PreSonus has introduced the AudioBox 22VSL, AudioBox 44VSL, and AudioBox 1818VSL, a series of compact, rack-mountable USB 2.0 interfaces with integrated software that provides the dynamics processing and EQ of a StudioLive Series mixer.
All three AudioBox VSL Series interfaces incorporate Class A XMAX preamps with 48-volt phantom power; 24-bit, 96 kHz converters with 114 dB dynamic range; and PreSonus’ loud (150 mW), clean, clear headphone output. All three models also provide MIDI I/O and zero-latency monitor mixing.
As noted, the interfaces deliver reverb and delay effects with dedicated effects buses and the same Fat Channel compression, limiting, 3-band semi-parametric EQ, and high-pass filter found in the new StudioLive 16.0.2 mixer—except that the processing is done on a computer, using bundled PreSonus Virtual StudioLive (VSL) software, with extremely low latency. As a result, the user can monitor while recording with real-time effects.
VSL also provides complete editor/librarian functions, and over 50 professionally programmed Fat Channel processor presets are included for enhancing instruments and vocals.
Like all PreSonus interfaces, the new AudioBox VSL-series units ship with PreSonus Studio One Artist DAW (Mac/Windows) and support Core Audio and ASIO, so they work with virtually any recording software.
The first of these interfaces to hit the market will be the compact, 2-in, 2-out AudioBox 22VSL. It is bus-powered, offers two combo mic/instrument inputs and two balanced L/R main outputs, and is housed in a steel case.
With included VSL software, it provides two stereo effects buses with reverb and delay and Fat Channel dynamics processors, EQ, and high pass filter on both inputs and both DAW returns.
The AudioBox 22VSL is expected to be available in August 2011 with an anticipated street price of $199.
The 4-in, 4-out AudioBox 44VSL offers the same audio quality and basic features as the AudioBox 22VSL and more. Using the included VSL software, the AudioBox 44VSL provide an 8 x 4 software mixer with low-latency, Fat Channel processing for each analog input and DAW return, plus two stereo effects buses with reverb and delay.
The half-rack-space (which is rack-mountable) unit offers two mic/line inputs, two mic/instrument inputs, two balanced main L/R outputs, and four additional balanced line outputs.
The AudioBox 44VSL is expected to ship in September 2011 with an anticipated street price of $299.
The AudioBox 1818VSL has all of the audio features, processing, and effects found in its two smaller siblings, but it goes much further. It sports 2 mic/instrument inputs and 6 mic/line inputs, all with XMAX preamps; 8-channel ADAT I/O (4 channels at 88.1 or 96 kHz); stereo S/PDIF I/O; MIDI I/O; and word-clock output.
With the included VSL software, the AudioBox 1818VSL provides a computer-based 26 x 18 (22×14 at 88.1 or 96 kHz), ultra-low latency mixer with two stereo effects buses for the reverb and delay plus the Fat Channel processing from the StudioLive 16.0.2.
The AudioBox 1818VSL is expected to ship in September 2011, with an anticipated street price of $499.
Note that these new AudioBox VSL-series interfaces do not replace the current AudioBox USB, which remains a part of the PreSonus line.
