#TeamPreSonus Spotlight: Johhny ‘TheMuzic’ Geib!
June 16,2013
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!
Category StudioLive 16.4.2 | 1 Comment »
Posted by Bellsauce
[This just in from Lu Rojas of Oak Street Recording, who along with Mike Montero recently had a great experience with a rig of four StudioLives and Studio One!]
Hey PreSonus! I just wanted to let you guys know about a recent experience we had with some of your products. On Tuesday April 30 at Harrah’s Theater in New Orleans, we recorded Allen Toussaint’s 75th Birthday Tribute & Benefit. All proceeds were donated to the New Orleans Artists Against Homelessness & Hunger.
We had four StudioLive 16.4.2 mixers. We slaved the first two units together, and then sent a submix from those mixers into the next two mixers, which were also slaved together. The first pair were connected to a custom-built PC running Capture 2, and the second pair were connected to a Macbook Pro, also running using Capture 2. From there, a stereo mix was sent to a CD burner, for reference, and to the HD broadcast truck for WLAE/PBS. The broadcast truck in turn sent us SMPTE time code, which we recorded to both computers for syncing after the fact. They also sent us a video feed so we could mix audio to the video. I handled mixing on the first pair of mixers (drums, bass, piano, main vocal & percussion) and Mike Montero handled the mix on the second pair of mixers—horns, guitars, vocals & audience mics. Mike also handled the mix of the overall balance between both sets of StudioLive mixers, as my mix was being submixed into his mix!
Neither Mike or I had worked with the StudioLives in such a situation before, and we had concerns about figuring out our workflow before showtime. Everything was so simple to figure out, that we ended up having downtime before the show! Imagine that… time to eat and have some coffee and not stressing over whether we had our asses covered! Another thing that impressed us was how well the compressors worked on the mixer. I always worry in a live atmosphere when a microphone is being handed around from artist to artist, and not being able to catch the one that is going to overload the microphone. Fortunately, the compressor section worked like a charm even when switching from artist to artist on the main vocal mic. We had Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Elvis Costello, Deacon John, Jon Cleary, Cyril Neville, Dr. John, Joe Stampley and Joe Henry. The important thing was that we got the main vocal to always sit right on top of the mix without it sounding squashed or distorted.
As of now I have installed Studio One on Mike Montero’s computer, and he will be mixing the audio from here out. Thanks guys!
Category StudioLive 16.4.2 | 0 Comments »
Posted by Bellsauce
[This just in from Luis "LH Dub" Henrique, who is using the StudioLive 16.4.2 for live remixes of his band's dub tracks! It's not often that we see a StudioLive in the "mixer as instrument" application—but here it is! Check out the vid!]
Hello PreSonus! My name is Luis “LH Dub” Henrique, a Brazilian who is passionate about music production and mixing technology. In particular, I love mixing tracks with Jamaican rhythms to create new songs. I have always needed a high-quality interface in order to create my songs, and I have finally found it in the PreSonus StudioLive 16.4.2. It has everything to fulfill my needs, and meets my high standards of quality while offering a great variety of tools. It was love at first sight! I had no previous experience with digital mixers, and I was a bit afraid that I couldn’t manage it, but as soon as my 16.4.2 arrived home I quickly realized that StudioLive is a very easy interface to work with.
Personally, I really like reverb and delay effects. So when I first experienced the effects available on the 16.4.2, I was totally amazed. The delay filter is incredible. I also have been using StudioLive to record live bands and it does a great job! The compressor, gate and all other tools are very well placed. It’s easy to handle and work with.
The StudioLive 16.4.2 is also very resistant By accident, it has fallen from 1.5 m height and it still works perfectly… only few scratches tell the story!
Because of my wonderful experience with StudioLive, I have decided to purchase only PreSonus products in the future due to the fact that I am very pleased to work with this equipment that, besides having a great design, has the best quality you can get.
Category StudioLive 16.4.2 | 0 Comments »
Posted by Bellsauce
Monster April Savings Opportunities
April 5,2013
We have a LOT of promos going on this month. Even we’re having a hard time keeping track of them all. That’s all Rick’s fault, really. But it’s because he likes you all so much! Here’s the gist of it:
Buy a StudioLive 24.4.2, get a free PRM1 reference mic! Here’s the Free PRM1 Form. You can get more details here. Offer ends May 31.
We’ve dropped the prices on two of our StudioLive mixers! Get the 16.4.2 for $1,799 and the 24.4.2 for $2,999. No rebates, no buy-two-get-one-free, just a lower price. Wow!
