition to the extensive acoustical treatments, the room is centered around a main custom desk outfitted with a bounty of pro-audio equipment, some of which we can ID even from this distance.

Liam Payne's home studio
Liam Payne’s home studio.

Bookending it all are a pair of ADAM Audio A77X 2 x 7″ near-field 3-way studio monitors, controlled by what looks to be (probably) a PreSonus Central Station monitor control remote on the desk, left of the chair. Directly behind the remote is a Universal Audio 6176 Tube Channel Strip, and above it, a Universal Audio Apollo x8 Audio Interface.

At the far right of the desk is a packed 500 Series enclosure, and beneath it in the rack sits a Furman M-8Lx power conditioner with lights; Universal Audio Teletronix LA-2A leveling amplifier; and Empirical Labs Distressor. Lastly, over on the far right, partially hidden by the couch, is a sE Electronics SPACE Vocal Shield.

The house's spacious two-story library.
The house’s spacious two-story library. Hilton & Hyland / Compass / MLS / Fridman Group

Payne first bought the compound in December, 2015 for $10 million, and the singer later told the press that his then-girlfriend thought the mansion, built in 1991, was haunted by a ghost with a penchant for army shirts and cargo pants. Sounds to us more like an audio tech who took a wrong turn in the house, but hey, you never know.

World News

Peek Inside the Home Studio of Danny Elfman

Posted on by Clive Young
Living Room
Composer Danny Elfman and actress Bridget Fonda, his wife, put their mansion on the market in the fall of 2020. Dig that monkey skeleton on the table. Simon Berlyn / Williams and Williams

When composer/musician/producer Danny Elfman and actress Bridget Fonda, his wife, put their home on the market in the fall of 2020, the real estate listing for the mansion, located in the tony Fremont Place neighborhood of Los Angeles, was greeted with interest by those who love classic architecture, strident vintage interior decorating, and, in the case of audio pros, well-appointed home studios.

Elfman’s music career kicked off with the fondly remembered New Wave/Jump Swing band Oingo Boingo, but today he’s best-known for his work as a film composer, with a Grammy, two Emmys and four Oscar nominations to his credit. Films like Spider-Man, Good Will Hunting and The Girl on the Train have all featured his music, as have decades of Tim Burton movies, such as Batman, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Composer / musician / producer Danny Elfman's home studio
Elfman’s home studio, complete with gymnastics rings. Simon Berlyn / Williams and Williams
The mansion includes a two-story ballroom that doubles as a massive home theater – a feature which may have proven helpful for test-driving film scores.
The mansion includes a ballroom that doubles as a massive home theater. Simon Berlyn / Williams and Williams

A spin through YouTube reveals numerous interviews done in the home studio over the years, with the recording gear in the background changing over time, but in the final iteration of the recording space, shown in the real estate listing, there’s plenty of things to see, not least of which are the gymnastic rings and lush red drapes that serve to dampen reflections (and presumably cover some acoustical absorption panels).

Nonetheless, for audio pros, the focus is the desk. At the far end beneath the dual computer monitors sits an Avid Artist Mix control surface, adjoined by what appears to be a Novation Launch Control portable controller. Further to their right is a PreSonus Central Station Monitor Control Remote on the desk, used to look after the ADAM Audio S4A MK1 active studio monitors. Behind it all on the floor sits an APC BE350R surge protector.

Peek Inside the Home Studio of Producer/DJ Erick Morillo

Elfman and Fonda purchased the 8,346-square-foot mansion in 2000 for $2.125 million. The six-bedroom edifice, built in 1920, also includes a two-story ballroom that doubles as a massive home theater – a feature which may have proven helpful for test-driving film scores.

Elfman isn’t the only former member of Oingo Boingo to wind up with his own recording space; keyboardist Richard Gibbs went on to found the gorgeous destination studio Woodshed Recording in Malibu, CA, which we profiled in 2016. That facility miraculously avoided being burnt to the ground by the 2018 Woolsey Fire, despite the house on the property, like others in the area, going up in flames. Over the years, Woodshed has hosted the likes of U2, Coldplay, Chance the Rapper, Barbra Streisand, Sting, The Chainsmokers, Kanye West, Lorde, Neil Young and other notable artists.

UPDATE: Elfman and Fonda sold their mansion in late 2020 for $8.75 million, reportedly to TV showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.