PreSonus has announced a new digital mixing solution that provides up to 64-channels, multi-track recording, networked remote control for under $8,000 U.S. This solution will be available via an upcoming firmware upgrade for all StudioLive AI-series Active Integration digital mixers. Users will be able to start with 16, 24, or 32 channels, then cascade a second mixer of any frame size to create custom-sized mixing consoles with all the hardware and software advantages of StudioLive Active Integration systems.

Cascading mixers functionally creates a single large-format console with full recording and remote-control capability by simply connecting a FireWire 800 cable between the two mixers. For example, combine two StudioLive 32.4.2AI to get a 64-channel system with 32 mix buses that can record 80 simultaneous streams and play back 66 on any FireWire 800- or Thunderbolt-equipped computer.

Cascading mixers of different frame sizes is great for special events that require a few extra recording channels that don’t need to be in every monitor mix. For example, a StudioLive 16.4.2AI can be cascaded to a 32.4.2AI and form a single 48-channel console with 6 global aux buses, as well as 8 local aux sends that are available to the channels on the 32.4.2AI.

This firmware upgrade is part of PreSonus’ continuing series of free updates to its StudioLive-series mixers and will be available to all registered StudioLive AI mixers owners as a free download from their My PreSonus accounts later this summer. It follows hard on the heels of a firmware update that enables StudioLive AI mixers to directly download future firmware updates over any network with Internet access.

Here are the details.