Engineer Smart Guide: The SSL Duality
Here is a guide I made for a class a few quarters ago on the SSL Duality Console. I dug it up to remember a few things after having spent a few quarters away from it. I realized I couldn't find anything like this online so Im sharing it with you guys. Enjoy! (Lengthy but worth it)
The Duality Channel
Bay
·
Input Section
o
2
Independent Prea Amps: Super Analogue and VHD (variable harmonic distortion)
o
Add
warmth, or aggressiveness
o
Phase
Invert Capable
o
The
Daw-Return can be used to return a line level signal to be processed by SSL
onboard preamps. (Experiment. Push in to activate VHD)
o
20db
gain, Pad, 2ndary gain stage.
·
Dynamics Section
o
SSL
allows setting the dynamics of each channel strip via its compressor, gate, and
expander
o
Fast
attack capabilities for percussive sounds (drums) Push in for F.A.
o
Can
bypass compressor by setting ratio to 1:1, which will run through the
electronics but not compress the signal.
o
RMS
and Peak Mode capabilities
o
Gate
has a variable hold time, which means I can better control the release.
o
Side
Chaining is made easy with SSL side chain function.
·
EQ Section
o
4
band, twin curve EQ
o
Careful
with HF and LF not to be confused with HPF and LPF, seems counterintuitive
o
E
Series and G series signature sounding EQ
o
REMEMBER
TO SET TO SPLIT when needed in order to use the channel strip out of the
DAW-return.
o
ALWAYS
ZERO EQ before recording, once it is recorded it can not be undone. Record dry
without EQ when possible and EQ later.
o
The
CHOP function allows the routing to be changed on the fly including the order
of processing.
§ The TFT display will light up
accordingly to show what is in the signal chain.
o
HF,
HMF, LMF, LF
o
Q
width, FREQ select and Gain knobs
o
EQ
IN must be pushed in to use EQ
o
Can
be set to pre or post fader EQ
·
The
Cue mix can be set and panned via
the CUE MIX knob.
·
4 FX Busses are also in the channel strip. These
interface with the Reverb Unit, corresponds to E1, E2, E3, E4 (SEE boucing
with FX section in this manual)
·
The
5.1 Pan is also found Below this
section. REMEMBER TO SET PAN TO TRACK
VIA THE ROUTING SECTION TO ACHIEVE PANNING. Set output of signal to stereo, 1 –
2, 3-4, etc.
·
Split
Capability allows returning the daw signal back through the channel strip.
·
CHOP
must be set to either Input or Pre Fader, which will allow the clean signal to
be routed to the DAW, the I can monitor the processed signal in the analogue
domain. WARNING!!! I DESTROYED A PROJECT
IN THIS MANNER. IF YOU WIGH TO RECORD WITH THE CHANNEL STRIP EQ MAKE SURE TO
DOUBLE CHECK THIS SETTING.!!!! IMPORTANT!!!
Recording
Acoustic Guitar with a stereo setup. Pan to Track can be used in this
situation for a stereo image (figure 2.1)
Routing and Center
Section
·
The
center section allows easy routing and monitor control from one area of the
board.
·
Includes Trackball (the bane of my existence,
bring in mouse if possible, Group and Master Fader
o
TO SET MASTER FADER HOLD DOWN THE
MASTER FADER AND MIX BUTTONS simultaneously.
·
Daw
Transport, for ease combine the use of this and the mouse.
·
Oscillator
and noise generator are found in this section. (Never used it)
·
Mini
A are the main speakers, Mini B are the Nearfields.
·
Talkback
Mic: Set levels, use TB button to talk.
o
Set
up a microphone as TB by setting to a channel, setting mic in a good location
then set that mic on I (for input monitor) or set to record enabled in order to
hear.
o
Follow
good TB procedures, respect the artist, make sure not to broadcast anything by
accident.
o
Set
Fold back A for the TB. Make sure mix level and gain level are appropriate as
to not hurt the ears of the musicians.
