PRESONUS StudioLive CS18AI User manual

English
StudioLive™CS18AI
Control Surface for StudioLive RM-Series mixers
and Studio One
Owner’s Manual
www.presonus.com
®

Table of Contents
1 Overview — 1
1.1 Introduction — 1
1.2 About This Manual — 1
1.3 Features — 2
1.4 What is in the Box — 3
1.5 What You Will Need — 4
1.6 Optional Accessories — 4
1.7 Technical Support — 4
2 Getting Started — 5
2.1 Step 1: Register Your CS18AI — 5
2.2 Step 2: Update CS18AI Firmware — 6
2.3 Step 3: Network Your CS18AI — 10
2.3.1 Direct Connection to one StudioLive RM
Mixer — 12
2.3.2 Direct Connection to Studio One — 13
2.3.3 Wireless Networking — 15
2.3.4 LAN Networking — 17
2.3.5 AVB Networking — 18
2.4 Step 4: Connecting the CS18AI Networked
Audio — 19
2.4.1 Mic and Line Inputs — 19
2.4.2 Headphone and Monitor Outputs — 20
3 Controlling StudioLive
RM-series Mixers — 22
3.1 Layers, Filter DCAs, and Mixes — 22
3.1.1 Navigating Layers — 22
3.1.2 Filter DCA Groups — 22
3.1.3 Accessing Mixes — 28
3.2 Basic Channel Operation — 31
3.2.1 Input — 32
3.2.2 Noise Gate and Expander — 33
3.2.3 Compressor — 35
3.2.4 Limiter — 36
3.2.5 Equalizer — 37
3.2.6 Panning and Stereo Linking — 38
3.2.7 Mix Bus Assignments — 39
3.2.8 Copying, Loading, and Saving
Fat Channel Settings — 39
3.2.9 A/B Fat Channel Settings — 42
3.2.10 Metering — 42
3.3 Channel Strip Controls — 43
3.4 Global Mixer Controls — 45
3.4.1 Talkback — 45
3.4.2 Solo Bus — 46
3.4.3 Graphic Equalizer (GEQ) — 47
3.4.4 Mute Groups — 48
3.4.5 Monitor Bus Controls — 49
3.5 Channel and Mix Settings — 50
3.5.1 Channel Settings — 50
3.5.2 Mix Settings — 51
3.6 Home Screen — 52
3.6.1 System Menu — 53
3.6.2 Utilities — 57
3.7 UCNET — 58
3.7.1 Wired Settings Menu — 58
3.8 Scenes and Quick Scenes — 59
3.8.1 Recalling a Mix Scene — 60
3.8.2 Quick Scene Recall — 61
3.8.3 Scene Filters — 63
3.9 Internal Effects Mixes — 63
4 Controlling Studio One — 69
4.1 Channel Controls — 69
4.2 Flex Fader — 71
4.3 Mix Navigation — 72
4.4 Automation Modes — 72
4.5 Transport — 73
4.6 FX Inserts / Sends — 73
4.6.1 Editing Plugins — 74
4.6.2 Editing FX Sends — 75

5 Rear Panel — 76
5.1 Physical Connections and Controls — 76
6 Reference — 78
6.1 StudioLive CS18 Technical Specifications — 78
7 Warranty Information — 80
7.1 How Consumer Law Relates
To This Warranty — 80

1 Overview
1.1 Introduction
StudioLive™CS18AI
Owner’s Manual
1
1Overview
1.1 Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a PreSonus®
StudioLive™ CS18AI control surface for StudioLive
RM-series mixers and Studio One. PreSonus
Audio Electronics has designed the CS18AI
utilizing high-grade components to ensure
optimum performance that will last a lifetime.
The CS18AI provides fast and comprehensive
control over StudioLive RM-series digital
mixers (RM32, RM16, RML32, and RML16) as
well as Studio One® DAW software for Mac®
and Windows®. It combines touch-sensitive,
motorized faders, a color touchscreen, and a
carefully designed selection of controls with
AVB networking in a rack-mountable package.
The StudioLive CS18AI is perfectly suited for
a variety of applications, including live-sound
mixing, fixed installations, theaters, broadcast,
houses of worship, and professional recording.
We encourage you to contact us with questions
or comments regarding this product. PreSonus
Audio Electronics, Inc., is committed to
constant product improvement, and we value
your suggestions highly. We believe the best
way to achieve our goal of constant product
improvement is by listening to the real experts: our valued customers. We
appreciate the support you’ve shown us through the purchase of this product.
1.2 About This Manual
We suggest that you use this manual to familiarize yourself with the
features, applications, and correct connection procedures for your CS18AI
before trying to connect it to your StudioLive RM-series mixer, computer, or
network. This will help you avoid problems during installation and setup.
Throughout this manual you will find Power User Tips that can quickly make
you a CS18AI expert and help you get the most out of your investment.
Information on StudioLive RM-series mixers, UC Surface, and QMix-
UC can be found in the StudioLive RM-series Owner’s Manual and
StudioLive Software Library Reference Manual. Both documents
are available as downloads at www.PreSonus.com

