SSL Pure Drive Octo Preamp

Elevate your recordings with the SSL Pure Drive Octo, a powerful eight-channel 2U rackmount unit that brings the acclaimed SuperAnalogue PureDrive microphone preamp technology from Solid State Logic's ORIGIN console into a compact and versatile format.

Originating from SSL's renowned ORIGIN recording console, the PureDrive microphone preamp found in the Pure Drive Octo retains the exceptional clarity and punch of previous SSL designs. What sets it apart is the addition of a new 'Drive' mode, allowing you to switch the character of the preamp to a warm, harmonically rich, and driven tone that evolves with the gain. This innovative feature allows you to capture the delicate nuances of a piano concerto in PURE mode or add warmth to drums when set to 'Drive'. It's no wonder that the PureDrive microphone preamp has become a must-have tool in some of the world's top studios and recording facilities due to its flexibility and superb sonic signature.

Key Features:

• Eight Mic Preamps with 'Pure' and 'Drive' Modes - The Pure Drive Octo offers eight microphone preamps with both 'Pure' and 'Drive' modes, allowing you to create a wide range of tonal possibilities. Additionally, it introduces an 'Asymmetric Drive' mode for even more sonic exploration.
• Versatile Impedance Options - Each mic preamp includes four different impedance options, allowing you to tailor the tone to match various microphone types such as dynamic or ribbon microphones.
• Classic Analogue Warmth - The 'Clean' mode delivers the ultra-low noise floor and pristine sound quality that SSL is renowned for, while the 'Classic Drive' mode provides a symmetrical drive sound reminiscent of the ORIGIN console, adding vintage analogue warmth.
• Innovative 'Asymmetric Drive' Mode - The 'Asymmetric Drive' mode emphasises even harmonic content, resulting in a pronounced thickness and softening of transients, providing a new colouration option for your recordings.
• Advanced Connectivity - Featuring eight rear-mounted combo XLR inputs and four front-panel Hi-Z/DI instrument inputs with automatic detection, the Pure Drive Octo accommodates a variety of microphones and instruments. Additionally, three sets of D-sub connectors for line-level inputs and insert send/return functionality ensure seamless integration with external processors.
• Integrated USB Sound Card - The Pure Drive Octo includes an integrated USB sound card that provides eight channels of audio into your DAW at up to 32-bit/192kHz resolution, making it ideal for professional studio recordings and production projects.
• Digital Connectivity - With four AES/EBU output pairs and an ADAT out, the Pure Drive Octo offers versatile digital connectivity, allowing you to send up to eight channels of audio at 24-bit/48kHz or up to four channels at 24-bit/192kHz via SMUX. The AES and ADAT outputs can be individually reconfigured to be fed from the onboard USB sound card, providing ultimate flexibility in your signal routing.
• Word Clock I/O - For precise digital clocking, the Pure Drive Octo features auto-ranging word clock input and output, ensuring a stable and reliable recording experience.

SSL Pure Drive Octo Preamp Specifications:

• Eight high-end PureDrive microphone preamps - incorporated from SSL's iconic ORIGIN recording console
• Various control features including +48V phantom power, polarity reversal, and a 3rd order hi-pass filter
• A finely-tuned Gain control that ascends up to +65 dB, enabling precise modification of audio levels
• Three distinctive modes for each preamp - Clean, Classic Drive, and Asymmetric Drive for customised sound output
• Options for microphone/line input switching via XLR or choice of TRS Jack or dedicated D-Sub connectivity
• Four input impedance options for your dynamic and ribbon microphones, encouraging tonal experimentation
• Four front panel Hi-Z/DI Instrument unbalanced inputs with automatic input detection
• Balanced analog outputs/insert sends for routing to external processing equipment
• +24 dBu professional-grade line level insert returns/ADC inputs
• Advanced connectivity options via ADAT, AES, and USB
• Capability to toggle ADAT and AES connections to access audio from DAW outputs (USB) instead of the A/D converter
• Incorporates a USB soundcard mode with 12 in / 12 out (@44.1/48 kHz)
• Precision and stereo matching facilitated by stepped pots and digitally controlled analog circuitry
• Supports conversion at up to 192 kHz and 32-bits, professional I/O levels (+24 dBu = 0 dBFS)
• Sleectable Auto-Sleep mode
• Auto-ranging Wordclock I/O connectivity