Presonus SW5E AVB switch and why you need one. Networking Presonus and MOTU AVB kit.

AVB works point to point between two devices. But if you want more then you need a switch to build your AVB network. And not just any switch an AVB switch is required. We look at the Presonus SW5E AVB switch and sweep past the Presonus 16R and the MOTU 112D and MADI to AVB.
AVB on a Mac - • AVB Audio with an Appl...
00:10 SW5E close up
00:40 Presonus 16R
01:10 AVB and MacOS
02:10 MOTU 112D
02:25 MADI - AVB
03:40 MILAN AVB standards group
05:15 SW5E Logging in
06:50 SW5E PoE
07:00 EarMix 16M
07:20 AVB no router required

[@BeerswiththeBeard]

Great video! Looking forward to more AVB videos :)

[@aveskielducut]

Good day, awesome video! I have a question tho. Is it possible to connect the AVB of the PreSonus 16R to my Mac and still have a wired internet connection from my router to my Mac? If yes, how can you do that? Thanks.

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Hi Aves, I really am a novice with MacOs networking in terms of having two network connections! My Mac only has one thunderbolt port and no ethernet so I use wifi for my network while the AVB is using the thunderbolt port. But by that principle it should work fine. The man who knows is Ray at Presonus - kzbin.info/door/rDLhGtGIbx8h2r3XFa7gWQ Do let me know if you get an answer... There is one thing I need to test but I can't find my thunderbolt to ethernet adapter - story of my life. When I find it I will get back to you! BTW do you have an AVB switch? Ta like, ppm6.

[@TheGuitartwanger]

Nice to see some love for AVB. ! I use the MOTU AVB Switch in my system , but it looks like the Presonus Switch has the benefit of a built in power supply and locking Ethercon connectors.

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Hi Robert - thanks for the comment. What have you got plugged into the MOTU Switch? And have you got a Mac plugged in? We definitely need more love for AVB! Ta like, ppm6.

[@TheGuitartwanger]

@@ppmtv-qh9qk I have a MOTU 112D and 16A hooked up to the switch at the moment, with plans to get another 16A at some point. my Windows PC is connected to the 112D via Thunderbolt.

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Thanks Robert - I have a 112D and it is a monstrous bit of kit, a real powerhouse. I also use thunderbolt - the cloud the size of a man's hand is an occasional loss of communication between the 112D and the PC. And I can't put my finger on the cause. DAW lock up - driver problem or firmware confusion. Have you any experience here? And if you don't mind another question - what goes into the 16A? Outboard mic amps? Thanks for getting back to me. ppm6

[@TheGuitartwanger]

ppm6.tv To be fair, I’ve had no problems with the 112D over Thunderbolt to the PC. The 112D offers so much Digital I/o for the money . It allows me to connect four reverbs , two 8 channel mic preamps, my main DAC, a mastering processor amongst other things all digitally . The 16A I use to connect all my synths . A stereo mix appears in the AVB mixer of the 112D for monitoring , and all the synth outs are available individually inside my DAW (Cubase Pro or MOTU Digital Performer) for when I want to commit to separate audio tracks. The routing page in the web interface took a bit of getting used to , but once I got my head around it, it’s insanely flexible what you can route within a system.

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Sounds like a great set up - if you don't mind me asking what mic preamps? Sorry, but I do love a question! ppm6

[@bharumusic]

Can you connect any of the Presonus stage boxes to this unit? and if so how does that work with PoE if the stage box is powered? 🤔

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Hi - Presonus offer three models of AVB stage boxes. www.presonus.com/en/mixers/networked-stage-boxes/ These are mains powered units the PoE on the switch is handy when you use the personal mixers which can be powered by PoE - www.presonus.com/en/mixers/personal-monitor-mixing/earmix-series/2779300102.html Ta like, ppm6.

[@captainbleep]

Hello! Thank you for your MOTU/Presonus/AVB videos. They're SUPER helpful. I do have one question though... if you have the MOTU connected via Thunderbolt to the computer, can't you just use the MOTU routing tool to route any AVB streams without the need for a switch (presuming the Presonus is wired via ethernet directly into the MOTU)? Or am I missing something?

