AES 2019: Solid State Logic Preview ORIGIN – Next Generation Analogue Studio Console
by The Press Desk   16th October 2019

Looks like a great desk. Still rocking the 4000G here, if I didnt have it I might consider buying the Origin. I hope the quality is on par with the older desks.

VU meters would have been very nice on this on.

Good job SSL in closing the gap.

Wot no TR

Old heads will get it...

They have a ways to go with this before i could ever consider buying this. If you are using this as a summer for your DAW session, which is what i believe home theater /small studios are interested in, then this falls short.

1. Lots of folks want to get outside of the software compressors/eqs and into hardware, to get that sound that can only be achieve by hardware. I thought this was the main point of this mixing desk. No compression on the individual channel strip is a joke. Why build a desk with only pre-amp and eq? They should have at least left the option open for folks to add compression later. I originally got really excited until I found out about this. Plugin compressors don't even compare in terms of sound quality and character that the hardware brings. The SSL compressor is a part of the legendary SSL sound(Not just the eq) and not having it in the chain or option to expand later is ridiculous at this price point in my opinion. I would not invest without atleast the option to expand this

If i wanted to expand and add hardware compression then i would need outboard gear to do so. That goes against the concept of having it all nice and neatly compacted into a desk, which is a major selling point of this console. So i'm not really getting who this desk is for???

2. No recall is absolutely a show stopper for me. What people are looking for today is the full analog sound but with easy workflow/DAW integration that old consoles didn't offer. This product is lacking on both the analog and digital workflow side and its weird in my opinion as its only half an analog console(Missing compressors) and don't offer much in terms of automation, recall, DAW integration for improved workflow.

So my big question is who is this desk really for as i cant find a fit for any type of scenario????

SSL bills it as a tracking console, which it’s certainly capable of doing. For automated faders just add a Sigma, or two if you need more. For recalls these days, most people just print the individual channels back to DAW.

A very well known producer/engineer I know has an SSL 4000. He doesn’t bother with the SSL’s automation or recall. He uses Sigma for automating faders.

The ability to upgrade with comps would nice but would make the desk deeper, making comb filtering more of an issue.

The only fault I could find with Origin is a lack of DAW control. I’d be surprised if they didn’t come up with center section DAW controller at some point. I saw the desk at NAMM and drooled.

Ok I got it. I thought I heard otherwise when watching some of the videos on youtube. I'm not at the point where i would spend $50,000 just for tracking. Also i can build a non-compact 32 channel tracking system with better pres, transformers, for under $20,000 including the mixer.

I think alot of people when they first see this mixer are thinking analog summing. I love the tight daw integration/workflow and full analog sound that the Neve Genesys black has to offer, however:

1. Its too pricey.
$50,000 ----> for only 8 channels analog summing/tracking
$90,000 ----> for 32 channels analog summing/8 channels tracking.

2. I much prefer the SSL sound for mixing.

I was hoping that SSL would do something similar to what Neve did with the genesys but at a slightly better price point.

Gabbimark, if you like the features on the Neve genysys black but the SSL, this board would go from 50k to 100k most likely. After reading your two posts, the issue is you want all the extra bits but still for 50k. It is not going to happen, how do you think a company to keep going by making zero profit? You need to be realistic with your expectations. at 50K this console is amazing, also the neve genysys full loaded with what it can do is also amazing. Things are cheaper now than back in the day.

Ariel, I don't agree with your statement. This is 2020. I believe SSL can manufacture, assemble and test a 32 channel board with compression for under 20K, not including engineering design and software/firmware design costs. Imagine SSL selling a similar product like the Neve genysis black for 50 - 60k. The demand for these would sky rocket, and they would probably make alot more money than producing solutions that are outside the budget of most studios that want that classic SSL sound integrated into their current daw workflow.

My main issue is that there are outboard gear options for tracking with better quality and for a much cheaper price than this solution. Now if this were a proper analogue summing device with good daw integration, then it would make more sense for me.

I really love what SSL did with their Duality models however, this is way out of reach for my small studio.

Gabbimark, all I can say is that your most likely ignorant of what price point a company needs to sell something in order to keep going to pay for it's facility, designers, office staff etc. This is not consumer audio, this is a niche market.

Fadi Hayek said that they're a much bigger company now which enables them to do something like the Origin. They're only getting bigger especially now that they're doing more prosumer stuff like the SiX. That factory in China is going to get bigger so who knows what the future will bring.

I don't give a flying f*ck if it's made in China as long as quality control is up to snuff. What makes Chinese hands different than British?

It's the snobby aspect that gets in the way of things.

So fingers corssed for that 32 channel full blown modern SSL 4000E with automation at 25K/30K and in a bit smaller scale for the project studio? VU meters baby, no skimping on that!

hands? lol, it's a highly automated process...

