PreSonus StudioLive AR8c 8-Channel Mixer/USB-C Interface

The AR8c is a compact analog mixer with FX, an 8x4 USB-C audio interface for your DAW, and a stereo SD card recorder -- ideal for project studios and shows!

$499.99

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    $62.50
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    6 x  
    $83.33
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    4 x  
    $125.00

PreSonus StudioLive AR8 USB Mixer, 8-Channel

No longer available at zZounds
It's a compact analog mixer with 4 XLR ins. It's an 8x4 USB recording interface for your DAW. It's a stereo SD card recorder. The StudioLive AR8 does it all!

The PreSonus StudioLive AR8 USB 8-channel hybrid mixer makes it simple to mix and record live shows, studio productions, band rehearsals, podcasts, and much more. This is a musician's mixer: lightweight, versatile, feature-rich, and packed with analog connections and digital tools, yet easy to learn and use. Mix with PreSonus' famous Class A preamps and three-band EQ. Create multitrack recordings and fly in backing tracks with a 24-bit, 96 kHz, USB 2.0 digital audio interface. Record and playback in stereo with the integrated SD(TM) digital recorder. Stream program music wirelessly, using onboard Bluetooth(R). Compact and road-ready, StudioLive AR mixers provide a superior all-in-one solution for mixing and recording your performances.

All of the connections and controls you need.

StudioLive AR8 USB mixers are packed with the connections and controls needed to mix and record live, in the studio, and in rehearsal. Each of the two mono channels and two stereo channels includes level control; a mic input with one of PreSonus' prized Class A preamps; three-band EQ; and more. Besides the main outputs, you get a monitor mix output with a dedicate bus for feeding a stage wedge, headphone amp, or in-ear system. Since the StudioLive AR8 USB is also a studio mixer, you also get control-room outputs with level control to feed your studio monitors.

Plug guitars and basses directly into the mixer.

Most mixers make you route acoustic and electric guitars and basses through read more external direct boxes before connecting to a mixer input. But with StudioLive AR mixers, Channels 1 and 2 have high-impedance instrument inputs, so you can plug a guitar or electric bass straight into the board--no direct box needed.

It's inputs; it's playback; it's the Super Channel!

Our unique Super Channel (stereo Channel 7/8) allows you to connect four stereo analog and digital sources at once, enabling you to use the mixer with your high-tech devices. Plug a media player into the Super Channel's unbalanced RCA and 1/8-inch stereo inputs, play stereo audio from the onboard SD(TM) recorder or from your USB-connected Mac(R) or Windows(R) PC. Use onboard Bluetooth 4.1 to pair your phone to your StudioLive AR mixer and instantly have wireless access to your music library for break music, backing tracks, or ear-training. Have a song you want the rest of the band to learn? Pair your phone and start rehearsing!

Record in the studio or at the gig--with or without a computer.

Naturally, you want to record your gigs, as well as producing studio projects, podcasts, and so on. It's smart to record your rehearsals, too. So StudioLive AR mixers offer two different ways to record. Connect a StudioLive AR8 USB mixer to your computer via USB 2.0, and you have an 8x4 multitrack digital recorder, ready to capture all input channels plus the main mix to a Mac or Windows PC with professional, 24-bit/96 kHz quality. An onboard stereo SD recorder lets you record the main mix without a computer--just hit Record and go. Recording can't get much easier than this!

Fly in backing tracks and play break music, too!

Both the integrated USB recording interface and the SD recorder have multiple uses beyond simply recording. With just a few backing tracks, your small band can sound like a much larger act, so we enabled the USB interface to play back two stereo streams through the mixer--great for backing tracks, click tracks, or program music. Use the SD recorder to play up to 32 GB of MP3 and .WAV files for hours of program music or backing tracks without needing a computer. And don't forget the Bluetooth feature in the Super Channel, which lets you play break music straight from your smartphone. With several ways to get the job done, you can work the way you want to.

Integrated software makes recording a snap.

PreSonus StudioLive AR mixers are tightly integrated with state-of-the-art recording software to help you achieve your creative vision. Record with PreSonus' Capture(TM) live-recording software, then edit in our award-winning Studio One(R) Artist DAW (recording and production software); both are included free.

Sweeten with digital effects for a polished, professional-caliber sound.

