Solid State Logic BiG SiX User Manual
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Solid State Logic BiG SiX User Manual

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Summary of Contents for Solid State Logic BiG SiX

  • Page 1 BiG SiX User Guide BiG SiX...
  • Page 2 As research and development is a continual process, Solid State Logic reserves the right to change the features and specifications described herein without notice or obligation. Solid State Logic cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from any error or omission in this manual.
  • Page 3 SuperAnalogue consoles that deliver all of the quality and flexibility audio professionals expect from SSL, but in very compact footprints. SiX is designed to be small enough to fit into hand luggage or a half 19” rack space, BiG SiX is over twice the size, fits a full 9U of 19”...
  • Page 4 This Page Is Intentionally Almost Blank! BiG SiX User Guide...
  • Page 5 Our philosophy is simple, we spare nothing in designing and manufacturing the best precision music tools available anywhere. There is no single magic stage in BiG SiX - everything from the pre-amps through the line level electronics, signal processing and output stages plays its part.

  • Page 6: Table Of Contents

    Talk Input Pre-amplifier and LMC ...............................14 Talk Input and LMC..................................15 Artist Cue Mixes ..................................15 Foldback Outputs as Effects Sends ............................15 Main Meter ..................................16 Bus B Master .................................16 Main Bus ..................................16 External to Main Bus Summing ..............................16 Main Bus Insert ...................................16 BiG SiX User Guide...
  • Page 7 USB Drivers, Mac and Windows..............................20 USB Signal Routing and Block Diagram ........................25 USB Returns 1 - 16 (Signal flow from the DAW to BiG SiX) ....................... 25 USB Sends 1 - 16 (Signal flow to the DAW from BiG SiX) ......................25 Application Examples - Desktop Studio ........................28...
  • Page 8 Introduction This Page Is Intentionally Almost Blank! BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 9: Introduction

    BiG SiX incorporates professional quality A to D and D to A converters and a multi-channel USB DAW interface, however the connections and signal flow is such that it can be used as a wholly analogue mixing console, without reliance on the digital connection.

  • Page 10: Unpacking

    Heat & Ventilation and Rack Mounting Option BiG SiX packs a lot of SuperAnalogue electronics into its compact size. It is designed to get warm in normal operation. Please consult the operational specifications in Appendix B of this User Guide to make sure that it is used within its designed environmental parameters.

  • Page 11: Usb-C Digital Interface

    USB Cables & Power Please use one of the provided USB cables ('C' to 'C' or 'C' to 'A') to connect BiG SiX to your computer. The connector on the rear of BiG SiX is a 'C' type. The type of USB port you have available on your computer will determine which of the two included cables you should use.

  • Page 12: Console Overview

    Console Overview Console Overview Front panel BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 13: Rear Panel

    Console Overview Rear Panel The rear panel of SiX is shown below. The connectors are identified on a panel above the connector panel. All audio connectors are Balanced TRS 1/4" Jacks. BiG SiX User Guide...
  • Page 14 Console Overview This Page Is Intentionally Almost Blank! BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 15: Detailed Description

    SSL Duality and AWS consoles. In these consoles, line and mic inputs are served by separate pre-amps. In BiG SiX, a wide gain range, ultra low noise SuperAnalogue design provides both Line and Mic facilities with a [Line] gain range switch to cover a wide range of source levels.

  • Page 16: Channel Eq

    Channel EQ The channel EQ on BiG SiX has its roots in SSL’s classic E series EQ. It is a gentle, broad stroke three-band design with high and low shelving filters at 3.5 kHz and 60 Hz, adjustable from +15 dB to -15 dB of gain and a fixed Mid Frequency control at 700 Hz.

  • Page 17: Channel Compressor

    Channel Compressor The channel compressor in BiG SiX is an evolution of the design in SiX. As with the design in SiX, it is inspired by the sophisticated channel dynamics sections of earlier SSL analogue consoles, but with some clever design features to give powerful and versatile performance from its deceptively simple appearance.

  • Page 18: Stereo Cue Sends

    FROM CHANNEL POST INSERT a DAW. RETURN The "TO USB n" legend at the base of each SuperAnalogue channel fader shows which USB send the channel is connected to. BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 19: Stereo Channels

    Send Pre Fader output of each SuperAnalogue channel strip, for the stereo channel, these are conneced in odd/ even pairs, e.g. Send 5/6. The sends can be switched in pairs to Post Fader using the USB OUT POST FADER switch. BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 20: Monitor Section

    Console Overview Monitor section The monitoring facilities in BiG SiX are very comprehensive given the size of the console. The block diagram below shows the structure of the Main Monitor, Alternate Monitor and Headphone outputs. MON SOURCE ALT MON MAIN...