·
Assigning
of buss summing, inserts, etc found here also, including 4 dedicated stereo
returns.
o
These
can be used to FX and sub mixing.
·
TFT
metering can also be found here, as well as the Total Recall functions via the
TFT screen on the consoles center section.
·
To
select channels in the Routing Tile section press – and + simultaneously to reset.
o
WARNING!!!:
Careful when applying Phantom power, as
setting to all channels will ruin a microphone that should not receive it, such
as ribbon mics. Make sure only the desired channels are selected.
o
Panning: in order to pan a track to a stereo
pair, PAN TO TRACK must be enabled for that track.
·
Phase
Meter: Right is Good, Left is Bad! Stay to the right of Zero, pay attention to
this when panning to minimize phasing issues.
·
LOOK
out for: is your DIM and CUT setting
appropriate? Careful with pops, distortion, hot signals as not to blow the
monitors.
·
TOTAL RECALL
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
o
Total
Recall allows the user to store the settings on most of the knobs on the board.
o
It
will automatically turn on or off any relays but the knob settings need to be
returned by hand.
o
After
saving a “Track” to a “Project” to the Total Recall system pulling up the track
will bring up the TFT’s total recall menu.
o
Each
screen will show one channel strip, turn the knobs until the highlighted are is
matched accordingly. Proceed through all the channels.
o
Remember
that when using total recall in hand with outboard equipment the SSL Total
Recall function will not save outboard equipment settings. For that reason when
using any of the outboard equipment, USE
ONE OF THE SETTING RECALL SHEETS IN THIS MANUAL TO MAKE A COPY AND SAVE THE
SETTING. ALSO SAVE THE SHEET IN ONE OF THE POCKETS IN THIS MANUAL FOR SAFE
KEEPING.
o
This
will allow multiple people to recall a sessions settings much faster than it
would take one person. As the engineer recalls the board, the assistant can
easily set up the compressor units according to the recall sheets.
o
DO NOT ERASE ANYONES SETTINGS!!! This is very possible and
non-reversible. Please be careful and mind your fingers.
(Fig 3.1) Recording in the booth is a
great option, using the AVIOM and the TB functions in the SSL’s Center section allows
for setting up a way for the artist to hear the engineer in the control room.
Bouncing with FX:
Using the TC Electronic MK II Reverb unit allows for a great
deal of flexibility and options for reverb and delay effects. In combination
with SSL’s 4 stereo mix busses the creative possibilities are endless.
E1, E2, E3,
and E4 are currently set up to correspond to mix busses 1-4.
Please follow these steps to bounce
the mix with the FX printed.
FOLLOWING THESE STEPS WILL HELP YOU AVOID BLOWING
UP THE MONITOR IN THE STUDIO!!! Feedback loops can quickly come up if
procedures are not followed properly.
1.
Bring up a new stereo track in
ProTools
2.
Set the input and output to a pair of
tracks on the board (ex 9 and 10)
3.
Label the New track (ex: Print)
4.
Bring down the fader in Pro Tools.
5.
Patch the Output of Mix L + R into
the inputs of the pair on the board (in this example 9 and 10)
6.
In order to avoid feedback the signal
coming back into the board must not go back out to the monitors or this signal
will feed back into the board causing a feedback loop!!!
7.
Remember that SSL has a greater
dynamic range than Pro Tools this can cause clipping, distortion, and unusable
levels if they are not set correctly. Make sure you allow sufficient head room.
8.
After bouncing un patch and return
all channels and equipment to their appropriate states.
(Fig 4.1 The Dryness of the ISO booth
allows for the ability to later add a variety or reverbs and delays using the
TC Icon Reverb Unit, follow proper procedures to ensure good levels and to
avoid damaging equipment.)
Hope You enjoy this guide. It sure helped me get my feet wet again! Whats your favorite board?
Hope You enjoy this guide. It sure helped me get my feet wet again! Whats your favorite board?