To get a great mix, you need high-quality effects. The StudioLive AR8 USB has you covered with an internal stereo effects processor with 16 presets, including an assortment of room, hall, and plate reverbs; chorus and delay effects; even a preset that emulates an acoustically treated studio room to provide a warmer, more intimate tone. A dedicated effects return, complete with master level fader and dedicated monitor send, lets you adjust the amount of the effects in your main and monitor mixes. You can even bypass the effects with a footswitch (optional). It's just another way that StudioLive AR mixers enable you to build professional-quality mixes and recordings quickly and easily.

A complete solution that's compact, easy to use, and built for the road.
Compact and built for the road, the StudioLive AR8 USB is an easy-to-use, all-in-one solution for audio mixing and recording. With a wide variety of connections, two ways to record, and a simple, elegant mixing surface, it will quickly become the heart of your live and studio sound systems.

Software Library

Capture
Designed exclusively for StudioLive mixers, free Capture multitrack recording software for Mac(R) and Windows(R) allows instant setup and one-click recording of up to 34 tracks at up to 96 kHz (or 64 tracks at up to 48 kHz), directly from the mixer, with no configuration. Capture simplifies your live-recording environment, providing only the tools necessary to do a true virtual soundcheck and record a great performance, without placing huge demands on your CPU. And because Capture looks and operates like a classic multitrack hard-disk recorder, it's instantly familiar. Best of all, Capture uses the highly lauded, 64-bit, Studio One(R) audio engine, so your tracks will sound amazing!

Studio One Artist
Studio One is a completely modern professional environment for music recording, mixing, mastering, sharing, and collaboration. It's Internet-savvy and provides a complete solution, combining the features you really need with the ease of use you always dreamed of. Based on an elegant user interface and a content browser with powerful drag-and-drop functionality, feature-rich Studio One will let you work quickly and stay focused on your inspiration.

Studio Magic Plug-in Suite -- Included Free!

Register your PreSonus audio interface or mixer to get a free bonus: the Studio Magic Plug-in Suite for Mac and Windows. Studio Magic includes seven popular virtual instrument and effects plug-ins in VST, AU, and AAX formats from Brainworx, Arturia, iZotope, Output and more -- all available as a free download when you register your qualifying PreSonus product.

SPL Attacker is a micro-plug-in that employs the same Differential Envelope processing technique as SPL's famed Transient Designer. Using SPL Attacker, all attack events can be amplified, regardless of their signal level. By focusing on the initial transient instead of specific frequencies, SPL Attacker amplifies just the attack curves of a sound event. This allows instruments to be mixed at lower levels, which opens up space in the mix, while the relationship between tracks is preserved.

Maag Audio EQ2 delivers the sound of the Maag Audio EQ2 two-band hardware equalizer. Maag Audio's EQ design allows for exceptionally low phase shift across all EQ adjustments, which helps maintain the integrity of your mix's original sound while enhancing the very high "air" frequencies. An input attenuator lets you normalize levels after applying EQ.

Lexicon MPX-i Reverb delivers seven classic Lexicon plate, hall, chamber, and room reverbs. A streamlined interface and 100 versatile, finely crafted presets enable you to quickly get the sound you want. Input and output metering let you monitor levels at a glance.

Klanghelm SDRR2tube can add warmth, depth and character to your tracks. SDRR2tube can be a saturation processor, a compressor, an EQ, a bit-crusher, or a subtle stereo widener -- or it can simply add movement to your tracks. A comprehensive set of controls enables you to manipulate the character of the saturation to make it sit perfectly in your mix.

Output Movement is an exciting effects plug-in for the studio or stage that adds powerful rhythms to any input in real-time. Movement's four rhythm engines with sidechains, proprietary Flux mode, LFOs, step sequencers, and macros blend seamlessly. Analog modeled effects optimized for modulation let you add rhythm with reverb and compressors pumping, filters and EQs opening and closing, delays morphing, and tube distortion warming and cooling. Transform any instrument, synth, raw sound or full track in real time!

Brainworx bx_opto is a compressor plug-in that combines the best aspects and anomalies from several legendary, light-dependent compressor circuits. The result is a powerful dynamics processor, teeming with character and delivering sounds that can't be achieved with analog optical compressors.
Arturia Analog Lab Lite.

