PRESONUS StudioLive CS18AI User manual

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StudioLive™CS18AI
Ethernet/AVB Control Surface for
StudioLive RM mixers and Studio One®DAW
Visual Quick Start Guide
www.presonus.com

Table of Contents
1 Updating the CS18AI controller rmware — 1
2 Updating the RM mixer rmware — 4
3 Making the connections — 7
3.1 Connecting the StudioLive CS18AI with a single RM mixer — 7
3.2 Connecting the StudioLive CS18AI with an RM mixer and computer running Capture or Studio One — 8
3.3 Connecting the StudioLive CS18AI with a computer running Studio One — 9
4 StudioLive CS18AI RM mixer control overview — 11
4.1 Navigating channel layers — 11
4.2 Navigating mixes — 12
4.3 Fat Channel controls — 14
4.4 Global mix controls — 18
4.5 Master Control overview — 22
5 Capture control — 25
6 Studio One control — 26
7 StudioLive CS18AI rear panel overview — 29
StudioLive CS18AI Quick Start Guide
Register online for software downloads,
manuals, and video guides
my.PreSonus.com
Before proceeding, please be sure to register online. You’ll need
the latest rmware and software to ensure your CS18AI functions
properly. Upon registration you’ll also have access to helpful
installation and setup guides, as well as video tutorials and support.

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StudioLive CS18AI Visual Quick Start Guide
1Updating the CS18AI controller rmware
1. Download the rmware les for your mixer from your MyPresonus account.
To nd these les, click on the“See Details”link on your StudioLive registration
and click the“Firmware” tab in the details area.
IMPORTANT: StudioLive CS18AI and StudioLive AI Console and RM mixers
each use dierent rmware les. Loading the wrong rmware can cause the
mixer to function improperly and can potentially damage the unit.
2. Open your Downloads folder and locate the StudioLive rmware folder. The
folder will be named with your mixer’s model number and the new rmware
version (e.g., CS18AI_v1234).
3. Depending on your system preferences, the rmware .zip archive le might
not automatically decompress. To expand the .zip archive, simply double-click
it.
4. Open the rmware folder; you will nd ve les inside. You will need all ve
les to upgrade your controller.
- Initvars.scr
- Recovery.scr
- Rootfs.img
- uImage
- upgrade.bin
5. Connect a FAT32-formatted USB thumb drive to your computer.
Power User Tip: Most small USB drives (16 GB or less) should be formatted correctly,
but if your controller does not detect your thumb drive at rst, we suggest reformatting
it, even if it’s already formatted as FAT32. On Windows, be sure to do a “Full” format as
opposed to a “Quick” format. On Macs, the choice will be listed as MS-DOS (FAT). Please
refer to the list of suggested drives that can be found on our Knowledge Base.

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6. Select all ve rmware les and either copy/paste or drag them to the root of your thumb drive.
Eject your drive and disconnect it from your computer.
7. Insert the thumb drive into the USB slot on the rear of your CS18AI controller (Power on the
controller if it is not already on).
8. Press the Home button in the Master Control section of your CS18AI.
From the Home screen select System.
On the System screen select Firmware.
USB Drive

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StudioLive CS18AI Visual Quick Start Guide
On the Firmware Update screen you’ll see two sections. One for the CS18AI
and one for the RM mixer (this section will be empty if an RM mixer is not
connected).
Select Check for update in the CS18AI section.
9. The update process will take about a minute to complete. When
nished you will be prompted to power-cycle the controller.
10. Restart the CS18AI, revisit the Firmware Update screen in the
System Menu and observe the rmware version shown. The last
four digits of the rmware version reported there should match
the version of the les you downloaded for your controller.

