Solid State Logic XL-Desk Owner'S Manual Download

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XL-Desk – Owner’s Manual Page 1

1. Introduction

About This User Guide

Congratulations on purchasing your Solid State Logic XL-Desk. This User Guide aims to provide you with all the necessary
information to operate the console. The Guide is arranged into the following sections:

Introduction

An overview of XL-Desk’s features.

Installation

Useful information for installing XL-Desk in your studio. What’s in the box, connector summary
plus other information.

Studio Integration

How XL-Desk connects to your existing studio equipment. How to use XL-Desk with or without
a patchbay.

Tutorials

How to operate XL-Desk. A rundown of all front panel operations and suggested best practices.

Configuration

Information on settable options like meter scaling and latching/momentary switches.

Appendices

Additional technical information for reference.

Manual Conventions

• Labelling relating to the control surface appears in

Bold

• Labelling from the rear panel appears in

Bold Italic

Notes, tips and other useful information is indicated like this.

Summary of Contents for XL-Desk

Page 1: ...XL Desk The smart dumb analogue console Owner s Manual www solidstatelogic com XL Desk This is SSL ...

Page 2: ...Page B XL Desk Owner s Manual Document History 82BMLM01A Initial Release September 2014 ...

Page 3: ...akout Leads 5 3 Studio Integration 7 Connectivity Example 7 Using XL Desk Without a Patchbay 7 Using XL Desk With a Patchbay 8 Patchbay Guidelines 8 Line Level Input Outputs 8 Mic Inputs 8 4 Tutorials 9 The VHD preamplifier 9 Using the preamplifier 9 Mono Channels 9 Input 9 Trim 10 Stereo Cue and Mono Auxes 11 Using the ALT input button when mixing 11 Pan Pot Mix Bus Assignments CUT SOLO and Fader...

Page 4: ...e style 20 Example 2 Recording a Full Band and Monitoring Back Via Stems 22 Creating Headphone Mixes for Tracking 24 Using 500 series Rack Slots 9 16 with Microphone Preamplifiers 25 5 Configuration 27 Adjusting the Level of MINI 1 and MINI 2 Monitor Outputs 27 Option DIP Switches 28 6 Appendices 29 Appendix A Signal Flow Block Diagram 29 Appendix B Console dimensions 30 Appendix C Connector Pinou...

Page 5: ...onnector summary plus other information Studio Integration How XL Desk connects to your existing studio equipment How to use XL Desk with or without a patchbay Tutorials How to operate XL Desk A rundown of all front panel operations and suggested best practices Configuration Information on settable options like meter scaling and latching momentary switches Appendices Additional technical informati...

Page 6: ...routed to the CUE ST bus and then summed into Mix A so there are 16 main faders 16 Cue ST inputs 4 Stereo channels providing 40 summing inputs using the stereo returns and insert Sum functions you can squeeze in over 50 summing inputs There is also a fully featured monitoring section with bass management 3 sets of speakers subwoofer Foldback A and B with individual talkbacks for headphone mixes an...

Page 7: ...ect outs from every channel and Bus to print files back into your DAW for easy mix revisions Tutorials This manual includes a series of detailed tutorials covering different workflow which can be achieved with XL Desk including the connectivity required to achieve them Subjects covered in the Tutorials section Recording a small ensemble in a split console style Recording a full Band and Monitoring...

Page 8: ... 500 RETURN 1 8 Secondary Insert Returns for mono channels 1 8 associated with 500 front panel button LINE INPUT 9 16 Line level inputs DAW INPUT 9 16 Line level inputs connect outputs 9 16 from your audio interface here INSERT SEND 9 16 Main Insert Sends for mono channels 9 16 INSERT RETURN 9 16 Main Insert Returns for mono channels 9 16 associated with INS front panel button CHANNEL OUT 9 16 Dir...

