by Marc Mozart
New XL-Desk by SSL. Solid State Logic today surprised the Pro Audio World with a brand-new console called XL-Desk that seems to fit between the Matrix-console and the known AWS Consoles, while providing users with slots for industry standard 500-Series modules, one of them prewired and filled with the classic SSL Bus-Compressor. With a street price of US$ 19.999, the XL-Desk is very competitively priced. Read on to find out all the details.

Audio-Fans on Gearslutz already go crazy, while Vintage King have already posted 2 videos – and I have written a first review for you below.
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SSL has also posted their own product-video:

What I really like about the console, apart from the competitive price, is that it pays tribute to the history of SSL (can be equipped with original SSL Modules, like the E-Series EQ, includes the G-Series Bus Compressor, offers 4 Stereo Mix-Busses, even references “Brauerizing” in the official SSL introduction video).
What it’s missing is DAW Control, Automation and Motor Faders, which is a pity, and I see how SSL is trying to not get in to the territory of the (more expensive) AWS 924/948 consoles.
It seems a bit like this is SSLs answer on The API BOX console, and what is cool is the inclusion of 16 (!!!) free 500-Series slots, which makes this console a great tool for a wide variety of things from drum-tracking to summing/hybrid-mixing.

At the same time, as a professional mixing engineer and daily user of a classic SSL 4000 G-Series Console, the XL-Desk is of course still missing many features that make a full blown large classic SSL-Console so great – which is nothing against the XL-Desk, considering the 4000 G-Series console I work with was about the price of a family house incl. the property when new.

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The features of XL-Desk read as follows (from SSLs website):

XL-Desk

The smart dumb analogue console.

XL-Desk is a modern twist on the classic analogue studio console. It’s designed for tracking or mixing engineers who require an analogue console within a DAW centric studio, but don’t want or need the integrated DAW control and analogue level automation other SSL console products have made the new hybrid studio standard.

XL-Desk is in many ways a traditional 24 into 8 analogue console but it packs in an incredible collection of features. It has 20 channel strips: 16 dual input mono (switchable between main input or DAW return) and 4 stereo channels. The first eight channels have VHD mic pre’s. There is an 18 slot 500 format rack built in that can be used for processing or mic pre’s. XL-Desk ships with a legendary SSL Stereo Bus Compressor module in slots 17 & 18 (hard wired to Mix A). The rack has its own dedicated high spec’ power supply. There are four main Mix Buses (A, B, C, D) with buses B, C and D able to be summed into Mix A. The Buses and channels can access the 500 rack and each have a separate insert point for processing. There are two mono aux sends and two stereo return inputs. Direct outputs on every channel, stereo return and mix bus enable convenient stem printing. Each channel has a Cue Stereo Bus section (with Pan and Volume) used to provide one of the headphone mixes while tracking. At mixdown the mono channel DAW return signals can be 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 and a built in Listen Mic input + classic compressor circuit, with its own direct output.

Key Features

• 20 + 1 fader, over 40 input SuperAnalogue^TM SSL console
• 8-built in Variable Harmonic Drive (VHD) preamps
• 16 dual input mono channels (switchable between main input or DAW return)
• 4 stereo channels (switchable to mono for tracking)
• The legendary Stereo Bus Compressor, with new high-pass filter sidechain
• 18-slot 500 format rack built-in, accessible from channels or mix busses
• In addition to a 500 rack insert each mono channel also has a standard insert point
• 4 stereo Mix Buses with their own insert points and access to the 500 rack
• One stereo and 2 mono aux sends. Two dedicated stereo return inputs
• Direct outputs on every channel, stereo return and mix bus for stem printing
• Fully-featured monitoring section with bass management
• Foldback A and B with individual talkbacks for headphone mixes
• Built in Listen Mic input + classic compressor circuit, with its own direct output
• AFL and Solo-In-Place solo modes, with Solo Clear and Solo Safe (Protect) modes
• Balanced D-Sub rear panel inputs/outputs & Front panel headphones & iJack sockets
• High quality internal PSU