SSL Nucleus - official info released
by Jim@SSL   26th October 2010

Just thought i'd update everyone on my nucleus issues..

Purchased the unit in Feb.
Converters failed..couple of v-pots broken. Unit was excessively hot during operation.

Received replacement.
All buttons worked, however converters failed again and heat still an issue.

Just received my third nucleus.
Heat issue reduced dramatically. Converters perfect.
However several buttons, including rewind and ff on the transports controls are damaged. (probably in transit)
They press in but get stuck down.

So frustrated right now, haven't had a perfect unit yet and it has dragged on for months!
Shame because I really do love the Nucleus and what it can do.
Looks like I have to wait for another replacement again! Maybe the fourth one will be all good?

What a shame for such a big name...

Luckily my unit has no such flaws. I`d say an acceptable heat and all my buttons are ok so far.

Only thing where i get no news at all ist my Audio Driver problem where the whole USB part of the unit seems to be not recognized propely. Also if i connect a USB stick into the nucleus hub it gets disconnected all the time.

I am hoping for a software update as soon as possible there. So i can finally activate my spdif passthough, from Pre/In to spdif out without having to actually install the audio device driver as already statet in the manual.

How`s the reputation of SSL regarding regular software updates ? And also has anyone tested the ASIO Performance of the nucleus ? can it compete with RME for example ? I mean the nucleus is basically brand new and in a very high price class so hopefully the performance is up there too.

Just wanted to give my hopes up for some support updates and maybe even upgrades in the future.

Personally if you want a cheaper controller with less features I think the Mackie Controller is still a great option
1. Transport control works great
2. Faders, mute, solo, and lighted pan controls.
3. The ability to customize over 16 buttons to any command you like. Cut, paste, copy, add audio or midi tracks, makers, close a session, save. It's all there.
4. Scribble strips

I have found with controlling plugins that the mouse is the fastest way to work. I had the Houston controller before and though moving the knobs was possible to control plugins, it took longer than just the mouse grab.
I also have an Mackie Extender so I have 16 faders to work with and I am thinking about another extender for 24 faders.

Once you go past the capabilities of the Mackie, the SSL Nuc. is a great option. Since it is missing some monitor controls, a Presonus Central Station or something else like it is still needed though. The Audient Zen meets a lot of these needs with monitoring, routing effects and having group faders, however it fell short with having no scribble strips. I agree the Tascam was a great basic controller if it had scribble strips. True, the quality of the faders were not that great but it was very useable.

I'm still praying to the controller gods for a "Nucleus Lite" controller only. The heat problem that seems to plague a lot of Nucleus units would be nullified if the Nucleus's audio was gotten rid of.....and it would be less expensive.

I just found this: http://www.mackie.com/products/mcupro/index.html Yeah, the Nucleus looks cooler, but as far as a good controller goes it may be a better option for me since I do not need the audio of Nucleus.....and even with the XT 8 fader expansion I'll save over $3,000.

#*#.!! #

the manual is the worst manual ever! same was with xdesk..
SSL crew making great products, but the explanation the practical features doesnt exist.
Exclude supermarket shows in Frankfurt or Namm.
Its great also in short shows like video on SSL site where the nice guy explain the Nucleus pros with speed of Formula One.

This unit should helps me in daily work, and until now, I've spend 15 hours with registering, downloading updates, java applets, plugins (not included in pack) etc. cofigure the ethernet .. Jeesuss!
Horror for 5k $!
The duende registration with comp outside the net is so frustrated. Far away from simply ilok or UA systems.
The Nucleus gui for customize the shortcuts is far away from simplicity.
Guys from SSL please .. we are music producers but no IT professors.

Until now I dont know how to engage in Logic the all 16 tracks on desk.
Only 8 are working.
Am I dummy? Probably yes.


I have to get a little rest from this unit...

I don't think there's a dummy on the planet who own a nucleus .
Your fine just hang in there and it will be worth it .

