Solid State Logic SSL Pure Drive Octo 8-Channel Microphone Preamplifier

The SSL Pure Drive Octo harnesses Solid State Logic's renowned SuperAnalogue PureDrive microphone preamp technology, originally featured in the ORIGIN console. This advanced unit has a DRIVE mode, comprehensive connectivity, and state-of-the-art digital conversion, all within a compact 8-channel 2U rackmount format.

3 Drive Flavours, 1 Mic Pre

Each of PURE DRIVE OCTO's mic pre's can be independently switched between three distinct DRIVE modes: Clean, Classic Drive, and Asymmetric Drive.
- Clean mode delivers the highly regarded, ultra-low noise floor, linear SSL preamp that is recognised for its ability to faithfully capture the sound of the source with exceptional clarity and detail.
- Classic Drive is the symmetrical mode that generates predominantly odd harmonics; the same drive sound found on the ORIGIN console.
- Asymmetric Drive offers up a colouration option, specifically designed for the PURE DRIVE range, making the even harmonic content dominant and providing more pronounced thickness, colouration and softening of transients.

Analogue Obsession

PURE DRIVE OCTO continues SSL’s obsession for progressive analogue circuit design with high performance mic preamps, evolved from SSL's acclaimed VHD (Variable Harmonic Drive) technology. (VHD™ (Variable Harmonic Drive) was introduced in the SuperAnalogue Duality large-format console in 2006, featuring an innovative FET-based circuit that provides a range of colouration options from 'valve warmth' to… read more 'transistor grit'.) In addition, PURE DRIVE OCTO features balanced analogue outputs/insert sends for external processing, as well as high headroom insert returns/ADC inputs with +24 dBu A/D line-up level. No electro-mechanical components such as potentiometers, mechanical switches or relays are used in the critical audio signal path which increases product longevity and results in impeccable level matching across all channels. The use of digitally controlled analogue circuits, along with by stepped pots and electronic switches further simplifies recall and precision of settings.

Extensive Connectivity

PURE DRIVE OCTO features extensive connectivity, opening up a world of possibilities; whether you're tracking a band in a world-class recording studio, looking to expand your home studio setup or even going out on tour, PURE DRIVE has you covered with an array of options to best suit your needs. It can also be used to add analogue warmth to stems by running DAW stems through it, using the line-level inputs. Furthermore, an integrated USB audio interface allows you to record directly into your DAW, via cutting-edge 32-bit/192 kHz conversion. Or, use the AES and ADAT outputs to connect to your existing audio interface. The AES and ADAT outputs can also be individually re-purposed to be fed from the on-board USB audio interface (as outputs from your DAW). To round out the digital side of things, there is an auto-ranging word clock input and output for robust digital clocking.

Features:

- 8 high-performance PureDrive mic preamps
- +48V phantom power, polarity invert and 3rd order hi-pass filter
- Stepped Gain control up to +65 dB Gain
- 31-step Trim control, with precise 1 dB increments - overdrive the signal with the Gain control and then reduce to a suitable level using Trim.
- 3 modes for each preamp: Clean, Classic Drive, and Asymmetric Drive
- Mic/Line Input Switching: Mic via XLR, Line via choice of TRS Jack or dedicated D-Sub connectivity
- 4 x front panel Hi-Z/DI Instrument unbalanced inputs with automatic input detection
- 4 mic preamp input impedance options - explore tonal possibilities from your dynamic and ribbon microphones
- Balanced analogue outputs/insert sends for external processing
- +24 dBu professional line level insert returns/ADC inputs
- Analogue to digital connectivity via ADAT, AES and USB
- Ability to switch ADAT and AES connections to source audio from DAW outputs (USB) instead of the A/D converter
- USB soundcard mode: OCTO - 8 in / 24 out (@44.1/48 kHz) ; 8 x analogue / 8 AES + 16 ADAT outs
- Stepped pots and digitally controlled analogue electronics for precision, stereo matching and ease of recall
- Up to 192 kHz and 32-bit conversion, professional I/O levels (+24 dBu = 0 dBFS).
- Selectable Auto-Sleep mode
- Auto-ranging Wordclock In and Out

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