Page 9: ...oom temperature Rear Panel Connections All connections to the console apart from the headphone and iJack sockets are located on the rear panel D Sub connectors are all high quality 25 way female The screw pillars utilise the standard UNC 440 thread All connections are balanced and are wired to the AES59 Analogue Standard also known as the Tascam standard XLR connectors are wired with pin 2 hot Con...

Page 10: ...TS INPUTS MX 4 16 3 sets of Speakers plus Subwoofer Outboard Mic Preamps AlphaLink MX VHD Mic In 1 8 8 x 2 x Line In 9 16 DAW Line Inputs Channel Direct Outs Mix Bus Outputs MP3 Player Headphones Stereo return Outputs Monitor Outputs Stereo Channel Inputs Foldback Outputs A B Listen Mic Outboard Rack Gear Outboard FX Reverb Delays MADI DAW Cue Aux Sends Stereo Return Input Insert Sends Insert Retu...

Page 11: ... slot input 2 500 SLOT OUT 1 8 to 500 RETURN 1 8 500 rack slot output goes to channel return 3 500 SEND 9 16 to 500 SLOT IN 9 16 Send from channel goes to 500 rack slot input 4 500 SLOT OUT 9 16 to 500 RETURN 9 16 500 rack slot output goes to channel return Adding these connectors will link the insert points associated with the 500 button to and from the 500 series rack MONITOR OUTS STEREO OUT 1 4...

Page 12: ...45 46 47 48 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 4...

Page 13: ...m pot to reduce the overall level and not clip the channel output Remember it s the input to the preamplifier that likes being driven From this point adjust the harmonics to fine tune the desired sound If sending pre recorded audio back through the preamplifiers you will find it useful to engage the input PAD This will lower the level at which the signal hits the preamplifier MONO CHANNeLS Input E...

Page 14: ...tion on page 28 DAW When pressed the input labelled DAW INPUT 1 8 or DAW INPUT 9 16 on the rear panel is sourced The following buttons function on the currently selected input to the channel Ø Polarity inversion for the channel 500 Engages the insert point normally associated with the in line 500 series rack slot INS Engages the insert point normally associated with an external piece of outboard e...

Page 15: ...ALT would bring LINE INPUT 9 into the Stereo Cue for that channel The green pot is used to control level whilst the blue pot positions the source within the Stereo Cue field Finally the TO A button underneath the STeReO CUe MASTeR TRIM can be used to inject the all signals on the Stereo Cue bus into Mix Bus A Using this method will provide an extra 16 inputs to the mix Pan Pot Mix Bus Assignments ...

Page 16: ...annels have one stereo input per strip Two signal present LEDs are provided for monitoring incoming left and right signals No insert points The pan pot becomes a balance pot when operating in stereo Each stereo channel can operate in mono by pressing the MONO button next to the pan pot This is useful for heavy tracking sessions where you need extra mono inputs to feed these channels the outputs fr...

Page 17: ...e button labelled 500 will activate the insert return bringing the 500 series processing into that channel Slots 9 16 However the 4 stereo mix busses A B C D are able to steal rack slots 9 16 to use as extra processing Mix A can steal 500 slots 9 10 Mix B can steal 500 slots 11 12 Mix C can steal 500 slots 13 14 Mix D can steal 500 slots 15 16 The slots are stolen by pressing the 500 button in the...

Page 18: ...N 1 8 500 SLOT OUT 1 8 500 SEND 1 8 500 RETURN 1 8 500 SLOT IN 9 16 500 SLOT OUT 9 16 500 SEND 9 16 500 RETURN 9 16 INSERT RETURN 1 8 INSERT SEND 9 16 INSERT RETURN 9 16 MIC INPUT 1 8 DAW INPUT 1 8 CHANNEL OUT 1 8 CHANNEL OUT 9 16 LINE INPUT 9 16 INSERT SEND 1 8 DAW INPUT 9 16 500 SLOT IN 1 8 500 SLOT OUT 1 8 500 SEND 1 8 500 RETURN 1 8 500 SLOT IN 9 16 500 SLOT OUT 9 16 500 SEND 9 16 500 RETURN 9...