With Logic make sure your in 32 bit mode because 64 bit is not working yet with Nucleus . To get the other 8 fades working you have to add a mackie control extender in your control surface set up. It took me some time to but I eventually got it .

The company that'll come up with an equivalent of the US-2400 with a scribble strip is indeed bound to sell a TON of them (of course we'll start bitching about the extravagant price for a "supermouse", but still).

Let's get used though to the idea it probably won't come from SSL, and let's respect their decision - it's gotta be a pure nightmare to try and come up with a new product in this field.

The fellow who noted that people willing to fork that amount of money already have quality converters and preamps is absolutely spot on, and one might add that a large majority of the target Nucleus customers are hardly starting a studio from scratch, but rather continuously upgrading an existing setup - which reasonably implies that not many will be thrilled to have to get rid of their existing equipment.

How in the world SSL can have decided to skip something so obvious leaves me nonplussed. Must be reason, though, just eludes me.

Wow. Just wow.

This is called VS 700 C from Cakewalk /Roland

Not really:
Apart from the fact it only works with Sonar, it sports digital and analog audio I/O, it only controls 8 channels at a time and it is not universal.

universal via makie control , mac and pc ....work with all daw ....pls verify before posting ....this control surface is way better than anything else in this price tag ...

The nucleus would be my other choice if i hadn't the vs 700 system : vs 700 console + vs 700 r inerface ...

I proposed this beacuse people asking for a non interface controle surface and this is no joke ....for less than 2000 euros you have some way better than mackie or euphonix ....the build quality is top notch and faders are silent and smooth like crazy ...

i stop here to not hijack the thread ....again i do find the nucleus damn good (tried it ) and if i didn't had the vs 700 , i would defintly put it on the top of my list ....

The Nucleus only got a fair rating in June's Sound on Sound review. He complained about the poor monitoring capabilities which was mentioned here by several. At this point I will stick with my Mackies or go to the Audient Zen.

If so, then I apologize...I didn't know it can work as a MCU (I still can't find any evidence). Was it so from the very beginning?
Isn't it tailored around Sonar?

I wouldn't use the Roland VS 700 C for anything but Sonar. If it can be used with MCU for other DAWs, Roland sure doesn't go out of their way to support that assertion. The VS 700 C was designed SPECIFICALLY for Sonar.....which is an undesirable DAW IMO.

this was mcu from begining ...they added specific control surface plugin for logic and pt i think (this mean you will have listed vs 700 as a control surface , already mapped for use in this daw)....

Sonar an undesired daw ?

just the act technology (plugin displayed ,mapping itself on controle surface ...like automap from novation ...they took it from this) is a gift for controlling plugins .....64 bit double precision engine , pro channel on every audio channel (pro channel : channelstrip with comp u1176 or ssl bus comp+eq +sat) , matrix view ala abelton live cellule type playing ,ect .....
man i stop here to not hijack....

I will check out the VC 700 again, as I am looking for a good controller, but as far as Sonar is concerned....I still think it sucks.

It was decent up until X1. Cakewalk really screwed the pooch with X1. In fact I feel like they actually swindled me out of my money when I upgraded. I went back to 8.5 to wait for them to get it right. But considering Cakewalk as been sliding downhill since they changed from Pro Audio to Sonar, I don't expect things to get better anytime soon.

Regards,
Frank

I just received my own SSL Nucleus a few days ago.

First impressions are great, build quality is solid, I'm having no heat issues, and the unit looks and FEELS good.

Also, props to Fakir for his Keyboard shortcuts Combos. I can finally create new stereo, FX and group tracks in Cubase with only ONE button. I could only do it for mono tracks before...

I did actually read the last 29 pages of the thread, and I still have a few questions. Those seem to NOT be covered in the (IMO quite lacking) manual.

Here I go...