...and with that, chances that the knowhow gets illegally 'transferred' are rather high: your dreams regarding prices/features, i'm sure you can get a chinese rip-off for a quarter of the price! if ssl however would do what you suggest, they 'd never sell a single origin again...

oh, and there is a difference in that the few hands still needed in the sweatshop make vastly less money. and that the gear needs to be sent around the globe. and that with every yuan spent, you're helping an autocratic regime etc. and the rest go to a tax havan - sorry, the was the sweatshop around the corner of german ownership...

So I guess they missed the boat?

Chinese made SSL 4000E series consoles with automation at 25k would sell like hotcakes and eventually would make them more money than being in the niche market. Lose the name like Origin or I don't know "old school" and keep the old name.

Then again they would lose the high end badge. Behringer versions of the classics...

i do think they missed the mark...

...but for other reasons: the lack of features which would suit my needs! but no, making it more cheap wouldn't do (nor would a copy of the old 4k's).

could be though that they could sell more desks if they'd offer small to medium desks with features which amek, dda, midas, studer, calrec, cadac, soundcraft, a&h, yamaha etc. already had 30 years ago... - hint: more auxes/buses/matrices/vca's, stereo channels, multiple/surround masters etc. :-)

Armchair philosophy aside, no one here knows better that SSL how to market and price their product. The brand stands for something and either you respect that and pay for it, or figure some years in to have nasty surprises.......Global economy is a reality, get used to it. Good design and execution is what makes great sound.

Are you saying that anyone who doesn’t have an SSL will have “nasty surprises”?

They do offer that https://www.solidstatelogic.com/stud...centre_section

And, there are of course also very flexible insert points on each channel.


I think the prices of the X-Rack modules are pretty fair. Or do you know any SSL console with the features you want which are cheaper than an Origin would be if you add those features?

I think of this is an even bigger and more flexible version of X-Desk and XL-Desk, which (depending on their configurations) are great for tracking, routing and monitoring. Then you can also use them for setting up a basic balance of a mix if you want, but do all the "tricky adjustments" ITB. It might not be for everyone, but since SSL already had similar (but smaller) products out for a long time, one could guess that they probably know that there are a lot of people who wants this.

There are also other companies who sell similar products, e.g. Trident and Audient, thus I suppose there is a market for it

Just saw this on Instagram. Blackbird is installing Number 1 in Studio F.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Hj3N2B...=1xtd46peo44ls

I was wondering who was going to be the first to pull the trigger on one of these. That's a good endorsement if Blackbird are putting one in, considering the caliber of the other desk they have in their studios. On a side note, it's a lot more compact than I thought too.

So.....SSL w/ MIDI controllers and a monitor?

Even if that's all it is, it actually looks really designed, I'm assuming that keyboard isn't hard-wired to that spot and it's just a off-brand keyboard placed there, for long editing sessions you can't be crapped up learning over like that,

OK, I haven't checked into what it actually IS yet, so I'll have some fun and see if I can guess what it is...or what it SHOULD be.

1. Don't go full SLATE Raven-tard. I'll assume they learned from the mistakes of others, and this isn't some kind of DAW/Computer/controller/hardware abomination. The software side of the business moves too fast, and too ugly, STAY OUT of that end, a screen that can be folded down into a stand for laptops is as much as they should do on that end.

2. Don't make this an audio interface. That's another "Disposable" end of the business, have some rack slots for people to put their ADAT expandable interfaces in.

3. I can see the benefit of having each channel and bus be ADAT routable if someone was to buy this, then need to sink another $10,000 on ADAT converters, that would be prohibitive, so I'm going to assume there will be converters in this thing, for sending the various outs via digital. OK, all I can say is this. MAKE THEM SWAPPABLE so a tech could update the chips easily.

And THAT is what I assume this thing is....now to go find out the truth.

Nope! Just and old school analog console. Here.... I save you the trouble.....https://www.solidstatelogic.com/products/origin

…. and that's the truth!

Wow it's small. I thought my 4032 4k was. Maybe the meter bridge size is giving that vibe? Sexy nevertheless. A used duality will be in its price point soon I bet.

For the life of me, I still don’t understand why they don’t do something like this, but with a dual x-rack penthouse and automatable faders.

Then you can just build your own console as you go, but it would be housed properly.

Maybe more profit not to do that?

Significantly higher cost per channel for the user, physical XLR I/O per X-Rack module makes it it impossible without lots of short patch cables round the back. We’d make the same %age profit, but fewer people would buy it because it was inelegant and too expensive

Yeah, I remember reading that cost per channel would be more expensive than doing it on the whole card, and I read the thread where it was approaching/greater than the cost of the AWS.

Like you said though, fewer people would buy it, which I guess wouldn’t make sense for SSL, but I have to wonder if there just wouldn’t be another market segment that would buy it, and the other products would satisfy the requirements they already do.

I can only speak personally, of course, but it’s the one product I’ve been waiting on forever and would buy it in a heartbeat.

Regarding cost, I figure the only solution to getting what I want is to do it in the x rack format by buying the individual modules anyway, so I’m going to be spending the money either way. Might as well get it in a nicer looking package that adds some functionality.

