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Visit SSL at: www.solidstatelogic.com © Solid State Logic All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions SSL® and Solid State Logic® are ® registered trademarks of Solid State Logic. SSL 2™ and SSL 2+™ are trademarks of Solid State Logic. All other product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged. Pro Tools® is a registered trademark of Avid®. Live Lite™ is a trademark of Ableton AG.
Introduction Introduction to SSL 2 Congratulations on purchasing your SSL 2 USB audio interface. A whole world of recording, writing and production awaits you! We know you’re probably keen to get up-and-running, so this User Guide is set out to be as informative and useful as possible. It should provide you with a solid reference for how to get the best out of your SSL 2. If you get stuck, don’t worry, the support section of our website is full of useful resources to get you going again.
Contents Table of Contents Introduction to SSL 2 1 Overview 3 What is SSL 2? 3 Features 3 Get-Started 4 Unpacking 4 USB Cables & Power 4 USB Hubs 4 System Requirements 4 Registering Your SSL 2 5 What is the SSL Production Pack? 5 Quick-Start / Installation 6 Can't Hear Anything? 7 Selecting SSL 2 As Your DAW's Audio Device 8 Pro Tools | First Setup 8 Ableton Live Lite Setup 8 Front Panel Controls Input Channels Monitoring Section Rear Panel Connections How-To / Appli
Introduction Overview What is SSL 2? SSL 2 is a USB-powered audio interface that enables you to get studio-quality audio into and out of your computer with minimal fuss and maximum creativity. On Mac, it's class-compliant - this means that you don't need to install any software audio drivers. On PC, you'll need to install our SSL USB Audio ASIO/WDM driver, which you'll find on our website - see the Quick-Start section of this guide for more information on getting up-and-running.
Get-Started Get-Started Unpacking The unit has been carefully packed and inside the box you will find the following items: • SSL 2 • Quickstart/Safety Guide • 1m 'C' to 'C' USB Cable • 1m 'A' to 'C' USB Cable USB Cables & Power USB Power LED Please use one of the provided USB cables ('C' to 'C' or 'C' to 'A') to connect the SSL 2 to your computer. The connector on the rear of SSL 2 is a 'C' type.
Get-Started Registering Your SSL 2 Registering your SSL USB audio interface will grant you access to an array of exclusive software from us and other industry-leading software companies - we call this incredible bundle the 'SSL Production Pack' . To register your product, head to www.solidstatelogic.com/get-started and follow the on-screen instructions. During the registration process, you’ll need to input the serial number of your unit. This can be found on the label on the base of your unit.
Get-Started Quick-Start / Installation 1. Connect your SSL USB audio interface to your computer using one of the included USB cables. 2. Go to ‘System Preferences’ then ‘Sound’ and select 2. Download and install the SSL USB ASIO/WDM audio 'SSL 2’ as the input and output device (drivers are not driver for your SSL 2. Go to the following web address: required for operation on Mac) www.solidstatelogic.com/support/downloads 3.
Get-Started Can't Hear Anything? If you have followed the Quick-Start steps but are still not hearing any playback from your media player or DAW, check the position of the MONITOR MIX control. In the left-most position, you will hear only the inputs you have connected. In the right-most position you will hear the USB playback from your media player/DAW. In your DAW, ensure that ‘SSL 2’ is selected as your audio device in the audio preferences or playback engine settings.
Get-Started Selecting SSL 2 As Your DAW's Audio Device If you have followed the Quick-Start / Installation section then you are ready to open up your favourite DAW and start creating. Included in the SSL Production Pack are copies of Pro Tools | First and Ableton Live Lite DAWs but you can of course use any DAW that supports Core Audio on Mac or ASIO/WDM on Windows. No matter which DAW you are using, you need to ensure that SSL 2 is selected as your audio device in the audio preferences/ playback settings.
Product Overview & Features Front Panel Controls Input Channels This section describes the controls for Channel 1. The controls for Channel 2 are exactly the same. +48V This switch enables phantom power on the combo XLR connector, which will be sent down the XLR microphone cable to the microphone. Phantom power is required when using condenser microphones. Dynamic microphones do not require phantom power to operate.
Product Overview & Features Monitoring Section This section describes the controls found the monitoring section. These controls affect what you hear through your monitor speakers and the headphone output. MONITOR MIX (Top-Right Control) This control directly affects what you hear coming out of your monitors and headphones. When the control is set to left-most position labelled INPUT, you will hear only the sources you have connected to Channel 1 and Channel 2 directly, without latency.
Product Overview & Features Rear Panel Connections 5 4 3 2 1 1 - INPUTS 1 & 2 : Combo XLR / 1/4" Jack Input Sockets This is where you connect your input sources (microphones, instruments, keyboards) to the unit. Once connected, your inputs are controlled using front panel Channel 1 and Channel 2 controls respectively. The combo XLR / 1/4" Jack socket contains an XLR and a 1/4" Jack in one connector (the Jack socket is the hole in the middle). If you are connecting a microphone, then use an XLR cable.
