Category Archives: Monitoring
Sonic Sense Pro Audio First Look at the Sceptre S8 CoActual Monitors
Sonic Sense Pro Audio just posted this first-look (first-listen?) video of the Sceptre S8 CoActual monitors. They compared the Sceptre S8 ($749, each) to the much more expensive Genelec 8050A ($2195, each) and the Adam A7x ($699, each) monitors. All monitors involved in the shootout were cautiously miked and measured, and detailed frequency response and phase charts are presented for each.
Sonic Sense is very thorough, which I suppose makes for the “Sense” part of “Sonic Sense.”
Click through to the Sonic Sense blog post here to get their full review, but in the meantime here’s a snippet:
“As promised, the sound quality truly does stand up well beside high-end monitors that have become “household” names in the studio world including ADAM, Genelec, JBL, and Neumann.”
Tremendous Giveaway in August 2013 from American Musical Supply!
The kind folks at American Musical Supply just announced their incredible PreSonus giveaway, including a whopper of a $5,129 prize package that includes:
- PreSonus StudioLive 24.4.2 Digital Mixer
- 2x – PreSonus Eris E8 Powered Studio Monitor
- Raxxess SS36 Studio Monitor Speaker Stands – 36 Inch, Pair
- SM Pro Audio Active Speaker Starter Pack
It’s easy to enter, just click here and fill out their form! This is an incredible chance to get a whole lotta stuff with minimal effort, which is always a popular proposition.
Enter to Win a StudioLive 32.4.2AI in the “Why StudioLive” Video Contest!
Our recent “Why I Switched to Studio One” video contest was such a smashing success that we decided to kick it up a notch.
So, here’s your contest. Prime directive? Extrapolate! The whole human race deserves to know why you chose the StudioLive mixer out of the billions and billions of mixers available in our little blue corner of the galaxy. The best video, as chosen by PreSonus galactic overlords, will receive the flagship mixer of our next generation, the StudioLive 32.4.2AI—a $3,999 value.
So, again, we want videos. Billions and billions of videos! This contest shares much in common with the last contest, but with the following upgrades:
- No online voting this time. PreSonus will choose the winning video. Last time we got a lot of fraudulent votes that we traced to an IP address in a pirate sector of Zeta Centauri.
- The second-place winner will receive a pair of Sceptre S8 monitors, a $1,999 value.
- Non-English submissions are welcome, but must include English subtitles to qualify for entry.
- Please keep your videos around 1:30, 2:00 maximum. Videos even one picosecond over 2:00 will not be considered for entry.
Here’s the rest of the guidelines.
Create a video detailing why you chose the StudioLive mixer over the universe of mixers available.
- Be specific about why you chose the StudioLive. Discuss your favorite most-used features.
- Be mindful of the YouTube generation’s attention span. Keep it around 1:30.
- Upload the video to YouTube, and make sure it’s set to be publicly viewable.
- Submit your link at Facebook.com/PreSonus, using the VIDEO CONTEST application viewable under our cover photo. All fields are required. Submit by October 1, 2013 to qualify.
- That’s it! You’re entered!
Here’s what we’re NOT in search of:
- Nudity, profanity, violence, or any content that YouTube would remove your video over.
- Videos that are too long. Keep it around 1:30, please.
- “I like Studio One, AND NOW HERE’S MY BAND CHECK US OUT WE’LL BE PLAYING AT THE HOQIUAM SENIOR CENTER ON SATURDAY.” Stay on-topic.
- If you use music in the video, it must be your own. No cover songs.
- Film school projects/Oscar Contenders. You don’t need a Director of Photography, Hair & Makeup department, or Final Cut Pro to win. But it might help.
The grand prize winner will receive a StudioLive 32.4.2AI, and a free upgrade to Studio One Professional 2.5. If you’re already running Studio One Pro 2.5, we can connect you with the PreSonus product of your choice as long as it’s under $300 in value.
The second place winner will receive a pair of Sceptre S8 monitors.
All video content submitted becomes the property of PreSonus Audio Electronics. Winner will be announced on or around October 2, 2013
Full lawyer-appeasing legalese can be found here.
The 32.4.2AI is light years ahead of previous StudioLive consoles, offering:
- Double the amount of onboard internal effects buses and graphic EQs
- Six mute groups
- User-assignable Quick Scene buttons.
- A Wi-Fi LAN adapter–no computer required for wireless connectivity!
- 64 times the processing power and 10,000 times the amount of RAM of the StudioLive 24.4.2.
#TeamPreSonus Spotlight: Graham Cochrane of The Recording Revolution!
Who are you, where are you, and what do you do?
My name is Graham Cochrane. I am a producer, engineer, songwriter, and worship leader based in Tampa, FL. I’m also the founder of The Recording Revolution, a popular audio training resource.
How were you introduced to PreSonus?
Word of mouth, years ago.
What PreSonus software/hardware do you use and for what purpose?
