Hardware routing question - Presonus StudioLive Series 3 mixer

My interface is a Presonus StudioLive Series 3 mixer. A small 32SC. I use it because it just makes it easier for me to record since I have a bunch of stereo keyboards and other gear in my little home studio and don’t like patching and re-patching connections.
My confused issue is that I want to use my stereo compressor on my master buss, or anywhere else if I choose and can’t seem to figure out how to route it so that I can use it as an insert.
For some reason the only outputs on my mixer that Cubase sees is my main stereo out. That’s fine because I can see signal going into my compressor. For some reason I can’t seem to get signal back.
I’ve really tried everything that i can think of.
Any ideas? Is anybody else using a Presonus mixer as their interface?
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’m quite perplexed.
Thanks in advance as always!
Jeremykeys

How many I/O does it supposed to have when being used as an audio interface? Does it have a proprietary ASIO driver? Are you on Mac or Windows?

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This is the rear panel of the mixer. I’m running Windows 10 right now. I’m using it’s ASIO driver and that works quite well. After the left and right main outs, it has 6 mix outs. These don’t show up in the Cubase audio connections page. I’m thinking that I must be doing something wrong but I can’t seem to figure out what it is.
IF I can’t get my compressor to work the way I want, I can always use in on the way in for something like vocals. I just thought it might be fun to have an outboard compressor on my full mix.
Thanks for responding so quickly.
Jeremykeys

Your physical connections doesn’t necessarily correlate to your ASIO I/O.
Could you post a screenshot of this page?


(The name of the driver will obviously differ.)

This really a question for the folks at Presonus. It is their design that decides how many channels of audio can be transmitted to Cubase simultaneously and whether or not you can use their compressor as an insert FX in Cubase.

I am sure they will be happy to help you.

Forgive me but I can’t seem to find that screen. Which tab is it under? I’ve looked at most of them.
Sorry for my lack of knowledge. I googled how to find devices but when I look at my Cubase Inspector, I’ve either accidentally hidden it or something.

Jeremy

That’s a great idea! I’ve been using Presonus mixers with Cubase since Cubase 7. I’ve just never tried to use any outboard gear like a compressor before. I’m sure the problem is entirely me missing one tiny thing.
Thank you!
Jeremykeys

Well, with Cubase Pro you could define an input and an output of your audio device as an external effect. This is available in the dialog “Audio Connections”.
If you have a smaller version of Cubase you need to do this manually and you cannot use the compressor on an insert slot. The whole construct will be a bit more cumbersome.

Check with Presonus first if that is possible at all with your mixer, then come back and we will talk about the details in Cubase.

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I’ve been away.
I’m running Cubase 13 Pro. I’m not totally updated but everything seems fine.
I’m going to have to try your idea later this week but it seems like a good one!
Thank you for this. As far as I’m concerend, this should be an easy thing to accomplish. I’m surprised that it isn’t.

Thanks again!
Jeremykeys

I read the manual to your mixer and found no reference that it can also act as an audio interface in Cubase. I could also find no reference to an ASIO driver for this device. If you are on Mac it might work differently.

Please ask your question to Presonus. It is a matter of how many audio channels are transmitted in parallel from the mixer to Cubase and vice versa.