SSL X-Desk

[jindrich]

Rather than a lost post on page 30 of this old thread, I opened a new one to discuss the matter. See it here:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-mu...ml#post5896777

[HDaudioCoyote]

yeah as a small format submixer it really make sense! esp with the additional line inputs

[madhermit]

Please: eight channels like the main unit, and four stereo channels in place of the center section.

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

exactly!

+1!

[roc]

metering we need metering .

[NoEgo]

Why is it that so many people are saying ...this desk is so clean....I don't know why you would own one? Get Neve, API, ....
I would probably buy a Matrix or an AWS but I have a colour board right now.
I have the Neve,Tube etc. , sounds in my rack in my preamps.

There is just something so in your face and all there about the SSL sound. At least from what I have heard with my XDesk. . I recorded a standup bass and wholly crap. It was so on that it was like I was in front of it...I am using the XDesk as a side car to my 32 channel board of colour....(I won't name or cut down competition) but when I ran the acoustic tracks, recorded with Tube mic and iron, SS mics tube...didn't matter.... it was just so amazing the detail even in a little desk like this. I get to build a palette instead of stuck with just one.
Maybe it's just that I love a natural acoustic sound. I dunno.
Lou

[BanuMusic]

Hi, this is a question for all X-Desk users as well as Jim@SSL.

I'm seriously considering this desk as the new centre section of my small studio. This would perfectly answer my needs. I like to mix in a hybrid way, and this desk gives me just enough options. Right now I'm using an old Tac Matchless desk, which is just to big and needs to much maintenance.

I went to a big store in Germany to check out the desk. I was kind of disappointed with the quality of the pots and faders. The pots had a lot of clicks in them (instead of just one in the centre position!) and the faders felt too light. They had just no resistance at all, in a bad way. I had expected the desk to feel solid and pro. Instead this felt not expensive at all.

Now I'm wondering if this was just because this particular one had been in demo too long, or if the desk will feel just like that when I buy one new. How does a new one feel? Does it feel solid?
This is really my only complaint and I have to make sure before I get one.

Thnx a lot!

[divingduck]

Originally Posted by BanuMusic

Hi, this is a question for all X-Desk users as well as Jim@SSL.

I went to a big store in Germany to check out the desk. I was kind of disappointed with the quality of the pots and faders. The pots had a lot of clicks in them (instead of just one in the centre position!) and the faders felt too light. They had just no resistance at all, in a bad way. I had expected the desk to feel solid and pro. Instead this felt not expensive at all.

Now I'm wondering if this was just because this particular one had been in demo too long, or if the desk will feel just like that when I buy one new. How does a new one feel? Does it feel solid?
This is really my only complaint and I have to make sure before I get one.

Thnx a lot!

No clicks on my pots - all smooth. The faders are pretty light, but it's a matter of taste if that's ok for you.

Enjoying mine! And the Dsub I/O was a breeze setting up with a Dsub patchbay.

Pete

[BanuMusic]

Originally Posted by divingduck

No clicks on my pots - all smooth. The faders are pretty light, but it's a matter of taste if that's ok for you.

Enjoying mine! And the Dsub I/O was a breeze setting up with a Dsub patchbay.

Pete

thnx for your reply. so these faders feel that light.. does anyone know how this compares to the bigger ssl consoles?

What patchbay are you using? I already have a couple of good quality tt patchpays, but it still would require a lot of soldering..

[divingduck]

Originally Posted by BanuMusic

thnx for your reply. so these faders feel that light.. does anyone know how this compares to the bigger ssl consoles?

What patchbay are you using? I already have a couple of good quality tt patchpays, but it still would require a lot of soldering..

I use a mini-shorti TT patchbay. No complaints there whatsoever.

My SSL big-console experience is pretty limited, and then with motorised faders, so different feel altogether.

Cheers.

[quadrafunk]

The pots on mine are fine. Yes, the faders are really light. I leave mine at unity, so they never get moved. I run stems out for summing.

[NoEgo]

No issues on mine. Yes they are real light the faders compared to my large board, the headroom is unreal though and the clarity. I am toying with getting a Matrix but I find it's limited in faders that's all. I have a Toft 32 channel that I use mainly and the XDesk is beautiful for small acoustic stuff. When I run LA2A's or Neve like colour through it you can really hear what the preamps and compressors sound like. With colour boards it's kind of a one trick pony. I wouldn't think it would be odd to cascade 3 of these XDesk units to be honest.
If you buy external preamps and compressors, eq's which I have been for years, then it's the perfect approach.

