Solid State Logic PURE DRIVE OCTO Mic Pre’s, conversion and USB soundcard
The PURE DRIVE OCTO harnesses Solid State Logic’s renowned SuperAnalogue PureDrive™ microphone preamp technology, originally featured in the ORIGIN console. This advanced unit introduces a new DRIVE mode, comprehensive connectivity, and state-of-the-art digital conversion, all within a compact 8-channel 2U rackmount format. The ORIGIN recording console, a contemporary-classic from SSL, first introduced the groundbreaking PureDrive™ microphone preamplifier. This innovative preamp maintains the clarity and punch of SSL’s previous designs while also offering the flexibility to switch its character to a warm, harmonically rich, and driven tone that varies with gain.
Key Features
- 8 channel high-performance PureDrive™ mic preamps
- +48V phantom power, polarity invert and 3rd order hi-pass filter
- Stepped Gain control up to +65 dB Gain
- 31-step Trim control, with precise 1 dB increments – overdrive the signal with the Gain control and then reduce to a suitable level using Trim.
- 3 modes for each preamp – Clean, Classic Drive and Asymmetric Drive
- Mic/Line Input Switching
- Mic via XLR
- Line via choice of TRS Jack or dedicated D-Sub connectivity
- 4 x front panel Hi-Z/DI Instrument unbalanced inputs with automatic input detection
- 4 mic preamp input impedance options – explore new tonal possibilities from your dynamic and ribbon microphones
- Balanced analogue outputs/insert sends for external processing
- +24 dBu professional line level insert returns/ADC inputs
- Analogue to digital connectivity via ADAT, AES and USB
- Ability to switch ADAT and AES connections to source audio from DAW outputs (USB) instead of the A/D converter
- USB soundcard mode: OCTO – 8 in / 24 out (@44.1/48 kHz) ; 8 x analogue / 8 AES + 16 ADAT outs
- Stepped pots and digitally controlled analogue electronics for precision, stereo matching and ease of recall
- Up to 192 kHz and 32-bit conversion, professional I/O levels (+24 dBu = 0 dBFS).
- Selectable Auto-Sleep mode
- Auto-ranging Wordclock In and Out
3 Flavours, 1 Mic Pre
PURE DRIVE OCTO is a testament to SSL’s commitment to progressive analogue circuit design. No electro-mechanical components (potentiometers, mechanical switches, relays etc) are used in the critical audio signal path of PURE DRIVE OCTO, increasing product longevity, and allowing impeccable ‘matching’ between all channels – not just a stereo pair. The use of digitally controlled analogue circuits, controlled by detented pots and electronic switches simplifies recall and precision of settings. Each of PURE DRIVE OCTO’s mic pre’s can be independently switched between three distinct DRIVE modes: Clean, Classic Drive, and Asymmetric Drive.
Clean Mode
Clean mode (White) delivers the highly regarded, ultra-low noise floor, linear SSL preamp that is recognised for its ability to faithfully capture the sound of the source with exceptional clarity and detail.
Classic Drive
Classic Drive (Amber) is the symmetrical mode that generates predominantly odd harmonics; the same drive sound found on the ORIGIN console.
Asymmetric Drive
Asymmetric Drive (Green) offers up a new colouration option, specifically designed for the PURE DRIVE range, making the even harmonic content dominant and providing more pronounced thickness, colouration and softening of transients.