1 Overview
1.3 Features
StudioLive™CS18AI
Owner’s Manual
2
1.3 Features
• 18 touch-sensitive, motorized faders
• 18 customizable, multi-color Select buttons for easy channel identification
• 16-channel scribble strip display
• 4.3-inch color touchscreen
• Full control over every StudioLive RM-series mixer function including
Fat Channel processing, Filter DCAs, Mix Managment, and more
• 4-pin XLR lamp connection
• Footswitch input
• 19" rack mountable
• Internal power supply with no fans
• Supports PreSonus UC Surface software
• Control over PreSonus Studio One DAW software
• Built-in Ethernet AVB audio interface with:
- 2 mic/line inputs with recallable XMAX preamps for
talkback, room mic, or other local inputs
- 2 balanced TRS line inputs
- 2 XLR line outputs
- Stereo headphone output

1 Overview
1.4 What is in the Box
StudioLive™CS18AI
Owner’s Manual
3
1.4 What is in the Box
Your StudioLive CS18AI package contains the following:
• PreSonus StudioLive CS18AI Ethernet AVB control surface
• 3-foot (1m) Ethernet cable
• IEC power cord
• Product registration and software authorization card
• StudioLive CS18AI Quick Start Guide
• PreSonus Health Safety and Compliance Guide
Deutsch EspañolFrançais English
StudioLive™CS18AI
Ethernet/AVB ControlSur face for
StudioLive RM mixers and Studio One®DAW
Visual Quick Start Guide
www.presonus.com

1 Overview
1.5 What You Will Need
StudioLive™CS18AI
Owner’s Manual
4
1.5 What You Will Need
You will need a network connection with Internet access or a USB flash
drive (SanDisk brand recommended) for firmware updates.
Depending on your system configuration and intended uses, you may also need
the following items, which are not included with your CS18AI control surface:
• Wireless router. For information on wireless routers we know work
well with the CS18AI control surface, see http://support.presonus.
com/entries/22338274. In our testing, we have also encountered
some wireless routers that can be problematic, which are discussed
here: http://support.presonus.com/entries/22338264.
• AVB-compatible network switch. The latest information on
compatible switches can be found here: http://support.presonus.
com/entries/67281460-Supported-AVB-network-switches.
• A Mac or Windows computer or iPad running UC Surface, with a wired or
wireless connection to a network router that is, in turn, connected to the mixer.
1.6 Optional Accessories
• USB Wi-Fi LAN adapter
1.7 Technical Support
Many technical issues can arise when using a standard computer as a digital
audio workstation (DAW) and when networking wireless devices. PreSonus can
only provide support for issues that directly relate to the StudioLive CS18AI, RM-
series mixers, UC Surface control software, QMix-UC, Capture, and Studio One.
PreSonus does not provide support for computer hardware, iOS hardware, wireless
networks, operating systems, and non-PreSonus hardware and software, and it may
be necessary to contact the manufacturer of these products for technical support.
Please check our Web site www.presonus.com regularly for
software information and updates, firmware updates, and
support documentation for frequently asked questions.
Online technical support is available to registered users through their My
PreSonus account. Visit my.presonus.com to register. PreSonus telephone
technical support is available to customers in the USA on Monday through
Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time by calling 1-225- 216-7887.
Customers outside of the USA should contact their national or regional
distributor for telephone technical support. A list of international distributors
is provided at www.presonus.com/buy/international_distributors.
Advanced troubleshooting guides can be found at
http://support.presonus.com/forums.

