Presonus NS16.8 AVB Networked Stage Box

Designed to work seamlessly with PreSonus StudioLive Series III console/recorders, the PreSonus NSB 16.8 is an 16-in, 8-out stage box that sets up quickly and easily to route signals from stage to mixer over an AVB network. With AVB networking, all signals flow through one lightweight CAT5e or CAT6 Ethernet cable, eliminating the need for a heavy, expensive copper snake—and the signal degradation that goes with long analog cable runs. You can even remote control the NSB 16.8’s inputs, preamps, and phantom power from your networked Series III console or from free PreSonus UC Surface touch-control software.

A stage box is all about analog connectivity, and the NSB 16.8 gives you plenty. You get 16 locking combo mic/line inputs equipped with Presonus' famous remote-controlled, Class A solid-state XMAX preamps, including gain compensation for shared input scenarios. All line inputs can be controlled from a StudioLive Series III console and from free PreSonus UC Surface software. All eight outputs employ locking XLR jacks. If that’s not enough, a built-in 2-port AVB switch lets you daisy-chain multiple units, giving you enough connections for even the largest shows and installations.

Audio networking is much more than just a way to connect a digital snake. With an AVB network, you can connect digital audio devices over long distances using CAT5e or CAT6 Ethernet cable and route your audio anywhere on the network with extremely low latency. AVB offers several unique benefits that make it a better choice for audio than other networking protocols. For example, AVB provides a high-precision clock that significantly reduces harmonic distortion and phasing, ensuring your audio stays clear and clean. AVB ensures you always have enough bandwidth to carry your low latency audio—even when your intern starts streaming a movie. These important benefits are an inherent part of AVB; you don’t need to do anything special to your devices or AVB switch. And you can only get them with AVB.

Even if you baby your equipment, your stage boxes are likely to take a beating, especially on extended tours. But no matter how demanding the conditions, stage box failure is not an option. So Presonus built the NSB 8.8 into a rugged steel chassis designed to survive the rigors of the road, and equipped it with sturdy handles. Its classic stage box form factor allows the NSB 8.8 to sit well on the stage, or it can be rack mounted with an optional rack-ear kit. The NSB 8.8 also is compatible with stage pockets from Ace Backstage.

"StudioLive" doesn’t just mean "digital mixers". StudioLive Series III is all about top-to-bottom, wall-to-wall mix solutions with a lineup now featuring digital consoles, rack mixers, personal monitoring units and stage boxes. And because Series III has AVB at its core, you get to expand your audio network over time to fit your needs.

With Series III, you can track in your home studio on Friday and then mix front of house at a dive bar on Saturday night. You’ll still have what you need to run monitors on Sunday morning.