SSL Live: Beautiful Audio Technology

Something Special

Solid State Logic has been at the forefront of audio console design for over 35 years, influencing industry standards in music, broadcast, and film. SSL Live consoles embody this legacy, offering innovative, ergonomically superior audio production tools designed for efficient and creative work. Featuring a touchscreen user interface and powerful new features, SSL Live aims to transform the way live sound engineers work.

SSL Live consoles are available with four control surface configurations and two screen interfaces: L100, L200, L300, and L500 Plus. These consoles offer a range of configurations to suit diverse applications in live sound, broadcast, and music production.

First Principles: The Perfect Balance of Power and Control

Take Control

SSL understands that every engineer has their own unique workflow. The Live control surfaces are designed to provide a clear view of the audio environment and place essential controls at your fingertips. They offer an intuitive combination of touchscreen and hardware control, with features streamlined for workflow efficiency. Commonly used functions are placed within natural reach, and visual feedback is provided through carefully considered color-coding to minimize user fatigue during long sessions.

The Power to Connect

SSL Live consoles are built on the "Tempest" platform, utilizing patented Optimal Core Processing™ technology. This allows for a flexible allocation of processing resources between signal processing and console architecture. SSL Live consoles offer more inputs and outputs, channels, processing tools, and signal processing power compared to many consoles with higher price tags.

"We favorite feature is that it actually sounds really good, like the best quality analogue board you've ever used in your life, but with a digital workflow." - Simon Thomas, FOH, Sam Smith

Control Surface Layout

Up Close and Personal

SSL Live control surfaces consist of four main elements: a multi-gesture touchscreen, Fader Tiles, a Channel Control Tile, and a Master Tile. The configuration and layout of these elements offer maximum functionality across the L100, L200, L300, and L500 Plus consoles.

Multi-gesture Touch Screen

The high-resolution touchscreen is the console's hub, providing constant visual feedback and access to Channel View & Overview interfaces, system configuration, Layer Manager, and Effects Rack. It offers true tablet-style multi-touch gesture control for intuitive parameter manipulation.

Fader Tile

Fader Tiles are configurable to control any signal path, featuring clear color-coding. Users can arrange channel tapes to match their workflow. Each Tile has 12 fader strips, each with a touch-sensitive 190mm motorized fader, Solo, Mute, Query, and Select buttons, an LCD display, and Quick Controls. Level, gate, and compression meters are also included. Layer and Bank keys allow rapid navigation.

Peripheral Interfaces

An optional sprung boom arm allows for VESA screen or laptop mounting. Screens can display the Console Overview or Automation Interface. Any standard monitor can be used for display, or an SSL-supplied touchscreen can be specified. SSL's SKL4-DS or Android application provides additional tablet control interfaces.

Channel Control Tile

The Channel Control Tile (available on L1500 & L1300 models) provides direct physical control for a selected path. It features a 5.7" touchscreen surrounded by color-coded controls that map to screen functions. Rapid access buttons allow instant recall of functions like EQ, Dynamics, Inserts, and more. Pressing and holding these buttons also maps the function to the Quick Controls on the Fader Tiles. The Channel Control Tile, combined with the Focus Fader in the Master Tile, forms a "Focus Channel".

Master Tile

The Master Tile houses Automation controls, Mute Group buttons, a Master Fader (assignable to any signal path), the Focus Fader (which can follow or be locked to a specific path), and assignable user keys. It also features a flexible Solo and Talkback system with two individual Solo Buses and dedicated controls, feeding three Solo Channels. A mini-matrix allows quick routing of solo buses to outputs. Two Talkback channels can feed Auxes and/or direct outputs with dedicated controls and routing.

Layout Workflow

Managing Your Session

SSL Live consoles offer straightforward session management with an open architecture system. Users can place any Channel, Stem Group, Aux, etc., anywhere on the Fader Tiles using a drag-and-drop Layer Manager interface. This allows for personalized console layouts, whether for FOH or monitor mixing. The combination of elegant Layer management, Super-Q hardware controls, and touchscreen layouts ensures fast and comfortable navigation.