But from what I’ve gathered from user feedback (informal of course, just my interpretation), is that people would still be interested.

Because you could spread the cost out over time, so even if it costs more in the long run, it would be worth it to the user.

(FYI, I know the pain of the patching; I have 8 channels of x rack pre+comp+eq all patched with those mini cables, and boy does it look a mess! Sounds awesome though!)

Was thinking a solution would be sort of akin to how the Radial workhorse allows you to link channels without cabling. But I suppose that’s off the card and not the xlr.

Anyways, here’s to hoping. In the meantime, I’ll keep trudging along, building up the x-racks.

Hi all,
I just spent a day with an Origin, testing it at the Benelux importer.
Fine desk as far as I'm concerned. Am seriously considering one, and currently in talks with the importer.

I am finishing off a new studio complex here, with a fairly large live room (60m2 and 5m ceiling), and will be doing a variation of tracking sessions from small ensembles, jazz, big band, singer song writer to more band based stuff. I have two music schools as future clients, which also do recording technique etc. The Origin would serve as my main tracking system, and with a choice of extra pre's for flavouring. Two 500 series chassis with outboard, complementing the rest of the outboard.
flexible bussing, routing, and dual inserts, plus option to automate via the Sigma in future if needed.
Sitting behind it for a day doing some test runs was nice. No fiddling with mouse, build a nice static mix, complemented with ITB automation and flavoring if needed.

As I am in no need for continuous recalls for most projects, de desk ticks all boxes for my needs. If all goes according to plan, come september it should be installed.
Fingers crossed

Audient has full eq, dynamics, and DAW control. It would be the better choice for a studio. Otherwise, get a used 4000G or 948. Dr Dre would be terribly angry when he reaches for eq and dynamics and only finds a send knob masquerading as such.

So... Has anyone actually bought one? Comments / reviews?

Blackbird Studios & Abbey Road Institute in Florida.

Yup.. as posted elsewhere.
Got mine yesterday! Ohboyohboyohboy

Need to hook it up, will def report back asap!

Edit: for the number crunchers, mine is sn 87 ?

Potentially me. I have a console now, but it only has 4 stereo groups. I want more.
I have outboard.
I have mic pres.

-how many people here have 50k to spend on this right now?
I am fortunate enough to have the $ at the moment

-if you do, are there any other choices that you are considering at this moment?
I have considered many. I really want 8 or more stereo groups.
-Ruper Neve 5088
Things I like:
Modularity, add buckets of 16
Penthouse modularity (I wouldn't want it, I use outboard)
Stereo channels

Things I don't like:
4 stereo groups (not 8)
No insert switches on the channels

API 1608
Things I like:
EQ can be left out (I would use outboard)

Things I don't like:
4 stereo groups (not 8)
32 channels max

Neve Custom 75
Things I like:
EQ

Things I don't like:
4 stereo groups (not 8)
7 aux sends. Only 1 set of stereo aux sends at a time.
Inline.

Neve Genesis Black
Things I don't like:
4 stereo groups (not 8)

API 2448 (vinage)
Things I like:
Everything?

Things I don't like:
Some don't have dedicated group returns
Too rich for my blood

I'm sure there are some I am forgetting.

-wouldn't it be better to spend 50k on something with more functionality?
Like?
This thing has the 8 stereo groups I covent. Balanced inserts for my outboard. 32 channels for my converter outs.

-how much better does it sound against an old midas heritage console?..or in a digital direction..a pro2?
I would imagine. I want to hear one and find out. But I have to factor in the world-class service SSL provides.


I too think about the potential client reaction of SSL vs what I have now (Wheatstone... 'a what?')


I've never encountered an Audient face to face. I don't think it would sell my room any better than what I have.

The 24 busses have 4 stereo dedicated returns? That seems kind of kludgy to me. Odd console, IMO.


I figure, if I miss it, I can do automation with the Sigma. I have about 18 channels of dynamics that I guess I would prefer to what would be put in a console to make it at this price point.

Yep.

I already have the outboard, so, this design works for me. Plus, it has a HPF, which is all I tend to use anyway. I often have done it already on the mic pre side, at times.

The desk does have effects returns, but for me, I have always brought effects back to channels. Once in a blue moon I send them as part of a stereo group, and, I have my full EQ.

My current console is 40 channels, 24 mono, 8 stereo. I use 33-40 as effects returns. My 32 converter outputs are normalled to line inputs 1-32 on the console.

I agree. Keep it analog. I don't want to deal with firmware updates on my console.

It is a nice feature that each fader can be bypssed and set to unity gain for using it aw a massively routeable summing mixer. Smart, IMO.

I was planning to use it after the processor, before the insert return. Wouldd that not negate the waste of an insert phenomenon you present?

I hope this reply gets the thread going again. I would love to hear from any LA sluts with a commercial room with an Origin in there, and tell us how she is treating you.