PreSonus AudioBox 1818VSL USB Audio Interface

Need more channels in your USB interface? The AudioBox1818VSL gives you 8 XMAX mic preamps, plus ADAT and S/PDIF I/O for up to 18 inputs and 18 outputs.

Overall User Ratings (based on 10 ratings)
  • Overall:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    4.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(10) (see rating details)
Submitted June 2, 2014 by Richard Applebaum in Sacramento, CA

"PreSonus Audiobox 1818VSL"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Fantastic product! This product provides all the same functions as the model that features the physical sliders, buttons, etc. Instead, this product puts all those controls into software that is accessible via Mac or PC, and from there in a VNC (remote) session to iPad. Fantastic product. People with experience on mixing boards will find it very easy to use. Newbies (like me) will need to read the manual, tutorials, etc. OR, find someone that's using one to assist (local churches are snapping up PreSonus equipment like crazy because they provide great audio mixing and value).

Musical Background:

Acoustic Guitarist; Garage Band drummer;
5 of 5 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted April 22, 2012 by Reginald W in Louisville, KY

"Presonus 1818vsl"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Nicely built unit..Very quiet preamps.Virtual Studio Live is awesome. IPAD control not out at the time of this review. I use this in conjunction with Studio One Professional. Very easy to get set up...

Musical Background:

I've been a singer and producer for 18 years.

Musical Style:

Hip Hop, R&B
13 of 13 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted December 1, 2012 by Mike Patterson in Arrington, VA

"Presonus AudioBox 1818VSL performance"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
The Presonus AudioBox 1818VSL is a professional high quality awesome USB interface.This complete system is the foundation for our studio and works flawlessly.The factory support and online support from Presonus is beyound expectations. zZounds engineers helped our studio in our search for the perfect DAW platform and we are hooked on Presonus. Thank you zZounds!

Musical Background:

Professional free to musicians recording studio with all instruments supplied.

Musical Style:

All styles of recording accepted at Mike AX-UP Studios.
2 of 2 people (100%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted August 22, 2017 by F F in Libertyville, IL

"PreSonus AudioBox 1818VSL USB Interface "

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I think the cost/benefit of this is unbeatable and you have the recording software included. Works perfect, easy setup. I just have good things to say

Musical Background:

Musician starting recorder
Did you find this review helpful?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted January 30, 2014 by Chad H in Longview, TX

"Works even without a computer!!!"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
I was hesitant about buying this interface because of the last review submitted June 5, 2013. It made me feel as though I'd be missing a feature I wasn't even sure I'd need. CAN IT BE USED AS A MIXER OR NOT? However I own the 44vsl which has pretty much the same front panel controls as the 1818 VSL, except the 1818VSL has 4 more mic pres and 4 more gain knobs. "YES IT CAN!!!" What the previous reviewer didn't realize is that while this interface is designed to work primarily with a USB computer setup and the VSL software, it also works great in "standalone" mode even as a mixer. "HOW?" This is possible by tuning the front panel knob labeled "Inputs"/"VSL"(MIXER).In actuality when the knob is turned to "VSL" it causes the interface to depend on the computer and DAW to route any audio signal coming in through the inputs or out to the headphones or back panel outputs. When the knob is turned to the side labeled "Inputs", the interface acts as a small format mixer with very basic controls. "TRIED AND TRUE" I plugged in my electric guitar, turned the knob all the way to "Inputs" turned up the gain a bit and with a pair of headphones in the Headphone jack I could hear the guitar signal loud and clear. It wasn't designed to work as a Mackie or an Allen and Heath mixer, although on a very basic level the Presonus Engineers did a good job of designing it so that it can take in and route sound without the use of a computer. How a professional sound engineer overlooks this I don't know! PRESONUS makes a quality interface!

Musical Background:

Sound Engineer

Musical Style:

All Types
4 of 9 people (44%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted January 11, 2012 by a customer from gmail.com

"Great deal, Great interface. No buyers remorse here!"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I expect to use this until I have a need to record either more than 16 channels simultaneously or I need to record 16 channels at more than 24 bit 96k
Sound
Clear, clean pre-amps with a lot of gain available. I tracked 8 channels last week on drums and every track is clean and well behaved. I tracked at fairly low levels and brought the tracks up when mixing with little to no noise increases. I'm very impressed with how this sounds. The VSL monitoring program is very good. The channel strip on each input is nice. The parametric EQ and compressor sound great for clean, uncolored effects. The delay effect is basic, but sounds like a clean, standard digital delay. I'm not super impressed with the included reverb, but for monitor mixes it works just fine.
Features
Tons of inputs and outputs. The ability to use the channel strip and effects on each channel is likely to be more than I will ever use. I do wish the channels in the VSL software could be labeled with custom labels (rather than 1, 2, 3, etc) The knobs and chassis are aluminum. Solid feel and feedback. The knobs have detents, which I like.
Ease of Use
Get your thinking hat out, because this is a complicated piece of equipment. It is designed to be that way however, so it should come as no surprise. If you're buying this, you already know you need to read the manual. So get to it. However, if just you plug it in, load the drivers and press record, it will work. The first time I ever pressed record on this I recorded 8 channels for three hours. No problems.
Quality
Physically, this thing will last a long time if you keep it racked. It looks good. I wouldn't suggest you drop it or spill fluids on it however. One thing I'm keeping an eye on however: it seems to get pretty hot when left on. I've left it on overnight, etc and I just don't do that anymore.
Value
Price per channel this is a fantastic deal. A no brainer for those on a budget wanted an 8+ channel USB interface.
46 of 48 people (96%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted March 5, 2014 by a customer from bigpond.com

"Move On!"

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
If you have a newer computer move on. This will not work with USB3 ports. Presonus have not updated the drivers in 2 years and blame every one else for the issues (Intel, Apple, Microsoft etc). Try a RME or a Focusrite. They work just fine on the same systems, inc USB3!
4 of 9 people (44%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!

Submitted June 5, 2013 by a customer from hotmail.com

"No use without a computer!"

Overall: 2.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This interface is completely useless unless it is plugged into a computer. There is an app that installs on your desktop and unless it is opened you will get NO sound from this unit. You can't use it as a mixer EVER. Only as an interface and only with the Audiobox app opened up. Good unit but useless as a stand alone. Previous interface was a Lexicon I-Onix U-82. This was a tremendous let-down for me personally.

Musical Background:

Professional musician and sound engineer.

Musical Style:

All styles.
6 of 24 people (25%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!
Please wait.