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BiG SiX combines production tools from iconic SSL studio consoles with the latest in hybrid workflow. G-Series Bus Compressor with renowned ‘Auto’ release, E-Series EQ, glorious sounding mic pres with channel processing, and advanced monitoring and routing, all designed on a SuperAnalogueTM foundation and brought together with full USB integration. BiG SiX is the essential SSL studio.

BiG SiX is the natural evolution of the modern-day studio classic, SiX. Incorporating feedback from a wide range of artist, producers and engineers, BiG SiX increases its capacity in almost all areas with four SuperAnalogueTM mic pres, four SuperAnalogueTM stereo inputs with dual mono switching, 3 band E-Series EQ on every channel, dual independent headphone outs with source matrix and much more.

Whether you’re wanting to take your content creation or post-production to the next level with SSL analogue processing or require advanced hybrid workflow for multitrack recording or stem mixing, BiG SiX offers absolute flexibility and creative agility for any production scenario.

Strapped across the mix bus of  BiG SiX is the legendary G Series Bus Compressor, ready to add drive, energy and that all important 'finished' sound to your productions.

Using exactly the same circuit topology as the original design found on the SL 4000 G-Series console, the Bus Compressor within BiG SiX has fixed 4:1 ratio, 30 ms attack and 100 ms release. These 'set and forget' settings are the go-to for many SSL large format console users, who will often engage the Bus Compressor very early in a session and build the mix into it.

The BiG SiX Bus Compressor features the renowned ‘Auto’ release setting, adding further flexibility to this essential version of the legendary glue and punch maker.

BiG SiX contains a class compliant USB 96 Khz / 24 bit interface to connect to a PC or MAC. The interface is paired with 16 high quality A/D and D/A converters that are connected to the SuperAnalogueTM signal chain in BiG SiX. The first 12 channels are split across the first 12 inputs/outputs and can be switched pre/post fader. USB channels 13-16 route to/from External inputs and Master buses. Alternatively, sends 9/10 and 11/12 can be fed from the stereo cue buses. Perfect for additional ITB processing.

Fast, detailed and very, very punchy. BiG SiX’s SuperAnalogueTM preamps are capable of comfortably handling a wide variety of microphones (including ribbon) thanks to their super wide gain range. They feature a dedicated line input with Hi-Z, 48V, high pass filter and polarity switch, and will get the absolute best out of your new and vintage instruments and line level sources.

Smooth, refine and add character with classic SSL channel compression. The compressors program dependent attack time (8ms – 30ms), release time around 300ms and the gentle 2:1 ratio allow the compressor to work across a wide variety of content and makes up one of the three compression flavours BiG SiX offers.

The channel EQ on BiG SiX has its roots in SSL’s classic E series, matching its  EQ curves on the broadest setting. It is a 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. The HF and LF bands can be independently switched between shelving and bell curves, and can be found on every channel of BiG SiX.

Initially developed for the SL 9000 Series consoles to take analogue performance to the next level, SuperAnalogueTM technology is at the heart of BiG SiX and is fundamental to what sets it (and SiX) apart from other desk-top mixers. SuperAnalogueTM technology is the sum of an applied design philosophy, constant invention, and dedication to optimizing every detail of our precision audio products. There are many contributing aspects, including our bespoke circuits, ground-breaking low-noise gain control, servo-coupled amplifier stages, and many more.

 

BiG SiX is designed to enhance your production capabilities at any stage of the process. From the SSL console grade faders to the advanced monitoring section and 18 channels of analogue summing at mix-down, the meticulously selected feature-set found on BiG SiX brings almost limitless creative options and engineering authority from large-format SSL consoles to your desk-top.

• Four SuperAnalogueTM Mic / line / Hi-Z / 48V / HPF and polarity switch
• Four SuperAnalogueTM stereo line level inputs with dual mono switching
• Built in 16 channel  96 Khz / 24-bit USB interface with advanced routing
• Essential version of G-Comp Bus Compressor with 'Auto' release
• 3 Band SSL LF/MF/HF EQ on every channel
• Classic SSL channel dynamics processing
• Listen Mic Compressor
• Dual independent headphone outputs with source matrix
• 100 mm console grade faders
• Professional metering
• Comprehensive monitoring section
• Two stereo cue feeds
• Bus B / Mute switching
• Two fully balanced stereo external inputs
• Up to 18 inputs at mixdown
• Mix Bus inject for cascading additional SiX/BiG SiX

BiG Six features four stereo SuperAnalogueTM line level inputs. These can be either be fed from 1/4 “ TRS balanced jack inputs on the rear of the unit or switched to the DA converters from the relevant USB returns.  The USB input is before the Trim gain control. To add further flexibility, the four stereo inputs can be switched to dual mono, or will automatically switch if only the left input is used. 

In addition to the Main and Alt loudspeaker outputs with MON, DIM and CUT controls, BiG SiX has two independent stereo headphone outputs. By default, the headphone outputs follows the MONITOR SOURCE selection. The headphone outputs can also be switched to monitor Stereo Cue buses 1 & 2 independently of the Monitor selection.

There are two stereo Cue sends on each channel of BiG SiX with independent level control. They are fed from channel pre-fader post-insert. Via the master section, each Cue send can be routed with a number of additional sources to provide FX sends and headphone mixes. To add further hybrid workflow flexibility, BiG SIX can re-route USB channels 9/10 and 11/12 from both sends to provide dedicated cue feeds to your DAW. Perfect for ITB effect processing."

Channel level on BiG SiX is controlled by a 100mm long-throw SSL faders. If you have ever piloted an SSL console, you quickly realize not all faders are equal. With a large sweet spot around 0 dB, its easy to make subtle adjustments with confidence.

