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.

The StudioLive AR8 USB provides a complete solution for mixing and recording, including a flexible array of inputs and outputs. In addition to an XLR mic input with Class A preamp, each of the two mono channels gives you a line input, low-cut filter, mute, pan, and solo with prefader listen. The stereo channels (Channels 3 through 6) provide the same core features but with left and right line inputs and a mic input only on the odd-numbered channel.

As a result, you can plug in mics, keyboards, and much more with the same types of controls found in larger mixing consoles. Phantom power can be enabled globally for use with condenser microphones; simply switch it off if you want to use dynamic mics. All channels feature three-band, semi-parametric EQ, giving you enough tone-shaping precision to make each instrument sound its best in the mix.

This is just part of the StudioLive AR’s assortment of connections; as you’ll discover in a moment, this mixer can accept signals from virtually any audio source!

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 8x4 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.

Features

Channels and Buses

1 stereo effects return with:

Inputs and Outputs

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

8x4 24-bit/96 kHz, USB 2.0 audio recording interface

Record every channel plus the main mix

2x2 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

Typical Home Studio Setup Diagram

Specifications