Skip to main content

Digital Mixer

PreSonus StudioLive 24R

The PreSonus StudioLive 24R gives a monitor rig 24 recallable XLMAX preamps and full Series III DSP in two rack spaces, doubling as an AVB stage box and 26x26 USB interface. It is the mid-size R-series pick for bands running their own ears with UC Surface or Earmix personal mixers downstream. Requested by users.

Compare

Photos

Manufacturer product photography — the drawn faceplate stays true to panel layout; these show the hardware itself.

Photo: PreSonus1 / 2
Documented outputs
1515 destination connections
Documented inputs
27Based on documented inputs
Rack space
2UBuilder checks available rail space
Power draw
25WDocumented typical draw
Catalog estimate
~$1,270Use retailer rows for current price and stock

01 · What it does—and what that changes in your rig.

Product overview

Start with the payoff, then work through how it functions, where it fits, and the details that change a real build.

The payoff

Digital Mixer decisions, organized around the whole rig.

The StudioLive 24R is PreSonus's mid-size answer to the question every self-contained touring band eventually asks: can the mixer live in the rack instead of on a desk? In two rack units, it fits 24 recallable XLMAX preamps, the full Series III DSP engine — including Fat Channel processing on every input — and enough output routing to run a complete IEM or wedge rig without an outboard stage box. The 10 analog aux outputs are the headline here: that's enough discrete monitor mixes to cover a typical small-to-mid-size stage, all patched directly from the back of the rack.

Documented outputs
1515 destination connections
Documented inputs
27Based on documented inputs
Rack space
2UBuilder checks available rail space
StudioLive 24R rear panel
Photo: PreSonus2U · 25W
Function

How it works in the path

At load-in, 300mm of depth is something to plan around — this isn't a shallow unit, so measure your road case before assuming it fits. The 2U footprint and 4.5 kg weight make it genuinely portable, and 40 watts idle draw means it lives comfortably on a single circuit alongside your wireless and IEM gear. The AVB EtherCon port is the unit's real multiplier: run a Cat6 to a compatible AVB stage box or a second 24R and you're extending the system without adding analog snake runs. The 26x26 USB interface means the same box handles virtual soundcheck without a separate audio interface in the chain.

Best fit

Where it earns its place in the rack

This unit earns its place in a band-run IEM rig or a small production company's rental inventory, especially if the workflow lives inside UC Surface or PreSonus's Earmix 16M personal monitor system. If you need a front-of-house surface with faders under your hands, this isn't it — the 24R is designed to be controlled remotely from a tablet or laptop, and that's a workflow shift some engineers won't want to make. Acts that need more than 10 discrete analog outputs before AVB expansion, or engineers who need compatibility with non-PreSonus AVB ecosystems, should look elsewhere.

In the rack

Details worth deciding before load-in.

  • Patch your Aux/Monitor outs 1–10 in a fixed, labeled order on a TT or XLR panel so that any sub out covers the same wedge or IEM transmitter every show — the preset recall is only as fast as your analog patch is consistent.
  • Use the USB 26x26 interface for virtual soundcheck by recording a full multitrack rehearsal, then play it back through the same inputs at load-in; no sound source needed on stage, and scene recall can be verified before the band arrives.
  • If you're adding Earmix 16M personal mixers downstream, budget your AVB bandwidth before load-in — plan the device count and channel routing in UC Surface at home so there are no surprises when the network comes up in a new room.
  • Verify rack depth with your case builder before ordering: 300mm plus IEC cable clearance at the rear typically requires at least 380–400mm of interior case depth to close the lid cleanly.

02 · Know the whole path before you buy.

Signal path

Learn the route as a block diagram: source, product function, transport, and destination. Select any block to see what enters, what changes, and what leaves.

Interactive block diagramAuto-looping · hover, focus, or tap to hold a stage
Port-type signalProduct functionSystem boundary
Follow one signal from source to destination

Each block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.

01 · Source · selected
01 · Source

27 documented inputs

XLR/TRS combo + IEC C14

Arrives as
27 documented inputs
Connector
XLR/TRS combo + IEC C14
Signal
analog audio

03 · What this product asks of the rest of the system.

Compatibility

Treat connector names as the start of the check—not the answer. These are the boundaries that determine a complete working path.

Best fit · Digital Mixer

Use it when 2U and 305 mm of depth fit the case.

Plan the companion path

Complete the path with upstream and downstream gear that matches connector, direction, signal type, protocol, and wiring standard.

Protocol boundary

This product declares AVB; matching plugs alone do not make other protocols compatible.

04 · Every connector, grouped by job.

I/O ports

Switch the product view and the documented port inventory updates with it—hardware and data stay side by side.

Every connector, grouped by job.

Switch panels to keep the hardware view and the documented port list in sync.

