Solid State Logic PURE DRIVE OCTO 8-Channel Preamplifier
at B&H Photo Video
About this item
The SSL PURE DRIVE OCTO takes the highly regarded PureDrive microphone preamps from the SSL ORIGIN console and delivers them in an 8-channel 2 RU rackmount device, supercharged with cutting-edge conversion and flexible digital ADAT, AES, and USB connectivity—making it a perfect addition to many studios, live sound mixing consoles, or mobile recording rigs.
Mic Preamps with Prestige
SSL's contemporary classic recording console, ORIGIN, introduced the PureDrive microphone preamplifier. This innovative preamp retains the clarity and punch of previous SSL designs while offering the added versatility of switching its character to a warm, harmonically rich, and driven tone that varies with gain. ORIGIN, along with the PureDrive microphone preamp, has made its mark in the world's premier studios. Whether it's capturing the delicate nuances of a piano concerto in Clean mode or imparting warmth on a drum recording when set to Drive, the PureDrive microphone preamp has become an essential tool in some of the most prestigious studios and recording facilities due to its flexibility and superb sonic signature.
Analog Obsession
In addition to the high-performance mic preamps, PURE DRIVE OCTO features balanced analog outputs / insert sends for external processing, as well as high-headroom insert returns / ADC inputs with +24 dBu A/D line-up level. No electromechanical components such as potentiometers, mechanical switches, or relays are used in the critical audio signal path, which increases product longevity and results in impeccable level matching across all channels. The use of digitally controlled analog circuits and stepped pots and electronic switches further simplifies recall and precision of the settings.
3 DRIVE Flavors, 1 Mic Pre
Each of PURE DRIVE OCTO’s mic pres can be independently switched between three distinct DRIVE modes: Clean, Classic Drive, and Asymmetric Drive.
Clean mode delivers the highly regarded ultralow-noise-floor linear SSL preamp that is recognized for its ability to faithfully capture the sound of the source with exceptional clarity and detail.
Classic Drive is the symmetrical mode that generates predominantly odd harmonics; the same drive sound found on the ORIGIN console.
Asymmetric Drive offers up a new coloration option, specifically designed for the PURE DRIVE range, making the even harmonic content dominant and providing more pronounced thickness, coloration and softening of transients.
Advanced Connectivity
PURE DRIVE OCTO's advanced connectivity opens a world of recording possibilities. Its comprehensive selection of analog and digital I/O offers microphone preamps with exceptional performance and flexibility, whether you're tracking a band in a world-class studio or adding warmth to stems in a production scenario. It's also ideal for project studios and on-location sessions where quality cannot be compromised, thanks to its integrated USB sound card.
PURE DRIVE OCTO features eight rear-mounted combo XLR inputs, four front-panel Hi-Z / DI instrument inputs with automatic input detection, and three sets of D-sub connectors for line-level input, insert send, and insert return. PURE DRIVE OCTO’s insert returns/ADC inputs operate up to full +24 dBu line-level for interfacing with other professional equipment.
An integrated USB soundcard provides eight channels of audio into your DAW at resolutions up to 32-bit / 192 kHz. The unit features four AES/EBU output pairs and ADAT out, offering eight channels at 24-bit / 48 kHz, or up to four channels at 24-bit / 192 kHz via SMUX. The AES and ADAT outputs can even be individually repurposed to be fed from the onboard USB soundcard as outputs from your DAW. Finally, there's an auto-ranging word clock input and output for robust digital clocking.