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2Updating the RM mixer rmware
The rmware update process is designed to preserve your mixer’s scene and Fat
Channel preset memory. Nevertheless, as a precaution, we recommend that you
back up your scenes and presets before updating the rmware.
If your mixer is registered to your MyPreSonus account and is connected to a network
with Internet access, you can update the rmware directly and skip to Step 8.
1. Download the rmware les for your mixer from your MyPresonus account.
To nd these les, click on the“See Details”link on your StudioLive registration
and click the“Firmware” tab in the details area.
IMPORTANT: StudioLive RM32AI and RM16AI mixers each use dierent
rmware les. Loading the wrong rmware can cause the mixer to function
improperly and can potentially damage the unit.
2. Open your Downloads folder and locate the StudioLive rmware folder. The
folder will be named with your mixer’s model number and the new rmware
version (e.g., RM32AI_v5550).
3. Depending on your system preferences, the rmware .zip archive le might
not automatically decompress. To expand the .zip archive, simply double-click
it.
4. Open the rmware folder; you will nd ve les inside. You will need all ve
les to upgrade your mixer.
- Initvars.scr
- Recovery.scr
- Rootfs.img
- uImage
- upgrade.bin
5. Connect a FAT32-formatted USB thumb drive to your computer.
Power User Tip: Most small USB drives (16 GB or less) should be formatted correctly, but if your mixer does
not detect your thumb drive at rst, we suggest reformatting it, even if it’s already formatted as FAT32. On
Windows, be sure to do a “Full” format as opposed to a “Quick” format. On Macs, the choice will be listed
as MS-DOS (FAT). Please refer to the list of suggested drives that can be found on our Knowledge Base.

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StudioLive CS18AI Visual Quick Start Guide
6. Select all ve rmware les and either copy/paste or drag them to the root of your thumb drive.
Eject your drive and disconnect it from your computer.
7. Remove your WiFi Lan adapter (if inserted) and insert the thumb drive into the USB slot on the
front of your RM Series mixer (Power on the mixer if it is not already on).
NOTE: In order to control the mixer with UC Surface, you will need either a network connection or a rewire
connection to the mixer. Please refer to the RM mixer manual for details on connecting with UC Surface.
NOTE: After updating your RM mixer rmware to work with the CS18AI the rst time you can
also choose to update the RM mixer rmware from the CS18AI. To do this, refer to step 8 of
the CS18AI rmware update instructions in Section 2.0 and then skip to step 9 below.
8. Once you have connected your mixer to your network or computer, open UC Surface and
connect to your RM Mixer. Click the Settings icon at the top right of the UC Surface window
(gears icon). Under the Device Settings Tab, click “Check Firmware Update”.

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9. The update process will take about a minute to complete. When nished
you will be prompted to power-cycle the mixer.
PLEASE NOTE: Once you have power-cycled the mixer after the initial rmware update step, it may need to nish
some nal components of the rmware update. If this is the case, you will see the Channel LEDs on the front of the
mixer illuminate amber from left to right as this is done. This can take up to 10 minutes to complete so please be
patient. Once the nal portion of the update is complete, all the Channel LEDs will illuminate green. When you see this,
power cycle the mixer. This process may occur several times depending on what rmware version you are upgrading
from and to. If your mixer does not do this, do not be alarmed as it may not be necessary for this particular update.
10. Restart UC Surface, revisit the Device Settings Tab in the Settings Menu and observe
the rmware version shown. The last four digits of the rmware version reported
there should match the version of the les you downloaded for your mixer.

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StudioLive CS18AI Visual Quick Start Guide
3Making the connections
There are several dierent ways to utilize your new StudioLive CS18AI with the StudioLive RM
mixers and Studio One. The following details the most common setups using a single StudioLive
RM mixer, and using Studio One DAW software. For more setup options and use cases, please refer
to the User Manual, which is available as a downloadable PDF in your MyPreSonus account.
3.1 Connecting the StudioLive CS18AI with a single RM mixer
Connecting directly to your RM mixer
When connecting directly to your RM mixer (a single Ethernet cable with no switch between the CS18AI and
mixer) you’ll need to use the Wi-Fi dongle included with the RM mixer to connect to a router for wireless control
from UC Surface and QMix.
Connecting to your RM mixer with an AVB switch
When connecting using an AVB switch you can connect a wireless router to the AVB switch for wireless control
from UC Surface and QMix. For the most current list of compatible AVB switches please refer to the StudioLive
CS18AI Knowledge Base on PreSonus.com.
NOTE: If you do not use an AVB compatible switch you will only have control between the CS18AI and RM mixer.
You will NOT have audio between the CS18AI and RM mixer since the audio transport requires an AVB network.
1. Connect your CS18AI to your RM mixer either directly or using an AVB
switch as shown above before powering on your system.
2. Power on the both the CS18AI and RM mixer.
3. On the CS18AI press the UCNET button in the Master Control section to open the network
connection view touch screen.
AI Mixer AVB Card
AVB Switch