Front panel
Rear panel
All documented ports for PreSonus StudioLive 24R
PortPanelConnectorDirectionSignalChannels
INPUT 1frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 2frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 3frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 4frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 5frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 6frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 7frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 8frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 9frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 10frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 11frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 12frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 13frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 14frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 15frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 16frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 17frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 18frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 19frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 20frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 21frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 22frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 23frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
INPUT 24frontXLR/TRS combo inputanalog audio—
MAIN OUTPUT LEFTrearXLR male outputanalog audio—
MAIN OUTPUT RIGHTrearXLR male outputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 1rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 2rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 3rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 4rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 5rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 6rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 7rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 8rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 9rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 10rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
NETWORK AUDIOrearetherCON bidirectionaldigital audio32
USBrearusb b bidirectionaldata—
IEC AC power inletrearIEC C14 inputpower—
CONTROLrearRJ45 bidirectionaldata—
INPUT 23 RCArearrca inputanalog audio—
INPUT 24 RCArearrca inputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 11rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
MIX OUTPUT 12rear¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—
PHONESfront¼-inch TRS outputanalog audio—

Showing 45 of 45 documented physical ports. Scroll to review the remaining rows.

05 · Compare the decision, not just the price.

Alternatives

The rows are organized around fit, power, I/O, and system role so a cheaper unit cannot hide a more expensive workflow.

Compare
StudioLive 24R front panel
StudioLive 16R front panel
StudioLive 32R front panel
Yamaha TF-Rack — front panel with touchscreen, USB recorder section and rotary encoders
Fit📐 2U📐 1U📐 2U📐 3U
Power⚡ 25W⚡ 40W⚡ 35W⚡ 40W
Weight⚖️ 10.8 lb⚖️ 9.9 lb⚖️ 11.0 lb⚖️ 9.9 lb
I/O🔌 45🔌 6🔌 57🔌 5
Estimate💵 ~$1,270💵 ~$800💵 ~$1,600💵 ~$2,100
Deep diveCurrent selectionFull comparison →Full comparison →Full comparison →

06 · Resolve the questions that can change the purchase or build plan.

Planning questions

Short, source-backed answers surface rack fit, power, cabling, and connection details before they become surprises.

How will the PreSonus StudioLive 24R affect rack fit and case depth?

It occupies 2U. Its documented depth is 305 mm.

How much power does the PreSonus StudioLive 24R draw?

Typical draw is 25W and documented maximum draw is 25W.

What connections does the PreSonus StudioLive 24R have?

45 documented physical ports, including INPUT 1, INPUT 2, INPUT 3, INPUT 4, INPUT 5, INPUT 6.

07 · See this unit inside a real rack plan.

Builder preview

Placement is only the start. Builder checks space · depth · weight, power headroom, dependencies, and compatible signal paths around this exact catalog item.Open in Builder
StudioLive 24R positioned in a rack planA simplified plan shows the unit taking 2 rack units, with its documented connection path continuing to a planned destination.PreSonusStudioLive Series III 24RCONNECTED GEARnext signal destination2U · 305 mm deep

08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.

Behringer X32 Rack — 3U front panel with color display, channel level wheel and monitor section

Digital Mixer

Behringer X32 Rack Digital Mixer

3U · 53 ports · ~$989
Behringer product photo

Digital Mixer

Behringer X32 Digital Mixer

Outside rack · 57 ports · ~$2,799
Midas M32R Live — front render of the compact 16-fader console

Digital Mixer

Midas M32R Live Digital Console

5U · 30 ports · ~$2,999
Midas M32 Live — front render of the 32-fader console with color display

Digital Mixer

Midas M32 Live Digital Console

Outside rack · 58 ports · ~$4,499
Behringer Wing Rack — front panel with 10-inch touchscreen, channel strip display and assignable controls

Digital Mixer

Behringer Wing Rack Digital Console

4U · 52 ports · ~$1,799
Midas product photo

Digital Mixer

Midas MR18 Digital Mixer

3U · 33 ports · ~$799

Planning guides for digital mixer systems.

Related articles

Fundamentals · 6 min

From Stage to Ear: How Audio Flows Through an IEM Rack

A walking tour of the signal path from microphone to in-ear monitor, with what every box in the rack actually does to the audio along the way.

Fundamentals · 8 min

Ambient Mics for In-Ear Monitors: Killing the “Locked in a Box” Feeling

Why sealed IEMs make you feel disconnected from the room — and exactly how to put the audience back into your mix with one or two well-placed mics.

Workflow · 10 min

Setting Up Stereo IEM Mixes on an X32 / M32

Step-by-step: linking aux buses into stereo pairs, pre-fader vs post-fader, routing buses to Ultranet vs physical XLRs vs AES50, and adding a bus-level limiter.

Networking · 9 min

Dante vs MADI vs AES50: Which Audio Network Should You Use?

A practical comparison of the three audio-over-network protocols you’ll encounter in a rack rig, with guidance on when each one is the right pick.