Arturia Analog Lab Lite is a "Greatest Hits" collection of physically modeled -- not sampled -- classic analog synths, organs, string machines, and pianos from Arturia's V-Collection of virtual instruments. Enjoy models of iconic instruments from Oberheim, Roland, Sequential Circuits, ARP, Hammond, Fender, Wurlitzer, Moog, and Vox.
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- Microphone Preamp
- Type: XLR Female, Class A
- Maximum Input level (unity gain): +22 dBu, +/-1.0 dB
- Gain Control Range: Mono Channels: 50 dB, +/-1 dB (Unity to +50 dB), Stereo Channels: 40 dB, +/- 1 dB (+5 to +45 dB
- Frequency Response to Analog Outputs: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB
- Frequency Response to USB (Direct): 20 Hz to 40 kHz, +0.5/- 1.5 dB
- S/N Ratio to Outputs (+4 dBu): 94 dB
- THD+N (min. gain, A-wtd): < 0.01%
- Input Impedance: 1 kOhm
- EIN (+55 dB gain, 150Ohm input, 20 Hz-22 kHz, A-wtd): < 128 dBu
- Common Mode Rejection Ratio (1 kHz, +55 dB gain): 65 dB
- Phantom Power: +48V, +/-3V, Global
- Note: All Channel Inputs sum through Mic preamp:
- Instrument Inputs
- Type: 1/4" TS Female, Unbalanced, Hi-Z
- Maximum Input Level (min. gain, 1 kHz@0.5% THD+N): +22 dBu +/-1.0 dB
- Gain Control Range: 50 dB, +/-1 dB (Unity to +50 dB)
- Frequency Response to Analog Outputs: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB
- Frequency Response to USB (Direct): 20 Hz to 40 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB
- Dynamic Range (min. gain, A-wtd): > 105 dB dB
- Dynamic Range (mid. Gain, unwtd): > 100 dB
- THD+N (1 kHz, -1 dBFS, A-wtd): < 0.01%
- THD+N (1 kHz, -1 dBFS, unwtd): < 0.01%
- Input Impedance: > 1 MOhm
- Note: All Channel Inputs sum through Mic preamp:
- Line Inputs
- Type: 1/4" TRS Female, Balanced
- Maximum Input Level (min. gain, 1 kHz@0.5% THD+N): +22 dBu, +/-1.0 dB
- Gain Control Range: Mono Channels 50 dB, +/-1 dB (-20 to +30 dB),\0x200B Stereo Channel 50 dB, +/-1 dB (-15 to +25 dB)
- Frequency Response to Analog Outputs: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB
- Frequency Response to USB (Direct): 10 Hz to 40 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB
- S/N Ratio to Analog Outputs (+4 dBu): 94 dB
- THD+N (1 kHz, -1 dBFS, A-wtd): < 0.01%
- Input Impedance (Balanced): 10 kOhm
- Note: All Channel Inputs sum through Mic preamp:
- Main, Control Room, Monitor, and FX Outputs
- Type (Main Outputs): XLR Male, Impedance Balanced
- Type (Control Room, Monitor, FX Outputs): 1/4" TRS Female, Balanced
- Rated Output Level (Main Outputs): +24 dBu, +/-1.0 dB
- Rated Outputs Level (Control Room, Monitor, FX Outputs): +18 dBu
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB
- Dynamic Range (A-wtd): > 108 dB
- THD+N (Bandwidth 20 Hz - 20 kHz, -1 dBFS, unwtd): < 0.01%
- Output Impedance: 100 Ohm
- Headphone Output
- Type: 1/4" TRS Female, Stereo, Unbalanced
- Maximum Output Level: 150 mW/channel @ 60 Ohm
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB
- Dynamic Range (A-wtd): > 103 dB
- THD+N (Bandwidth 20 Hz - 20 kHz, -1 dBFS, unwtd): < 0.01%
- System Crosstalk
- Input to Output (Ref = +4dBu, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, unwtd): -85 dBu
- Adjacent Channels (Ref = +4 dBu, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, unwtd): -80 dBu
- Signal Level LED
- Signal: -50 dBFS (pre-EQ)
- Clip: -3.0 dB before clip (pre- or post-EQ)
- Graphic EQ
- Low Cut: 100 Hz, -18 dB/Octave
- High Shelving: +/-15 dB @ 12 kHz
- Mid Peaking: +/-15 dB @ 2.5 kHz
- Mid-Band Q: Fixed, 0.55
- Low Shelving: +/-15 dB @ 80 Hz
- Digital Audio
- Host Interface: USB 2.0
- ADC Dynamic Range (Component): 114 dB
- ADC Dynamic Range (Measured: A-wtd, 48 kHz): 105 dB
- DAC Dynamic Range (Component): 114 dB
- DAC Dynamic Range (Measured: A-wtd, 48 kHz): 105 dB
- Bit Depth: 24 bits
- Internally Supported Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96 kHz
- Jitter: < 80 ps RMS (20 Hz - 20 kHz)
- Jitter Attenuation: > 60 dB (1 ns in => 1 ps out)
- SD(TM) Recorder
- Supported Media Format: FAT16 formatted SD(TM) card, FAT32 formatted SDHC(TM) card
- Media Storage Capacity: SD card: 2 GB; SDHC card: 32 GB
- Recording File Format: Stereo WAV
- Playback File Formats: Stereo WAV, MP3
- Sampling Rate (WAV): 44.1 kHz
- Bit Depth (Recorded WAV): 24 bits
- Power/Environmental
- Connector: IEC
- Physical
- Height: 3.7" (95 mm)
- Width: 12" (305 mm)
- Depth: 12" (305 mm)

