Presonus StudioLive Series III SE 16R

Essential Information About the PreSonus StudioLive SE 16R Rackmount Digital Mixer

• Ultra-efficient 1U rack format: all the power of a large console in a compact unit, ideal for touring, fixed installations, or studio use.


• 16 remotely controllable XMAX-R mic preamps: a solid foundation for clear and controlled recordings, with convenient control without being right next to the rack.


• FLEX DSP Fat Channel processing on each input and bus: studio-quality equalization and compression to sculpt a clean, coherent mix ready for broadcast.


• Hybrid recording and integration: bidirectional 18x18 USB, stereo recorder on SD card, per-channel source switching (analog/USB/SD card/AVB), and Milan-certified AVB networking.

A StudioLive Designed for the Series III Ecosystem: Compact, Scalable, and Field-Oriented

The StudioLive SE 16R fits within the logic of modern systems where mixing must remain mobile, networked, and quick to deploy. Its rack format allows installation either near the stage or in a technical rack, while maintaining the "console" approach: full processing, advanced routing, and integrated recording workflows.

Thanks to Milan-certified AVB networking, it naturally integrates into a StudioLive Series III environment, with a "plug-and-play" philosophy that simplifies building a coherent system (front of house, monitors, recording, multi-zone broadcast). The result: a solution ready for current configurations, where a single device is expected to serve as a mixer, interface, and audio node.

Who is it for? What uses on stage, in rehearsal, installation, or studio?

The PreSonus StudioLive SE 16R is aimed at sound engineers, technicians, self-producing bands, houses of worship, multipurpose venues, and providers who want a compact tool without sacrificing true mixing depth. Rack-mounted, it becomes a discreet nerve center: you maintain control over mic inputs, processing, and mix sends without multiplying boxes.

It excels in hybrid setups: some signals come from the stage in analog, others return from a computer via USB, and you can also integrate playback/recording via SD card or AVB network. This flexibility is especially valuable when alternating rehearsals, performances, streaming, live recording, and post-production.

Processing, Routing, and Control: A Real Console... in Rack Format

XMAX-R Preamps and FLEX DSP Fat Channel: The Heart of the Sound

With its 16 remotely controllable XMAX-R mic preamps, the SE 16R is designed to deliver stable and detailed capture while remaining easy to control from your control station. The FLEX DSP Fat Channel processing brings a "studio" approach directly into the unit: each input and bus features an equalizer and compression to clean, balance, and thicken the mix without adding external equipment.

6 Flex Mixes, 2 Dedicated Effects Mixes, and 6 DCAs: Routing That Follows Your Method

Managing monitors and sub-mixes becomes smooth thanks to the 6 Flex mixes, configurable as auxiliaries, subgroups, or matrix mixes according to your needs. Add to that 2 dedicated effects mixes with stereo returns to keep your effects under control without sacrificing essential buses, and 6 DCAs to control channel groups (drums, backing vocals, guitars, lead vocals) with a single gesture, even in a dense mix.

Recording and Playback: USB 18x18, SD Card, and Virtual Soundcheck

The SE 16R features a constantly bidirectional USB 2.0 audio interface 18x18, designed for recording and playback without cable gymnastics. The stereo recorder on SD card allows quick, secure recording, practical for archiving a concert, rehearsal, or conference. And to prepare a mix or perform a soundcheck without the band on stage, the virtual soundcheck with Capture software speeds up settings: you refine your mix from a take, then return to real conditions with a solid base already in place.

Per-Channel Source Switching: The Weapon of Modern Installations

Per-channel source switching (analog, USB, SD card, AVB) simplifies days where everything follows in sequence: speech then concert, rehearsal then playback, recording then broadcast. Rather than repatching, you adapt the source directly at the channel level, reducing errors and saving precious time in the control room.

Wireless Control and Personal Mixing: Universal Control and QMix-UC

With Universal Control, you have remote mixing and an offline editor to prepare your scenes, organize your console, and optimize routing before arriving on site. For musicians, QMix-UC facilitates personal monitor mixing: everyone can adjust their comfort without monopolizing the control room, and the presence of an individual knob makes adjustments quick and intuitive when reacting during a live set.

Technical specifications

FLEX DSP Fat Channel processing	studio-quality equalization and compression on each input and each bus	Modes	standalone, monitor mixer, interface, or stage box
Per-channel source switching	analog, USB, SD card, AVB