  • Page 21: Headphone (Phones) Outputs

    Console Overview Headphone (Phones) outputs In addition to the Main and Alt loudspeaker outputs, BiG SiX has two stereo headphone output on ¼” Stereo Jacks on the upper connector panel above the Power indicator. Each headphone level is independently controlled by the two PHONES knobs above the Monitor Level control.

  • Page 22: Stereo Cue Master Section (Including Talk Input)

    Talk Input Pre-amplifier and LMC BiG SiX’s Talk Input is an additional pre-amplifier and compressor circuit nominally designed to provide talkback facilities to the Stereo Cue outputs of the console, but with several other possible applications when the design is explored more fully.

  • Page 23: Talk Input And Lmc

    Main Bus above the Main Fader. The CUE to USB feature provides a simple way to use effects in the DAW with send levels from BiG SiX. Similarly the USB to External Input feature provides a way to bring wet/processed signals back from the DAW.

  • Page 24: Main Meter

    Main Bus The Main Stereo Bus on BiG SiX connects to dedicated MAIN 1/4" TRS output jacks on the rear connector panel. These are balanced TRS connectors. Additionally, the Main Bus is connected via a pair of A/Ds to the USB channel 15 &...

  • Page 25: Sum Input To Main Bus

    Main Left and Right buses. Typically these might be used to cascade the mix bus signals from another sub- mix console onto the BiG SiX Main bus, such as an SSL SiX console as illustrated below.

  • Page 26: St Cue 1 To G Comp & Sum To Main Bus

    SUM IP TO MAIN MAIN SEND RETURN EXT 1 FROM ST CUE 1 MAIN BUS TO MON FROM SEND EXT 1 13/14 MUTE LEVEL EXT 2 BUS B FROM EXT 2 to +10dB BUS B TO MON BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 27: G-Series Bus Compressor

    G-Series Bus Compressor The G Series Bus Comp in BiG SiX is a stereo compressor applied across the Main Mix bus, using exactly the same circuit topology as the original design found on the SL4000 G-Series console released in 1989 (which in-turn was evolved from the earlier E-Series consoles).

  • Page 28: Usb-C Interface

    USB Cables & Power Please use one of the provided USB cables ('C' to 'C' or 'C' to 'A') to connect BiG SiX to your computer. The connector on the rear of BiG SiX is a 'C' type. The type of USB port you have available on your computer will determine which of the two included cables you should use.
  • Page 29 15/16 will enable this, shown in this diagram on the right... By selecting BiG SiX as the audio interface in the DAW, all 16 USB channels will be visible to the DAW. How these are displayed is controlled by the DAW, for example, in Logic Pro, this is how BiG SiX appears in the PREFERENCES/AUDIO/DEVICES menu...
  • Page 30 Console Overview The outputs from BiG SiX now appear as discrete sources for the input routing of the DAW again an example for Logic Pro is shown on the right... Similarly the inputs to BiG SiX appear as discrete sources for the output routing of the DAW again an example for Logic Pro is shown on the right...
  • Page 31 Windows based PCs will need to install the SSL USB Audio ASIO/WDM driver, which can be found in the Support/Downloads section of the SSL website at www.solidstatelogic.com/. The USB Driver for BiG SiX is also shared with other SSL USB interfaces, if other SSL USB interfaces are connected then there will be a drop-down selector for the connected SSL USB devices.
  • Page 32 For the best and most flexible performance with DAW's ASIO is the preferred choice. For other Windows audio formats, the driver arranges the USB signals to and from BiG SiX in pairs, the output from the PC to BiG SiX are labelled as Output 1/2, Output 3/4, etc.

  • Page 33: Usb Signal Routing And Block Diagram

    USB Signal Routing and Block Diagram BiG SiX retains all the SuperAnalogue signal quality attributes of its smaller sister SiX console, however with a larger footprint BiG SiX also incorporates 16 high quality Analogue to Digital and Digital To Analogue converters and a class compliant USB interface.
  • Page 34 Console Overview BiG SiX User Guide...
  • Page 35 Application Examples BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 36: Application Examples - Desktop Studio

    Application Examples Application Examples - Desktop Studio Opposite is a simple application of BiG SiX in a typical desktop studio application. The mics for the vocals and guitars are connected to the SuperAnalogue XLR microphone inputs then processed with the SSL Channel Compression and EQ.
  • Page 37 Application Examples BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 38: Application Examples - Small Project Studio, Record/Overdub