[Jim@SSL]

Originally Posted by BanuMusic

Hi, this is a question for all X-Desk users as well as Jim@SSL.

I went to a big store in Germany to check out the desk. I was kind of disappointed with the quality of the pots and faders. The pots had a lot of clicks in them (instead of just one in the centre position!) and the faders felt too light. They had just no resistance at all, in a bad way. I had expected the desk to feel solid and pro. Instead this felt not expensive at all.

Faders are relatively light (I like them like that) and have no motors/damping to provide resistance.

Pots shouldn't have any clicks or stops.

[-TheFrog-]

Originally Posted by salvator

TO OTHER USERS : how do you like the talkback ?

Salvator

I have Presonus Central Station only for that (and running shit boxes). I much prefer it for headphone sends and talkback.

Plus, the signal i send to it can be from an alternate mix bus to cater to more-me syndrome.

[BanuMusic]

Originally Posted by Jim@SSL

Faders are relatively light (I like them like that) and have no motors/damping to provide resistance.

Pots shouldn't have any clicks or stops.

Thanx to all who replied. The faders will be something I have to get used to. I'm getting one in a couple of weeks as soon as I ditched my TAC.
I'm going to get everything out of this little thing that's possible and then search for new ways to use it. I'll let you know!

[divingduck]

Originally Posted by BanuMusic

Thanx to all who replied. The faders will be something I have to get used to. I'm getting one in a couple of weeks as soon as I ditched my TAC.
I'm going to get everything out of this little thing that's possible and then search for new ways to use it. I'll let you know!

Its good, and flexible, I think you'll be happy.

[T. Morgan]

I've been very pleased with my X-Desk....the faders do feel light, but so do the faders on an API 1608.

[Veseli]

I got used to faders very quickly. And frankly, I don't drive them much once level is obtained as most of automation comes from ProTools anyway.
Knobs are smooth, nice resistance, not indented, except zero central position on pans and gains/volumes.
Sound is open and clean, excellent for inserting external color boxes, tape FX, line drivers, preamps etc.

[Dog_Chao_Chao]

Im thinking if I should go for 2 x.desk plus x patch or a matrix. I already have a monitor system, I already have a daw controller, a lot of preamps,eqs,comps,reverbs,etc... What would I be really missing with the desk+x patch route?
Also, dont you think both options are limited in terms of integrating reverbs and fx? I have 3 stereo outboard reverbs, 2 tape delays, just to start...
My main goal here is to use all my outboard in the analog domain and sum there...maybe organize all the patching, as a bonus.
I know I could just get a summing box...

[Veseli]

Well, X-desk is pretty versatile little monster. Currently I sum 22 channels into it.
Beside its 16 plus 2 stereo returns I use Cue input from its D-Sub connection dedicated for X-Rack (it took some internet reading to find right ones)
to connect my external reverb unit outputs using its digital spdif inputs to send to it directly from ProTools. It also possible to send from first 8 direct outs or first 8 insert sends which are active all the time.
More return is possible via same X-rack inputs or X-desk link D-Sub connectors directly to master bus or cue bus.
I use standard Samson patch 96 points.

[Deuce 225]

Originally Posted by Veseli

....Beside its 16 plus 2 stereo returns I use Cue input from its D-Sub connection dedicated for X-Rack (it took some internet reading to find right ones) to connect my external reverb unit outputs using its digital spdif inputs to send to it directly from ProTools...

Vesili,

Can you explain in more detail how you used the X-Rack connection to connect to your reverb units? What exact cabling and signal flow are you using? What are the benefits?

Thanks,

Tim Cochran

[Veseli]

I use D-Sub 25 / TRS balanced Digidesign Cables I got for my SSL XLogic Alpha-Link AX. So its 8 channels per one D-Sub normally.
Basicly all cables wired in Tascam standard I think works.

Simply on X DESK LINK IN I looked what channel numbers are for Cue Bus Link (cables 3-4) and connected output of my reverb to that so it pass directly to Cue Buss (before Cue master volume).
Reverb volume (mix) I control on its own output volume knob and its input is connected via SPDIF to digital out from ProTools so I can send whatever track from session so sends are saved within PT session.

