Solid State Logic (SSL) has announced the launch of two new 2U rack-based studio tools, the PURE DRIVE QUAD and PURE DRIVE OCTO microphone preamplifiers that are available in four-channel (QUAD) and eight-channel (OCTO) configurations, both incorporating proprietary SuperAnalogue PureDrive Technology that was initially introduced by the company’s ORIGIN recording console.
Additionally, they have a newly introduced DRIVE mode, numerous analog and digital connectivity options and an integrated USB-C soundcard. The PureDrive microphone preamplifier is designed to retain the clarity and punch of previous designs while offering the added versatility of switching its character to a warm, harmonically rich, and driven tone that varies with gain.
PURE DRIVE QUAD and OCTO offer ORIGIN’s PURE and DRIVE modes and also add a new “Asymmetric Drive” makes the even harmonic content dominant to provide more pronounced thickness, coloration, and softening of transients. Also onboard are independent 48-volt phantom power, polarity inversion, and a high-pass filter that is sweepable on QUAD.
“The PURE DRIVE QUAD and OCTO offer a collection of features and workflows never seen before in an outboard mic pre.” states Andy Jackson, senior product manager, studio products. “They stand as a testament to SSL’s commitment to progressive analogue circuit design, offering exceptional performance and versatility.”
Both units have four front-mounted Hi-Z/DI instrument inputs with automatic input detection, rear-mounted combo XLR inputs, D-sub connectors for line-level inputs, as well as insert send and insert return. All insert returns/ADC inputs operate up to full +24 dBu line-level, for interfacing with other professional equipment. Digitally, QUAD and OCTO offer an integrated USB-C soundcard providing conversion up to 32-Bit/192 kHz, AES/EBU outputs, and ADAT out with SMUX. The AES and ADAT outputs can be individually repurposed to be fed from the onboard USB soundcard as outputs from a DAW. In addition, there’s an auto-ranging word clock input and output for robust digital clocking.
The new PURE DRIVE QUAD and OCTO preamplifiers are priced at £833/ $1399 / €1,229.00 (excluding VAT) and £1499 / $2499 / €1,829.00 (excluding VAT) respectively. For more information go here (QUAD) and here (OCTO).