Studio One Professional 2.5, $100 off through April! Get with the best for a low low price! This is an instant rebate that will be available through your local PreSonus dealer or StudioOne.PreSonus.Com.
Save $30 bucks on a TubePre V2. This is an instant rebate available at your local PreSonus dealer. Easy money.
Save a whopping $50 on the PreSonus Studio Channel. This is another easy instant rebate available at your local PreSonus dealer.
Last, but certainly not least, if you upgrade from any other version of Studio One to Studio One Professional 2.5, you are entitled to the Simon Phillips Session Tracks drum loop library for FREE! Click here for the rebate form so you can grab your copy—ASAP!
Category Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Posted by Bellsauce
The StudioLive 16.4.2s at Rapa Nui’s Tapati Festival
February 26,2013
[This just in from Mauricio Yáñez Polloni, of our distributor partner, Croma Limitada.]
The guy at the StudioLives in these pictures is Mauricio Romero, my friend, who has lived for 10 years on Rapa Nui! He did all the audio production for the Tapati, an annual festival that lasts for 10 days! Tapati was first performed during the first ten days of February, 1975. The festival began as a one among islanders, but now is an instance to share culture with tourists visiting around that time of year.
Two linked StudioLive 16.4.2s were the heart of the sound of this important event, running the live sound and recording the bands simultaneously. The show was recorded in Capture and then edited, mixed, and mastered in Studio One 2.5.
Mauricio Romero is the founder of the most important sound company of the island, Matau Producciones. He also has produced many albums with ethnic music of Rapa Nui.
This year, Matau Producciones did all sound and lighting for Tapati as well. Saludos!
Category StudioLive 16.4.2 | 5 Comments »
Posted by Bellsauce
[This just in from Jonathan from the Andy Needham Band. Jonathan serves as the band's bassist, manager, and booking agent. We heard that he liked PreSonus, so we sent him a couple questions, and received a great many answers. They follow.]
How and when did you get involved in music?
I personally got involved in music back in the 5th grade, when my aunt bought me my first snare drum at a local flea market. I played drums all through elementary and high school in the school band, and then picked up other instruments along the way, mainly guitar and bass. I got involved with Andy Needham about 10 years ago at a Christian camp in Southern New Hampshire. I started with the band just filling in for the drummer, then moved to the electric guitar, before finally becoming the band’s full-time bassist. All along the way I was always an all-purpose man who owned much of the band’s live sound equipment. I find just as much satisfaction behind a soundboard as I do on a stage.
We traveled for the past year with the StudioLive 16.4.2. Over the past year, our live event has taken on more elements that require more channels, so just this week we upgraded to the StudioLive 24.4.2. Our drummer, a production graduate from Berkelee College of Music, also uses PreSonus FireStudio Project in conjunction with Pro Tools 10 for recording purposes along with Ableton Live and Reason to create the band’s many backing tracks. We also use that for quick overdubs when working on promotional projects.
What are some of your favorite features?
All of them!
It’s hard to narrow things down. I don’t know if this would be classified as a “feature” but I am so impressed with PreSonus’ continued customer support and free upgrades to equipment already sold. When I bought my original 16.4.2 for the band, it didn’t have a lot of the things that I now can’t see myself living without. The value that is packed into the StudioLive blows my mind when compared to other mixers on the market. More important than the value—it just sounds great.
A particular favorite feature with our band: wireless mixing via StudioLive Remote on the iPad has been a huge help. Also, QMix allows for everyone in the band to control our own separate monitor mixes on our iPhones/iPods. This is crucial, as we can’t afford to have an monitor engineer on the road with us.
Another thing I would consider a “feature” would be in regards to the “ease-of-use” side of things. We can’t afford to always have the same sound guy on the road with us, but because the learning curve of this board is so easy, we can often utilize sound personnel at venues.
Lastly, I love that everything I need is packed into a single case—I don’t have to travel with extra racks of compressors, gates, effects, etc! Furthermore, I can save everything I do. Time is so important when we travel, and because all our settings are is internalized in the StudioLive, we can be sure that our sound will be consistent night after night.
As far as tips’n'tricks go, I find that everyone I talk to is in a different place. My biggest encouragement when people ask about this product on the road is to check out the depths of the free tutorials online. There is a free school at your fingertips 24/7 to learn the ins and the outs of this board.
I love the convenience of the stored Fat Channel settings (i.e. loading presets for instruments, vox, etc). When a band opens up for us, I can save a new scene for them and load each individual instrument to get a starting point. It makes sound checks go a lot quicker and smoother when things sound fairly good from the get-go.