Page 19: ...o your mix without compromising clarity The updated design now includes a notched high pass filter in the sidechain The compressor sidechain controls are straight forward and hopefully require little explanation The ATTACK RATIO and ReLeASe and HPF High Pass Filter controls are multi position switches the THReSHOLD and MAKe UP controls are continuously variable potentiometers The illuminated compr...

Page 20: ...es are controlled in this section The controls that apply to Mix B C and D are identical Mix Busses B C and D do not have dedicated 500 series rack slots associated with them However by pressing the 500 button XL Desk allows each Mix Bus to steal a pair of slots from the rack Mix B Pressing 500 allows Mix B to steal 500 series rack slots 11 12 Mix C Pressing 500 allows Mix C to steal 500 series ra...

Page 21: ...ample would be a vocal reverb return This presumes you are in Solo In Place mode Imagine a dry vocal is routed into channel 8 of the desk From this Aux 1 is being used to send signal into an outboard reverb unit The output of this reverb unit is being sent into channel 23 24 stereo fader The desired effect is that when channel 8 is solo d channel 23 24 is not cut and the listener automatically hea...

Page 22: ...gnals through a 3rd order low pass high cut filter at 80Hz and sends the sum out of the Sub monitor output Also 2nd order high pass low cut filters are inserted into the selected left and right monitor outputs Did you know The bass management on XL Desk is intelligent It will remember if the SUB button is on or off for each speaker set Mon Source MIX A selects Mix A as the source for the monitorin...

Page 23: ...he MON buttons may cause a significant increase in the level sent to the foldback headphone amps This is because control room sources are likely to be significantly louder than CUE AUX 1 levels You may need to reduce the overall foldback level before pressing MON Alternatively increase the CUE AUX 1 master trim level beforehand to match levels with and without the MON buttons pressed The OPTION DI...

Page 24: ...g Mix B as a record bus a bus which the input recording channels are routed to and Mix A as the mixing bus a bus to which the DAW returns are monitored and mixed 1 Plug 8 microphones into MIC INPUT 1 8 of XL Desk Using the DB25 to 8 XLR female interface lead where necessary 2 Set channels 1 to 8 of XL Desk to source from the microphone inputs DAW button is not pressed 3 Increase the gain red contr...

Page 25: ...ording Route the outputs of these tracks into DAW INPUT 9 16 on XL Desk 9 Press the DAW button for channels 9 16 and you will see signal coming into the desk Route these channels to Mix Bus A using the A routing button above the CUT button Ensure that the MIX A master fader is raised and that MON SOURCE is set to MIX A Don t forget to un select the Mix Bus B AFL button when you want to hear the DA...

Page 26: ...your own 500 series amps see notes on page 25 3 Make sure channels 1 16 are NOT sourcing from the DAW input The DAW button should be released 4 Increase the gain red control on the microphone preamplifiers until the tri colour LED starts to show some signal If the microphone needs phantom power use the 48v button Repeat this process for your outboard preamplifiers Tip Engage the VHD button on the ...

Page 27: ...of the DAW into the stereo channels of XL Desk Route the click track into the final stereo input on XL Desk and press the MONO button Route these channels to Mix Bus A using the A routing button above the CUT button Ensure that the MIX A master fader is raised and that MON SOURCE is set to MIX A Don t forget to un select the Mix Bus B AFL button when you want to hear the DAW returns At any point y...

Page 28: ... centre section until the performer can hear the mix at a desirable level insert drummer joke here TIP The front panel headphones socket can be sourced from Foldback A FB A or Foldback B FB B by pressing the appropriate front panel button This is a useful way of auditioning the mix that has been created for the performer in the live room 3 Turn the TALK pot up to an appropriate level Pressing TALK...

Page 29: ...y doing the following 1 Plug the microphone s into the microphone preamplifier module s If it does not have a front panel XLR then connect via XL Desk s rear panel connector labelled 500 SLOT IN 9 16 2 Press the channel s 500 button This will bring the signal into the channel presuming that the rear connector labelled 500 SLOT OUT 9 16 is connected to 500 RETURN 9 16 3 Use the channel direct outpu...

