Questions & Answers

Can't control mix through UC scene changes affects 16.4.2 as well

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asked Mar 23, 2017 in Classic Mixers by Deech (760 points)
I have UC 1.7.4 and connected from MacBook Pro to 16.4.2. When I change scenes on UC it's affecting the board as well. The rest of my band notice every time I change something. The faders on UC also don't seem to be changing my mix anymore.

Any ideas?

13 Answers

0 votes
answered Mar 23, 2017 by wahlerstudios (105,310 points)
Indeed they do notice... Changing scenes interrupts audio for a moment, so it can only be done between two songs. Changing scenes also means changing ALL settings everywhere ("affect the board").This is a feature, not a bug! ;-)

If you create 10 scenes for your personal use, you have to store them in a continuous workflow in order to have identical settings e.g. in the monitor mixes. The problem is that any time you change something in one scene, you would need to change this in the other 9 scenes as well and in exact the same way.  It is possible to use scenes this way, but generally scenes are no "snapshots". The legacy SL boards don't have this or an equivalent feature.

Faders not working? You should describe this a little bit more. After loading a scene you should be able to use the faders, but the routing (to mains) might have got lost and I think with the classic boards it was not possible to recall fader settings. They had the "fader locate mode", which sometimes disturbed mixing and confused the users.

There must be a simple reason for faders being inactive and therefore also a simple solution...
0 votes
answered Mar 24, 2017 by Deech (760 points)
Thanks for the info.

In terms of the faders-when I change the faders within UC I'm not hearing any difference in my in ears. For instance, I'll change the level of the kick drum but I don't hear a difference. Same with everything else that's in the mix (guitars, drums etc) hope that helps!
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answered Mar 24, 2017 by wahlerstudios (105,310 points)
May I ask what is "your mix"? Moving faders in VSL (Virtual Studio Live) means you want to listen to the mains (sum left/right) as your monitor mix. This means you are using the headphone out of your SL 16.4.2 and adjust everything in the phones/monitor section. I would start checking the signal flow WITHOUT a computer connected. Check the gains, the routing, the faders (in and out). If you get sound in your headphones and hear that the faders work, connect your computer and follow the signal flow and the moving of faders there. VSL only shows what happens on/in the mixer, so the mixer is the place to look. And you should make sure that Aux 1 to 6 are in prefade settings (Pre1 or Pre2), NOT postfade.
0 votes
answered Mar 25, 2017 by Deech (760 points)
My Macbook is connected to the SL via firewire. I'm at my drums with my laptop next to me and trying to adjust the faders in UC and nothing is happening. Presonus suggested updating firmware on SL. Thoughts?
0 votes
answered Mar 26, 2017 by wahlerstudios (105,310 points)

There is no newer version than UC 1.7.4 for the legacy StudioLive boards and if you have re-installed both UC versions in the right order (see other thread), this should work. FireWire is a very solid connection. But you haven't answered my questions, I can only guess. May I ask two more questions? Do you see the metering in Virtual Studio Live (the levels next to the faders)? Do the faders move in VSL when you move them on your SL 16.4.2?

http://www.presonus.com/products/Virtual-StudioLive
Is this the software we are taking about?

0 votes
answered Mar 26, 2017 by Deech (760 points)
Sorry for the confusion and thanks for the answers. I think you're confused as to what my set up is. I'm not using Virtual SL you mentioned.

Again-my Macbook is connected to the SL 16.4.2 board via firewire. I'm manually trying to adjust the faders in UC on my Macbook and don't hear any difference in my in ears. My in ears are plugged into my beltpack that is connected to the SL board.

Hope that makes sense!
0 votes
answered Mar 26, 2017 by wahlerstudios (105,310 points)

StudioLive 16.4.2, 24.4.2 and 16.0.2 are the "legacy" family of mixers and Virtual StudioLive (VSL) is the appropriate "software". If you are not using VSL, as you say, you can not mix or control any legacy mixer on your MacBook. There is no other software you can use and "UC Control" has no faders. It's simply a launch window, allowing the selection of different options. UC Surface 1+2 will not work, because they belong to the second and third generation of StudioLive mixers.

Not convinced? You may want to check the download page for your mixer (http://www.presonus.com/support/downloads/StudioLive-16.4.2) and read the release notes of Universal Control 1.7.4. It says there: "Universal Control 1.7.4 includes drivers and control panels for the following products: ... StudioLive 16.4.2 (Launch Window, Virtual StudioLive, Driver)". This is the package you need to be able to mix on your MacBook.

There are some videos about VSL, that may be helpful: http://www.presonus.com/videos/player/308/default/0.

0 votes
answered Mar 26, 2017 by Deech (760 points)
OK,  so I AM using Virtual SL (1.7.4). I thought it was just called Universal Control?? Where have I been?

I watched a video you sent a link to and it's exactly what I've been trying to use.

So, I see a signal, but when I adjust those faders, I'm not hearing a difference.

We might be getting somewhere now...!
0 votes
answered Mar 27, 2017 by wahlerstudios (105,310 points)
PreSonus has changed the meaning of words several times, so don't mind. You are using the right "package" and Virtual Sudio Live, the real ancestor of UC Surface 2... Thanks for the information. One thing you should still check is the firmware version of your mixer. It needs to be "1.50a, build ​ 190".

Moving the faders in VSL means mixing on the main bus (sum left/right); the 6 aux mixes have no faders, but bars. On the back side of the mixer there are 3 stereo outputs you can use: Main Output XLR (check the level knob, if it's turned up!), Main Output (TRS) and CR (Control Room) Output. Additionally you can use the Headphone Output on the front of the mixer. Both main outputs are controlled by the main fader, CR and headphone output need some cueing.

If you don't hear any changes when you move the faders in VSL, it may have to do with a wrong connection of your beltpack. The easist way to check this is by moving the faders on the mixer itself. You should also see the faders moving in VSL.
0 votes
answered Mar 27, 2017 by Deech (760 points)
My beltpack is (and always) connected to Aux Output 2 in back of the board. I always hear a difference if something is changed on the board itself and I hear audio fine, but no luck with the faders in VSL...

Thx!
0 votes
answered Mar 27, 2017 by wahlerstudios (105,310 points)

In this video at 3:15 Rick Naqvi starts talking about how to use aux mixes: .

0 votes
answered Mar 28, 2017 by Deech (760 points)
OK, progress...

That SL Remote seems to be for doing FOH sound and it's not the same app as what I'm doing on my laptop at my drums.

So, my guitarist and I found the "aux" button on the VSL and that's where the TINY meters are to adjust the volume. It worked like a charm, just wish they were slightly bigger...

I don't know how it worked before when I was using the faders instead. I guess it was adjusting the mix in the house as a result not sure.

Will I be able to adjust my own mix with the SL Remote you sent me? Would I just use my iPad instead of the laptop?
0 votes
answered Mar 29, 2017 by Deech (760 points)
Sounds like I'd always need my laptop hooked up as the iPad would be reading off of that. Correct?
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