4Mal said:
Are you able to give your initial thoughts on the SMAART RTA? Is it reasonable to compare and contrast this software with the dbx DriveRack?
I have been holding off getting a 24 channel StudioLive until this software was released.
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Presonus QMix
- Thread starter gnjpowell
- Start date
Are you able to give your initial thoughts on the SMAART RTA? Is it reasonable to compare and contrast this software with the dbx DriveRack?
I have been holding off getting a 24 channel StudioLive until this software was released.
Limited implementation of SMAART, not dynamic. Doesn't provide feedback suppression on a hunt, detect suppress basis. The DR is a whole other thing. I'm not up to speed on SMAART but I'm thinking of it as similar to say Peavey's FLS system. Tells you where the issue is, let's you fix it. My understanding is that it can be applied to any of the main or aux mixes though. you need a few drive racks to do that and cover all the aux mixes...
In summary... It's really darned cool that Presonus is continuing to significantly improve the product and they aren't charging for upgrades (take that Avid - ProTolls is so in my past...spelling intended). I don't think SMAART is a deal maker but the board itself is so darned good, it's icing on the cake. Join the Presonus forum. Watch the videos, ask questions...
If you're still I'm the fence, hook up with a skilled sound guy using an SL board and hang with him during setup sound check and a set. I did that, went home and ordered my 16.4.2
BTw- check with RMC on the availability of B stock... Just sayin...
In summary... It's really darned cool that Presonus is continuing to significantly improve the product and they aren't charging for upgrades (take that Avid - ProTolls is so in my past...spelling intended). I don't think SMAART is a deal maker but the board itself is so darned good, it's icing on the cake. Join the Presonus forum. Watch the videos, ask questions...
If you're still I'm the fence, hook up with a skilled sound guy using an SL board and hang with him during setup sound check and a set. I did that, went home and ordered my 16.4.2
BTw- check with RMC on the availability of B stock... Just sayin...
I would bet that not far off is an add on product that will have a cost but will offer a robust interface to a full blown Rational RTA. Probably it will require a separate computer to run. Probably it will be cool as all get out. Probably it will be a lot more functionality than I can use while mixing from stage.
The Smaart software in the latest firmware package gives you RTA-ing capability (but you'll want something nicer than an SM-58 to do it with. That said, it does look at the frequency spectrum and pin point hot-spots and feedback events which when used with the parametric eq's on the fat channel a channel input, or subgroup or main or aux send to wedges can help you fine tune your live or studio rigs.
This is a very nice feature for the home studio guys to be able to better dial in your monitors to a flat response. Might save some of those mixes! And for the live guys, it's just another highly useful tool on a Presonus. The guys down there rock! I've spent a fair amount of time with them as a dealer and a user, they are generous with their time and their knowledge, and the you tube videos are incredibly helpful!
I suggest buying that 24.4.2 sooner than later. There really isn't anything in its class for feature set when you think of the value of Capture and Studio One and Universal Control, the tech support and the knowledge base is amazing. And they are so far ahead of everyone else in remote control capability.
I have worked with every brand of "Econo" digital boards, and the Presonus guys really got it right. I have also spent time with the new Behringer X-32 "engineered by Midas" console. For the money it's really nice. It doesn't have the recording capabilities that Presonus has, but it is a full 32 channels of mic pre's that sound very good. It's good looking and tempting, but durability with their mixers have always been more than suspect for long term hard working use.
I still like the Presonus pre as well as its processing better. But the X-32 is a real player in the low dough market. The big question here is "engineered by Midas", what does this mean? It means the Midas guys drew it up and sent it to China where in "Behringer City", yes Uli owns a "company store" and has built a huge complex in China where the thousands of workers all live, eat and shop. Scary. So if your concern is that you need 32 channels I'd say look at the Soundcraft Sic or strap a pair of Presonus 16.4.2's together. If you can live with 24 working channels, roll the dice and see how long the Behringer lasts. It does sound good and it is slick. It has moving faders and scene recalls as well. But the Presonus just feels and sounds better. Uli recently bought Midas/Klark and Turbosound in order to bolster his engineering. Not sure how long they will be around, and Turbo really has no reason to live anyway. Not a bad speaker, their are just many more have surpassed Turbo in the market place.