1. Which footswitch would be compatible with the unit? And what do you guys use it for? Play/Record?

2. The lack of an A/B switch for two different pair of monitors has been thoroughly discussed already. However, I'd like to know what our options are to remedy the situation. Would something like Coleman Audio SPK51 | Sweetwater.com or even Coleman Audio LS3 | Sweetwater.com make the job? The SSL's monitoring section is incredibly clean and transparent and I'd like to keep it that way, but I'll eventually need a solution to use 2 sets of monitors.

3. Now, another big problem I've encountered is the fact that the MonoL and MonoR monitoring buttons on the Nucleus WON'T WORK when using the external inputs as monitoring.

In my case, Cubase can only use ONE soundcard at a time. I'm using my audiofire 12 and routing its first 2 outputs to the Nucleus for monitoring.

I need to find a way to have ONE switch on the Nucleus to switch between mono and stereo monitoring in Cubase. It seems I cannot assign any keys to the Control Room Mixer's mono monitoring switch.

I've also received the suggestion to place a "mono-maker" plug-in on the master fader. This seems like a great idea, except that I can't seem to find a way to assign one of Nucleus' switch to bypass Cubase's master fader's insert plug-ins.

I'm pretty sure there must be a solution but I can't find it...


4. Plug-ins control in Cubase: is there ANY way to streamline the selection processo of a plug-in? And unfortunately keeping the number of my plug-ins to a minimum can't apply. By having both the Waves bundle and a UAD-2, there's already a ton of plugs that I can't eliminate. Would there be any way to create a list of "go-to" plug-ins for the Nucleus to browse? Or maybe I could create duplicate of my favourite plugs and copy them in a separate group in cubase (won't that would come up first in alphabetical order?) Anything simpler?

5. Last but not least, I can't seem to make the volume fader's value appear on the scribble strip when I move the fader. The Name/Value shortcut only toggles the V-Pot's parameter view.


Any help would be greatly appreciated, and if you guys have any tips like Fakir's, those would be welcomed too!

You may want to take a close look on how the VC700 handles EQ. That was a deal breaker for me.

Laser

Update: I've tried making a "Go-To folder" for plug-ins I often used, placing it at the top of my plug-ins list, so they would be easily accessible from the SSL's menu.

That's when I noticed that the Nucleus would only scroll through 1/4 of my plug-ins. It shows me the first plug in my list, the 5th..9th...etc.

Can the Nucleus not handle more than a certain number of plug-ins? I'd think everyone who possess the Waves and/or UAD bundles would be kind of screwed.

Any workaround?

Try emailing SSL they usually respond very quickly .

You failed to put what software your using in your message...

Cubase 5 on Win 7

I received an answer from SSL, this is due to a limitation in the way Cubase handles the MCU protocol.

In reading the SOS review in the June edition, the reviewer complained about the lack of a master fader (something the Mackie controller has) as well as the lack of monitor and talk back capabilities. The remote software will not allow you to remap plug in parameters either. I think I will stick with my Mackie controllers and Central Station.

Just to be fair though, the SSL monitoring ciruictry is vastly superior and more transparent than the Central Station's. And you only need an additional line selector to switch between pairs of monitors...

As for the lack of plug-in parameters remapping : is that actually possible on the Mackie controllers?

Not to mention the SSL looks and feels much better than the Mackie.

The SSL does look better than the Mackie......but does it look $4000 better than the Mackie?

Well, i had them both side by side......and i would say YES heh
AND it FEELS 4K better than the mackie's as well!

I dont even think about controllers anymore just use it and i'm very satisfied.

Just ONE thing: I use Logic as my daw and sadly can't calibrate the meters in Logic because the meters on the nucleus don't show up until the level itb hits about -20db (the first segment on the nucleus is 40).
So literally i don't see them during mixing, only on a very few (hot) channels.
But that seems to be a LOGIC issue.

Considering you get...
-2 SSL-quality preamp (-1500$)
-A high-quality transparent monitor section (-1000$)

And that you have -16- faders instead of 8 (2 mackies would cost 2000$).

Well... let's just say that it -at least- looks 500$ better than a Mackie! I guess it really does depend on your needs though.

same problem.
any solution for that?

Same Here