I currently have a Eureka and ADL 700 in my rack. Both are excellent preamps and channel strips that make recording easy and fun. I’m using the Central Station Plus for monitoring. I also do all of my mastering in Studio One Professional. Love that project page!
What’s so great about PreSonus, anyhow?
You guys make great products, and make them available at real-world prices, and you have an obvious passion for making music. What more could you want?
What’s the last big project that you worked on using PreSonus gear?
I tracked my band’s most recent EP using just about nothing but the Eureka on the front end. Everything I’ve mastered this year has been exclusively in Studio One.
What are you working on now—or next?
Mixing for a few bands this summer. Also writing a new solo album. I’m always making content for The Recording Revolution including a recent video series called Mastering With Stock Plug-ins that was done all in Studio One. It’s free, you should check it out!
Where can our readers learn more about you online?
#TeamPreSonus Spotlight: Rhett Mouton!
[We decided it best to give some recognition to our more vocal advocates—and what better way than via a blog series?]
Who are you, where are you, and what do you do?
Rhett Mouton: Producer, engineer, writer/composer.
How were you introduced to PreSonus?
Years ago I was asked by a young band to go to their rehearsal studio to help them record a song. That rehearsal studio turned out to be in Jim Odom’s back yard.
What PreSonus software/hardware do you use and for what purpose?
I use the Central Station for monitoring, ADL 600 for obvious reasons, StudioLive 24.4.2 for live sound and multitracking, Studio One 2 Professional for writing, composing, producing, mixing and mastering.
What’s so great about PreSonus, anyhow?
They always seem to be thinking a step ahead of the curve when developing new products.
What’s the last big project that you worked on using PreSonus gear?
I produced, mixed, and mastered a band called Meriwether’s debut album titled, “Make Your Move” which resulted in a distribution deal and record deal with Suretone/Interscope records.
What are you working on now—or next?
I am currently mixing and mastering projects for clients. I am also composing/writing original music with the intention of licensing for placement in film, television and video games.
Where can our readers learn more about you online?
Harmony Central Reviews the Eris Monitors
We just found this stellar review of the Eris monitors from Jon Chappell at Harmony Central. John says:
“Of course, there plenty of comparably priced speakers, but PreSonus has differentiated the Eris line in some key ways, principally the extensive tone control options (these can really make a different in rooms that don’t have ideal acoustics), analog power amplifiers instead of digital, and the easy accommodation of consumer as well as professional gear. PreSonus has a reputation of making great products “for the rest of us,” and the Eris speakers follow that philosophy.”
Click on over to Harmony Central to read the review in full for yourself!
#TeamPreSonus Spotlight: Steve Savanyu! Hedgehogs, Presidents, and Popes… Oh, my.
[We decided it best to give some recognition to our more vocal advocates—and what better way than via a blog series.]
Who are you, where are you, and what do you do?
Steve Savanyu. Hudson Ohio, I am the educational services director at Audio-Technica and teach at Kent State University. I teach microphone and wireless workshops at universities around the country and have taught at all of the PreSounSphere events… In my spare time I operate Buford T. Hedgehog Productions, a local production company that does live sound, studio recording , live remote recording, video production and lights just for giggles. I also participate in really big events such as Presidential Debates, Papal visits, and Inaugurations….
How were you introduced to PreSonus?
Through a friendship with Rick Naqvi, at a church sound seminar where I was teaching a microphone class. I assisted with a live recording at the event where we used 3 FirePods aggregated together on my Mac laptop. It was a fun experience and we learned a lot. Ask Rick about hot patching into a non-transformer isolated 48-channel stage snake splitter. It made a big noise on a really expensive NEXO line array…. Oops.
What PreSonus software/hardware do you use and for what purpose?
Where shall I begin? I currently own 5 StudioLive 16.4.2’s, one StudioLive 24.4.2, and 1 StudioLive 16.0.2 which I use primarily for live gigs. I also have been known to carry the 16.0.2 out as the front end for remote tracking sessions using Capture. (I have recorded the orchestral score for two Kent State Student films this way). My original location rig is a FireStudio with 2 Digimax Pres to give me 24 inputs. (I multitracked a basketball game with it for an Audio Technica project. We were showing how different mics and positions affected game sound for broadcast.) In the studio I have a Central Station with remote for speaker management, and a FaderPort which I use as a controller for the audio part of my video edit rig. I picked up an AudioBox 44VSL for location video work (tied into a MacBook Pro laptop). I run a legacy Pro Tools rig in the studio with a DIGI-003 interface (back when ProTools required Digi hardware) with DigiMax D8 mic pre. The band I work with uses two of the 16.4.2s and performs about four nights a week on average (in different locations). The ease of operation on the StudioLive console and the ability to save scenes makes it a snap for the band to use.
