Built by musicians, for musicians.
StudioLive® AR8 USB 8-channel hybrid mixers make 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™ digital recorder. Stream program music wirelessly, using onboard Bluetooth®. 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 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™ recorder or from your USB-connected Mac® or Windows® 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 8×4 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!
Features
Channels and Buses
- 8-channel mixer
-
2 mono and 2 stereo channels, each with:
- Level knob
- Pan
- Mute
- PFL solo
- 1 stereo Super Channel (Ch. 7/8)
- 1 monitor bus with PFL solo
- 1 stereo effects bus
-
1 stereo effects return with:
- Level knob
- Dedicated monitor sends
- Effects bypass footswitch jack
Inputs and Outputs
- 2 instrument inputs
- 8 balanced line inputs
-
4 balanced mic inputs with:
- Class A microphone preamp
- Global 48V phantom power
-
Stereo Super Channel with:
- Stereo RCA inputs
- 1/8-inch stereo input
- Switchable SD™/USB stereo playback
- Bluetooth 4.1 input
- L/R XLR main outputs
- 1 Balanced TRS monitor output
- 1 Balanced TRS effects output
- L/R Control Room outputs with level control
- Headphone output with level control
Signal Processing
- Highpass filter on every channel
- 3-band semi-parametric EQ (Channels 1-6)
- Stereo effects processor with 16 presets
Recording Options
-
8×4 24-bit/96 kHz, USB 2.0 audio recording interface
- Record every channel plus the main mix
-
2×2 SD recorder
- Record main mix
- Supports SD™ and SDHD™ formats up to 32 GB
Integrated Software
- Capture™ recording software
- Studio One ® 3 Artist recording and production software (DAW)
Power
- Internal power supply
- Standard IEC power connector
Physical
- Sturdy metal construction
-
Rackmount kit optional
Technical Specifications
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 kΩ
• EIN (+55 dB gain, 150Ω 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 ¼” TS Female, Unbalanced, Hi-Z
• Maximum Input Level (min. gain, 1 [email protected]% 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 MΩ
• Note: All Channel Inputs sum through Mic preamp
Line Inputs
• Type ¼” TRS Female, Balanced
• Maximum Input Level (min. gain, 1 [email protected]% THD+N) +22 dBu, ±1.0 dB
• Gain Control Range Mono Channels 50 dB, ±1 dB (-20 to +30 dB), 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 kΩ
• 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) ¼” 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 Ω
Headphone Output
• Type ¼” TRS Female, Stereo, Unbalanced
• Maximum Output Level 150 mW/channel @ 60 Ω
• 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™ Recorder
• Supported Media Format FAT16 formatted SD™ card, FAT32 formatted SDHC™ 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)