Key Features at a Glance
8 channel high-performance PureDrive mic preamps
+48V phantom power, polarity invert, and 3rd order high-pass filter
Stepped Gain control up to +65 dB
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 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 analog outputs/insert sends for external processing
+24 dBu professional line-level insert returns/ADC inputs
Analog 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 (at 44.1 / 48 kHz) ; 8 x analog / 8 AES + 16 ADAT outs
Stepped pots and digitally controlled analog electronics for precision, stereo matching, and ease of recall
Up to 32-bit / 192 kHz conversion, professional I/O levels (+24 dBu = 0 dBFS)
Selectable Auto-Sleep mode
Autoranging wordclock in and out
- Features
- 4 SuperAnalog PureDrive Mic Preamps
- Up to 192 kHz / 32-Bit Conversion
- Up to +65 dB of Stepped Gain Control
- 31-Step Trim Control
Specifications
- USB I/O
1 x USB-C Female Input/Output
- Audio I/O
8x Combo XLR-1/4" Line/Mic Input4x 1/4" TRS Hi-Z/Instrument Input (Front Panel)1x DB-25 Line Input1x DB-25 Line Input (Insert Return)1x DB-25 Line Output (Insert Send)
- Digital I/O
AES/EBU Outputs: 4 x XLR (Male) ADAT Output and ADAT Link In: 2 x Optical TOSLINK Port Wordclock Input and Output: 2 x BNC
- Impedance
Mic In to Insert Send Input: 400, 600, 1200, or 12,000 Ohms Output: 70 Ohms Line In to Insert Send: <22 Kilohms Hi-Z to Insert Send: 1 Megohm Insert Return to ADC: 10 Kilohms
- Gain
Mic In to Insert Send: 4.8 to 65.5 dB ± 0.1 dB Gain Matching: < 0.08 dB Line In to Insert Send: -0.4 to 30 dB ± 0.1 dB Gain Matching: <0.08 dB Hi-Z to Insert Send: 10.9 to 41.3 dB ± 0.1 dB Gain Matching: <0.08 dB
- Noise Floor
Mic In to Insert Send: <-97.3 dBu Line In to Insert Send: -89.7 dBu Typical Hi-Z to Insert Send: 11 dB, Unweighted, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 150R Termination: < 86 dBu Typical
- EIN
Mic In to Insert Send: 65 dB, A-weighted, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 150R Termination: -130 dBu Typical, -129 dBu Nominal
- THD+N
Mic In to Insert Send: < -92 dB / 0.0025 % (17 dB, 20 dBu out, 1 kHz) Line In to Insert Send: 0 dB, Unweighted, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 150R Termination: -89.6 dB / 0.0033% Typical Insert Return to ADC:-105 dB / 0.0005% Typical
- Frequency Response
Mic In to Insert Send: 20 to 20 kHz, Any Gain (± 0.2 dB) Insert Return to ADC: ± 0.035 dB, -3 dB Low Roll-Off < 5 Hz
- Crosstalk
Mic In to Insert Send Aggressor 15 dBu 50 Hz In, 5 dB Gain, 20 dBu Out; Adjacent Channels 150R Terminator, 35 dB Gain: < -108 dB Aggressor 15 dBu 1 kHz In, 5 dB Gain, 20 dBu Out; Adjacent Channels 150R Terminator, 35 dB Gain: < -105 dB Aggressor 15 dBu 10 kHz In, 5 dB Gain, 20 dBu Out; Adjacent Channels 150R Terminator, 35 dB Gain: < -81 dB Insert Return to ADC 23.9 dBu In, 20 Hz to 20 kHz, 1 Channel Driven, All Other Channels 150R Terminated: < 105 dB 23.9 dBu In, 1 kHz, 1 Channel Driven, All Other Channels 150R Terminated: < 115 dB
- Maximum Input Level
Mic In to Insert Send: >21.5 dBu (At Minimum Gain) Line In to Insert Send: 26.5 dBu (At Minimum Gain) Hi-Z to Insert Send: >15.5 dBu (Unbalanced, Minimum Gain)
- A/D Conversion
Insert Return to ADC ADC Line Up: 24 dBu
- Dynamic Range
Insert Return to ADC: 119 dB Typical
- Filter
Trim and High-Pass Filter (HPF) Trim Gain Matching: < 0.04 dB HPF Frequency Tolerance: 5%
- Mobile App Compatible
No
- Power Source
AC Input (Included)
- AC Input Power
100 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz
- Mounting
Side: 2x Rack Ears
- Dimensions
19 x 11.9 x 3.5" / 482.6 x 302.8 x 88.1 mm (Chassis Only)
- Weight
13 lb / 5.9 kg
- Package Weight
17.5 lb
- Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
21.7 x 18 x 8.8"