Colour Function

User-defined color settings create visual cues across screen and hardware controls, aiding in the identification and organization of signal paths. Controls for parameter settings use consistent colors across screen interfaces and Fader Tiles.

The Big Screen

The main touchscreen serves as the console's core, used for system configuration, surface layout creation, automation interface, and project views. Channel View provides detailed channel information and touch access to all path functions. Console Overview offers a comprehensive view of the console's signal flow, allowing easy identification and access to channels and paths.

Super-Q

Super-Q offers workflow flexibility by allowing users to isolate contributing elements or modifications for a selected fader/path across the control surface. Querying a mix box shows only channels contributing to it. Super-Q has two modes: "Compressed" for a focused view of contributing paths, and "Exploited" for user-defined layers and banks. A "Query to Focus Fader" option assigns the queried path to the Focus Fader.

Processing Control

Outstanding Audio Tools at Your Fingertips

SSL Live consoles provide a comprehensive suite of audio processing tools and an exceptional interface for complete operator control. Processing can be managed via the touchscreen, Fader Tile Quick Controls, or the Channel Control Tile.

Multi-Gesture Touch Screen

The console's multi-touch screen allows for intuitive gestural control (pinch and drag) for audio manipulation within Channel Detail views for EQ, Dynamics, and Effects.

Quick Controls

Each Fader Tile features Quick Controls that can be assigned to parameters for console-wide functions or individual channels. These can be controlled via Fader Tile controls, the touchscreen, or the Channel Control Tile.

The Focus Channel

The Channel Control Tile and the Focus Fader in the Master Tile combine to form a "Focus Channel," providing immediate access to selected channel parameters. The Channel Control Tile offers a streamlined interface for all parameters of a selected channel.

Channel Architecture

Channels

SSL Live channels are configurable and flexible, with dedicated processing power. Full channels include filters, a four-band parametric EQ, dynamics with a "warmth" effect, expander/gate, delay, panning, and filters. "Dry" channels consume less processing power and can be configured for mono, stereo, LCR, 4.0, or 5.1 formats.

Stem Groups

Stem Groups are a powerful new signal path type, combining functions of subgroups, inputs, Auxes, and Matrices. They offer flexible routing options and can be configured in various formats, providing new ways to manage mixing and create nested subgroups.

Process Order

SSL Live consoles allow real-time changes to the order of processing blocks for channels, Stem Groups, and Masters via a simple drag-and-drop interface on the touchscreen.

Stunning Audio Performance

The Finest Studio Sound on Stage

SSL Live consoles are designed for ultimate sonic performance, featuring SSL's patented mix amp technology for superior studio-grade sound. The circuitry is DC-coupled with high input impedance, and gain is controlled with extreme precision. Floating-point internal processing ensures maximum performance.

The consoles include a comprehensive processing toolkit, such as a four-band parametric EQ with "SSL Legacy EQ" mode, filters, dynamics, and a spectrum analyzer. The acclaimed Dialogue Automatic system from SSL's broadcast consoles is also featured.

Effects Rack

The internal effects rack offers a wide range of studio-quality effects, including reverbs, delays, modulation effects, and EQs. Over 40 integrated tools are available, with adaptive processing that intelligently reduces processor overhead. The number of available effects instances varies by console model.

Dynamics

In addition to channel dynamics, the effects rack provides various EQ options and filters. It also includes a 10 or 6-band Parametric EQ with selectable filter characteristics and a contour program shaping EQ.

Noise & Warmth

The "1992 Saturator" emulates the SSL Variable Harmonic Drive (VHD) circuit for harmonic distortion. The Denoiser, Enhancer, and Pitch Shifter are also available for audio processing.

