SSL ALPHA CHANNEL Worth it for us one input DAW guys?

[frankie c]

HEY!!,

I was wondering if anyone had a chance to play with the SSL alpha Channel?

I do mainly Dance music ITB (q6600 pc running Cubase)...

A Preamp, EQ and A-D converter is mighty Tempting...

It goes for 1695.00..

Thoughts?

I mainly Track Bass DI, Vocals , and Keys...

I was thinking of adding a LA-2a on the insert as well..

Thanks 4 your Input..

ps my alternative is a 2 ch Dan Alexander and NO eq and no A D...

[Jim@SSL]

That's the "TEC Award-winning" Alpha Channel is it?

[Audionaut]

Umm, SSL is known for their buss compressor and large format consoles... with the big boards on their way out, it is a nice novelty to own a few racked channels, but take it from someone who's spent years recording and mixing in SSL rooms, typically you use the outboard stuff for overdubs. SSL outboard doesn't make any more sense to me that having Yamaha console channelstrip or soundcraft channelstrip in your rack.
If you want truely 1st rate sound & flexibility one one recording channel, you can get either of the following in your price range or lower:

- an Avalon 737(used) Great mic pre & EQ, okay Opto compressor

-an SPL Track One ($770.00) and pocket $800: Very simple & great sounding mic pre, eq, comp, de-esser

-Daking 52270B ($1400.00) mic pre/EQ and a FMR audio RNC (175.00)

-AMEK 9098 serioe Pre.EQ ($1100.00 used) and an RNC (175.00)

-Universal Audio 6176 ($1650.00 used at Vintage King now) 610 tube mic pre & 1176 compressor

just my .02

[frankie c]

Thanks!!...Now I think i'm, leaning toward a Dan Alexander (neve clone) 2 ch pre , and add a LA2a later..

Im also getting a RME Interface , so Ill go in bal line level...I guess the A-D in that unit is comparable to the SSL...

Thoughts?

I always loved the neve mic pre..vox bass DI keys..

I do mainly soulful House music...basically dance with live instruments..

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by frankie c

Thanks!!...Now I think i'm, leaning toward a Dan Alexander (neve clone) 2 ch pre , and add a LA2a later..

Im also getting a RME Interface , so Ill go in bal line level...I guess the A-D in that unit is comparable to the SSL...

Thoughts?

I always loved the neve mic pre..vox bass DI keys..

I do mainly soulful House music...basically dance with live instruments..

Let me tell you something, you should really listen to the SSL stuff. I don't care how many people use outboard "Color" pres etc, the SSL stuff sounds wonderful. It doesn't hog up the whole soundstage, is fast, and clear, and you can do what you want with it and you won't spend time with lo cut filters and EQ trying to brighten up your 40 tracks of vintage tube mess. I don't about this particular model, but if it is anything like the XLogic stuff you will not go wrong.

TH

[warhead]

Originally Posted by frankie c

A Preamp, EQ and A-D converter is mighty Tempting...

It goes for 1695.00..

A happy correction for you: this unit is now $1195 street as of this week (SSL price drop at the show). I cannot comment on its usefulness yet, but they are on the way.

War

[frankie c]

I was at AES in NY...they were saying 1695 at the SSL booth....

[frankie c]

I think im back in SSL land...I think a ouboard EQ , variable harmonics, hi pass filters and a great a-d converter is alot of bang 4 the buck...

Either way , i think the SSL mic preamp and A-D will DESTROY, my MBOX 1....

Thoughts?

[warhead]

Originally Posted by frankie c

I was at AES in NY...they were saying 1695 at the SSL booth....

I was told Sunday about the new pricing, and it's reflected in the current pricing we've received from them so...it's all good!

War

[MeatPye]

My mini review - It is fantastic. EQ, filters and let's not forget the VHD! Superb. Oh, and the A>D is great also. It looks great and feels very solid, too. And - made in Oxford. My home town.

[frankie c]

When it comes to that stuff , you brits make "QUALITY" ((said that with my fake british accent!!))..

Im sold...just need to buy a new interface first ..(rme)1000.00

[MeatPye]

It's one of those things where it's even more than it really seems. The 'lite limiter' can actually be used to good effect (not what it was designed for, but hey...) and you can even get a stereo signal through the A>D by putting one channel in the front, then the other in the 'insert' (you lose the EQ that way, but it's handy for some things). It's actually very flexible and these extra tricks are nice. Also, using the VHD control on an insert from your DAW is rather good.

There's a downloadable guide that I got from the SSL website somewhere, with different configuations etc... have a dig around on the SSL site.

[allencollins]

Originally Posted by frankie c

HEY!!,

I was wondering if anyone had a chance to play with the SSL alpha Channel?

I do mainly Dance music ITB (q6600 pc running Cubase)...

A Preamp, EQ and A-D converter is mighty Tempting...

It goes for 1695.00..

Thoughts?

I mainly Track Bass DI, Vocals , and Keys...

I was thinking of adding a LA-2a on the insert as well..

Thanks 4 your Input..

ps my alternative is a 2 ch Dan Alexander and NO eq and no A D...

Not sure about this unit but ssl pres in general sound great. If you want a huge focused tight and clean sound ssl's work great.

Personally I love the sound of most 70's records but I also love the sound of
many 80's records. 75% of which I bet were done on ssl's and probably 90% of them mixed on one too

They sound great

[Blindside]

Just got an Alpha Channel. I love it so far. Very clean, compared to my 7602.

