Solid State Logic has announced the XL-Desk — what they are calling a “smart dumb analogue console”! The XL-Desk brings all analog mixing, with eight mic preamps, 18 built-in 500-series gear slots, four submixes, full monitor control, an included SSL Stereo Bus Compressor, and much more to a small footprint design aimed at serious project studios and production rooms.
The XL-Desk offers 16 dual-input mono channels (eight with SSL acclaimed versatile VHD preamps built-in), four stereo input channels, insert points on all mono inputs and stereo buses, one stereo and two mono aux sends, two dedicated stereo returns, direct outputs on every channel, return and mix bus for stem printing back to your DAW, built-in listen mic input with the classic compressor circuit (with its own direct output for easy recording), AFL and solo-in-place modes, Solo Clear and Solo Safe functions, headphone and “iJack” connections, and much more — all in the analog domain.
A big feature of the XL-Desk is the array of 18 500-series slots at the top, two of which are occupied by the 500-series version of SSL’s classic Stereo Bus Compressor. The input channels can directly access these slots — which can optionally be loaded with any compatible 500-series modules, including preamps, EQs, compressors, and more — as can the four stereo submixes. Connections are also provided for routing the 500-series connections to an optional external patchbay, for freely assignable routing. In addition to a dedicated 500-series insert on each channel, a regular insert point is also provided for external signal processing gear.
Two versions of the SSL XL-Desk will be offered: fully loaded with SSL 500-series EQs, and with the 500-series slots empty.
