Preamplifier

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.

SSL's contemporary-classic recording console, ORIGIN, introduced the PureDrive™ microphone preamplifier. This innovative preamp retains the clarity and punch of previous SSL designs while offering the added versatility of switching its character to a warm, harmonically rich, and driven tone that varies with gain. ORIGIN, along with the PureDrive™ microphone preamp, has made its mark in the world's premier studios. Whether it's capturing the delicate nuances of a piano concerto in PURE mode or imparting warmth on a drum recording when set to DRIVE, the PureDrive™ microphone preamp has become an essential tool in some of the most prestigious studios and recording facilities due to its flexibility and superb sonic signature.

PURE DRIVE OCTO continues the legacy into rack format, delivering eight microphone preamps with ORIGIN’s renowned PURE and DRIVE modes, but takes it further, adding a new ‘Asymmetric’ DRIVE, advanced digital connectivity, and an onboard USB interface. PURE DRIVE OCTO offers four mic preamp input impedance options, enabling engineers to explore various tonal possibilities or match the mic pre's impedance closely to the microphone. Additionally, each mic pre includes independent +48V phantom power, polarity inversion, and a High Pass Filter. PURE DRIVE OCTO stands as one of the most capable and feature-rich outboard microphone preamplifiers available, introducing a host of new sonic possibilities and workflows for the discerning producer and recording engineer.

3 DRIVE Flavours, 1 Mic Pre

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.

Specs:

• 8 channel high-performance PureDrive™ mic preamps　

• +48V phantom power, polarity invert and 3rd order hi-pass filter

• Stepped Gain control up to +65 dB Gain　

• 31-step Trim control, with precise 1 dB increments – overdrive the signal with the Gain control and then reduce to a suitable level using Trim.　

• 3 modes for each preamp – Clean, Classic Drive and Asymmetric Drive　

• Mic/Line Input Switching　

• Mic via XLR　　

• Line via choice of TRS Jack or dedicated D-Sub connectivity　

• 4 x front panel Hi-Z/DI Instrument unbalanced inputs with automatic input detection　

• 4 mic preamp input impedance options – explore new tonal possibilities from your dynamic and ribbon microphones　

• Balanced analogue outputs/insert sends for external processing　

• +24 dBu professional line level insert returns/ADC inputs　

• Analogue to digital connectivity via ADAT, AES and USB

• Ability to switch ADAT and AES connections to source audio from DAW outputs (USB) instead of the A/D converter　

• USB soundcard mode　

• OCTO – 8 in / 24 out (@44.1/48 kHz)　

• 　8 x analogue / 8 AES + 16 ADAT outs　

• Stepped pots and digitally controlled analogue electronics for precision, stereo matching and ease of recall　

• Up to 192 kHz and 32-bit conversion, professional I/O levels (+24 dBu = 0 dBFS).　

• Selectable Auto-Sleep mode　

• Auto-ranging Wordclock In and Out　

PURE DRIVE Pre's harnesses the renowned microphone preamp technology from Solid State Logic's ORIGIN console, introduces a new DRIVE mode and connectivity, and makes them available in 2U rackmount unit.

Solid State Logic Super 9000.

Superior Punch and Clarity, Unparalleled SuperAnalogue™ Performance

Super 9000 is Solid State Logic’s all-in-one analogue channel strip, combining the best of SuperAnalogue™ technology to deliver the modern SSL sound. First introduced in the legendary SL 9000 J and perfected in the Duality, the Super 9000 Channel Strip offers the ultra-low distortion, exceptional punch, and breathtaking clarity of our SuperAnalogue™ studio consoles in 1 RU.

The 9000 Series made rock and pop mixes sound bigger than ever, while enhancing hip-hop and R&B with deep, extended low-end and shimmering highs. Renowned for making music sound larger than life, with unmatched dynamics and depth, the 9000 Series became the industry standard of its era – setting a milestone in analogue design and paving the way for the development of the Duality and Oracle consoles. Now, the Super 9000 brings that same professional polish – once exclusive to the colossal 9K consoles – straight into your studio.

Prestigious facilities, including Abbey Road and Metropolis Studios (London), Real World Studios (Bath), Record Plant (LA), and Avatar/Power Station (NY), quickly made the 9000 Series their standard. Top engineers such as Manny Marroquin (Alicia Keys, Rihanna), Michael Brauer (Coldplay, John Mayer), Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin), and Tony Maserati (Jay-Z, Beyoncé) used SuperAnalogue™ sound to craft genre-defining hits.

SuperAnalogue^TM. Design

SuperAnalogue^TM technology creates a signal path so transparent and wide bandwidth that nothing is lost, putting the engineer right there in the room with the artist. Key design elements include:

• Super-wide audio bandwidth.

• Ruler flat frequency response: ±0.1 dB between 20 Hz – 20 kHz.

• Ultra-low transient intermodulation distortion.