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3.2 Connecting the StudioLive CS18AI with an RM mixer and computer running
4. On the UCNET screen you’ll see a drop down list for connected mixers and software.
5. Touch the mixer drop down and then touch a mixer on the list to select it.
6. To connect with that mixer press Connect in the Mixer Control section of UCNET screen.
7. You are now connected with the RM mixer for control from your CS18AI controller.
3.2 Connecting the StudioLive CS18AI with an RM mixer and computer running
Capture or Studio One
In addition to controlling the mix of your RM mixer, your CS18AI can also control your Capture live recording
software or Studio One DAW running on a computer on the same network. When connected with Capture you
can access the transport controls, markers, and virtual sound check mode directly from your CS18AI. When
connected with Studio One you can access the transport controls and markers at the same time as controlling
the mix on your RM mixer or switch to controlling your Studio One mix instead of the RM mixer.
NOTE: If you do not use an AVB compatible switch you will only have control between the CS18AI, RM mixers, and
computer. You will NOT have audio between the CS18AI, RM mixers, and computer since the audio transport requires
an AVB network. Your Capture computer doesn’t need to be AVB compatible when you’re recording via FireWire.
1. Connect your CS18AI to your RM mixer as described in the above sections.
2. Connect your computer to the FireWire port of your RM mixer and
to the same network as your RM mixer and CS18AI.
NOTE: You can connect your computer to the network with either a wired Ethernet connection or
wirelessly.
3. Power on the computer and launch Capture or Studio One.
AI Mixer AVB Card
AVB Switch
AVB Switch AVB Switch

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StudioLive CS18AI Visual Quick Start Guide
4. On the CS18AI press the UCNET button in the Master Control section to open the network
connection view touch screen.
5. On the UCNET screen you’ll see a drop down list for connected mixers and software.
6. Touch the software drop down and then touch Studio One
or Capture instance on the list to select it.
7. You are now connected with Capture or Studio One for control from your CS18AI controller.
8. If you’re connected with Studio One you can switch between controlling the mix on the RM mixer
and the mix in Studio One by pressing the DAW button.
3.3 Connecting the StudioLive CS18AI with a computer running Studio One
Your CS18AI can be used to control the transport, markers, automation, and mix of your
Studio One DAW software.
NOTE: If you do not use an AVB compatible switch and computer you will only have
control between the CS18AI and Studio One. You will NOT have audio between the
CS18AI and Studio One since the audio transport requires an AVB network.
1. Connect your CS18AI directly to your computer or to a switch on the same network as your computer
NOTE: You can connect your computer to the network with either a wired Ethernet connection or wirelessly.
AVB Switch AVB Switch

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3.3 Connecting the StudioLive CS18AI with a computer running Studio One
2. Power on the CS18AI and computer and launch Studio One.
3. On the CS18AI press the UCNET button in the Master Control section to open the network
connection view touch screen.
4. On the UCNET screen you’ll see a drop down list for connected mixers and software.
5. Touch the software drop down and then touch Studio One
or Capture instance on the list to select it.
6. You are now connected with Studio One or Capture for control from your CS18AI controller.