The X-RACK EXPANSION is same, but it goes directly to master bus I don't have its layout here with me but its not hard to figure out what pin do what if you need to employ it to submix more channels.

I also connected all insert returns to my patchbay so I can monitor preamp for example by pressing insert button on first 8 channels on X-Desk while tracking.
Also very useful to have it on patchbay.

[Deuce 225]

Originally Posted by Veseli

I use D-Sub 25 / TRS balanced Digidesign Cables I got for my SSL XLogic Alpha-Link AX. So its 8 channels per one D-Sub normally.
Basicly all cables wired in Tascam standard I think works.

Simply on X DESK LINK IN I looked what channel numbers are for Cue Bus Link (cables 3-4) and connected output of my reverb to that so it pass directly to Cue Buss (before Cue master volume).
Reverb volume (mix) I control on its own output volume knob and its input is connected via SPDIF to digital out from ProTools so I can send whatever track from session so sends are saved within PT session.

The X-RACK EXPANSION is same, but it goes directly to master bus I don't have its layout here with me but its not hard to figure out what pin do what if you need to employ it to submix more channels.

I also connected all insert returns to my patchbay so I can monitor preamp for example by pressing insert button on first 8 channels on X-Desk while tracking.
Also very useful to have it on patchbay.

Thanks Vesili !

[jurek]

Originally Posted by frenzy

Hi everybody!

I'm a technical writer for two magazines and I received the X-desk two days ago for review.

Here's my first impressions:

PROS

* Excellent sound. Open, defined, wide stereo image, punchy.

* Compared to In-The-box mixing it adds definition and stability to the mix and maybe just a tad of extra midrange and treble which helps the overall sound.

* Good or bad, no detectable coloration of the lowend.

* Pushing the mix buss makes the console break up in a modern way keep more transients than a vintage console would. So the sound doesn't become very saturated.

* Overall good functionality for a small-sized recording studio. It's possible to make a simple headphone mix with the help of the Stereo Cue Sends. Later when mixing it's possible to use the same knobs to input eight alternative inputs. Smart, if you ask me.


CONS

* Poor documentation. Hopefully SSL are working on a flow charts and descriptions of all controls. It's not rocket science to figure out the functionality, but a product from SSL and costing what it cost should come with proper documentation.

* The headphone output doesn't have the same sound quality as the monitor and main outputs. Compared to the headphone outputs of my Central Station, which are rather good, the SSL doesn't have the same depth or punch. It's ok for recording purposes sending a headphone mix to the singer, but it's not good enough for checking mixes. SSL should have made it better considering the price.

* The talkback mic sounds like a long-distant call. Especially in comparison with the talkback mic on my Central Station which sound much more open and defined. Talkback mics doesn't have to sound like crap. An external talkback mic connection would have been useful.

Regarding the build quality I think it feels pretty good. I have no complaints about the faders being easily moved because they still feel professional. The knobs also feel ok. Setting all the Alternative inputs via maxed Cue stereo knobs produces a perfectly match signal level on the outputs. Good work, SSL!

Is it worth the money? Well, if you need a monitor control and a twenty channel mixer with the possibility of inserting outboard, then yes. If you just need a good summing mixer then SSL X-desk faces stiffer competition.


Cheers
Frederick
Studio

My setup is RME Aio and Presonus Central Station - just to say what is the starting point. I don't want to say that i made a kind of professional test - just comparing one by one my mixes to SSL X-Desk.

I have been testing this unit a week and still in use. I must say that i haven't so big expectations.

First i have send the stereo sum to the SSL / Then the same signal to Presonus Central Station.

The first sound impression was just amazing. I was totally suprised the "kind" of this sound. The first thing is so much low end. I have just bought a pair of ADAMs S3X lately and they started just breathing in my face from its bass reflex pipes ))) Really! ADAMs started sound just very different, more in wide range of frequencies, wide and let's say "open" sounded. Of course all i say is totally subjective BUT this was very clear experience.

Switching to Presonus and the low gone! No breathing everything sounds like a compression and more hyped in highs and mids. Very big difference.

The sound of SSL X-Desk is much dynamic then sound from Presonus CS.

I haven't got an experience with high quality analogue mixing desks before and i have been mixing my music in digital mode (Yamaha) and ITB but i can say that product is just for the people like me.

So i have bought mine