Digital Returns; Main Digital Return; Using Plug-In Effects As Inserts - PRESONUS StudioLive 16 Reference Manual

4 Using the StudioLive as an Audio Interface
4.2

Using Plug-In Effects as Inserts

4.1.3

Digital Returns

4.1.4

Main Digital Return

4.2 Using Plug-In Effects as Inserts
Each StudioLive input is hard-coded to receive its respective digital return. The
DAW Outputs in your recording application route these playback streams to their
respective channels on the StudioLive (that is, the software's Output 1 always
goes to StudioLive Channel 1 digital return and so on). Once you route a track in
your recording application to play through one of these outputs, it will always
be accessible on its channel by simply pressing the Digital Return button.
Power User Tip: It is important to think of your digital returns and your analog inputs in
the same way. When a digital return is engaged, it replaces the analog input in the mix.
You can process it in the Fat Channel, include in it Aux mixes, and send it to an FX mix. It is
also important to note that the analog input is still available to be recorded, or processed
with a plug-in, in your DAW host application even if the digital return is engaged.
Figure 1: StudioLive AI-series console
Figure 2: StudioLive Series III
Figure 3: UC Surface
To provide the most flexible mixing environment, PreSonus has provided a
stereo Main Digital Return to free the channels returns to be patched directly
to their corresponding channels on your StudioLive mixer. In this way, you
can monitor the main output from your recording application without using
two channels on your StudioLive, leaving the other channels available to be
routed to the Fat Channel or for inserting a plug-in on a live instrument.
•
These digital returns are selectable as the tape return source on both
the StudioLive series III and StudioLive AI-series console mixers.
• These digital returns are available as dedicated channels
in each mix on StudioLive RM/RML mixers.
Digital Transport streaming on your StudioLive is continuously bidirectional.
This means that the StudioLive is always sending signals from the analog inputs
to the direct Digital Sends on all input channels, as well as from the auxiliary
inputs and buses assigned to the second bank of Digital Sends (StudioLive
AI-series mixers). At the same time, the StudioLive is receiving signals back
from the digital returns. Because the digital returns always come back to their
respective StudioLive channels, you can quickly insert a plug-in from your
recording application into any channel strip and monitor it in real time.
Using Your StudioLive Mixer as an Audio Interface
™
with Universal Control Reference Manual
14