Automation

New Improved Advanced Scene Control

SSL Live consoles feature advanced automation systems, building on over 30 years of SSL's expertise. Automation is controlled via a dedicated hardware interface and software. The system can store virtually unlimited automation data, allowing users to define precisely which settings are recalled for each show. Scenes can be triggered manually or via external triggers.

Built for the Road

Ready for the Hard Knocks Life of the Road

SSL Live consoles are built to the highest standards of quality and durability. They feature a stainless steel chassis, careful weight distribution, and lifting points for safe handling. Designed to operate in various environments and lighting conditions, they boast bright, daylight-viewable touchscreens and powerful color-changing LEDs. A concealed light strip illuminates the control surface in low-light conditions. Brightness controls for screens, LEDs, and the light strip are available on some models.

A front panel USB port allows for saving and loading show files. SSL Live show files are compatible across all SSL Live consoles. The automation system includes a powerful filter system for selective recall of settings. The SOLSA (SSL Offline Setup Application) is also available for show preparation.

Which One? Four Consoles, One Soul.

The SSL Live console range includes four models: L100, L200, L300, and L500 Plus. All consoles share the same core SSL technology, identical audio conversion, and internal audio engine. The feature set, architecture, routing capabilities, and audio processing toolkit are consistent across the range. Differences lie in physical size, layout, available channel paths, processing power, and local I/O.

Absolute Power and Ultimate Flexibility

L500 Plus Architecture

The L500 Plus offers extensive input and output connectivity, suitable for both front-of-house and monitor applications. It features a versatile local I/O configuration built into the control surface, allowing operation without stageboxes if needed. SSL Live consoles automatically detect connected SSL Live I/O units. The L500 Plus has a 50 output matrix with processing capabilities that can be segmented into smaller matrices. All matrix output paths include filters, EQ, delay, and insert points.

L500 Plus Local I/O Convenience and Connectivity

The L500 Plus provides 32 mic/line inputs, 32 line outputs, 4 headphone/monitor outputs, and 8 pairs of AES/EBU digital I/O. It supports MADI connectivity with up to 12 ports and includes SSL's Blacklight II fiber connectors for high-bandwidth audio transmission. A Dante card offers 32x32 channels of I/O over a redundant Dante connection.

L300 Architecture

Big Production Power in a Smaller Frame

The L300 offers flexible processing power allocation and I/O architecture, with up to 600 inputs and 600 outputs. It features 181 mix paths that can be assigned as Channels, Stem-Groups, Auxes, and Masters. The console supports various channel configurations, including mono, stereo, LCR, 4.0, and 5.1. A 4x32 input x 36 output matrix with dedicated processing is also included.

L300 Local I/O

The L300 provides 16 mic/line inputs, 12 line outputs, 4 headphone/monitor outputs, and 4 pairs of AES/EBU digital I/O. It supports eight MADI ports and includes SSL's Blacklight II fiber connectors. A Dante card offers 32x32 channels of I/O over a redundant Dante connection.

L200 Architecture

What You Need Where You Need It

The L200 is equipped with comprehensive input and output connectivity for front-of-house and monitor applications. It offers local I/O built into the control surface and good connectivity for peripherals. The L200 provides 12 mic/line inputs, 12 line outputs, 4 headphone/monitor outputs, and a front panel 3.5mm line input. It supports AES/EBU digital I/O and eight MADI ports, including SSL's Blacklight X fiber connectors. A Dante card offers 15x32 channels of I/O at 96 kHz.

L100 Architecture

All You Need for Small to Mid-Scale Projects

The L100 is designed for small to mid-scale production applications, offering a versatile range of input and output connectivity. It features 12 mic/line inputs, 32 line outputs, 2 headphone/monitor outputs, and a front panel 3.5mm line input. The L100 supports AES/EBU digital I/O and four pairs of coaxial MADI ports. Optional SSL Blacklight X fiber connectors and a Dante card are available.