The Soundcraft Sic is crazy nice, but does have all the iPad features in ViSi, but you can control you monitor levels remotely, just no access to channel strips, only faders. And alas the Behringer is "working on an iPad App".
This is a very nice feature for the home studio guys to be able to better dial in your monitors to a flat response. Might save some of those mixes! And for the live guys, it's just another highly useful tool on a Presonus. The guys down there rock! I've spent a fair amount of time with them as a dealer and a user, they are generous with their time and their knowledge, and the you tube videos are incredibly helpful!
I suggest buying that 24.4.2 sooner than later. There really isn't anything in its class for feature set when you think of the value of Capture and Studio One and Universal Control, the tech support and the knowledge base is amazing. And they are so far ahead of everyone else in remote control capability.
I have worked with every brand of "Econo" digital boards, and the Presonus guys really got it right. I have also spent time with the new Behringer X-32 "engineered by Midas" console. For the money it's really nice. It doesn't have the recording capabilities that Presonus has, but it is a full 32 channels of mic pre's that sound very good. It's good looking and tempting, but durability with their mixers have always been more than suspect for long term hard working use.
I still like the Presonus pre as well as its processing better. But the X-32 is a real player in the low dough market. The big question here is "engineered by Midas", what does this mean? It means the Midas guys drew it up and sent it to China where in "Behringer City", yes Uli owns a "company store" and has built a huge complex in China where the thousands of workers all live, eat and shop. Scary. So if your concern is that you need 32 channels I'd say look at the Soundcraft Sic or strap a pair of Presonus 16.4.2's together. If you can live with 24 working channels, roll the dice and see how long the Behringer lasts. It does sound good and it is slick. It has moving faders and scene recalls as well. But the Presonus just feels and sounds better. Uli recently bought Midas/Klark and Turbosound in order to bolster his engineering. Not sure how long they will be around, and Turbo really has no reason to live anyway. Not a bad speaker, their are just many more have surpassed Turbo in the market place.
The Soundcraft Sic is crazy nice, but does have all the iPad features in ViSi, but you can control you monitor levels remotely, just no access to channel strips, only faders. And alas the Behringer is "working on an iPad App".
I hunted around and found a good screen capture on a French website which shows the RTA spectrograph with the GEQ over the top of the spectrograph image. To me, that is pretty damn good.
On the down side, it seems you need a Invalid Link Removed to pink the room (and monitors). This is an omission and would to easy to sort out in an update.
Also, I use my system in a different room every week and it can be tricky to pink the FOH with punters in the venue. The DriveRack completes the job in minimum time, which is handy... but you don't have the lovely user interface.
Other [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] on the web show the PEQ for a selected channel/group/aux/main next to the spectrograph plot. Also handy.
Overall I like it, especially the ability to pink FOH and monitors.
I've been sold on the 24.4.2 for while now. I usually just set-up, tune the system and dial in a rough mix then I go and play bass while an experienced sound engineer takes over. He's an old-school analogue guy. I'll enjoy watching his face for the 2 minutes it takes for this board to win him over.
Another quick question... Does the iPad app have the RTA as well?
I just pushed the button on a StudioLive 24.4.2 (from RMC - good price!).
Looking forward to A/B'ing the DriveRack and PreSonus's VSL with SMAART.
Looking forward to A/B'ing the DriveRack and PreSonus's VSL with SMAART.
I'll be interested to hear the results of your shootout! I've been playing about with release 1.6 and the RTA this week. Pretty impressive though I'm not using it to pink the room, just to read the Spectro of a mix.
