Greetings All,
I promised a follow up after the large P&W event we had on March 28th.
The set up:
Miced drum kit - 8 mics including 2 OH's in an enclosure
Bass guitar amp - direct input
Lead guitar amp - miced
Rythm guitar amp - direct
2nd rythm guitar amp - direct
1 keyboard
Computer input for backing tracks (for click tracks basically)
9 wireless vocal praise team mics including the PT leader
2 choir mics (30 member choir)
3 live monitor mixes - Front of stage, side stage and choir
5 headphone monitor mixes for the musicians
The mixer itself is very good. The Fat Channel - dynamics (4 band PEQ, HPF, compression, limiting, and gate) settings on every input channel, 3 main mix outputs L, R, Mono (or center) , all 16 auxiliary outputs, and all 4 internal effects banks are very good. Plus 31 band GEQ on all main outs and the first 12 aux outs. All very good.
The problem with this mixing system is the control software. It works fine on a typical Sunday service, but with every musician, the PT leader and the main control computer all making adjustments, it gets very glitchy. BTW you can lock out the musicians from adjusting the main mix. What seems to happen the most is lock ups, (not on the main computer - it is hooked up via ethernet to the router) but all the wi-fi devices. Also, when they were working, they may jump from one auxiliary channel to another with no warning. During sound check, one of the guitarists was trying to turn up the PT leader in his mix and was actually turning him up in the side live monitors to the point of causing extreme feedback. And of course everyone was looking at me. When everything settled down and they gave up on adjusting and allowed me to set everything for them as they wanted, it was fine. Adjusting monitors took way more time that setting the main mix. The program itself came off without a hitch. It was great actually. I would much prefer a physical mixing surface with an option for ipad or other control. However, if Presonus can work out the bugs, they have a real winner here.
Thanks and God Bless,
Adam