If you own PreSonus gear, Universal Control is the software that will help you get the most out of it. Here are our four things that it can bring to your studio life.

Since the launch of Studio One in 2009, PreSonus has slowly been adding to the roll call of complementary hardware products that integrate seamlessly into the ecosystem with interfaces, mics, and control surfaces among them. These devices all enjoy software support from their creators in the form of firmware updates, and perhaps more interestingly, the occasional new feature that adds extra functionality and usefulness. Plugging the gap between PreSonus hardware and software is Universal Control. This app for Windows and Mac helps to keep the device’s driver up to date, as well as providing software-based control of it, with features that depend on the hardware connected. If you’re using a Presonus mic, interface, mixer, or control surface, read on for our lowdown on what Universal Control does and how it can improve your studio life.

1 - UC Surface

If you own a PreSonus mixer such as those from the StudioLive Series III range, Universal Control is your portal into UC Surface. This control app for Android or iPadOS tablets lets you drive your mixer wirelessly with command over your mixing and routing without having to walk back up to your console. Essential when using your StudioLive board for live duties or perhaps a big session where the headphone requests are coming thick and fast! As well as remote audio routing inside the mixer, UC Surface also lets you take care of routing audio over IP for moving signal between boxes on your AVB network.

2 - Monitoring And Effects

Despite the low latency offered by many modern interfaces, hearing live input in your headphones with delay will be a fact of life until someone changes the laws of physics… The only question is how much it can be reduced to more closely match the kind of delays we hear in nature through the air. Standalone DSP mixers that sit ‘in front’ (or should that be behind?) of your DAW are nothing new, with their primary purpose being to allow the engineer or artist to hear signals before they hit the DAW, thus reducing latency. Universal Control takes this to a new level of usability with those using interfaces from the Revelator family of devices. As well as the expected monitor mixing capabilities, users can manage their interface’s onboard effects with Universal Control such as tweaking parameters, saving presets to the hardware, or choosing whether or not to print these effects while recording.

3 - Loopback Made Easy

Hands up who has been told loopback is easy only to find that actually it is not… Many will have hit the familiar tech brickwall of how to record -and- monitor internal computer sounds for things ranging from recording Zoom calls, audio software, or other software sounds. Yes you can use two interfaces with cables, but do you really want to jump the analogue gap each time? Universal Control feels your pain… Step forward loopback that actually does work. By providing an intuitive monitor mixer with clearly labelled virtual inputs and outputs, Universal Control hopes to finally banish the perennial ‘recording a computer with the same computer’ headaches to the place inhabited by modems and floppy disks.

4 - Keeping Your System Happy

OK, most people aren’t going to gather around anyone who starts talking about how interesting firmware updates are. But they might gravitate towards the person whose system works the best it can, with fewer delays to work, using the best tools available. While it’s true that firmware updates often pull down essential under-the-hood tweaks to keep up with the outside world, its not all dull. The companies worth buying from want to keep hold of you (and admittedly, your buying power). By using new features via Universal Control’s updates, you’re staying in the loop and getting the best from your device. No more Google searches, just plug in, launch Universal Control and click Yes if an update suits you.

Not Just Another DSP Mixer

If you’ve ever looked at the Universal Control icon sat on your desktop or in your Dock, and thought “maybe next time”, you may have overlooked some cool stuff that the app will bring to using your device. Not only will you be living your fastest, most secure studio life, but also you might just pick up some extra new features from its creators. Adding near-zero latency tracking with or without effects, loopback mixing and routing, as well as the portal to wireless control heaven, not using it starts to seem like a bit of a waste…