2 Getting Started
2.1 Step 1: Register Your CS18AI
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Owner’s Manual
5
2Getting Started
This section will guide you through connecting your CS18AI to a network
so that you can begin controlling your StudioLive RM-series mixer, Studio
One, or both. Please review the brief networking tutorial located in
Section 2.3 to familiarize yourself with networking best practices.
Visit www.presonus.com for the latest system requirements
and an updated list of compatible hardware.
In general, you will need the following:
• AVB compatible Ethernet connection for control and audio
transport. (If using a non-AVB network connection you’ll still have
control but will not have audio transport over Ethernet.)
• Internet connection for registration and firmware download.
2.1 Step 1: Register Your CS18AI
1. Go to my.presonus.com.
2. Log in or create a new account if you don’t already have one.
3. Once you have logged into your My PreSonus account, click
the Register a Product button at the top of the page.

2 Getting Started
2.2 Step 2: Update CS18AI Firmware
StudioLive™CS18AI
Owner’s Manual
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4. Select “Hardware”from the drop-down menu in the dialog, enter the
information for your CS18AI controller, and check the box stating
you have read and agree to the license agreement. Click/tap the
Register button when you are done to register your controller.
5. You can now download firmware updates or update the firmware directly
with your StudioLive CS18AI connected to an Internet-connected network.
2.2 Step 2: Update CS18AI Firmware
If Your CS18AI is Registered and Connected to the Internet
All registered StudioLive CS18AI controllers have the ability to
connect to a My PreSonus account and download firmware updates
over the Internet. To check online for new firmware updates:
• Be sure no USB flash drive is inserted in the USB port on the CS18AI.
• Connect your registered CS18AI to a network with Internet access.
• Skip steps 1 through 11 below and follow the instructions in steps 12 through 17.
To Internet

2 Getting Started
2.2 Step 2: Update CS18AI Firmware
StudioLive™CS18AI
Owner’s Manual
7
If Your CS18AI is Not Connected to the Internet
If your CS18AI is not connected directly to the Internet, follow
all of the instructions below to download the firmware files to a
USB flash (“thumb”) drive and install them from there.
Power User Tip: Make sure the drive is freshly formatted FAT, FAT16 or FAT32 and does not
have any other data on it. Drives that are 64GB or higher cannot be formatted FAT32 and
therefore will not work. Make sure you’re using a drive that is 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 16GB or
32GB in size. We strongly recommend SanDisk-brand flash drives for firmware updates.
1. Log in to your my.presonus.com account.
2. Once you have logged in, click the My Products button at the top of the page.
3. Click on the Hardware tab to view your registered hardware products.
4. Find your CS18AI on the page and click the View More Details link.
5. Click on the Update Firmware button to download the files to your computer.
IMPORTANT: The StudioLive CS18AI control surface, StudioLive AI console
mixers, and StudioLive AI RM mixers each use different firmware files. Loading
the wrong firmware can cause a device to function improperly and potentially damage
the unit.

2 Getting Started
2.2 Step 2: Update CS18AI Firmware
StudioLive™CS18AI
Owner’s Manual
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6. When the download completes, open your Downloads
folder and CS18AI firmware folder.
7. Depending on your computer’s system preferences, the
firmware .zip archive file might not automatically decompress.
If it doesn’t, double-click the file, and it will decompress.
8. Open the firmware folder; you will find five files inside:
initvars.scr, recovery.scr, rootfs.img, and ulmage. You
will need all five files to upgrade your controller.
9. Connect a FAT32-formatted USB thumb drive to your computer.

2 Getting Started
2.2 Step 2: Update CS18AI Firmware
StudioLive™CS18AI
Owner’s Manual
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10. Select and copy/paste or drag the five firmware files to the root directory of
your thumb drive. If the files are inside a folder, the update will not execute
correctly. Eject the flash drive and disconnect it from your computer.
11. Insert the thumb drive into the USB slot on the rear of your
CS18AI controller. Make sure your CS18AI is powered off.
USB Drive
12. Press and hold the Home button while you power on your CS18AI.
13. Continue to hold the Home button until only the Channel 1 Meter is
illuminated. This is your indication that the firmware update has begun.
14. The Meters will continue to illuminate updating the progress of the
firmware update. When all 22 meters are fully lit, the update is complete.
Note: This process can take up to 10 minutes. Do not power
off your CS18AI until all 22 meters are illuminated.