Page 30: ...Page 26 XL Desk Owner s Manual This page is intentionally bank It s a tradition ...

Page 31: ...o adjust a MINI speaker set 1 Press and hold the MINI 1 button for three seconds Upon entering this mode the MIX A bargraph meter will change to make clear you have entered the setup mode correctly 2 Press DIM to attenuate in 0 5 dB steps press CUT to increase gain in 0 5 dB steps Adjust until the desired result is achieved 3 Press the MINI 1 button again to exit the setup mode and return to norma...

Page 32: ... Meter Scaling 24dBu 18dBu 2 Talkback A Sum Replace 3 Talkback A Momentary Latching 4 Talkback B Sum Replace 5 Talkback B Momentary Latching 6 Unused 7 MINI 2 Speaker Set Stereo Mono 8 Unused 9 Unused 10 Unused 11 Bargraph Test Mode Normal Enabled 12 Programming Mode Normal Enabled 1 2 3 4 5 6 ON 1 2 3 4 5 6 ON DIP SWITCH 1 12 NOTE Do not switch to Programming Mode unless under instruction from an...

Page 33: ... FX 2 PRE FB AR FB BL FB BR MIX A EXT SUM iJack MIX AL MIX AR EXT L EXT R iJack AFL dB Listen Mic RTB Listen Mic Out FB B FB A LEVEL Headphone Jack FB B FB A To Channel MONO 2nd 3rd BM 80hz 2nd MAIN L MINI 1L MINI 2L MAIN MINI1 MINI2 MAIN R MINI 1R MINI 2R SUB Monitor Outputs LISTEN IN 2 IN 1 GAIN DRIVE VHD Pre Send Return MIX MIX Signal Level AFL From Channel MIX IN IN 24dB SOLO PAN LEVEL ALT LEV...

Page 34: ...Page 30 XL Desk Owner s Manual APPeNDIX B CONSOLe DIMeNSIONS 7 3 7 3 ...

Page 35: ...t Left 6 4 17 5 XLR 6 Mini 2 Right External Input Right Meter Send Right Stereo Cue Out Right 7 15 3 16 XLR 7 Sub Output Unused Listen Mic Out Aux 1 Output 8 1 14 2 XLR 8 Sub Output copy Unused Unused Aux 2 Output MIX A B C D SeND MIX A B C D ReTURN MIX A B C D OUT STeReO IN OUT 1 4 Connector Type 25 way D type Female Cct D25 Pin D XLR Loom if used MIX A B C D SeND MIX A B C D ReTURN MIX A B C D O...

Page 36: ...utput 4dB Hot Output 4dB Hot 3 Output 2 Hot 4 Output Cold Output Cold 5 A Ground A Ground 6 Stereo Link Stereo Link 7 Input 2 Cold 8 Input 4dB Cold Input 4dB Cold 9 Input 2 Hot 10 Input 4dB Hot Input 4dB Hot 11 Gain Adjustment 12 16VDC Supply 16VDC Supply 13 Power Ground 0V ref Power Ground 0V ref 14 16VDC Supply 16VDC Supply 15 48VDC Phantom 48VDC Phantom ...

Page 37: ...tainable from Solid State Logic prior to shipping All units should be shipped to Solid State Logic in suitable rigid packaging Solid State Logic cannot be held responsible for any damage caused by shipping units in other packaging In such cases Solid State Logic will return the unit in a suitable box which you will be charged for Do not include the power cable manual or any other items Solid State...

Page 38: ...Page 34 XL Desk Owner s Manual NOTeS ...

Page 39: ...XL Desk Owner s Manual Page 35 NOTeS ...

Page 40: ...ademarks are the property of their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means whether mechanical or electronic without the written permission of Solid State Logic Oxford OX5 1RU England As research and development is a continual process Solid State Logic reserves the right to change the features and specifications describ...

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