• No electrolytic capacitors in the audio path.

• Extremely low noise and harmonic distortion.

• Exceptionally low phase shift across the audible spectrum.

The result is unmatched punch, definition, and a larger-than-life sound stage—qualities that define the modern "SSL sound" and are why SuperAnalogue™ consoles remain the professional’s choice for music production.

Dual Mic Amp – SuperAnalogue^TM or VHD^TM

Choose between two world-class preamps, just like on SSL’s flagship Duality console. Opt for the pristine, high-headroom SuperAnalogue™ preamp for unmatched clarity, or switch to the Variable Harmonic Drive (VHD) circuit to add character and saturation. Shape your tone by dialling in 2nd order harmonics for rich, valve-like warmth, or add 3rd order harmonics for a harder, transistor-style edge. The INPUT FLIP button allows you to move the VHD circuit from the Mic Input to the Line Input, making it easy to add harmonic colour to DAW stems or line-level instruments and sources.

Variable Harmonic Drive (VHD):

Variable Harmonic Drive was created to provide engineers and producers with a single preamp capable of covering a wide tonal spectrum. Initially designed to complement the Duality console’s ultra-accurate SuperAnalogue™ preamp, VHD technology can be found across numerous SSL consoles and rackmount units – over the years becoming many engineers’ secret weapon for adding vibe to recordings.

Full Dynamics Processing

The Super 9000 features SSL’s quintessential modern dynamics section, delivering ultimate control and punch. Built around the high-performance THAT 2181A VCA, the compressor includes a switchable Fast Attack mode and the Peak Detect option—first introduced on the SL 9000 console and carried through to the Duality series. It also incorporates SSL’s classic Expander/Gate section with variable hysteresis built into the Threshold, plus a HOLD control for precise gate and downward expansion management. Additionally, Super 9000 allows the dynamics section to be moved Pre and Post EQ.

Pink (292) and Black (242) EQ Circuits & High and Low Pass Filters　

Choose your SSL EQ: the 292 G-Series ‘Pink Knob’ EQ circuit or the 242 E-Series ‘Black Knob’ EQ circuit. The 292’s variable-Q design delivers smooth, wide boosts and cuts that tighten as you push harder, while its shelves feature a steeper slope and the signature ‘undershoot/overshoot’ for that renowned SSL musicality. The 242’s constant-Q design, developed in collaboration with Sir George Martin, gives more surgical control when compared to the 292. The Super 9000 EQ section also features two buttons labelled ‘E Bell/G÷3’ and ‘Gx3/E Bell.’ When in 292 mode, these buttons allow the Low-Mid Frequency to be divided by 3 and the High-Mid Frequency to be multiplied by 3, so that the mid-bands can be used to target frequencies normally far outside of their standard range, providing incredible flexibility and range. In 242 mode, these buttons switch the Low Frequency and High Frequency bands between Bell and Shelving modes. As expected from SSL, the EQ can be placed in the dynamics sidechain, and the high-pass (18dB/oct) and low-pass (12dB/oct) filters can be fully bypassed or routed to input or sidechain for ultimate control.

Flexible Processing & Routing 　

Super 9000 includes a balanced insert point for integrating additional outboard gear into the signal path. The insert can be repositioned from its default location (immediately after the input stage) to the output stage, just before the Output Trim. It also features a dedicated external sidechain (key) input, flexible processing re-ordering, and sidechain linking—ideal when using two Super 9000 units as a stereo pair.

Input Flip control routes the LINE input to the Mic Pre, whilst the rear MIC connection becomes routed through the LINE path – an easy way to process line level DAW returns with saturation/distortion processing at the mix stage, without having to manually re-patch.　

Key Features　

• Dual Mic Pre – Choose between SuperAnalogue™ (9000) & VHD™ (Duality) w/　+48V, Polarity invert, and Pad.

• 2 Impedance options for the mic pre: 1.3 kÙ and 11 kÙ.　

• Dedicated LINE Input with "Input Flip".

• Quintessential 9000/Duality Dynamics section.　

• High-Performance THAT 2181A VCA compressor section.　

• Peak/Hard Knee or Soft Knee modes.　

• FAST attack on/off.　

• Classic Gate/Expander section.　

• Fast attack on/off.　

• Hold control.

• 4-band SSL EQ with switchable modes.　

• Fully parametric mid-bands.　

• Switchable between G-Series ‘Pink Knob’ 292 and E-Series ‘Black Knob’ 242 circuits.　

• High and Low Pass filters.　

• 18 dB per octave HPF & 12 dB per octave LPF.　

• Insert point for connecting external devices into the signal path.　

• Extensive ‘to sidechain’ functionality.　

• Filters to Dynamics sidechain.　

• EQ to Dynamics sidechain.　

• Flexible process-order routing.　　

• Filters to input, Dynamics post-EQ, and Insert to output.　