As I mentioned before, we outgrew our board due to some new aspects of our live event. Something we ended up doing (that is probably a little outside the norm) is routing our stereo backing tracks through Aux A and Aux B inputs and then assign those to Subgroup 1 and 2. By doing this, we expanded the board’s capabilities by two channels, though welimit the available subgroups. We were in a pinch and had to think outside the box to make it work—but it works!
We also regularly utilize Capture alongside with the StudioLive for helping with sound checks when we don’t have our sound guy on the road. We can run a sound check (or even recall a sound check from a previous night) and get things sounding pretty good before we have the stand-in person touch the board. It lowers the pressure on someone that has never ran our sound before.
We also have been utilizing the board’s GEQ for fine-tuning the system from venue to venue. Prior to Smaart Measurement Technology being available on the StudioLive, we would use a DriveRack PA+ for the general setup of the system and then play a couple of our standard tracks and walk around the room with the iPad making GEQ adjustments. By fine-tuning the system with the board’s GEQ on the iPad, it allows us to use our ears in all areas of the room so we are hearing things as the crowd will hear it, not just at the FOH board. Usually the adjustments are minor, but by using our ears it can really separate a decent sounding system from a great sounding system. I always save each venue’s GEQ settings because we often play the same places year after year.
Along with saving each venue in the GEQ, a good tip is to always make a practice of saving your Fat Channels individually. The reason I do that is simply because things change tour to tour. By having each individual channel saved respectively, it makes it easier to move people around on the board. Once could also just copy and load the Fat Channels, but I find when I’m making drastic shifts, it’s nice that I don’t have to start any from scratch. I just hit select, load the channel I have saved the Fat Channel for, and I’m in business!
Category StudioLive 24.4.2 | 0 Comments »
Posted by Bellsauce
Customers and customers-to-be are immediately entitled to some great big hurkin’ rebates on the StudioLive mixers! We know you probably dropped a little cash this holiday season—or maybe you received a little bit of cash. Maybe you broke even, even.
Whatever your cash flow sitch, know that PreSonus loves you for the content of your character, not the content of your wallet—at least until March is over. And it’s in that spirit that we’d like to take some of your money and then give some of that money back—alongside your shiny new StudioLive mixer.
A StudioLive 24.4.2 purchase entitles you to a whopping $300 rebate, and a StudioLive 16.4.2 purchase entitles you to a kinda-whopping-still $200 rebate. These rebates can be redeemed online or in-store, so head over to your local PreSonus dealer and bring money—and go home with a mixer plus money.
And then go make some killer music!
Category StudioLive 24.4.2 | 7 Comments »
Posted by Bellsauce
FIVE New Smaart Videos Featuring John Mills!
December 6,2012
Check it out! Paul just wrapped up this great set of five videos describing the latest and greatest Rational Acoustics technologies that can now be added for FREE to the StudioLive 24.4.2 or 16.4.2 mixer that you already own… or the one you’re thinking about getting.
Try each of these features once, and you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them.
John Mills on The Smaart System Delay Wizard:
John Mills on The Smaart Spectra Spectrograph
John Mills on Smaart Real Time Analysis
John Mills on The Smaart Room Analysis Wizard
John Mills on The Smaart Output Check Wizard
Category StudioLive 24.4.2 | 4 Comments »
Posted by Bellsauce
MI7 and PreSonus at Inter BEE 2012!
December 6,2012
[This just in from MI7, our distributors in Japan!]
We exhibited at Inter BEE 2012. Recognized as a professional show for audio, video and communications, Inter BEE has established itself as an international exhibition showcasing top-level domestic and overseas broadcast, video, audio and lighting equipment as well as peripheral applications and solutions all under one roof.
We displayed two sections for music production solutions: medium-format live solution and small-format live solution. StudioLive and Studio One was most popular! The visitors enjoyed the sound and hands-on experience. We obtained approximately 700 leads! I attached some photo for your reference. Thank you for your support.
Category Trade Show | 3 Comments »
Posted by Bellsauce
Ray Johnston Band Produces EPK Track Live via StudioLive 16.4.2
December 4,2012
[This just in from the Ray Johnston Band!]
Hey PreSonus! We finished the EPK, all recorded live from our PreSonus 16.4.2. Hope y’all dig. Bobby Sparks was on the gig as you will see!
Like what you hear? Check out the Ray Johnston Band on the platform of your choice:
