30th June 1999 - Technical Visit to Solid State Logic

On Wednesday 30th June members of the British Section paid a visit to Solid State Logic (SSL), manufacturer of professional analogue and digital mixing consoles near Oxford. This summer marks SSL's 30th birthday, and in fact the company was originally formed to design control systems for pipe organs. 1977 saw the introduction of SSL's first mixing console, the SL 4000, and today that series is still being produced alongside organ systems and several other analogue and digital console models.

The afternoon began with a tour of SSL's manufacturing facilities (housed in a contemporary glass-walled building on the site of a former convent) which followed the construction of a console from the first stage of frame assembly through to final testing. It was explained that since the earliest days of console production SSL has used a computer tracking system for raw materials, and because of the necessarily low sales volume of such a massive and costly product it strives to operate at a near-zero inventory. All consoles, no matter their size, are fully assembled to be tested before shipping; on arrival SSL installs the consoles and provides training for operators and maintenance engineers.

Next the visit proceeded to SSL's specially constructed control rooms, of which there is one for each console series. These studio-quality rooms are extensively outfitted with audio playback, processing, and monitoring equipment so that prospective customers may test each console in a studio environment; they also serve both as a training facility for new owners and a remote technical support environment in which SSL engineers may easily mimic a client's set-up. Here the group split into two for a demonstration of SSL's flagship consoles, the analogue SL 9000 J Series and digital Axiom-MT Series. In spending an hour with the SL 9000 J Series one sees why the company has established its substantive market share; SSL feels this is its best sounding console ever due to careful redesign of critical analogue circuitry.

The group was then treated to a very generous buffet supper, at which participants enjoyed good food, wine, and conversation before a subsequent demonstration of the Axiom-MT Series. On the surface the Axiom-MT retains the feel of its analogue counterpart, but the versatility of digital implementation allows it considerable added flexibility. Engineers were not present to discuss its design in detail, but it was indicated that SSL takes correct implementation of digital design as a given. A brochure yields the information that its software (exclusively proprietary, like that of the analogue consoles) is written in a strongly typed, high-level language. For both analogue and digital series, software upgrades are continuously being developed and are made available free for the life of the product.

Tea, coffee, and a bag of small parting gifts concluded the evening. On behalf of the British Section this reviewer would like to thank Solid State Logic for the kind invitation to visit its facilities.

Patrick Wolfe