New Gear Review: Solid State Logic XL Desk

SSL_XL-DeskSSL's XL Desk is an all-analog console that has 18 slots for 500 Series modules and eight VHD microphone pre-amps in the first eight channels. You get 40 inputs of SuperAnalogue summing (16 main faders + 16 Cue inputs + 4 Stereo channels) and SSL's Stereo bus compressor. There are four stereo mix buses, a monitoring and talkback section and all the professional connection and routing options expected from SSL.

Specifically designed for DAW-centric studios, there is no integrated DAW control and fader level automation, but the XL Desk has 16 dual input mono channel strips switchable between main inputs or DAW returns, and also four stereo channels. There are four main Mix Buses (A, B, C, and D) and buses and channels each have a separate insert points for other processing and/or connection to patch bays.

The desk from SSL will sell for $19,999 and will star in many project/home studios very soon.

solidstatelogic.com/music/xl-desk

Barry Rudolph is a recording engineer/mixer who has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. He has recorded and/or mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs, and more. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and loves teaching audio engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. He is a lifetime Grammy-voting member of NARAS and a contributing editor for Mix Magazinebarryrudolph.com