I get asked all the time: “Hey Daniel, what kind of gear are you using? What microphones, software, computer systems, speakers, and headphones do you like?” But there are actually a few pieces of gear that I use every single day that nobody ever asks me about. Today, I want to tell you about three of them.
The number one piece of gear that really is the heart of my studio is my Presonus Studio Live AR16c. Every creator out there who’s doing anything with audio knows that they probably need to get a decent XLR microphone. The minute you buy an XLR microphone means you need to purchase some form of audio interface like a mic preamp that allows your analog signal to turn into digital and go to your computer and allows you to hear all the things that you want to hear coming through your microphone.
I’ve got a stack of these all over my office because I’ve used different ones over different periods of time for different reasons. I have more microphones than I can count – one here, one in Studio B, another above my head for when I want the microphone not to be in shot, and Megan has one at her desk for when she’s working with me, especially on live streams.
The problem is that a lot of these smaller units, as great as they are, only allow for maybe one or two microphones and aren’t very controllable. It’s basically in and out with a headphone mix and not much else. When using some of my fancier microphones like the Shure SM7B, I have to use some form of a CloudLifter to give it a little extra gain in line because even those little preamp units aren’t enough to really boost those quieter mics.
The Presonus Studio Live AR16c is actually an 18-channel mixing board that comes complete with 12 separate XLR inputs. It connects directly to my computer via USB-C and has really high-quality mic pre-amps and great sound quality. I’m actually recording all of my audio right now through that board.
Beyond simple microphone inputs, the board has quarter-inch phone inputs, stereo quarter-inch inputs (something you don’t really find in a lot of other units), and even RCA inputs for old-school things like turntables. It’s got a bunch of onboard digital effects built right in, like reverbs and delays to really take your voice to another level for certain applications.
What I really like about this board are the features that make my studio totally professional. It has a Bluetooth connection for devices like iPads or iPhones, or I can connect an entirely different system or laptop right through the board using Bluetooth. It’s got an SD card reader and recorder so I can record stereo right inside the board if anything comes up that I want to quickly record without firing up my computer.
The board features full parametric EQ on every single channel, including sweepable mids, which gives you a lot of tonal control for your audio signal. It’s got low-cut filters on every channel to immediately cut all that boomy low-end stuff in vocals that can be annoying. It has phantom power for all mics that require it, multiple output controls, and even a separate control room feed for headphone mixes.
All the channels come with features you’d expect from a high-quality board, including mutes, pre-fader listen (so you can hear the dry signal even if you’ve added effects), and the ability to pan tracks left and right in the stereo field. It even has a 3.5mm micro jack for plugging in phones, iPads, and other devices with smaller connection points.
The best part? I’ve been using Presonus gear for over 10 years, and I bought this board myself. They didn’t give it to me. In fact, when I first got it and was mounting it, I accidentally dropped it four feet to the ground before ever powering it up. When I turned it on, there wasn’t a crack in the housing, and it worked perfectly – a testament to Presonus’s quality gear.
Even with all the functionality of having this board right next to him, Daniel notes that he only has two hands, and sometimes trying to push all the buttons can get a little tricky. That’s where his next piece of equipment comes in handy: the Rolls Mik Mute MM11 Pro.
This is a very simple tool they use every day. It’s a small stomp box that allows you to plug your microphone in and then back out to the board. It can be set up to either mute your mic or turn your mic on, depending on the configuration. For instance, in Megan’s situation, they set it up so that when she steps on the button, her mic turns on, and when she takes her foot off, the mic is muted again. This allows her to have control during live streams without Daniel constantly guessing when she wants her mic on or off.
The device has a simple dip switch on the side that you can click to whichever position you prefer, giving you full control of muting or activating your microphone from your feet instead of your hands.
The third piece of gear is the Dymo Electra Label Maker. At first glance, it might seem unimportant, but Daniel explains its crucial role in his studio organization. He uses it to label countless cables, buttons, switches, knobs, and power supplies that can be easy to confuse.
Whenever he pulls his computer system apart to upgrade components or clean it, the labels help him remember exactly which cable goes where. He also uses the label maker to mark channels on his mixing board, his headphone mix, and various power supplies. This ensures he always knows precisely what each cable, knob, and connection is for.
What he particularly likes about this label maker is its simplicity. It doesn’t require connecting to a phone, downloading apps, or even plugging it in. It runs on AA batteries – which he hasn’t even changed in four years. It has internal ribbon cartridges that last a long time, and you can simply pop one in, start typing, and hit print.
One amusing detail he mentions is that he has trouble pulling backing off labels, so he appreciates that these labels have a split down the middle, making it easy to separate even for “fumble fingers” like himself.
Daniel concludes by thanking Presonus and Sweetwater for sponsoring the video and invites viewers to share their own essential studio gear in the comments.
