The SSL L500 Plus is a large-format digital live console designed for the most complex applications in touring, installations, events, auditoriums and theaters. Touchscreen and assignable control hardware: the surface of this console combines touchscreen control with assignable control hardware. The SSL Tempest platform itself is the console’s audio engine and uses Optimal Core Processing (OCP) to deliver unmatched efficiency and reliable operation with minimal latency.
The console has 976 inputs and as many outputs and offers the ability to mix 256 paths at 96 kHz. These can be assigned to channels, groups, auxes and masters to meet the demand for mono, stereo or LCR configurations. In addition, effects inserts have their own dynamically allocated processing. A 32 x 36 output matrix also has its own processing and can be split into four smaller matrices.
The local I/O for the FOH engineer and the stageboxes use SSL SuperAnalogue mic preamp technology combined with 24-bit / 96 kHz DACs. The gain, with a precision of more than 16,000 steps, ensures completely smooth control. The console has extensive local I/O options, including SuperAnalogue mic inputs, analog line I/O, monitor and headphone outputs, AES/EBU, MADI, and Blacklight II and Dante connectivity. On top of all this, a fully scalable set of remote live I/O units is available, including analog, AES/EBU digital, MADI and I/O network (Dante) devices; to this is added SSL’s proprietary multi-way MADI connection, Blacklight II.
SSL Live consoles are distinguished by their internal effects rack, which can be accessed through various insert points on channels, busses, auxes, masters and routers. They also feature seven categories of mono, stereo and multichannel audio quality, with low-latency effects designed specifically for live use. The effects rack has its own dedicated processing, which adapts intelligently to scale back the processing as the effects load increases.
The SSL Solsa application, for its part, allows files for the Live console to be created and edited on the user’s own PC. Practically anything you might want to do with a console can be handled with Solsa, including configuring the console’s architecture and organizing the Fader Tile layers and Banks.
The TaCo iOS app provides a wireless tablet for controlling SSL Live consoles. Designed for artists and engineers, the app can be limited to controlling an individual mix or used to control all the mixes from a single screen. Up to ten tablets can be connected simultaneously to provide customization for each performance.
The release of the new SSL Live V3.2 software includes more than twenty additional features and improvements that respond directly to the needs of professional SSL Live console users. One of the new features is integration of the SRC Dante I/O module, which allows connection to a network running at a different sample rate or domain. Dante at 48, 96 and 192 kHz is AES67 compatible. Workflow control has been restructured with a new quick control and a Channel Control Tile screen layout. There are also automatic updates, and a new display optimization has been developed. Rack effects setup has also been improved, and a new Multiband EQ & Dynamics has been added for group mode. In addition, improvements have been made to the console setup pages and Layer Manager.
V3.2 software is free for all SSL console owners.
