Solid State Logic AWS 900+ Owner's Manual page 2

Digital Control For Analogue Souls
Offering a unique combination of a compact world-class A flexible assignment routing system quickly enables
analogue mixing console and a comprehensive DAW
inserting one of the console's assignable dynamics modules
controller, the SSL AWS 900+ provides everything you need
to the analogue signal path, and allows the user to modify
to record, edit and mix professional audio.
the signal process ordering of the dynamics processing.
Establishing a new category in modern console design, AWS
Channel Input Section
900+ has become the choice of leading international artists,
The Channel Input section features a balanced Line Input with
producers and engineers. It delivers all of the legendary
+/-20dB of gain and a SuperAnalogue™ Mic amp with
benefits of a Solid State Logic analogue audio console; ultra
continuous mic gain control (+15 to +75dB), and switchable
clean SuperAnalogue™ mic pre's, the precision and unique
48V Phantom power. A -20dB PAD, and a discrete Instrument
character of our dual curve 4-band parametric analogue EQ,
input allow for high impedance sources such as guitars. The
SSL Dynamics processing, full 5.1 mixing and monitoring,
Flip control overrides the Master Mic/Line input selection
motorised fader mix AWSomation, TotalRecall™ of analogue
assigned via the console centre section.
console controls, integration of analogue audio sources and
the facility to inject some depth into your digital audio by
EQ Section
summing your mix on the finest quality analogue mix bus.
Lifted from the legendary XL 9000 K Series console, AWS 900+
features a flexible EQ section, switchable between default
AWS 900+ takes control of the modern Digital Audio
'E-Series' operation to the 'G-Series' curves and control
Workstation driven studio. The highly-evolved hardware
interaction. The INS In switch routes the channel via the
control surface enables the operator to manipulate both
balanced Insert Send and Return. PRE places the Insert before
analogue audio paths within the console and the digital
the EQ section. In conjunction with the dynamics CHIP and
audio paths within the DAW from the heart of the console.
CHOP routing keys, the order of the EQ, INSERT and dynamics
With dedicated DAW transport & track navigation, multi-
blocks can be re-ordered to a wide variety of configurations.
function encoders, VCA fader mode, routing control and
built-in TFT display for advanced plug-in editing, AWS 900+
HPF - 18dB/Octave high pass filter with detented bypass
delivers streamlined hardware control over your entire
position. G-EQ Toggles the shelving and parametric sections
studio environment.
from the default 'E-Series' operation to the
'G-Series' curves and control interaction.
Key Features Summary
LMF - Low frequency parametric mid band EQ.
• Combined SSL console and DAW controller HF - High frequency shelving equalizer switchable to fixed Q
• Legendary SSL SuperAnalogue™ mic pres and audio path parametric response via the Bell switch.
• Direct control of DAW recording, editing and HMF - High frequency parametric mid band EQ section.
mixing functions LF - Low frequency shelving EQ Switchable to fixed Q
• Classic SSL EQ & Dynamics with unique sonic character parametric response via the Bell switch.
• AWSomation motorised fader mix automation
FX Sends
• Unique TotalRecall™ system for recall of analogue controls
• 5.1, stereo or stereo down mix main outputs Dual Mono post fader FX Sends are each switchable between
• Full monitoring system up to 5.1 surround a primary, secondary or EFX bus to expand the number of
possible sends from a channel module. A Push-Push switch
Channel Module
activates or de-activates the send.
Input and Output Module
The PRE/EFX switch sources the channel from either the
isolated pre-fader signal or the active EFX send. The EFX
The channel meters section features dual
switch isolates the selected send from its bus and routes the
12-segment meters to indicate the post fader
output to either the Track Busses or the channel module's
channel input level or Mono/Stereo DAW
Direct Output if PRE/EFX is active.
levels. The meter source normally follows the
large fader assignment. The Mode Indicators
Console Dynamics Module
here indicate which DAW channel is currently
The assignable channel dynamics section features SSL's
assigned to the Centre Section.
standard RMS compressor, switchable to peak sensing, with
The pre or post channel fader signal can be
hard knee characteristic via pull switch on Ratio control.
routed to any of 8 Track Busses. The default
post fader option can be selected pre or post There are controls for Expander/Gate range, threshold,
the stereo bus panpot. If EFX is active, the
release and hold. Expand is selected via a pull switch on the
routing source is the selected CUE/FX
hold control.
send level.