2 Getting Started
2.3 Step 3: Network Your CS18AI
StudioLive™CS18AI
Owner’s Manual
10
Power User Tip: Most small USB drives (16 GB or less) should be formatted correctly,
but if your CS18AI does not detect your thumb drive at first, 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.
15. Once all 22 meters are illuminated, reboot the
CS18AI and remove the thumb drive.
16. When you restart the CS18AI, go to the Firmware Version page
and verify that the last four digits of the firmware version on your
CS18AI are the same as the firmware files you downloaded.
2.3 Step 3: Network Your CS18AI
Control and Audio Data Connections
There are two types of data flowing between your CS18AI control surface and your
RM mixer or computer: control and audio. Control connections can be made over
standard Ethernet networks, including WiFi networks. Sending and receiving audio
requires an AVB network. Unlike control, AVB audio cannot be sent wirelessly.
• Control: This is the primary communication between the CS18AI controller
and your StudioLive RM-series mixer or your computer. When connected to
RM-series mixers, the CS18AI controls the mixers’ functions. When connected
to a computer, the CS18AI can control Studio One or Capture software.
• Audio: An AVB network connection enables routing audio to and from
the CS18AI’s audio inputs and outputs with an RM-series mixer. Note that
audio networking between the CS18AI and a computer is not possible.
Power User Tip: Network connections occasionally require troubleshooting,
especially when a lot of wireless networks are in use. Because of this, it is
always a good idea to get your networked devices and CS18AI control surface
happily communicating before the pressure is on and you have a singer
trying to dial in a monitor mix while you’re trying to mic the drum kit.
About AVB Networking
AVB (Audio Video Bridging) is an extension to the Ethernet standard designed
to provide“guaranteed quality of service,”which simply means that audio
samples will reach their destinations on time. AVB has been adopted by
numerous audio companies, and more companies are adding it all the time.

2 Getting Started
2.3 Step 3: Network Your CS18AI
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AVB networking offers a number of features that make it ideal for audio applications:
• Long, light cable runs. A single lightweight CAT5e or CAT6 cable can
be run up to 100 meters (300 feet). This makes it easy to have audio
I/O located in different rooms (or even different venues in the same
building) and run multichannel audio between them in real time.
• Low, predictable latency. The AVB specification states latency
of no longer than 2 ms sending an audio stream point-to-
point over up to seven“hops”(trips through switches or other
devices) at 1x (less than or equal to 48 kHz) sample rates.
• Scalable, with high channel counts. AVB’s bandwidth is sufficient to carry
hundreds of real-time channels using a single Ethernet cable. This offers the
future possibility of expanding your system with additional devices that contain
different kinds of audio I/O, multiple controllers, and other useful functions.
• Integrated clock signal. In a digital audio system with multiple devices,
having a master clock is absolutely critical. The AVB specification defines
such a clock to be accurately distributed to all devices in the system.
• High sample rates. AVB is capable of operating at high
sample rates for high-resolution recording.
Power User Tip: The most important rule to keep in mind when setting
up an AVB network is that the talker (device sending audio) and listener
(device receiving audio) must be connected to an AVB-compatible
switch. Connecting the CS18AI to a standard LAN network will disable its
audio functions, however it can still be used to send control data.
StudioLive CS18AI Controller System Configurations
You can connect your CS18AI controller as follows:
• Wired directly to an RM-series mixer.
• Wirelessly using the USB WiFi LAN adapter (control only).
• Wired to an AVB (control and audio) network.
• Wired to a standard LAN network (control only).
In the sections that follow, we will describe all of these configurations in detail.
Every time you turn on your StudioLive CS18AI, it will:
1. Look for a wired Ethernet connection and use it if one is found.
2. If no wired connection is found, the CS18AI will check for the
USB Wi-Fi LAN adapter. It is available, the CS18AI will then scan
for the wireless network to which is was last connected.
Note: StudioLive RM-series mixers ad CS18AI support only WPA and WPA2 security.
Please be sure that your router is configured using one of these security protocols.
Power User Tip: WPA and WPA2 are protocols created to make wireless
networks secure. WPA stands for “Wi-Fi Protected Access,” and WPA2 is a
later version that conforms to the IEEE 802.11i networking standard. Most
routers have settings that manage their security protocols; consult the
documentation for your router to learn how to change these settings.

