Description

Pro-Quality Analog Mixing and Digital Recording in One Device

StudioLive^® AR12 14-channel hybrid performance and recording mixer

Built by musicians, for musicians.

StudioLive^® AR12 USB 14-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^® connectivity. Compact and road-ready, StudioLive AR mixers provide a superior all-in-one solution for mixing and recording your performances.

Built by musicians, for musicians.

StudioLive^® AR12 USB 14-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^® connectivity. Compact and road-ready, StudioLive AR mixers provide a superior all-in-one solution for mixing and recording your performances.

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 13/14) 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 AR12 USB mixer to your computer via USB 2.0, and you have a 14×4 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!

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 AR12 USB mixer to your computer via USB 2.0, and you have a 14×4 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!

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^™ live-recording software, then edit in our award-winning Studio One^® 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 AR12 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 sends, 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.

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

To get a great mix, you need high-quality effects. The StudioLive AR12 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 sends, 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.

Includes Studio Magic
Plug-in Suite.

This suite of plug-ins adds a wealth of fresh virtual instruments and effects to Studio One. Cherry-picked from the first names in virtual instruments and effects, each plug-in brings a different flavor of practical magic to your songs. These plug-ins aren’t gimmicky one-trick ponies — these are real-deal workhorses that you’ll rely on for countless mixes.

Features

Channels and Buses

• 14-channel mixer
• 4 mono and 4 stereo channels, each with:
  • 60 mm level fader
  • Pan
  • Mute
  • PFL solo
• 1 stereo Super Channel (Ch. 13/14)
• 2 monitor buses with PFL solo
• 1 stereo effects bus
• 1 stereo effects return with:
  • 60 mm master fader
  • Dedicated monitor sends
  • Effects bypass footswitch jack

Inputs and Outputs

• 2 instrument inputs
• 12 balanced line inputs
• 2 unbalanced inserts
• 8 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
• 2 balanced TRS monitor outputs
• 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
• Mono channels: 3-band semi-parametric EQ with sweepable mid-band
• Stereo channels: 3-band semi-parametric EQ
• Stereo effects processor with 16 presets

Recording Options

• 14×4 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 SDHC™ 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
• 60 mm faders
• Rackmount kit optional

Computer system requirements:

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

Mac

macOS® 10.11 or higher (64-bit only)

Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor (Intel Core i3 or faster recommended)

Windows

Windows® 7 x64 SP1 + platform update, Windows 8.1 x64, Windows 10 x64

Intel Core 2 Duo (Intel Core i3 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 1366×768 resolution (high-dpi monitor recommended)

The minimum system requirements may differ for DAWs other than Studio One®. 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.

Technical Specifications

Microphone Preamp
Type	XLR Female, Class A
Maximum Input level (unity gain)	Mono Channels: +18 dBu, ±1.0 dB, Stereo Channels: -5 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 20 kHz, +0.5/- 1.5 dB
S/N Ratio to Outputs (+4 dBu)	89 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)	Mono Channels: < 128 dBu, Stereo Channels <120 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 kHz@0.5% THD+N)	+12 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 20 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB
Dynamic Range (min. gain, A-wtd)	> 105 dB
Dynamic Range (mid. Gain, unwtd)	> 108 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 kHz@0.5% THD+N)	Mono Channels: +18 dBu, ±1.0 dB, Stereo Channels: +22 dBu, ±1.0 dB
Gain Control Range	Mono Channels 50 dB, ±1 dB (-30 to +20 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)	20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5/-1.5 dB
S/N Ratio to Analog Outputs (+4 dBu)	82 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)

 

Channel EQ
Low Cut	100 Hz, -18 dB/Octave
High Shelving	±15 dB @ 12 kHz
Mid Peaking (Mono Channels)	±15 dB @ 140 Hz to 3.5 kHz (variable)
Mid Peaking (Stereo Channels)	±15 dB @ 2.5 kHz
Mid-Band Q	Boost: 0.55, Cut: 2.5
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
Signal-to-Noise (a-weighted)	-96 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 (96-320 kbs, 32 / 44.1 / 48 kHz)
Sampling Rate (WAV)	44.1 kHz
Bit Depth	Recording: 24-bit, Playback: 16- or 24-bit

 

Power/Environmental
Connector	IEC
Input Voltage Range	90 to 240 VAC
Recommended Ambient Operating Temperature	0? to 40? Celsius / 32? to 104? Fahrenheit

 

Physical
Height	3.5” (89 mm)
Width (Chassis only)	15” (381 mm)
Depth	15.6” (397 mm)
Weight	11.9 lbs (5.4 kg)