Ssl wtf?

[T_R_S]

I bought a Duende fought with it for 2 months it never worked properly got rid of it.
I got an SSL Alphalink sent to me with faulty firmware.
I another guy I know had major problems with his Axiom a few years ago.
Why Does SSL release products like this?
Does anyone else have problems like this?
Maybe they should stick to analog consoles and outboard.

[George Necola]

Originally Posted by T_R_S

I bought a Duende fought with it for 2 months it never worked properly got rid of it.
I got an SSL Alphalink sent to me with faulty firmware.
I another guy I know had major problems with his Axiom a few years ago.
Why Does SSL release products like this?
Does anyone else have problems like this?
Maybe they should stick to analog consoles and outboard.

yes... some bad experience.. but I think that is usual these days. I don't care that much.

everyone does it.

cheerio

[plexisys]

In the present all software is betaware. In the future all software is vaporware.

Hardware was that way 30years ago. I can't count how many products 30 years ago were not fully tested before they hit the market. Can we all say Necam.

[desol]

Originally Posted by T_R_S

I bought a Duende fought with it for 2 months it never worked properly got rid of it.
I got an SSL Alphalink sent to me with faulty firmware.
I another guy I know had major problems with his Axiom a few years ago.
Why Does SSL release products like this?
Does anyone else have problems like this?
Maybe they should stick to analog consoles and outboard.

Sucks dude. Obviously they need to clean some s*** up.

[terminal3]

That does suck, but I'd chalk it up to bad luck I think, and knowing SSL they'd sort you out quickly...

I've got two Alpha Channels and a Duende Classic and all have been flawless.

Duende issues of course vary... there are plenty of happy users (myself included) but I realise there are also many unhappy users... no fun to be a beta tester in those cases, but with any luck eventually it will be a must-have box for everyone due to the fact that there are no bugs! Hopefully!

[rsandifer]

I developed electronic products for another market and I can assure you that the consumer is the one that is relied on to fully test the hardware and software. As fast as the market is moving all new ideas have to hit the shelves ASAP. It is terrible that this is the new trend but the consumers are part of the cause.

A good example is when Apple released Logic 8 people immediately started bitching about when 9 was going to be released. It is the same in the hardware end. When we released a new product we immediately got people complaining because we didnt include this feature or that feature. This causes a new version to be released with minimal testing. Personally I feel the internet has caused a lot of this "consumer testing" and it will get MUCH worse.

The electronics market is consumer driven. How many average consumers have real engineering degrees? How many people know what it takes to R&D a product? If there was less pressure then you would have higher quality "first issue" products.

[mostlykeys]

i have a duende mini plugged into an imac. The mini crashes my computer. i think that the problem is on Apples side though. I have been having issues with the Agere firewire chipset in the new imacs. I hate it when my stuff doesn't work right.

orlando

[colinmiller]

The laws of probability dictate that every company is going to have someone who just happens to have bad luck with many of their products. As someone mentioned it is most likely just simple bad luck. If it was typical I don't think they would have a reputation for being such high qualify craftsmanship. I mean I know plenty of studios that switched from Neve VR to SSL and one of the most noticeable differences has always been how much more reliable the consoles are and how much less money is spent on maint (obviously sound quality is a moot and preferencial issue). While the lower grade products will inevitably invite more problems than the really high end ones, I think it still comes out proportionately.

[leebridges]

Originally Posted by rsandifer

I developed electronic products for another market and I can assure you that the consumer is the one that is relied on to fully test the hardware and software. As fast as the market is moving all new ideas have to hit the shelves ASAP. It is terrible that this is the new trend but the consumers are part of the cause.

A good example is when Apple released Logic 8 people immediately started bitching about when 9 was going to be released. It is the same in the hardware end. When we released a new product we immediately got people complaining because we didnt include this feature or that feature. This causes a new version to be released with minimal testing. Personally I feel the internet has caused a lot of this "consumer testing" and it will get MUCH worse.

The electronics market is consumer driven. How many average consumers have real engineering degrees? How many people know what it takes to R&D a product? If there was less pressure then you would have higher quality "first issue" products.

i don't think it's the consumer's fault for wanting a full-featured product. people are always anxious to get what they desire...whether they have engineering degrees or not.

i think the companies are the only identities responsible for releasing under-developed, faulty gear/software/firmware. what truly drives this is the need to keep up with competing companies, the desire to save money on testing, and the desire to make more money sooner. how is any of that the consumer's fault? the companies put the pressure on themselves to release a product as soon as possible.

[bentley]

Had an issue with my Alpha Link AX that cropped up a few months after purchase and it was sorted promptly and without question. Turned out to be a power supply issue if I recall.

[elambo]

Originally Posted by T_R_S

I got an SSL Alphalink sent to me with faulty firmware.

What was SSL's response when you told them about the issue? What has been done so far?

[leebridges]

Originally Posted by leebridges

i don't think it's the consumer's fault for wanting a full-featured product. people are always anxious to get what they desire...whether they have engineering degrees or not.

i think the companies are the only identities responsible for releasing under-developed, faulty gear/software/firmware. what truly drives this is the need to keep up with competing companies, the desire to save money on testing, and the desire to make more money sooner. how is any of that the consumer's fault? the companies put the pressure on themselves to release a product as soon as possible.

i should have also added that i have no experience with faulty ssl products. my only experience with ssl is their analog consoles....so, i wasn't trying to bash ssl....not at all. i love ssl.

also, i'm sorry to post off topic.

i'm curious as well to know if you contacted ssl about the problems you had, and what was done if you did contact them.

[C Heat]

lee
MySpace.com - lee bridges - 24 - Male - Nashville, Tennessee - www.myspace.com/leebridges

My Discography (click on "Credits")

Wow Lee. Some nice credits there man

[Jim@SSL]

Originally Posted by elambo

What was SSL's response when you told them about the issue? What has been done so far?

Feel free to PM me T_R_S if you need some help.

Your regular positive comments about SSL products in the forum are greatly appreciated.

[leebridges]

Originally Posted by C Heat

Wow Lee. Some nice credits there man

thanks!

[rsandifer]

Lee I suppose it looks like I was completely calling the consumer out on my post. It was said more tongue in cheek and referring to them being a small percentage. Like I said I have been on both ends of the issue. Of course it is the manufacturers primary fault. Many people, including myself, are amazed when something new arrives. I have never thought of what a product didnt do. I was always surprised and absolutely in love with what it does now....LOL

I was at a studio some years ago and the studio owner was complaining about a channel not working. I was sitting there thinking how great it was to be able to mix on a *** console and it must be nice to be able to afford one of these amazing pieces of equipment. Of course you can insert whatever high-end console in place of the *** because I have heard all of the complaints over the last 25 or so years. Some manufacturers take pride in what they produce. They are out there and sometimes something slips.

BTW....I actually got excited seeing that a guy from SSL actually posted in this thread. You should see what happens when a new piece of gear comes in.....working, buggy or with missing parts. I still get excited ;)

[T_R_S]

I sent it back for replacement
Lets hope it does not take 7 months like X Logic channel took to get it repaired.