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StudioLive CS18AI Visual Quick Start Guide
4StudioLive CS18AI RM mixer control overview
Your CS18AI was designed to provide a mixing workow that easy to navigate and quick to learn. The
following section breaks down the basic functionality and control workows. For complete control details
refer to the User Manual, which is available as a downloadable PDF in your MyPreSonus account.
4.1 Navigating channel layers
All channels on the CS18AI are accessible though layers that display 16 channels at
once. There are two ways to navigate your channel layers. You can use the traditional
layer method or using unique PreSonus Filter DCA groups that bring the channels you
need to you without the need to remember which sources are on which layer.
Traditional Layer Navigation. Using the buttons in the Faders section you can switch between the available
channel layers.
1. Layer A (1-16) displays the rst 16 channels on your channel strips.
1. Layer B (17-32) displays the second 16 channels on your channel strips.
1. Layer C (33-48) displays the third 16 channels on your channel strips.
1. Layer D (49-64) displays the fourth 16 channels on your channel strips.
2. FX/Aux Returns displays the returns from the FX busses, Talkback, Digital
2-track return, and Tape return on your channel strips.
3. Mix Masters displays the master sends for the 16 mix busses on your channel strips.
4. Group Masters enters into group masters mode and displays the Filter DCA group masters on your channel
strips. If you have more than 16 Filter DCA groups you can navigate to the additional channels using the
Layer A, B, C, and Dbuttons. To exit group masters mode press the Group Masters button a second time.
5. DAW switches your CS18AI between controlling the mix of your RM mixer and Studio One DAW.
Filter DCA Group Navigation. Using either the Group Masters mode or the Group button in the
Master Control section you can bring the channels you need right to your ngers regardless of which
layer they may be on.
123 4 5

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4.2 Navigating mixes
While in group masters mode you can mix based on the groups you’ve created such as drums, horns,
guitars, lead guitar, and lead vocal.
Pressing the Select button on any group will open that group switching you from viewing the group
master to viewing just the channels contained in that group. The Flex Master fader will now be the
selected group master. If you have more than 16 channels in the group you can navigate to the
additional channels using the Layer A, B, C, and Dbuttons. To exit the group and return to the group
master view press the Group Master button.
Pressing the Group button in the Master Control section will open the Filter
DCA group view on the touch screen.
Selecting any of the Filter DCA groups on the touch screen will display
just the channels contained in that group. The Flex Master fader will
now be the selected group master. If you have more than 16 channels
in the group you can navigate to the additional channels using the
Layer A, B, C, and Dbuttons. To exit the group and return to the
channel layer you were on previously press the Exit Filter button on
the touch screen. If you’ve navigated away from the group view on
the touch screen the Group button will stay illuminated to remind you
that you’re still viewing a Filter DCA group on your channels strips.
4.2 Navigating mixes
Your CS18AI provides two ways of controlling your mixes. You can bring up each mix
on the touch sensitive motorized channel strip faders or you can lock the faders to the
Main mix and control the other mixes using the encoders in the Fat Channel.
The Flex Master fader will also follow your mix selection. When the Main Mix is selected the Flex
Master will control the level of your Main Mono/Center buss output. When any other mix is selected
it will control the master send level for that mix.

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StudioLive CS18AI Visual Quick Start Guide
Controlling mixes from the faders. By default your CS18AI will bring up each mix on the faders. The Main Mix
button is located directly above the Main Mix fader. The 16 Aux/Subgroup Mix buttons are located just above
the channel scribble strips and the 4 FX Mix buttons are just to the right of those.
Controlling mixes from the Fat Channel encoders. Sometimes it’s nice to know your faders are
always controlling your main mix. To setup your CS18AI this way press and hold the Main Mix button
to lock the faders to the Main Mix. When this is engaged pressing any of the other mix buttons will
bring up the mix on the encoder.
Each of the 16 encoders will control the level of the associated channel on the channel strip layer.
The master send level for the mix will be available on the encoder in the Master Control section.
Navigating to a channel select or other view on the touch screen will exit the mix view on the screen
and return the encoders to controlling the Fat Channel.

