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SSL ALPHA 8 User Guide
Why Choose ALPHA 8?
The ultimate audio interface expander
Building on the acclaimed Alpha Link range, ALPHA 8 is an 8-in/8-out professional-
grade analogue to digital, digital to analogue converter perfect for expanding your
audio interface via ADAT and S/PDIF. Alternatively, you can configure ALPHA 8 to
address all analogue and digital I/O simultaneously via USB, giving you an 18-in/18-
out audio interface. Featuring class-leading conversion, flexible routing, and
impeccable audio performance, ALPHA 8 unlocks the full potential of your setup.
No More Compromise
Using next-generation 32-bit/192 kHz converters, ALPHA 8 allows you to expand
your audio interface with first-rate audio performance. Superior in every way, ALPHA
8 tops the charts with superb dynamic range, stunningly low THD+N and crosstalk
so low it is unmeasurable beside the exceedingly low noise floor. Expanding the I/O
of your existing interface no longer needs to be a compromise.
Configuration Flexibility
ALPHA 8 is capable of many different conversion configurations to suit your specific
needs, ensuring you are able to get the most out of all the digital and analogue I/O it
offers. Whether you need a simple bidirectional Analogue <> ADAT/SPDIF
converter, a full-blown aggregate 18-in, 18-out USB audio interface, or a mixture of
the two, ALPHA 8 provides a flexible range of options for how the physical outputs
are fed.
The Great Connector
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Related Manuals for Solid State Logic ALPHA 8
Summary of Contents for Solid State Logic ALPHA 8
- Page 1 Whether you need a simple bidirectional Analogue <> ADAT/SPDIF converter, a full-blown aggregate 18-in, 18-out USB audio interface, or a mixture of the two, ALPHA 8 provides a flexible range of options for how the physical outputs are fed.
- Page 2 The operating level of each analogue input and output can be individually adjusted to best match the equipment you are connecting to ALPHA 8, whether it’s 19” rack gear, vintage synthesisers, analogue mixers, 500-series modules or monitor controllers. On the digital side, comprehensive clocking options (including Wordclock In and Out, ADAT and S/PDIF) ensures Alpha 8 will never miss a beat, guaranteeing rock steady integration in your studio environment.
- Page 3 IEC Power Cable for your region Registering Your SSL ALPHA 8 Registering ALPHA 8 will grant you access to an array of exclusive software from us and other industry-leading software companies - we call this incredible bundle the 'SSL Production Pack'.
- Page 4 download the software another time. Front Panel Tutorial 1. HEADPHONES OUTPUT The front panel headphones output allows you to confidence check the selected audio path individually or in stereo pairs (press and hold an odd-numbered select button and whilst keeping held, press the even number). Use in conjunction with the IN, OUT, ANA &...
- Page 5 Use these buttons in conjunction with the SEL 1-8 buttons to do the following: Audition audio paths Set operating levels Please note when setting the operating level of an analogue input or output the selection of ANA or DIG does not make a difference, only the choice of IN (for analogue input) or OUT (for analogue output) matters.
- Page 6 IEC Power Inlet. 2. USB USB 'C' Type Connector - To use ALPHA 8 as a USB audio interface, connect a USB cable to your computer from here. If you are using ALPHA 8 only to convert between Analogue/ADAT/S/PDIF, the USB connection is not required.
- Page 7 5. WORDCLOCK I/O Wordclock in and out connections on BNC offer flexible clocking options. If ALPHA 8 is receiving wordclock (wordclock input) from an external device and it is the last unit in the wordclock chain, press the 75 Ω termination button.
- Page 8 2 channels of S/PDIF to ADAT and 6 channels of Analogue to ADAT In this example, an SSL 12 audio interface is connected to ALPHA 8 via ADAT. 2 channels of S/PDIF from a guitar amp modeller are being converted to ADAT and sent to SSL 12 (ADAT inputs 1-2).
- Page 9 In this example, a third-party audio interface that only has optical ADAT input and output is connected to Alpha 8. ADAT inputs 1-2 on ALPHA 8 (fed from the audio interface) are being converted to coaxial S/PDIF, which then feeds an external metering device.
- Page 10 SSL SiX analogue mixer and outboard preamps are connected to the analogue inputs of Alpha 8 and PURE DRIVE mic preamps are connected to the ADAT input. The analogue outputs are connected to an external monitoring unit,...
- Page 11 Using ALPHA 8 as an Audio Interface The USB audio interface functionality of ALPHA 8 offers some extra flexibility to those who need it. To this end, ALPHA 8 can be used as an 18-in, 18-out USB audio interface when connected to the computer via USB.
- Page 12 Mac does not require drivers to be installed because ALPHA 8 is a class-compliant USB Audio 2.0 device. ALPHA 8 will show up as a USB Audio device using the inbuilt Core Audio driver. Simply select ALPHA 8 in System Preferences / your DAW to use it as an audio interface.
- Page 13 Please refer to this article for a detailed explanation of linking your interface to one of the 4 ASIO Driver slots to ALPHA 8. Safe Mode In the Control Panel there is a tickbox for Safe Mode on the 'Buffer Settings' tab.
- Page 14 ADAT at 44.1 or 48 kHz then both ADAT and S/PDIF optical formats can be used simultaneously, as ADAT 1-8 only requires the 1st optical ports. ALPHA 8 will restart to enact this change. SETTING 2 – ANALOGUE LINE OUTPUTS SOURCE...
- Page 15 The third option (top red LED lit) is USB (DAW) OUTPUTS 1-8. This setting allows you to feed analogue outputs 1-8 from USB audio (your DAW/computer audio). Ensure you have connected the USB cable to ALPHA 8 to use it as a USB audio device.
- Page 16 The third option (top red LED lit) is USB (DAW OUTPUTS 9-10). This setting allows you to feed the S/PDIF output from USB audio stream 9-10 (your DAW/computer audio). Ensure you have connected the USB cable to ALPHA 8 to use it as a USB audio device.
- Page 17 8 – a factory reset has been successfully performed. Using ALPHA 8's DC-Coupled Outputs All analogue outputs on the ALPHA 8 are DC-coupled and therefore able to send +/-5V signal to allow CV control to Semi & Modular Synths, Eurorack and CV- enabled outboard FX.
- Page 18 Once the CV Utility Plug-In is Open, set the CV To your designated Output. In this example we've set this to Output 4 from the ALPHA 8. Set up a second Audio track with the input signal from the Effect/Instrument and record arm to monitor the input back into Ableton Live.
- Page 19 Remember - Eurorack signals are up to 5x louder than line-level audio! Before connecting your modular system to a digital audio interface, be sure to reduce the signal down to line-level using a dedicated output module. Specifications Unless specified otherwise, default test configuration: Sample Rate: 48kHz, Bandwidth: 20 Hz to 20 kHz Measurement device output impedance: 40 Ω...
- Page 20 THD+N (+18 dBu, at -1 dBFS) -106 dB/0.0005% Output Impedance <1 Ω Power Power Consumption < 30 Watts Latency Analogue to ADAT 0.09 ms @ 96 kHz 0.61 ms @ 48 kHz USB Roundtrip Latency 32 sample buffer, 96 kHz Mac - 5.1 ms Windows - 3 ms Safe Mode Off, 5 ms Safe Mode On 32 sample buffer, 48 kHz...
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