At the top of BiG SiX is the legendary Listen Mic Compressor as originally found in the centre section of the legendary SL 4000E. With its smash everything attitude made famous by that drum take, it’s the ‘80s producers secret weapon.

Fast, accurate and detailed. The metering on BiG SiX represents professional  +24 dB and +18 dB standards and are fine tuned for both analogue and digital audio, letting you know exactly how hard you’re diving channels and hitting convertors. 

 

To the casual observer SiX looks like any other compact desktop mixer. Look a little closer and like all SSL consoles, SiX reveals a carefully considered feature set that is driven by an obsessive desire for total flexibility, to encompass every creative eventuality. It may be small but SiX is a classic SSL design. It carries the DNA of 40 years of true expertise in creative studio workflow. Listen to SiX and you will experience the impeccable sonic performance that is the hallmark of every SSL console. It is powerful and intuitive. Inspired and rewarding.

SiX is a condensed professional console for use in the studio, in post-production, on stage, and for podcasting. SiX offers big console sound and an impressive set of utility features in a format that is small enough to stick in a bag a go wherever you need it. SiX is stunning value; it offers two recording channels with SuperAnalogueTM mic pres, two band EQ, an essential one knob version of the classic SSL Channel Compressor, a new two-band Channel EQ, inserts and 100mm faders.

There is a two-knob version of the legendary G-Series Bus Compressor on the main mix bus and the unique Listen Mic Compressor on the Talkback. In mixdown mode it is a very capable twelve channel summing system that offers analogue detail, depth and width to your mixes.

SiX is an SSL SuperAnalogue™ design – it gives you the sonic signature of a large format SSL console on your desktop or in your backpack. Its signal path is fully balanced from front to back on everything except the headphone output. It delivers pristine, detailed audio with wide dynamic range, ultra-low noise, ultra-low distortion and superb imaging. If you want to know more about the technical reasons why SSL mixers sound so good read our Lifting The Veil document.

SiX has two mono channels with SSL SuperAnalogue™ Mic’ Pre’s; these are transparent, fast and have a much wider available gain range than you would typically get on a compact desktop mixer – 66dB of gain compared to the more typical mid-40s or 50dB found in desktop mixers. They have phantom power, 75Hz high pass filter and an independent line-level input which can be switched to instrument level input with high impedance.

Moving down the channel strip we have a brand-new one knob compressor circuit. This design is based on and has the same sound as the classic SSL feed-forward Channel Compressor circuit. It has a program-dependent attack time, a fixed release time and fixed ratio. Simply adjust the threshold, watch the traffic lights flash to see how much compression is happening and rely on the circuit to automatically adjust gain to match input levels. This is a cool-sounding circuit that makes it simple to dial in a consistent level and get signals sitting right in the sweet spot.

Both mono channels have a new two-band SSL EQ that may be independently switched between shelf and bell curves, with different centre frequencies for each type. This approach draws upon the SSL design legacy of specifying response curves and centre frequencies for channel EQ that are immediately intuitively pleasing in their response; these curves and frequencies were selected by our team as the most “musically useful” for a wide range of sources.

SiX has 100mm faders. We spent some time working on alternate fader tapers and settled on a law that gave us the most control over the most useable gain range, making on-stage level control far easier than it would be with a rotary or a 60mm fader as found on other compact mixers.

Each channel has a fully balanced insert point for integrating other signal processors which is after the EQ and Compressor circuits, and like all SSLs the insert send is always active – meaning you can use this as a “dry” record send to your DAW if required.

At the bottom of the mono channels we have an ALTernate input switch which can source 2 extra mono channels from a connector on the rear of the console which can be used at mixdown.

SiX has two stereo input channels with -10/+20 dB trim for line sources such as synthesisers, drum machines, output from soundcards etc. These have their own balance controls and 100mm faders. If only the Left input of a stereo channel is connected (and the right left free) the channel will automatically switch to mono, panned centre.

While SiX might be small it can handle a lot of inputs at mix-down! Using the two mono input and the two stereo input channels gives SiX its name, but we also have two stereo EXTernal inputs (with volume controls in the master section) which can be sent to the mix bus. Include the ALT inputs and we have up to 12 channels that can be summed into the main mix bus.

SiX has a G Series Bus Compressor on the main mix bus. This uses the same circuit design as the legendary SSL Bus Compressor from our larger consoles but with a fixed ratio, attack, and release settings and a more modern quad-VCA chip. The simplified controls make it very easy to get that SSL glue and snap on whatever you push through your master bus. SiX also has a set of inserts on the main mix bus that can be used to bring external processing tools (like SSL Fusion) to your mixdown.

SiX has a collection of professional routing & monitoring features taken directly from our large format console heritage. It has two Stereo Cue buses (with level and pan controls) for individual artist foldback mixes. The Master Section has main and alternate monitor outputs with a proper monitor source matrix, as well as mono check, dim and cut. The fader channels all have proper PFL and a Mute button that routes the muted signal to a ‘Bus B’. Bus B can be used as a convenient DAW record send but it can also be routed to the monitor matrix. This means that the muted signal can be monitored without it feeding the main mix bus and then switched in to the main mix with the Mute button – perfect for live webcasting because a remote feed can be monitored ‘offline’ and punched in to the broadcast feed. There is a talkback mic’ input with phantom power and SSL’s unique, crunchy Listen Mic Compressor, which of course also serves as a unique processing tool that delivers that classic 1980’s slammed drums sound.

A fully professional condensed console for use in the studio, in post-production, on stage, and for podcasting.