Price ex VAT £895
The Four-Channel Mic Pre with attitude.
Transform your DAW audio interface with four SSL analogue mic preamps
- Ultra-clean, high-grade mic preamps with line and instrument level switching
- Four independent Variable Harmonic Drive (VHD) circuits
- VHD - a time machine of overdrive characteristics
- 100% analogue signal path
Say goodbye to the digital audio blues
Whether you need to track pristine vocals, crunched drums or electric guitars on the edge of sonic destruction, the VHD Pre delivers a powerful and versatile sound shaping tool kit - the perfect analogue companion to your digital recording system.
Based on the VHD circuit from our acclaimed Duality console, the VHD Pre adds four SSL mic preamps to any line level DAW audio interface, transforming it into a professional quality, multi-channel analogue recording system.
The four ultra-clean, high-grade mic preamps are combined with independent Variable Harmonic Drive circuits that use 100% analogue signal paths to generate rich harmonic distortion - adding SSL analogue attitude to your digital recordings.
As you increase the input gain, the Variable Harmonic Drive circuit introduces a blendable mix of 2nd or 3rd harmonic distortion to your source material, taking it from gentle valve-style warmth through to trashy transistoresque grunge. It’s a new world of overdriven possibilities.
Key Features
- Ultra-clean SSL preamp with 75dB of gain
- 48V phantom power
- 20dB Pad switches that illuminate to indicate overload
- Hi Z switches to accommodate mic, line and instrument level signals
- Four independent Variable Harmonic Drive systems
- Front panel 1/4" jack instrument/line level inputs with passive DI type impedance detection and level matching
- Individual input, output and VHD controls for each section
- Rear panel XLR mic/line inputs and XLR outputs
Price ex VAT £600
All great sounding recordings have to start somewhere... With the classic combination of a mic preamp, filter, EQ and dynamics, the XLogic Alpha Channel brings SSL's sonic legacy bang up to date in an analogue channel strip designed to provide the perfect front end to your digital audio workstation. With all the features needed to record great vocal or instrument tracks, the Alpha Channel offers a studio class mic pre and processing based on SSL's years of experience in designing the world's leading analogue recording consoles. A huge proportion of the music you know and love was recorded on SSL, renowned for the superior audio qualities you've heard on countless hit records. That elusive sonic ingredient is here in the Alpha Channel.
Variable Harmonic Drive
Variable Harmonic Drive is a sophisticated SSL circuit as used in the new large format flagship Duality console and in the XLogic E Series Signature Channel. SSL mic preamps featuring Variable Harmonic Drive can generate a blend of 2nd or 3rd harmonic distortion. This significantly changes the 'colour' of the preamp, allowing the user a choice between a solid-state and valve-like sound. In short, VHD brings the soul of early analogue recordings to 21st century production technology. VHD is now available to all audio workstation users thanks to Alpha Channel.
Key Features
- SSL analogue channel processing for your audio workstation
- Analogue or digital outputs direct to your DAW
- Professional ultra clean mic preamp with line level & Hi Z instrument input switches
- "Variable Harmonic Drive" circuit; a Time Machine of distortion characteristics
- Studio class EQ, Filter and Limiter sections
- Auto sample rate sensing and self adjustment
- Three band SSL parametric EQ with mid freq Q control and dual LF curves
- High Pass Filter with selectable 40Hz, 80Hz or 120Hz cutoff frequency
- Intelligent auto compression that maximises recording headroom and avoids DAC clipping
Reviews
MusicTech Magazine - January 2007
"YOU'LL FIND THE ALPHA CHANNEL HARD TO BEAT."
MusicTech Magazine
29th January '07
MusicTech Magazine has published an excellent review of the new SSL AlphaChannel front-end in February 2007. "Coupled with Duende's Bus compressor, you could fool people into thinking you've squeezed a J Series into your control room!"
The February 2007 issue of MusicTech magazine includes a great review of the new SSL Alpha Channel and wins the MusicTech Recommended award.
The preamp of the Alpha Channel is described as delivering a "pleasingly open sound" with SSL's unique Variable Harmonic Drive (VHD) function as featured in their high-end consoles able to "add extra weight and body to the sound." In addition the "impressive power" of the EQ section is described as one of the favourite features.
The conclusion reads,
"While it would be foolish to expect the same kind of performance and flexibility of something like the XLogic Channel, the Alpha Channel more than delivers in its particular application. For anyone wanting a quality preamp and EQ together with DAC included as standard, you'll find the Alpha Channel hard to beat."
"Most importantly, for those asking whether the Alpha Channel 'sounds like an SSL', the answer is a resounding yes! Although some features have been slimmed down in comparison to the XLogic Channel, all of the remaining core elements - namely, the EQ and preamp - are SSL through and through, coupled with Duende's Bus compressor, you could fool people into thinking you've squeezed a J Series into your control room!"
Future Music Magazine - January 2007
"AN SSL CHANNEL WITH A/D CONVERTER FOR JUST UNDER A GRAND? YOU CAN'T ARGUE WITH THAT!" Future Music
29th January '07
The new SSL Alpha Channel receives the Future Music Platinum Award in a review in the February 2007 issue.
The review praises the positioning of the Alpha Channel, "unquestionably makes the SSL sound available to a much wider audience", and for the inclusion of built-in A/D converter that is an optional extra in many other mic preamps. Ths sound is described as "clean and precise" with "extra harmonic flavour provided by VHD (Variable Harmonic Distortion)"
The conclusion reads,
"An SSL Channel with A/D converter for just under a grand? You can't argue with that! Clearly the Alpha Channel is a great box. Both familiar and reliale but with a few tricks up its sleeve, it offers precisiely what many serious project studios need."
Call or email us for our best price
Phone 0044 (0) 1869 248748
Mobile 0044 (0) 7976 408049
info@recycledaudio.co.uk
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