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Hi Fred - you haven't missed anything! You are dead right. The PC to MOTU connection can be Thunderbolt or USB. Or I suppose the other way round the Presonus to PC connection can be USB. And in this simple case you have a direct AVB connection from Presonus to MOTU. Adding the switch allows more complex set ups - digital splits, adding stage boxes, aggregating interfaces etc. or recording over AVB to a Mac. Or simply doubling the distance between the devices. And you can run Hive AVB software or something similar on a Mac connected by AVB which allows more detailed control over the AVB network. You've probably seen this with Ray from Presonus. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYvZoJKqfKiNa80 Ta like, ppm6.

[@captainbleep]

@@ppmtv-qh9qk Well, looks like I only missed *everything you typed above.* :) I'm probably over-focused on my small, limited situation. Thanks for the comprehensive clarification!

[@edwardx.winston5744]

If all you want to do is connect two Macs together (let’s say an old 3,1 - 5,1 tower and an M1 Mac Mini) so that you could use the old system for hosting sample libraries and the new one for mixing, would you even need the AVB switch? Both computers have Ethernet and have the ability to use the AVB network protocol.

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Hi Edward - that is a really good question. And one I hadn't thought of. You don't need an AVB switch to do a 'point to point' connection so in theory this should work. I say in theory because I haven't got two macs to try. But as I understand it only Macs that have a thunderbolt port support AVB. I don't know if any of the older towers had T/Bolt but I don't think so. So can you do 'point to point' on two AVB capable Macs - I would like to know the answer to that. If anyone has two suitable macs to test, check out Ray Tanzen from Presonus who shows how to set up AVB on a Mac in one of his very helpful AVB videos. kzbin.info/door/rDLhGtGIbx8h2r3XFa7gWQ Ta like, ppm6.

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Hi Edward - a belated reply. I asked Michael Cole wizard of AVB and he says you can indeed connect to Mac (if they both support AVB) with just a Cat5 cable and you do not need a switch. I have an incoming Mac Mini (2014) so I should be able to test this soon! Ta like, ppm6.

[@DavidBarrowIII]

How do I get AVB from any of these Presonus devices into a Windows notebook computer to record multi-track into Presonus Studio one? Are there Windows AVB drivers for that? Where are they?

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Hi David, you have put your finger on a very sore spot! MS doesn't support AVB - there was an option for desktop machines in the form of a pci-e card but I don't think those are available any longer. The only way would involve conversion to a more widely supported format like Dante - Presonus has an AVB to Dante bridge but I haven't seen one or tried one. Which leaves USB - but you lose the reach of AVB or of course a Mac. I would like to be wrong about this so please if anyone knows different, pile on. Ta like, ppm6.

[@KLRCAT]

1:14 You said you managed to connect your macbook up to the AVB network over CAT5, but would it work over CAT6 or 7? (ie. is it future proof?) Basically I'm trying to figure out if it is worth getting the Presonus StudioLive 24R to use as a full sound system. So I need it to- - Stay on stage to act as a stagebox (instead of buying the NSB 16.8 and wasting all the inputs of the 24R) - Send "Control" network to a Router so that someone can mix from an Ipad, as well as let musicians control their IEM mix's - Send "Network Audio" AVB to a broadcast room (100m>) with a Laptop/PC where it can be mixed on ProTools/StudioOne for a livestream (potentially multitrack record) Can it do these three things? or do I need to buy extra hardware like the MOTU 112D or the AVB-D16? I may also upgrade the number of inputs by getting the NSB 8.8 in future, which means I will get the SW5E at that time.

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Hi KLR - no worries about CAT 5/6/7 that won't be a problem. 24R on stage - no problem ethernet to wireless router - iPad control no problem Network audio to remote record - some possible issues... You can't run the cable over 100m - I haven't seen any tests but I have had failures in networked audio systems (not AVB systems but I'm sure the same principle applies) due to cable problems. I am a bit behind the curve with the computer end of AVB. So Windows (in any flavour) has no native support for AVB. You need to buy a very expensive ($600 last time checked) avb pcie card with the right drivers. And this of course rules out laptops. Older Macs if they had a thunderbolt port - all supported AVB out of the box. But only at 48KHz. This is probably still true but the arrival of Apple silicon, Big Sur etc means you need to do some homework there. I don't have the cash at the moment! Multi-track record is straightforward - Presonus Capture is a one stop shop here. Streaming I haven't tried in your context. Presumably we can send a mixed output from the DAW to OBS - I'm no expert. In theory you don't need to buy any more kit. But do you want to do multi track recording and mixing and streaming all on the one machine? That seems to me the pinch point rather than the 24R. Could you hang a lap top off the 24R over usb and do the multitrack on there, leaving your other (Mac) machine to do streaming? Ta like, ppm6.