Computer system requirements:

Below are the minimum computer-system requirements for use with Capture(TM) and Studio One(R).

Mac
Mac(R) OS X 10.8.5
Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo processor (Intel Core i3 or faster recommended)

Windows
Windows(R) 7 x64/x86 SP1 +platform update, Windows 8.1 x64/x86, Windows 10 x64/x86
Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD(R) Athlon(TM) X2 processor (Intel Core i3 or AMD Athlon X4 or faster recommended)

Mac and Windows Systems
4 GB RAM (8 GB or more recommended)
30 GB hard-drive space (Studio One)
Internal or external 7200 RPM storage drive highly recommended
Monitor with 1366x768 resolution (high-dpi monitor recommended)
The minimum system requirements may differ for DAWs other than Studio One(R). Please check the requirements for your DAW of choice with its manufacturer.

Note that the speed of your processor, amount of RAM and size and speed of your hard drive will greatly affect the overall performance of your recording system. Also, a more powerful system (faster processor with more RAM) will allow for lower latency (signal delay) than you might experience while monitoring audio signals.

As a commitment to constant improvement, PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc., reserves the right to change any specification stated herein, at any time, without notification.

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 225-216-7887
Web: https://support.presonus.com

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. (3 ratings)
Submitted September 18, 2016 by William H in San Antonio, TX

"Beautiful Sound"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I'm a DJ running dual Bose L1 systems and needed a mixer that could live up to the sound expectations of these speakers and my clients. The PreSonus AR8 does a beautiful job. The gain staging is precise and clean, almost no hiss in the speakers. After setting the levels for mics and mixer board, the main output level was barely at quarter the way up and it was almost too loud!!... and this was an outdoor event! The Bose speakers were set to the halfway mark. Bluetooth paired quickly and sounds fantastic. I only wish there was EQ on the super channel, but I only used it for sound effects so it was fine... also very loud. The SD card recording feature is superb. I was able to record part of my performance and I will be using it to improve on future gigs. I have not used the usb in or out as yet, so I have no review for that. The sound effects are very nicely done. I scrolled through them all and they really are usable in many situations. I particularly love the "spacey", "short delay" and "large club" effects. The 3 band EQ really gives music a nice warm feel. The knobs are a little wobbly, not like the Allen & Heath which has knobs mounted on individual metal stems, but that's not a deal breaker at all. I just expected a stiffer feel. Overall, this is an excellent mixer. Really high headroom and super clean. Lightweight and it sits with a perfect slope for performances. I would recommend it to any band, DJ or producer out there, after all, it's a PreSonus! These guys know what read more they're doing.

Musical Background:
DJ for private events. Been in the business for over 30 years

Musical Style:
Reggae, Soca, Salsa Merengue, Afrobeats, Lounge Chillout, R&B, Hip Hop, Soul, Neo-Jazz
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