Remote I/O - MADI

Flexibility and Scalability

SSL offers a scalable range of remote I/O units for SSL Live consoles, including analogue, AES/EBU digital, MADI, and Dante devices. Interconnection is via MADI or Dante, with remote gain control data carried by either protocol. SSL's proprietary Blacklight II high-bandwidth multiplexed MADI provides efficient cable connection for high channel counts. The MADI Concentrator unit facilitates digital audio interconnection between stageboxes and consoles.

ML 32.32 - Analogue Stagebox

The SL-ML 32.32 analogue stagebox features 32 remote-controlled SSL SuperAnalogue™ mic/line inputs and 32 line outputs. It includes remote phantom power and MADI connections for communication with the console.

D 32.32 - AES/EBU Stagebox

The D 32.32 is a digital stagebox providing 16 AES/EBU pairs and supporting sample rate conversion. It features similar connectivity to the analogue stagebox.

BL II.O - MADI Concentrator

This unit provides two redundant pairs of SSL's Blacklight II connectors, carrying 256 channels of audio at 96 kHz each. It facilitates digital audio interconnection between stageboxes and consoles.

Network I/O: MADI-Bridge

The MADI-Bridge interfaces a Dante IP Audio Network with MADI, offering sample rate conversion and dual MADI/IP network ports.

Remote I/O - Dante

Built for a Fully Networked World

SSL's Network I/O range of Dante devices bridges analogue, AES digital, and SDI signals to Dante networks. Dante offers flexible audio routing and asset sharing. SSL Network I/O Stageboxes incorporate SSL's SuperAnalogue™ pre-technology. Gain sharing is available when multiple SSL Live consoles are connected to the same network.

SB 32.24 - Stagebox

The SB 32.24 is a ruggedized stagebox with 32 mic/line inputs, 16 analogue line outputs, and 8 AES/EBU digital I/O pairs. It features redundant RJ45 Dante network connections and configurable SFP ports.

Network I/O SB 8.8 & SB 116

These units offer different configurations of mic/line inputs and line level outputs, featuring redundant RJ45 Dante network connections and AutoPad system for seamless gain adjustment.

Network I/O BL II Bridge

The BL II Bridge connects to an Ethernet port and provides a bidirectional bridge between SSL's Blacklight II MADI format and a Dante HC connection.

SSL Networked I/O Ecosystem

Leading Edge High Bandwidth System Technology

SSL's combined audio ecosystem integrates MADI (Blacklight I) and Dante protocols for a flexible and robust distributed audio network. SSL Live consoles connect via Blacklight I, and the BL II Dante Bridge connects Blacklight II to a Dante network. Redundant network switches create a reliable Dante network, with SSL System T broadcast consoles and recording units connecting via Dante.

Expansion

Remote Tile

The SSL Live Remote Tile is a 12-fader extension for any SSL Live console, featuring a Fader Tile identical to those in the consoles. It connects via USB and mains power and can be used to expand console configurations.

Remote Expander

The Remote Expander offers 24 or 36 faders and a touchscreen for remote hardware control of a main console. Multiple Expanders can be connected via Ethernet, providing a flexible remote control solution without adding audio processing capacity.

Remote Control & Offline Setup Software

Offline Preparation

SSL's SOLSA (SSL Offline Setup Application) allows for offline show file preparation and editing of console configurations, including channel processing, bus hosting, and automation. It can be used on a desktop PC or laptop.

Real Time Online Control

SOLSA can connect to a console via wired or wireless connection for real-time control and remote operation. Multiple SSL Remote Tiles can also be connected to the SOLSA PC for hands-on control.

'TaCo' Tablet Control App

Portable Mix Control for Artists and Engineers

The SSL Live TaCo (Tablet Control) app provides wireless tablet control of SSL Live consoles for iPad and Android devices. It allows artists and monitor engineers to control individual mixes or all views from a single screen. TaCo utilizes Query technology to display relevant channels and can group input channels into logical sub-groups. Engineer Mode offers remote control of all channel processing parameters and effects.