[@KLRCAT]

@@ppmtv-qh9qk my issue is I need the multitrack/Broadcast mixing to be in a completely different room (ideally acoustically treated) so that the broadcast gets a good mix. Having an engineer with a Laptop live mixing on stage beside the bass player honestly sounds like a clown show 😂 This is why these rack mixers are useless, as they are just glorified stageboxes 😂 I'm gonna pass on presonus and go the x32 + Dante route 👌

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

You don't need the engineer on stage. The stage laptop is connected to the 24R by USB running Capture - hit record 10 minutes before the show, job done. Your engineer is with your broadcast streaming mix on the other end of the AVB ethernet 100m away. Still lots of love for the X32, the great thing about a mixer - is the faders. The bad news is size and weight plus the stage boxes or multicore you'll need. Have fun.

[@calvingudu9237]

Hello Thanks for you video. Could you please help. I use Presonus SL32R and I need to connect 3 Mac computers to do the following: 1. record all 32 channel 2. Mix and broadcast all 32 channels live 3. Bring in multichannel drum plugin (upto 16-32 channels) Will this device do this for me? Please help.

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Hi Calvin - the SW5E will allow you to send the AVB outputs from the SL32R to multiple destinations, like a split. And enable bi directional audio flow. I assume you already have the 3 Mac computers as well as the the 32R? I would begin by doing some tests. First connect the Network Audio port (AVB) from the 32R directly to your 'recording' mac and make sure the AVB connection is stable. Let me know how that goes? Which macs do you have? Then change the 'recording' mac for the 'Mix and broadcast' mac and do the same thing (using Universal Control?). Talk me through your plans for the drums? Ta like, ppm6.

[@calvingudu9237]

@@ppmtv-qh9qk Thanks a mill for the good news that I can do this. I already have 3 MacBook Pro’s 2012. Individually they can see all the 32 channels when connected via network cable ( back and forth flow). What I really need may the just this gadget to split to and from all three computers simultaneously. Regarding the sum plugin: I use superior drummer 3 being triggered via Roland triggers. The drum plugin has multiple outputs which I can access when using one computer, so again I am looking to have this as the third computer being seen by SL32R. By the way, I already have the SL32R Many thanks for your help this far.

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Hi Calvin - that's good to hear. The SW5E is the way to go. However I'm old enough always to be cautious! As I haven't built/tested the rig you propose! I use the SW5E to connect my 16R to a MOTU 112D and my Macbook Air. A much simpler set up. As a matter of interest if you connect one of your macs over AVB - say the drum playback and then connect the 32R to another Mac over USB - can you record over that USB connection while still using AVB for playback? Nott strictly relevant I know but... Ta like, ppm6.

[@calvingudu9237]

@@ppmtv-qh9qk Great. I brought the Presonus AVB switch and I have connected all my 3 computers for Superior Drummer 3, recording, and broadcast. It was daunting to set up at first but once I got the concept it was really easy to do. Quite an amazing box. Thanks for your support.

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Hi Calvin, so glad this all worked out for your adventurous plan! And thanks for letting others know what is possible. Ta like, ppm6.

[@calvingudu9237]

Does AVB work in the new Mac M1 or M2? I can’t seem to see it o my Mac mini M1

[@ppmtv-qh9qk]

Thanks Calvin - I have no personal experience, I'm still on Intel. Here is the latest info I could find: support.presonus.com/hc/en-us/articles/360051876532-Series-III-AVB-Ecosystem-With-MacOS-Big-Sur Let me know what happens. Ta like, ppm6.

[@calvingudu9237]

@@ppmtv-qh9qk Many thanks. Let me have a look. Most appreciated.