PreSonus StudioLive AR8c 8-Channel Digital Mixer

Are you looking for a new, intuitive-to-use analog mixer for recording podcasts, live streams, and music productions? Then the PreSonus StudioLive AR8c could well be for you!

Podcasting And Home Recording, Simplified

Featuring an instantly-familiar layout, and a pristine analogue front-end with four high-gain XMAX mic preamps, the hybrid design of the AR8C makes home recording and audio production as simple as you could wish for.

PreSonus StudioLive AR8c 8-Channel Digital Mixer Highlights

• 8-channel analog mixer, with integrated USB 2.0 audio recording interface
• 4 balanced Mic inputs, with acclaimed XMAX mic preamps
• 2 instrument/line inputs
• 6 balanced line level inputs (2 mono, 2 stereo pairs)
• Stereo Super Channel (Ch. 13/14) with Bluetooth 5.0 input, RCA inputs, 1/8″ stereo input, and switchable SD/USB stereo playback
• 2 Mono and 2 Stereo channels, each with level knob, pan, mute, PFL solo, highpass filter, and 3-band semi-parametric EQ
• 1 monitor bus with dedicated channel sends, AFL solo, and balanced TRS output
• L/R Control Room outputs with level control
• Headphone output with level control
• Includes Capture live multitrack recording software, Studio One Artist DAW, and Studio Magic plug-in suite
• Powered by standard IEC power connector

Full-Featured Audio Interface

With the AR8c you get an audio interface which operates at up to 96 kHz for high-definition mixing and recording, allowing you to record each of the six inputs, plus the main mix.

In addition to this, the inclusion of four XMAX mic preamps gives you all the gain you need to capture even the most subtle details without adding any unwanted noise.

The Channel That Does It All

In addition to the afore-mentioned channels, the AR8c hosts the unique Super Channel, which can handle four stereo sources at once, allowing you to easily integrate consumer devices into your studio workflow.

Featuring connectivity options such as RCA inputs (for turntables, etc.), a 1/8″ stereo input for your mobile device, and even Bluetooth connectivity, the Super Channel makes a welcome addition to this already-awesome little mixer.

All-In-One Recording Package

Thanks to the AR8c combining both an analogue mixer with an audio interface, and the integrated state-of-the-art recording software, it can help you achieve your creative vision with relative ease.

In addition to this, PreSonus Capture allows you to create multitrack recordings for your podcast or band with a single click, and the award-winning Studio One Artist DAW makes fine-tuning/mixing/production intuitive.

Record Whenever And Wherever You Want

With its diminutive size and all-in-one recording capabilities, the AR8c is perfect for recording mobilt interviews, or off-the-cuff songwriting sessions where you want to capture your ideas as quickly as they arrive.

Simply insert any SD/SDHC card into the AR8c, and you’re ready to go!

Effects Without Latency

As any guitarist or vocalist will tell you, adding a little reverb to the monitor mix will make them feel more at ease during the recording process.

Thanks to the StudioLive AR8c’s onboard effects processor, you can add in high-quality reverb, delay, or even chorus to any channel, giving you a professional studio-like experience in your headphones.

You can even record the MainMix and Effects Mix separately too (with or without the dry channels) and blend with your multi-track recording to your heart’s content.

Studio Magic Plug-In Suite

As if all of that wasn’t enough, the AR8c comes complete with the Studio Magic Plug-In Suite, adding a wealth of fresh virtual instruments and effects to your favourite DAW.

Each of these instruments and effects have been carefully selected to bring a different flavour of practical magic to your songs.

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)

PreSonus StudioLive AR8c 8-Channel Digital Mixer Technical Specs

Microphone Preamp

• Type: XLR Female, Class A XMAX
• Maximum Input level (unity gain): +9 dBu ±1.0 dB
• Gain Control Range: 43 dB (+12 to +55 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): 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): Mono Channels: < 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): +9 dBu ±1.0 dB
• Gain Control Range: 43 dB, ±1 dB (+12 to +55 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 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): +26 dBu ±1.0 dB
• Gain Control Range: Mono Channels – 40 dB, ±1 dB (-5 to +35 dB); Stereo Channels – 0 dB or +10 dB (+10 dB Boost)
• 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): 85 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): -90 dBu
• Adjacent Channels (Ref = +4 dBu, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, unwtd): -85 dBu

Signal Level LED

• Signal: -30 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 @ 10 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: 1.0, Cut: 2.5
• Low Shelving: ±15 dB @ 100 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-bit
• 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): 11″ (284 mm)
• Depth: 12.3″ (313 mm)
• Weight: 7.1 lbs (3.2 kg)