AWS 900+.
This is SSL.
Centre Section Control
The AWS 900+ Centre Section offers an uncompromising approach to global
console function management, monitoring and DAW control. The compact yet
extremely flexible control area gives direct access to all the most important DAW
functions and monitoring for both control room, studio, headphone foldback
mixes and talkback functions. Alternate key sets allows optimisation for a variety
of popular workstations when operating using Mackie/Logic control emulation.
Main Stereo Outputs
The Master Stereo Bus Selector Panel controls the status of the console's two
main stereo outputs. Full routing of the motorised master fader, the main bus
compressor and the channel dynamics processors together with the bus inserts
is carried out through two path select switches and a vertical row of function
keys. Additional keys select a unique insert sum feature which allows sub-mixing
of the stereo bus insert return to the main busses and a +10dB boost can also be
added to either of the main stereo busses shifting the fader scale to match the
channel fader.
Monitoring
The AWS 900+ offers a new level of sophistication when working with control
room monitoring. The centre section affords total control over two independent
5.1 main loudspeaker outputs plus two stereo mini LS outputs, which can be
derived from an advanced Stereo Downmix Summing Matrix. Full Bass
management is included which can be used with the Mini LS outputs as well as
the main 5.1 monitor outputs. A highly flexible External source selector section
can sum, assign and route up to four 5.1 sources, and four stereo input sources
to either control room, studio loudspeaker and headphone feeds. Available
Monitoring sources include the Record bus, Mix bus, Track Busses 1-6, four
external 5.1 sources and four external stereo sources.
A 6 channel wide monitor insert point and a separate 6 channel external meter
output allow full interfacing with additional third party monitoring systems and
surround encoder/decoder combos.
A console as versatile as the AWS 900+ requires an equally versatile and
sophisticated solo system. Channel Solos can be selected between: Normal
Latching destructive solo, Stereo AFL, mono PFL, inter-cancelling ALT mode, Fleet
and non-latching solo switches. The Solo-in front option provides a mix of LR
with the selected AFL signal. The Solo-in front control adjusts the relative levels
of AFL and mix signals.
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DAW Workstation Control Panel
The AWS 900+ offers a powerful large format console feature set contained
within a compact console design; however the AWS goes further than any other
analogue console to integrate seamlessly into a DAW based facility by
incorporating hands-on control of important recording, routing, mixing, and
editing functions in all major DAW applications including Pro Tools™, Logic
Audio™, Nuendo™, Sonar™ and many others.
A high quality TFT displays DAW status and Plug-In parameters, plus additional
console set-up information. Underneath this is the DAW Plug-In/Process
controller - four rotary encoders with integral push-push switches, and four
assign keys. Two additional keys are for page up/down control. The Plug-In
Editor is assigned via the channel SEL switches in conjunction with the EDIT
switch. Plug-Ins can now also be controlled via the faders.
Dedicated DAW Control Panel
The DAW control panel includes a Master Rotary encoder,
together with six function keys and a 2-digit display. Users
can assign DAW channel levels, send levels and routing
functions to the channel rotary encoder. Channel and Send
levels can be 'flipped' on to the main channel fader from
this panel.
Five vertical buttons (the Window Select Keys) allow
for quick access to the most commonly used DAW
windows such as the edit/arrange window or the
DAW mixer window.
The four uppermost buttons duplicate commonly used keyboard functions on a
standard computer keyboard, including ESCAPE, UNDO, SAVE and ENTER. The
lower four buttons shadow the keyboard modifier keys. In combination these
buttons can remove the need for a keyboard and mouse for almost all tasks.
Motion Control Panel
Two rows of 5 buttons include the frequently used shortcuts to AUDITION, PRE,
IN, OUT, POST buttons. The second row includes RTZ, END, LOOP, Q-PUNCH and
DAW ON-LINE buttons. Controls are included for simple zooming, navigation and
selection of DAW objects. Transport buttons allow easy access to the most
common transport functions: play, record, rewind,
fast forward and stop buttons.