On the software side, I use Capture to record almost every live event we do. The low overhead of capture allows me to use some pretty basic computers to record up to 32 tracks via two linked StudioLive 16.4.2s. In the studio, I have been using Studio One Professional 2.5 as my main edit software. I like it, as it’s intuitive and has low computer processing overhead so it runs great on a laptop. As an experiment, I mixed a seven-song EP of a band I work with on a flight from LA to New York! I was burning out the CD as the flight attendant was saying power down your electronic devices for landing. Of course my Audio-Technica ATH-M50 headphones made accurate monitoring possible in the plane’s less-than-fancy mixdown environment.
I have dabbled with iPad control on my larger rig, but not implemented it completely due to the expense of buying seven iPads, computers and routers. I am looking forward to the StudioLive 32.4.2AI with its built-in networking. I can beta test… 🙂
What’s so great about PreSonus, anyhow?
First and foremost is the people! I have called Justin and Rick on weekends and evenings with questions and they always get back to me promptly. I have participated in both PreSonuSphere events and like the camaraderie of the entire PreSonus Family.
Second, is the products just work and sound good. They are intuitive to learn making it easy for me to train a band’s engineer on using a digital board. We like the fact the processing is built-in to the StudioLive consoles. The presets sound great, and make it easy to get a mix up even if you have never done sound for the band before. True story: Early on we did a gig for a band who was unfamiliar with the power of a digital console. It was an outdoor event so I had the 16.4.2 out front with the snake and a power cable for FOH stuff. Their diva lead singer, who knew everything about sound and told me so, was being a pain in the butt. He walked out to FOH, looked at the “smallish” console and said “dude where is your effects/EQ rack?” I hesitated for a moment and looked him in the eye and said: “Dang, I knew we forgot something…” The look on his face was priceless…
And third of course, is the jambalaya…
Where can our readers learn more about you online?
First and foremost, check out the Audio-Technica.com website. A-T makes great studio and live mics that pair up well with PreSonus hardware. Our new AT5040 with its revolutionary capsule design and “pure, simple signal path” would pair up well with the ADL 700 Channel Strip (hint hint, I have the mic…) Our Artist Series and Artist Elite live sound mics are second to none.
As for me, check out my website www.bufordthedgehog.com and visit me on Facebook. I try to post a FOH picture of every gig I do either on my page or the PreSonus user group page. I am on LinkedIn but don’t do the Twitter thing.
You can see some of my video work on the A-T YouTube channel as well as other audio companies’ YouTube channels. I have several published articles about doing audio for video and I am the audio expert on the FilmSkills online training series produced by Jason Tomuric.
I attend all of the major trade shows: NAMM, INFOCOMM, NAB, etc. and do microphone and sound workshops at universities, church conferences (with my good friend Doug Gould) and trade shows. You can’t miss my distinctive look…. just ask for the blonde guy!
#TeamPreSonus Spotlight: Johhny ‘TheMuzic’ Geib!
Who are you, where are you, and what do you do?
My name is Johnny Geib and I live in Wheeling IL, 24 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. I work 3rd shift for a company contracted by the IL Tollway to do maintenance and systems support of their Toll Collections systems. 45+ hours a week and never a dull moment. Part time, I run a home-based recording facility for both clients and my own music, and have been doing so for more than 25 years. I started out with a 4-track Tascam, then a Fostex Open Reel 8 track, graduated to a VS2480 in 1998 and Akai DPS24 a year later.
I was a Cubase\Nuendo user from 2003 till I discovered Studio One 1.0 when I bought a Firestudio Mobile. I used the FS Mobile with Cubase and a FaderPort till I upgraded to Cubase 5. The update was a disaster and put me out of business for a month. That’s when I remembered the free copy of Studio One Artist that came with my FS Mobile. Since I had to get something done while I waited for tech support to get back to me, I installed Studio One Artist and was totally blown away. I was recording and mixing within an hour and saved two clients that were ready to walk because of the delay. From that point, I never looked back and purchased Studio One Professional that following Friday. I have been a PreSonus fan boy since. And now, with PreSonus making studio monitors, my studio is about 95% PreSonus!
Well, not sure you’ll have room for this list in the blog but here goes: Studio One 2.5.2, Capture, Monitor Station, FaderPort, Audiobox 22VSL, AudioBox 1818VSL, Studio Channel, FireStudio Tube, FireStudio Mobile, HP-60 headphone amp, Eris E5 monitors, two M7 mics, two SD7 mics, three HD7 headphones, DIGITube and a StudioLive 16.4.2!
Recording’s Mike Metlay on the Eris Studio Monitors
Champion Sound 7: and the winners are…
Thanks to Amahl from Champion Sound for these great shots of the winners from their season finale!
Retro5pect (Dallas, TX) and Cloud Stryfe (New Orleans, LA) tied for first place, with each receiving a pair of the brand-new PreSonus Eris E5 monitors! Eduk8 (Baton Rouge, LA) took third place and walked away with a set of PreSonus HD7 headphones. B. Brooks (Baton Rouge, LA) took fourth place.
Photos by Travis Robertson