SSL Pure Drive Octo Microphone Preamp

SSL Pure Drive Octo Microphone Preamp Overview

PURE DRIVE OCTO harnesses the renowned SuperAnalogue PureDrive™ microphone preamp technology originally featured in Solid State Logic's ORIGIN console, introduces a new DRIVE mode and connectivity, and makes it available in an 8-channel 2U rackmount unit.

8 Mic Pre’s, conversion, and USB soundcard

PURE DRIVE OCTO is a testament to SSL's commitment to progressive analogue circuit design. No electro-mechanical components (potentiometers, mechanical switches, relays etc) are used in the critical audio signal path of PURE DRIVE OCTO, increasing product longevity, and allowing impeccable ‘matching’ between all channels – not just a stereo pair. The use of digitally controlled analogue circuits, controlled by detented pots and electronic switches simplifies recall and precision of settings.

Each of PURE DRIVE OCTO’s mic pre’s can be independently switched between three distinct DRIVE modes: Clean, Classic Drive, and Asymmetric Drive.

Clean mode delivers the highly regarded, ultra-low noise floor, linear SSL preamp that is recognised for its ability to faithfully capture the sound of the source with exceptional clarity and detail.

Classic Drive is the symmetrical mode that generates predominantly odd harmonics; the same drive sound found on the ORIGIN console.

Asymmetric Drive offers up a new colouration option, specifically designed for the PURE DRIVE range, making the even harmonic content dominant and providing more pronounced thickness, colouration and softening of transients.

Advanced Connectivity

PURE DRIVE OCTO's advanced connectivity opens a world of recording possibilities. Its comprehensive selection of analogue and digital I/O offers microphone preamps with exceptional performance and flexibility, whether you're tracking a band in a world-class studio or adding warmth to stems in a production scenario. It's also ideal for project studios and on-location sessions where quality cannot be compromised, thanks to its integrated USB sound card.

PURE DRIVE OCTO features eight rear-mounted combo XLR inputs, four front-panel Hi-Z/DI instrument inputs with automatic input detection, and three sets of D-sub connectors for line-level inputs, as well as insert send and insert return. PURE DRIVE OCTO’s insert returns/ADC inputs operate up to full +24 dBu line-level, for interfacing with other professional equipment.

PURE DRIVE OCTO's versatile digital connectivity features an integrated USB soundcard providing eight channels of audio into your DAW up to 32-Bit/192 kHz. Four AES/EBU output pairs, and ADAT out, offering eight channels at 24-bit/48 kHz, or up to four channels at 24-bit/192 kHz via SMUX. The AES and ADAT outputs can even be individually repurposed to be fed from the onboard USB soundcard as outputs from your DAW. Finally, there's an auto-ranging word clock input and output for robust digital clocking.