PreSonus Blog

Category Archives: Mixing Systems


Ricki and the Flash Rocks with PreSonus, Part 1

 

Ricki and the Flash poster (1)Hello everyone, I’m Phil Garfinkel, the Special Projects Liaison for PreSonus® Audio Electronics. I’m writing about the shooting of a new movie, Ricki and the Flash, discussing the PreSonus products that we used and how we used them.

First, a little about the film: Ricki and the Flash stars Meryl Streep as Ricki, an aspiring rock star who leaves the Midwest to “make it” in California. Her band, The Flash, features the talents of Rick Springfield on guitar, Bernie Worrell on keyboards, Joe Vitale on drums, and Rick Rosas on bass.

We set up the band in an authentic club configuration, with plenty of PreSonus equipment to reinforce their sound. We recorded with Capture™ and used Studio One® to create reference recordings. I was on site as the PreSonus tech, mixing the live show.

Here is a quick overview of what we used from PreSonus:

 

The movie is directed by Jonathan Demme and produced by Gary Goetzman and Marc Platt, all Oscar winning veterans. Jonathan and Gary wanted the band to play, not just pretend to play along to tracks; I was brought in to mix front-of-house and monitors and to take a 32-track feed to capture the music as it happened.

We faced some unusual challenges. Thanks to teamwork and a mutual obsession for excellence (and some pretty great gear), Mark, Neil, and I worked through it to help Jonathan and Gary make an excellent soundtrack for the film.

Special thanks to Roxanne Ricks at Audio-Technica for helping us get high quality microphones and wireless systems, Peter Janis at Radial Engineering for getting us some fantastic Direct Boxes, and Brad Graham at Rapco-Horizon for helping with cable needs.

Thanks also to my cohorts in audio-land, Mark Wolfson and Neil Citron, who led the charge for this journey. Also Jeff Pullman, C.A.S, the film’s Production Sound Mixer, who worked with us.

Ricky and the Flash opens in theaters everywhere on August 7.

 

Click here for part 2!

Get a $200 Instant Rebate When you Buy a StudioLive RM16AI Before June 30

RM16_Rebate_Digital_Flyer_05-01-15Until June 30, we’re offering $200 the purchase of the StudioLive RM16AI in the USA. No rebate forms, no mail-in anything, just money in your wallet. This is a similar offer to the $300-500 off we’re offering on the StudioLive AI Console mixers, which you can learn more about by clicking here.

Make no mistake—because we kinda did. The StudioLive RM16AI is a 32-channel mixer. While it boasts 16 analog XLR inputs on the face, (I bet your face only has 5) there’s another 16 digital inputs available under the hood that allow you to pipe in multi-channel audio from a workstation or laptop. This positions the RM16AI as an exceptional choice for a gigging band that makes heavy use use of backing tracks—a model that is becoming increasingly common. For example, Check out what Startisan has been doing with it:

 

Of course, since there’s no faders, you also get UC Surface control software (for Mac, Windows, and iPad), Capture 2, QMix AI, and Studio One Artist. The mixer additionaly features monstrous onboard Fat Channel DSP, Wi-Fi and wired networking—plus built-in AVB.  It’s a real powerhouse, despite an inability to adhere to long-established conventions of nomenclature. Click here to learn more about all that good stuff.

But perhaps coolest of ALL, and why this is such a good deal right now—the RM16AI is designed to be elegantly controlled by the StudioLive CS18AI moving fader Ethernet/AVB Control Surface, allowing complete hardware control of all mixer features.

Oh, and the StudioLive RM16AI is also one of Mix Magazine’s “Most Innovative Products of 2014.” We’re flattered and thankful for the recognition.

Click here to find a dealer!

AVB Option Card for StudioLive AI Mixers—the SL-AVB-MIX

The SL-AVB-MIX card for StudioLive AI console mixers is coming soon!

This will allow you to connect a StudioLive AI console mixer at front of house to a StudioLive RM rackmount mixer onstage, allowing you to use it as a stage box—eliminating the need for an obnoxious, heavy snake. Ray is happy to show you how to hook it all up, as well as answer some frequently asked questions.

And, until April 30—if you buy a StudioLive RM or StudioLive AI mixer, we’ll add the option card FREE! Click here for more details on that.

We expect the SL-AVB-MIX card to be available early to mid April, 2015.

A Typical Gig with the PreSonus StudioLive RM32AI Rack Mixer

Rick’s band Phat Hat took the StudioLive RM32AI digital mixer out for a gig at Baton Rouge’s Varsity Theatre. The gig went great! Rick explains why.

For more on the StudioLive RM32AI, click here.

Update for UC Surface and Universal Control AI Now Available for RM Mixers

We’ve released an update to Universal Control AI and UC Surface for the StudioLive RM mixers.UC-Available-now

Click here for the full change log, download links, and update instructions.

.@NothingMoreRock’s World Tour with the StudioLive RM32AI! #RMWorldTour

Here’s Jonny Hawkins from Nothing More discussing his band’s use of the RM32AI for running backing tracks and monitors during the Juggernaut tour with Periphery! Thanks for your support, guys!

.@SWAudio on the RM Series Mixers at #NAMM2015

Thanks to StreamWorks Audio for the coverage from NAMM! For more on the RM series mixers, click here.

Recording a Jazz Band: Audio Solutions from PreSonus

PreSonus offers you a full solution for jazz band rehearsal and recording. Take a look at how the Louisiana All State Jazz Ensemble takes advantage of the StudioLive AI family!

.@BHPhotovideo’s Excellent StudioLive RM Mixer Overview

B&H Photo Video has an incredible video team and knowledgable, helpful staff. Check out this thorough overview of the RM series mixers that they put together. Thanks so much for the support, guys!

@TheBlueDevils and the StudioLive AI Solution: Interview with David Gibbs

David Gibbs is the Executive Director of The Blue Devils, the best drum and bugle corp in the world. They’ve come to rely on the StudioLive AI digital mixers as well as the StudioLive AI PA Loudspeakers.