How-To / Application Examples How-To / Application Examples Connections Overview The diagram below illustrates where the various elements of your studio connect to SSL 2 on the rear panel.
How-To / Application Examples Connecting Your Monitors and Headphones The diagram below shows where to connect your monitors and headphones up to your SSL 2. It also shows the interaction of the front panel controls with the various output connections on the rear. • The large front panel MONITOR LEVEL control affects the output level of the balanced TRS jack outputs L and R. We recommend that you connect your monitors to these outputs.
How-To / Application Examples Selecting Your Input and Setting Levels Dynamic Microphones Plug your microphone into INPUT 1 or INPUT 2 on the rear panel using an XLR cable. 1. On the front panel, make sure that none of the top 3 switches (+48V, LINE, HI-Z) are pressed down. 2. Whilst singing or playing your instrument that has been mic'd up, turn the GAIN control up until you consistently get 3 green lights on the meter. This represents a healthy signal level.
How-To / Application Examples Keyboards and Other Line-Level Sources • Plug your keyboard/line-level source into INPUT 1 or INPUT 2 on the rear panel using a jack cable. • Returning to the front panel, make sure that +48V is not pressed. • Engage the LINE switch. • Follow Steps 2 and 3 on the previous page to set your levels for recording. Electric Guitars and Basses (Hi-Impedance Sources) • Plug your guitar/bass into INPUT 1 or INPUT 2 on the rear panel using a jack cable.
How-To / Application Examples Monitoring Your Inputs Once you have selected the correct input source and have a healthy 3 green LEDs of signal coming in, you're ready to monitor your incoming source. 1. First, ensure that the MONITOR MIX control is rotated towards the side labelled INPUT. 2. Secondly, turn up the PHONES control to listen on headphones. If you want to listen through your monitor speakers, turn up the MONITOR LEVEL control.
How-To / Application Examples Setting Up Your DAW To Record Now that you have chosen your input(s), set the levels and can monitor them, it's time to record into the DAW. The following image is taken from a Pro Tools | First session but the same steps will apply to any DAW. Please consult your DAW's User Guide for it's operations. If you have not already done so, please ensure that SSL 2 is the selected Audio Device in your DAW's audio setup.
How-To / Application Examples Hearing Double? When using the MONITOR MIX to monitor the live input, you'll need to mute the DAW tracks you are recording onto, so that you do not hear the signal twice. When you want to listen back to what you have just recorded, you'll need to unmute the track you have recorded onto, to hear your take. This space is intentionally almost blank Record Tracks Muted DAW Buffer Size From time to time, you may need to alter the Buffer Size setting in your DAW.
How-To / Application Examples Sample Rate What is meant by Sample Rate? All musical signals coming into and out of your SSL 2 USB audio interface need to converted between analogue and digital. Sample rate is a measure of how many 'snapshots' are taken in order to build a digital 'picture' of an analogue source being captured into the computer, or deconstruct a digital picture of an audio track to play back out of your monitors or headphones. The most common sample rate that your DAW will default to is 44.
Specifications Specifications Audio Performance Specifications Unless specified otherwise, default test configuration: Sample Rate: 48kHz, Bandwidth: 20 Hz to 20 kHz Measurement device output impedance: 40 Ω (20 Ω unbalanced) Measurement device input impedance: 200 kΩ (100 kΩ unbalanced) Unless otherwise quoted all figures have a tolerance of ±0.5dB or 5% Microphone Inputs Frequency Response ± 0.1 dB Dynamic Range (A-Weighted) 110.5 dB THD+N (@ 1kHz) < 0.0015 % @ -8 dBFS, < 0.
Specifications Headphone Output Frequency Response ± 0.05 dB Dynamic Range 111 dB THD+N (@ 1kHz) < 0.0015% @ -8 dBFS, < 0.0020% @ -1 dBFS Maximum Output Level +10 dBu Output Impedance 10 Ω Digital Audio Supported Sample Rates 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, 192 kHz Clock Source Internal USB USB 2.0 Low-Latency Monitor Mix Input to Output: < 1ms Roundtrip Latency at 96 kHz Windows 10, Reaper: < 4ms (Safe Mode Off) Mac OS, Reaper: < 5.
Specifications Rear Panel Miscellaneous USB 1 x USB 2.0, 'C' Type Connector Kensington Security Slot 1 x K-Slot Front Panel LEDs Input Metering Per Channel - 3 x green, 1 x amber, 1 x red Legacy 4K Analogue Enhancement Per Channel - 1 x red USB Power 1 x green Weight & Dimensions Width x Depth x Height 234mm x 157mm x 70mm (including knob heights) Weight 880g Box Dimensions 265mm x 198 x 104mm Boxed Weight 1.
Safety Notices Important Safety Notices General Safety • Read these instructions. • Keep these instructions. • Heed all warnings. • Follow all instructions. • Do not use this apparatus near water. • Clean only with dry cloth. • Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat. • Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
Safety Notices where you can drop off your waste equipment for recycling, please contact your local city office, your household waste disposal service or where you purchased the product. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FCC Compliance This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules.
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