    Application Examples - Small Project Studio, Record/Overdub Opposite is a simple application of BiG SiX in a typical small project studio application. A key difference in this example is that the artists are in an isolation booth and the two console headphone outputs are being used by a separate engineer and producer each with their own level control.
  • Page 39 Application Examples BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 40: Application Examples - Small Project Studio - Hybrid Superanalogue Mixdown

    DAW. This enables simple re-balancing at a later date by sending the stem tracks back to BiG SiX with its paths and faders at unity gain. The Main Mix is also being sent back to the DAW to print the main mix alongside the stems.
  • Page 41 Application Examples BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 42: Application Examples - Post Production - Adr Or Foreign Language Dubbing

    Dialogue reverb effects created in the DAW are fed from Stereo Cue 2 mixes from SuperAnalogue Channels 1-4, using the Cue 2 Output to USB 11/12 Send feature. The output of these reverb effects from the DAW are then fed back to BiG SiX on USB to Stereo Channels 5/6 where they are sent to the actor's headphone mixes on Stereo Cue 1.
  • Page 43 Application Examples BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 44: Application Examples - Podcast Studio

    It’s ideal for vloggers, producers and podcasters who need to achieve high fidelity audio recordings quickly and intuitively. Here, BiG SiX acts as the nerve centre, with local sources including, four mic inputs connected to BiG SiX’s high quality SuperAnalogue mic pre’s, with SSL Compression and EQ, local playback connected to one of the Stereo Channels and remote playback feeds connected to the second stereo channel.

  • Page 45: Troubleshooting & Faqs

    When I connect only to a Left Input, there is also a signal on the Right This is a feature of the stereo inputs of BiG SiX (see page 11). If an input is only connected to the left input of the stereo input pair (i.e.

  • Page 46: Warranty

    For all warranty inquiries or claims please address your claim to the dealer that you purchased the product from or to Solid State Logic if the purchase was directly from Solid State Logic.

  • Page 47: Appendix A - Physical Specification

    0 V Chassis Talkback Microphone Input Foldback/Stereo Cue Outputs 3-pin XLR Female 1/4" TRS Jack Socket Description Description 0 V Chassis Signal +ve (Hot) Signal +ve (Hot) Ring Signal -ve (Cold) Signal -ve (Cold) Sleeve 0 V Chassis BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 48: Insert Sends/Returns

    0 V Chassis Insert Sends/Returns 1/4" TRS Jack Socket Description Signal +ve (Hot) Ring Signal -ve (Cold) Sleeve 0 V Chassis DC Power Inlet 4-pin DIN Male Description +15 V, 3.3 A 0 V Common Shell Chassis BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 49: Appendix B - Performance Specification

    (-20 dBu applied, +30 dB gain) @ 1kHz (filter 22 Hz to 22 < 0.0015 % kHz) CMRR (-10 dBu applied, +30 dB gain) @100 Hz > 80 dB Equivelent Input Noise (EIN) 150 Ω termination, maximum gain <-120 dBu BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 50: Channel Equaliser

    > 100 kHz THD+Noise (-20 dBu applied, +30 dB gain) @ 1 kHz (filter 22 Hz to 22 < 0.001 % kHz) CMRR >55 dB Equivelant Input Noise (EIN) 150 Ω termination, maximum gain <-93 dBu BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 51: Overall Channel Signal Chain Specifications

    -4 dBFS @ 1 kHz (filter 22 Hz to 22 kHz) 0.0007 % Dynamic Range A-weighted 117 dB A-weighted 117 dB Environmental Requirements Temperature range: Operating: +1 to 30 degrees Celsius. Storage: -20 to 50 degrees Celsius. BiG SiX User Guide...

  • Page 52: Appendix C - Big Six Block Diagram

    Appendix C Appendix C - BiG SiX Block Diagram BUS COMP to ∑ ST CUE 1 POST FADER SUPER ANALOGUE IN (1 of 4) G SERIES BUS COMP SEND MAIN 1..4 BUS B T/HOLD MAKE UP SEND AUTO SEND T/HOLD...

  • Page 53: Appendix D - Recall Sheet

    Appendix D Appendix D - Recall Sheet This image should scale if you print this page at larger sizes, e.g. A3 BiG SiX User Guide...
  • Page 54 Notes Notes BiG SiX User Guide...
  • Page 55 Notes Notes BiG SiX User Guide...
  • Page 56 BiG SiX...

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