[frankie c]

I'm really leaning toward it ,because of the Quality, Adjustable harmonics, i get hi pass filters, I can insert (my planned LA2a), analog eq GOING IN, and get better A-d than my MBOX...

When I upgrade to a RME Multiface, I can also make it a plug in (with 1 h line in /out) to get EQ that I can actualy TURN KNOBS like the old days!!

Thoughts?

I mainly DI , keys, bass, ..mic percussion, and the occasional vocal

Would this be my master clock now?

[bongomania]

I'd like to hear some more comments on the limiter function. How good is it, and how much of a range of function does it provide? How does it handle being hit with a hard spike, and does it glitch/click or have any other little artifacts when you hit it?

Also, anyone happen to know the Z in of the instrument input on the front panel?

[warhead]

The lite limiter can be very clean, or exploited for full slammage...! Just got done testing one out tonight on kick, snare and acoustic guitar. The most exploitation it received was on kick and man, it turns it inside out if needed.

The preamp is clean but with a fullness to it, kick drum had this great resonant low end unlike the Amek and Sytek preamps we were comparing it to (familiar stuff to the studio owner). Nice detail and a classic sound.

The VHD seems pretty subtle, kind of a saturated transformer effect in many ways.

The EQ is smooth, cranking the hi shelf on acoustic guitar produced great presence without being harsh. Scooping the mids on drums proved to be nice, leaving a great round sound on kick etc. Being able to switch between peaking and shelving on the low eq is nice.

Well made, all switches etc feel fine.

We did not get to test the converter.

War

[bongomania]

Cool, thanks for that info.

I DL'ed the manual, and found that the Z in for the instrument input is 1Mohm, which is great news! The majority of the channel strips I've seen have only about 100K Z in for the instrument DI jack, which sucks for passive basses. Although a variable Z in is the most ideal in reality, if I had to pick just one value it would be 1M.

So I'll have to give one of these babies a try!

[Coyoteous]

Wow, I just noticed the price drop on these! That's major, though I'd be more than a little angry if I'd bought one at the higher price.

I've been eyeing the AC since it came out. So, VHD is on all the time, right? The control sets the odd/even harmonic balance, but you can't turn it off alltogether? And it's non-linear - you get more as you push it?

It seems similar to Audient's HMX, but you can set the amount, and maybe it's not (as?) level dependent...

Is the AC limiter a peak limiter or more of a fixed compressor?

(I'm going to go and try to get the manual again - it just sat and spun last time I tried)

Also, I can't seem to find any audio specs for the AC.

[Reborn]

I have owned the Alpha since it first came out. It is a very competent box. The EQ is untouched by any plug in I have ever used. The A/D convertor is superior(by a small margin) to my Fireface. I feel the VHD and Soft/LIm are add ons but they can be very useful sometimes. The Lim can be very nice for reamping snares from virtual drums. The VHD has been useful on vocals and bass in small amounts. The tone is OPEN slightly warm and bold. It has a airyness much like SSL Board strips. Great for treating dirty samples. It is alittle smoother sounding than what you might expect from your typical rap record. This is becuase it is a G series eq and not E. I don't care you cn make drums huge and punchy at the same time.


If all you have is a MBOX this is a absolute steal at 1200.00

Now if we can just get SSL to do a Alpha series Buss Comp!!!!!!!!!!




Jazztone

[RockDog]

Originally Posted by frankie c

HEY!!,

I was wondering if anyone had a chance to play with the SSL alpha Channel?

I do mainly Dance music ITB (q6600 pc running Cubase)...

A Preamp, EQ and A-D converter is mighty Tempting...

It goes for 1695.00..

Thoughts?

I mainly Track Bass DI, Vocals , and Keys...

I was thinking of adding a LA-2a on the insert as well..

Thanks 4 your Input..

ps my alternative is a 2 ch Dan Alexander and NO eq and no A D...

a friend of mine has one an said its great its clean sounding an worth the cash try it before you buy it if you can

[RockDog]

Originally Posted by allencollins

Not sure about this unit but ssl pres in general sound great. If you want a huge focused tight and clean sound ssl's work great.

Personally I love the sound of most 70's records but I also love the sound of
many 80's records. 75% of which I bet were done on ssl's and probably 90% of them mixed on one too

They sound great

yeah allen is right they sound great he loves nirvana too

[allencollins]

Solid State Logic SSL Alpha Channel

thanks warhead

[frankie c]

thanks 4 the info!!!

I'm holding off on this until I get a RME Multiface and pci E card...

THEN..

the ALPHA channell

[warhead]

Originally Posted by allencollins

Solid State Logic SSL Alpha Channel

thanks warhead

War

[Coyoteous]

I did get the installation guide to download and found very elaborate specs here:

SSL

- missed them the first time around (the specs in the installation guide do not seem to cover audio).

- and as far as VHD goes: "Variable Harmonic Drive circuit - a time machine of distortion characteristics" (found a much better description in the VHD pre guide - no, you can't really turn it off, but you seem to be able to "go under it" for clean).

- "Limiter Threshold - 3 dBFS / Limiter Ratio: 6, over-easy / Limiter Headroom: 12 dB min, 14 dB typ / Attack Time: 50 uSec / Release Time: 200 mSec / Limiting Distortion: 0.5 % max / Non-Limiting Distortion: 0.001 %" - seems to tell the story there. The super fast attack would "limit" its use as a compressor for me, but it could be useful nonetheless.

I think I want one!