2 Getting Started
2.3 Step 3: Network Your CS18AI
StudioLive™CS18AI
Owner’s Manual
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2.3.1 Direct Connection to one StudioLive RM Mixer
Your StudioLive CS18AI can be connected to a single StudioLive RM-series
mixer without the need for a switch or router between the two devices.
To connect directly between an RM-series mixer and a CS18AI, you must first connect
the RM-series mixer to UC Surface and select a self-assigned IP address. Please refer
to the StudioLive Software Library Reference manual for complete instructions.
1. Connect a CAT5e or CAT6 cable from the AVB port on the rear panel
of the CS18AI to the Control port on the RM-series mixer.
2. Press the UCNET button in the Master Control area.
3. On the CS18AI touchscreen, press the Settings button in the Wired IP column.
4. On the CS18AI touchscreen, select the“Static Self-Assigned” tab.
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32
Power
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
USB
MIC /LINEINPUT
MIX OUTPUT
32X25 Digital Mi xer
32 XMAX Pr eamps
96k/24bit Audio
Level
-80 +6
Level
-80
RightLeft
R
L
Phones Tape In Mono Out Main Out
STUDIOLIVE RML32
+6

2 Getting Started
2.3 Step 3: Network Your CS18AI
StudioLive™CS18AI
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5. Press the “Apply” button.
6. When the IP address is displayed below Wired IP, close the Settings menu.
7. Select your RM-series mixer from the drop-down menu in the Mixer control field.
8. The power LED on the RM-series mixer will turn blue once
its connected and communicating to the CS18AI.
2.3.2 Direct Connection to Studio One
To directly connect your CS18AI to your computer, you will need to use a
crossover Ethernet cable, or to connect both your computer and your CS18AI
to a standard Ethernet switch. This section will describe the latter. This setup
is only recommended if you do not require Internet or extended network
access for your computer to access printers and other network devices.
1. Connect both your CS18AI and your computer to
an Ethernet switch. Power both on.
Ethernet Switch

2 Getting Started
2.3 Step 3: Network Your CS18AI
StudioLive™CS18AI
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2. Press the UCNET button on the CS18AI.
3. On the CS18AI touchscreen, press the Settings button in the Wired IP column.
4. On the CS18AI touchscreen, select the“Static Self-Assigned” tab.
5. Press the “Apply” button.
6. When the IP address is displayed below Wired IP, close the Settings menu.
7. Disable WiFi on your computer (if applicable) and make sure your computer
has a self-assigned IP address. If you are unsure of how to verify this,
please check your operating system’s networking documentation.
8. Launch Studio One.

2 Getting Started
2.3 Step 3: Network Your CS18AI
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9. On the touchscreen of your CS18AI, you will see your
computer’s IP address and description.
10. Touch to select.
11. On the CS18AI, press the DAW button.
Your CS18AI is now ready to control Studio One!
Power User Tip: After you have launched Studio One and successfully connected
your CS18AI, you can re-enable WiFi on your computer. However, because WiFi
must be disabled for Studio One to pair to your CS18AI initially, it is recommended
that you use a router if you want to use WiFi functionality on your computer.
2.3.3 Wireless Networking
Your CS18AI can be connected to a standard LAN network wirelessly,
using the PreSonus WF-150 USB Wi-Fi LAN adapter and a standard
wireless router. A wireless connection can only carry control data, which
is useful for controlling Studio One software or any application where
the CS18AI’s onboard audio inputs and outputs are not needed.
Note: The StudioLive CS18AI does not support hot-swapping the Wi-Fi LAN
adapter. The LAN adapter must be connected when you power up your
CS18AI. Once you make the connection, the CS18AI will automatically
see the RM-series mixer and will show it in the UCNET page.

2 Getting Started
2.3 Step 3: Network Your CS18AI
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To connect a StudioLive CS18AI wirelessly to a network, first
make sure the USB Wi-Fi LAN adapter is inserted in the USB
port on the rear of the CS18AI, then power on the unit.
1. Press the UCNET button to open the Network Connection screen.
2. Press the Wireless IP settings button at the top of the touchscreen.
3. Press the network button in the middle of the screen.
Note: Scanning for networks can take a little time.
4. Press the name of the wireless network you want to use,
from the list of available wireless networks.
5. Type the network password when prompted and press the Enter button.