Digital mixing consoles
PreSonus StudioLive III 16R: Full Specifications
Quick answer
The PreSonus StudioLive Series III 16R Digital Rack Mixer with Studio One Pro Software lists at $949.99. Published figures: input channels 16, mic preamps 16, mix buses 12. It suits churches that want to record every service in multitrack for the podcast or for training volunteers.
Sixteen recallable preamps, AVB networking and 18 by 18 USB recording, so the service records multitrack without a separate interface.
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published specification, taken from the product listing and the data sheet. Where a figure is not published it is left out rather than estimated. Price is the listed price when this page was last compiled and it changes often.
PreSonus StudioLive III 16R specifications
The PreSonus StudioLive III 16R publishes input channels 16, mic preamps 16, mix buses 12, at a listed price of $949.99.
| Specification | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Input channels | 16 |
| Mic preamps | 16 |
| Mix buses | 12 |
| Digital | Yes |
| Scene recall | Yes |
| Rack space | 3U |
| Tablet control | Yes |
| USB record channels | 18 |
What this model suits in a church
Best for: Churches that want to record every service in multitrack for the podcast or for training volunteers.
Category: digital mixing consoles. Tier on this site: Intermediate, which on ChurchSoundCalc means the buy-once pick for a mid-size room, where the money stops being wasted on replacement.
The closest alternatives at a similar price
Same category, nearest price. An alternative with no stated reason is filler, so each of these is here because it trades something specific against the model above.
Behringer X32 Rack Digital Mixer
$979.99 Specs and sizingThe same X32 engine and the same 32 channel mix capability in three rack units, driven from a tablet. Sixteen preamps are on the box itself and the rest arrive over AES50 from a stage box.
Best for: Churches with no booth space, or a mixer who wants to walk the room while setting the mix
Check price on Amazon
Allen & Heath CQ-12T Digital Mixer with 7-inch Touchscreen and Bluetooth
$899.99 Specs and sizingEight preamps and a touchscreen in a desktop box, with the same automatic gain and feedback tools as its larger siblings.
Best for: Small sanctuaries and portable church plants that set up and tear down weekly
Check price on Amazon
Allen & Heath CQ-20B Digital Mixer with WiFi and Bluetooth Connectivity
$999.99 Specs and sizingA rack version of the CQ with 16 preamps and no surface at all, driven from Wi-Fi or a wired network. It disappears into the rack and is controlled from the room.
Best for: Installed systems where nobody should be able to reach the knobs
Check price on Amazon
Allen & Heath QU-SB Portable 18-In/14-Out Digital Mixer with Remote Wireless Control (AH
$999.99 Specs and sizingEighteen inputs and fourteen outputs in two rack units, with Allen and Heath preamps and the Qu processing set. A mature platform with years of firmware behind it.
Best for: A church that wants Allen and Heath sound quality at a rack-mixer price
Check price on AmazonSide by side
| Model | Price | Input channels | Mic preamps | Mix buses | Digital | Scene recall | Tablet control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 PreSonus StudioLive Series III 16R Digital Rack Mixer with Studio One Pro Software | $949.99 | 16 | 16 | 12 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Behringer X32 Rack Digital Mixer | $979.99 | 32 | 16 | 25 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Allen & Heath CQ-12T Digital Mixer with 7-inch Touchscreen and Bluetooth | $899.99 | 12 | 8 | 4 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Allen & Heath CQ-20B Digital Mixer with WiFi and Bluetooth Connectivity | $999.99 | 20 | 16 | 6 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
How we chose
We did not test these products in person and we never claim to. Picks are researched from manufacturer specification sheets and operator manuals, FCC rules where spectrum is involved, published standards, warranty terms, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. Every pick is matched to a real room size, seat count or input list rather than to a price bracket, and it is placed in the tier where its capability actually belongs. Where a product is wrong for most churches we say so on the page.
Sources
- PreSonus published specifications for the StudioLive III 16R
- Amazon product listing features and current pricing
Frequently asked questions
How much does the PreSonus StudioLive III 16R cost?
It was listed at $949.99 when this page was last compiled. Pro audio and video pricing moves frequently and promotional pricing is common, so treat that as a planning figure and confirm the current price before a committee votes on a budget.
Is the PreSonus StudioLive III 16R right for our church?
Churches that want to record every service in multitrack for the podcast or for training volunteers. Beyond that, the honest test is whether its numbers match your room rather than whether it is a good product in the abstract. Work out what your room actually needs first, then check this model against that answer.
Where do these specifications come from?
The manufacturer’s published figures, taken from the product listing and data sheet. We do not test products in person and we never claim to, so nothing here is a measured result. Where a specification is not published by the manufacturer it is omitted rather than estimated.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published manufacturer specifications, operator manuals, FCC rules, published standards and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Sound system design, rigging loudspeakers overhead, and any electrical work are jobs for a qualified professional: have flown loudspeakers and their attachment points signed off by a structural engineer or a certified rigger, and have all wiring done by a licensed electrician to your local code. Wireless microphone rules change, so confirm the current FCC position before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.