• Line Output Trim.

• Switchable Input and Output metering.　

• External sidechain (key) input.　

• Dynamics sidechain link – allows 2 x Super 9000’s compressors to work as a stereo pair (loudest signal wins). Linking via a TS/TRS jack cable (not included).　

Solid State Logic

Revival 4000 Signature Analogue Channel Strip　

Introducing the Revival 4000—a signature analogue channel strip that encapsulates the sonic excellence and standout features of the legendary 4000 Series in a compact 1U format. Equipped with the classic E Series JT-115K-E Jensen transformer-balanced mic preamp, B Series De-Esser, the discrete Class A VCA Dynamics section from the E Series, and the iconic four-band parametric E Series EQ—complete with high-pass/low-pass filters and switchable Brown/Black knob EQ.Offering flexible routing, a balanced insert point, and sidechain linking, the Revival 4000 is the foundational legacy channel strip, bringing SSL’s analogue heritage into any modern studio.Key Features:Classic Jensen Transformer Equipped SSL 4000 E Mic PreampFeaturing a JT-115K-E Jensen transformer-balanced preamp, the Revival 4000 delivers richness and pristine clarity to your recordings. This circuit incorporates the very same Jensen component found in the original E Series channel strips.

4000 B-Series De-Esser　

Revival 4000’s De-Esser is lifted from the original compressor/limiter design of the iconic 4000 B console, delivering 10:1 ratio and a 7 kHz sidechain filter. This configuration enables broadband compression that’s precisely triggered by sibilance, making it ideal for taming harsh vocals, drums, or other aggressive sources. Its musicality is further elevated by a circuit design that mirrors that of the legendary SSL Bus Compressor, adding a familiar clarity and character to any signal.

Ultimate 4000 E Series Dynamics Section 　

The iconic dynamics section that defined the sound of the 1980s—fully featured and faithfully recreated. The compressor/gate design stays true to the original E Series channel strip, meticulously replicating the circuitry and components that gave it its legendary character. It includes a true RMS sidechain detector and an all-discrete gain reduction stage, identical to the discrete Class A VCA chip used in the original console.

Flexible controls allow you to bypass the soft-knee curve, activate a fast attack mode, and choose between logarithmic or linear release curves. Together, these features offer a wide palette of tonal shaping options, capturing the distinctive voicings that helped craft countless classic records on a variety of E Series consoles.

Classic 4-Band SSL EQ

The celebrated 4-band parametric EQ that helped shape modern music. Revival 4000 features two iconic EQ options: the classic 4000 E Brown Knob (02) and the legendary Black Knob (242).

The Brown Knob EQ includes two fully parametric mid bands with SSL’s signature symmetrical design, ensuring consistent musical intervals around the centre frequency, no matter the gain or frequency settings. The high and low bands are 6 dB/octave shelving filters, with an option to switch to a fixed-Q bell response. This EQ became a staple of early '80s recordings and mixes.

Developed in 1983 the ‘242’ EQ circuit in collaboration with the legendary George Martin for the first SSL console installed at AIR Studios. Known as the Black Knob EQ, it introduced wider cut and boost ranges (±18 dB vs. ±15 dB), a refined control response, and a steeper 18 dB/octave high-pass filter—offering tighter low-end control and greater tonal flexibility.

Flexible Processing & Routing

Revival 4000 includes a dedicated balanced insert point, allowing you to seamlessly integrate external outboard gear into the signal path. It also features a dedicated external sidechain (key) input, flexible processing order, and sidechain linking, ideal for pairing two units as a stereo setup.

Specification:

• Classic SSL 4000 E Jensen transformer-balanced mic preamp.
• Musical one-knob 4000 B De-Esser section.
• +48V, Polarity invert, Pad and Line Input.
• Ultimate 4000 E Series Dynamics section:
• Discrete Class A VCA compressor section.
• Soft or Hard Knee modes.
• Fast attack on/off.
• Logarithmic or Linear Release modes.
• Classic Gate/Expander section:
• With Fast attack on/off.　
• Classic 4-band SSL EQ:
• Fully parametric mid-bands.
• Switchable Brown Knob ‘02’ and Black Knob ‘242’ EQ Circuits.
• High and Low Pass Filters:
• Brown 02 mode – 12 dB per octave HPF & LPF.
• Black 242 mode – 18 dB per octave HPF & 12 dB per octave LPF.
• Balanced Insert point for connecting external devices into the signal path
• Extensive ‘to sidechain’ functionality:
• Filters to Dynamics sidechain.
• EQ to Dynamics sidechain.
• Flexible process-order routing:　　　
• Filters to input, Dynamics and De-Ess post-EQ options, Insert to output.
• Line Output Trim.
• Switchable input/output metering.
• External sidechain (key) input.
• Dynamics sidechain link – allows 2 x Revival 4000s compressors to work as a stereo pair.