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4.3 Fat Channel controls
4.3 Fat Channel controls
Using a combination of encoders, meters, buttons, and the touch screen your
CS18AI gives you quick and easy access to all Fat Channel controls. The Fat
Channel control is broken into sections for each functional group of the
channel processing and control.
Edit Button. Anywhere you see an Edit button it means you can access additional parameters on the
touch screen. Press the Edit button to bring up the touch screen view for the section associated with
that button.
Meters. 16 LED meters indicate the parameter settings for the Fat Channel control on the encoder under each
meter. You can also choose to display level metering using the four buttons to the right of the Fat Channel
meters.
Pressing the Input, Output, GR (Gain Reduction), or Mixes buttons will display the levels of the select
source on the Fat Channel meters. Pressing the button a second time or making an adjustment on
one of the Fat Channel encodes will return the meters to displaying the Fat Channel encoder
parameter values.
Input. The rst encoder in the Fat Channel provides remote control of the recallable XMAX preamps
on the RM mixer. The second encoder controls the High Pass Filter (HPF). Also in the Input section are
two buttons for +48V and Polarity.

Gate. Encoders in the Gate section control the Threshold, Range, Attack, and Release for the Fat
Channel Gate. An On button turns the Gate processing on/of and an Edit button brings up
additional parameters on the touch screen.
On the touch screen view for the Gate you can see a graph representing
the Gate settings, the Gate gain reduction meter, source selection for the
side chain, a key input listen button, and a button for switching between
Gate and Expander modes.
Compressor. The Compressor section has encoders for Threshold, Ratio, Attack, Release, and
Gain. An On button turns the Compressor processing on/of and an Edit button brings up
additional parameters on the touch screen.
On the touch screen view for the Compressor you can see a graph
representing the Compressor settings and buttons to enable Auto attack/
release and Soft Knee compression.
Limiter. A single encoder and button in the Limiter section provide control for the Threshold
and on/o functionality.

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4.3 Fat Channel controls
EQ. The four encoders in the EQ section default to controlling the Gain for the Low, Low-Mid,
High-Mid, and High bands. An On button toggles the entire EQ on/o and an Edit button brings up
additional controls on the touch screen.
On the touch screen view for the EQ you can see a graph of the EQ settings
and buttons to toggle the individual bands on/o. There are also three
buttons to change the function of the four encoders in the EQ section
between Gain, Frequency, and Q. When engaged, all four of the encoders will
control the selected function for each of the EQ bands. When you exit the EQ
view on the touch screen the encoders will return to controlling the gain for
each band.
Stereo. A Link button in Stereo section will link the selected channel with the adjacent channel to
create a stereo pair. Odd numbered channels will link with the next even numbered channel and
even numbered channels will link with the previous odd numbered channel. For example, pressing
Link on channel 3 will make channels 3 and 4 a stereo pair and pressing Link on channel 8 will make
channels 7 and 8 a stereo pair.
Assign. Three buttons control the buss assignments for the selected channel. The LR and Mono
buttons assign the channel to the Main L/R and Main Mono busses. The Edit button will bring up
options in the touch screen for assigning the channel to Subgroups.

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StudioLive CS18AI Visual Quick Start Guide
Channel. The Channel section provides options for copying Fat Channel settings and managing
presets.
Pressing the Copy button will copy the selected channel’s Fat Channel
settings and enter your CS18AI into copy/paste mode.
While in copy/paste mode the Load button and all channel Select buttons other than the currently
selected channel will ash. You can target the paste to any of the other channels by pressing the
associated channel select button. When you’re done selecting channel press the Load button to
paste the Fat Channel settings to those channels and exit copy/paste mode.
The Load button will bring up the Fat Channel Preset Load view on the touch screen.
The Preset Load view will show a list of available Fat Channel presets for the
selected channel.
While on the Preset Load screen you can choose to load the select preset to the select channel by
pressing the Recall button in the Master Control section.

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4.4 Global mix controls
The Save button will bring up the Fat Channel Preset view on the touch screen.
While on the Preset screen you can choose to save the select channel’s Fat Channel settings to the
selected preset slot by pressing the Store button in the Master Control section.
A/B. The ALT button in the A/B section switches between two sets of Fat Channel settings on the
selected channel. This can be useful when comparing two dierent settings or switching between
two dierent sources on the same channel. Pressing the ALT button will turn it on and open the “B”
settings. The rst time this is used the “B” setting will match the “A”settings. Once changed the two
settings will remain independent.
4.4 Global mix controls
In addition to the Fat Channel controls for the currently selected channel there are global controls on the CS18AI
that are provide access to specic functions regardless of the selected channel or layer.