Step by Step Setup

I use AA3 and PreSonus StudioLive 16.4.2 with no problems both in Multitrack mode and in Edit (single track/stereo) mode – as well as with digital firewire and analog i/o drivers. The key to success is to decide how you want to record and playback:

Option 1) Via digital/Firewire for Edit ( mono/stereo track) or Multitrack recording/playback –

a. Launch PreSonus Universal Control utility on your PC to define audio in/out via StudioLive Firewire

b. Connect as many microphones/instruments/iPods etc… into StudioLive channels 3 to 16 (for example) so you can record, while also assigning sub1 for output

c. For Edit mode in AA3 using Edit -> Audio Hardware -> your FireWire for input, and for output; or

For Multitrack mode in AA3 Select Mono -> StudioLive Channel 3 for Track 1, Channel 4 for Track 2, etc… (for this hypothetical channel setup example)

d. For Edit mode click record on AA3 and test, if you want to include dynamics on StudioLive don’t forget to “Dig Out” on each audio channel mentioned in b. above; or

For Multitrack mode, arm each channel you want to record (you may need to do this before step c above to switch from analog to Firewire driver), then click record button when ready;

e. for playback from AA3 through StudioLive, check AA3 master mixer output select Firewire channel 1 and 2 for output (in this stereo example or just channel 1 for mono), on StudioLive make sure “Firewire” button is lit just below the trim knob, and adjust channel 1 and 2 trim and dynamics as desired.

Option 2) Via analog for Edit without use of Firewire ( mono/stereo track) recording/playback –

a. Connect PC microphone jack into sub1 (for example) output so you can send audio to your PC;

b. Connect as many microphones/instruments/iPods etc… into StudioLive channels 3 to 16 (for example) so you can record, while also assigning sub1 for output;

c. Connect PC speaker/headphone jack to channel 1 and 2 Line input on PreSonus StudioLive (for stereo example, just channel 1 in this hypothetical example for mono);

d. In AA3 using Edit -> Audio Hardware -> select your analog microphone for input, and your speaker/headphone for output;

d. Click record on AA3 and test your setup, if you want to include dynamics from StudioLive into your AS3 recording, don’t forget to select “Dig Out” on each StudioLive audio channel mentioned in b. above;

e. For playback from AA3 through StudioLive, check AA3 master mixer output to make sure speaker/headphone jack is selected, and make sure channels 1 and 2 are setup for reasonable volume and dynamics for playback via StudioLive (headphones in my case).

I hope this helps others who have these tools but are unable to figure out how to connect them together.