Just got mine a few days ago. Wanted to make a thread about it because I'm pretty blown away. I did not fully appreciate what I was going to be able to do with it until I started figuring out the SSL 360 software that controls the multitude of routing options for all of the inputs and outputs.

Right now I'm shopping around for an ADAT preamp to utilize the single ADAT input on the interface. I'm curious if anyone has one of these in operation on the 12 yet and if they are still getting low or zero latency monitoring as I am with the 4 built in preamps..?

*edit:
"SSL 12's capabilities are further extended with the power of SSL 360°; an application
hosted on your computer where the powerful SSL 12 Mixer page allows for super low
latency (sub 1 ms) headphone mixes, flexible loopback functionality and customisation
of the 3 user-assignable switches on the front panel."

*edit: the Headphone A and Headphone B outputs can set as line outputs via the 360 software. The interface is effectively 12 inputs and 6 outputs, not 12 in and 8 out.


So I'm making some edits here as I wrap my head around the unit and continue to interpret the user manual...

I've been trying to figure out exactly how far I can get with the 360 software as a low or no-latency monitor mixer for band rehearsal and monitoring recording sessions. This is because I've been shopping for something similar to a Midas DM12 compact analog mixer for this purpose and it's occurred to me that a piece of gear like that is going to be either somewhat or completely redundant now that I've switched to this interface.

So a lot of prosumer usb interfaces achieve zero-latency monitoring by passing the analog inputs through to the analog outs without passing AD/DA conversion. This mean in the past I have treated them as individual preamps with individual analog outputs which then need to be mixed with a separate device for monitoring during recording. The SSL12 is doing it differently. I'm not totally sure that I'm interpreting this right:

(seems like it is saying that its getting you "sub 1 ms" monitor latency by down sampling on the way out... its just way over my head and challenges my understanding of how the AD -> computer -> DA works. It must be cutting the computer out of the deal and doing its own, albeit simplistic, "DSP" of the monitor mix?)

from the manual again:

When I/O Mode is not engaged (SSL 12 Mixer is active) and you are
operating at sample rates of 176.4 or 192 kHz, SSL 12's outputs are
automatically downsampled to 88.2 or 96 kHz in order to preserve the full
mixing capability of the mixer. Other audio interfaces typically limit mixer
capability in the same scenario.
So if you want end-to-end 176.4 or 192 kHz performance, then I/O Mode is a useful
option


TLDR: what do you like the new SSL 12 interface and how are you using it?

Realized my original post didn't really make any sense. So I edited it a bit and then ended up basically just rewriting the whole thing. Probably not the best way to do things here but its how it happened. To my credit for using the search function and to all other users credit, I've been coming to these forums for information for over a year but I've never had to post before because everything else I've wanted to know has already been discussed.

I think the entire SSL line of interfaces are pretty decent given their price point.

Lots of interfaces with a fair amount of I/O options employ some type of dedicated software mixer/routing application. The small latency (near zero) is the result of the audio having to go through the ADC/DAC process. That's how the mixer is able to adjust volumes and panning etc, by employing DSP on a digital signal before passing it to an output. The software sits between the ADC and DAC when using it as a mixer.

SSL lists the latency at 0.98ms at 44.1khz, so definitely fast enough to be reasonably imperceptible for most purposes.

10-4.
where did you find that listing? in the manual it just says monitor mixing <1ms.

That is one way, right? Or round trip?? If that is round trip at 44.1 that's bloody brilliant. Still fast if one way.

From a Sound on Sound review of it
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sour...UdlMmw-GFefwxF

Its a good write up on it, here's the relevant part: "and SSL confirmed that the mixer latency is 0.98ms at 44.1kHz. To my mind that’s a price worth paying for such an elegant mixing utility, but if you do a lot of work with soft synths or you need to monitor input audio through the DAW, it might be worth bearing in mind that working at 96kHz not only brings down latency due to buffering but also reduces the mixer latency to 0.17ms."

It's just the mixer latency for direct monitoring, etc. Round trip through the DAW is more like 7ms.

Mixer latency for monitoring at 96 is 0.17ms? Wow. Nice for reaI instrument/hardware synths recording. Really Nice.

I have a very basic question. If you want to monitor with reverb while recording , what is the right way to do that? I watched the SSL vids where they showed off all of the low latency mixing options, but I never saw them add a reverb. Thanks!

I'm really enjoying the experience of the SSL 12 . For me it is a definite upgrade from the 2+. The 360 app was something I was dreading, thinking oh great an interface that has to deal with a stupid app. But I very quickly shut my stupid mouth, because it's actually excellent to use and has come in handy/convenient a bunch of times already. Being able to adjust the sensitivity of the headphone outs is a godsend!

You would have to set up the reverb in the DAW, enable live monitoring on that track or bus (also in the DAW) and route it to whatever output you want on the interface. Pretty sure that's going to introduce some additional latency but I'm not an expert.


worth mentioning that if you don't run the 360 software the interface still works WYSIWYG

Thanks!

I actually ended up buying an SSL 12 yesterday. First impressions are positive. For my simple home studio it seems like a good solution.