SSL Computers

[PhilE]

Can anyone tell me what the IO of the old SSL E/G/G+ computers were?
I mean what is actually being sent to and from the desk. Is it per bucket or the whole console- will a computer from a 48 work with a 64? Any and all info gratefully received!

Thanks.

[toolstudio]

Hi,

every bucket has a ribbon cable, plus the 8 VCA groups.

With more than 48 channels I think you need another ANALOG INPUT and ANALOG OUTPUT card in the computer rack.

Not sure about the voltages I think 0-10V and CUT is something like -20V...

wolfgang

[PhilE]

Thanks Wolfgang,
Do you know what is on the ribbon?
Are there any other connections or just those ribbons?
Cheers.

[toolstudio]

What do you mean with "on the ribbons".

There are 8 channels coming from the faders and 8 channels back
to the channel. And there might also be signals coming from the
"lights & switches" card, handling the status button and the green and red led's.

There are the ribbons for each bucket, for the VCA groups and one for
the built in keyboard. And also the multipin for the little green monitor.
Furthermore the 9pin SUB-D for smpte.

I just looked at the back of my rack, looks like each A-IN an A-OUT card
could handle 56 channels. I only have a 4048.

wolfgang

[Adria_BCN]

There is also the connection for the screen & keyboard if i'm not wrong on my close to alzheimer mind...

Those ribbons must be "bypassed" if you want to work with the console without the computer.

Hope to help.

[PhilE]

Thanks guys,

By 'on the ribbon' I meant what the signal is- has the desk already converted the signal to data or is it some kind of a control voltage per channel?
As they are marked as Analogue cards I assume that the computer cards actually have voltage regulators on them and are not just dealing with data bursts. Again this would make sense with the ribbons needing to be bypassed to run the desk without the computer.

[Adria_BCN]

It's control voltage, the 4K SSL is VCA on main faders. the bypass is a simple ribbon folding the "out" of the channel into the "in" of the channel so the computer doesnt have to be in the middle.

Hope to help

[Matt Syson]

Hi
Again working from memory the 'data' is simply (I think) 0-5 Volts from the fader and when it is 'cut' it swings to 10 Volts. The data returning from the computer is basically the same, thus you have basically 2 wires plus the common ground for each fader. There is some extra data involved when accessing the 'recall' functions but this is in the form of an 'address' for the computer to direct it's attentions to individual controls.
It is all as clear as mud, and detailed in the manual. There is a lot of 'level shifting' and some 'law bending' going on which adds bagfulls of extra components but the interface data itself is relatively simple. Having individual wires from / to the computer rack for each fader makes it a heavyweight solution.
Serial comms on a bit of cat5 or whatever would be great but we are talking about a system almost 'before PC'.
Matt S

[clip6]

Keith and Kathy would be able to take care of you.

You still looking for a desk?

Recycled Audio

[PhilE]

Originally Posted by clip6

Keith and Kathy would be able to take care of you.

You still looking for a desk?

Recycled Audio

Beauty isn't it! About 4 feet too long for the way my control room is layed out unfortunately!