| Solid State Logic E Signature Channel Details
SSL's E-Signature Channel gives you the legendary sound of the SL 4000E console in a single rackspace! The XLogic E Signature Channel delivers a front end with the versatility and flexibility to capture and enhance any musical performance that needs a distinctive 'vintage' character. Throughout the '80s, Solid State Logic's SL 4000E console was responsible for percussion tracks that jumped out of speakers - a sound found on records ranging from Phil Collins to Skid Row. More recently, Radio Head purchased 4 "E Signature Channels" to capture the classic SSL sound when performing live and tracking to their DAW.
Selectable Transformer
The XLogic E Signature Channel brings the classic sound of the original early 80s E Series console to the outboard rack of today's artists and producers. The E Signature Channel delivers the choice of selectable transformer driven or Variable Harmonic Drive (VHD) mic preamps. The new E Signature Channel uses modern discrete electronic circuits to emulate components that are long obsolete, such as the original E Series 'Class A' VCAs.
The Input section contains two completely independent mic preamps together with an electronically balanced line input with its own gain control. The primary Mic preamp is a classic transformer coupled design using the same Jensen component as the original E-Series channel strips. The second option is engaged via the ON switch. This replaces the original preamp with a brand new Super Analogue electronically balanced design with SSL's unique variable harmonic drive circuitry. This unique preamp precisely emulates the overload characteristics of a traditional valve/tube design but with the ability to tailor the warmth or musicality via the DRIVE control. This shapes the overload curve to provide a user-controlled blend of 2nd or 3rd harmonic distortion. Both preamps share a passive front end with a switchable 20dB Input Pad and phantom powering.
Class A VCA Dynamics
The dynamics section returns faithfully to circuit and key components which defined the characteristic sound of the original E-Series channel strip and which was lost in subsequent versions of the design when both the VCA and converter were replaced, subtly altering the characteristic of the circuit. A true RMS converter is used in the side chain and the gain element is an all-discrete design identical to circuit of the Class A VCA chip used in the original unit. The compressor contains additional switching options to defeat the over easy curve and to use a linear release instead of the more usual logarithmic curve. The result is a compressor with three distinct voicings, all of which contributed to the many classic records tracked and mixed on early E-Series consoles.
SSL "Listen Mic' Compressor
The SSL Listen Mic Compressor was the secret weapon in many producers sonic arsenal of recording techniques. Originally designed to prevent overloading the return feed from a studio communications mic, its fixed attack and release curves were eminently suitable for use on ambient drums mics. Of course, we'd like to take all the credit for this great sound, but as usual, it was the creativity of SSL users that led to the idea. Long-time SSL user Hugh Padgham is credited with the discovery while he was working as an engineer on Peter Gabriel's Intruder at Townhouse Studios. Whilst searching for a great drum sound, Padgham had engaged the Listen Mic Compressor in order to hear talkback from Phil Collins behind the drum kit. The resulting drum tone was exactly what they had been looking for. Overnight, the console was hastily rewired by Chris Jenkins, chief-engineer at the Townhouse (and now director of commercial applications at SSL!), to allow the drums to be put to tape through the Listen Mic Compressor. The result was a classic drum sound that can be heard on tracks as diverse as Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight through to the eponymous debut of US hair-metallers Skid Row
SSL E-Series EQ Brown and Black Knob Profiles
The EQ section defaults to the original 'Brown' Knob circuit that was standard on all early production E Series consoles. The two parametric mid band sections feature SSL's classic logarithmically symmetric design that ensures that the 3dB down points retain the same musical interval from the center frEQuency regardless of frEQuency and amplitude settings. The two shelving sections are traditional 6dB/octave designs with an option for a fixed Q parametric response
(Bell). The high and low pass filter sections feature 12dB/octave slopes. The '02' EQ, to give it its correct name, was used on countless recordings and mixes in the early eighties. It is offered here incorporating a switchable version of a field modification that was carried out on a number of consoles. The CT OUT switch defeats the inherent non-interactive nature of the design and introduces subtle control interactions similar to those found on earlier parametric units. It also offers a different gain law with increased resolution in the critical initial boost or cut area, this can be selected individually for each band. In 1983 a new version of EQ was developed in conjunction with the legendary George Martin for the first SSL console to be installed in AIR studios. The Black Knob EQ, as it became known, features enhanced cut and boost ranges together with a different control law as well as a steeper 18dB/octave high pass filter for tighter control of low frEQuencies. It is this design which is retained today as the E Series EQ option of the 9000 series and XLogic Channel Strip however it is enhanced in this version via the CT OUT option for additional tonal variations.
Optional 192kHz A/D Card
For the ultimate DAW front end, you can the optional card, a high quality A/D converter that provides 24-bit resolution output at sample frequencies up to 192kHz. The XLogic ADC Card plugs into an
expansion socket on the rear of the XLogic E Signature Channel.
Solid State Logic E Signature Channel Features
- Selectable Transformer, or Variable Harmonic Distortion (VHD) Mic Amps
- Class A VCA Dynamics processing
- Renowned SSL "Listen Mic' Compressor
- SSL E-Series Brown and Black knob EQ profiles
- Patch-free processor order configuration: Channel routing options provide simple access to a vast range of advanced dynamics and EQ
processing configurations, with additional option for dynamics side chain processing.
- The Dynamics 'PRE EQ' option in conjunction with the Filter's 'INPUT' switch configure the dynamics signal flow options for the channel path.
- Optional 192kHz ADC card.
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