A little bit of everything. I don’t use much fx, mainly to enhance something that’s already there. If I do, I burn it into the loop or recording. For example, the Polymoon - I record a loop clean. Then, I resample it while working the Polymoon live. And that’s the result. Keeps me away from endless tweaking, and if I really don’t like it, I just have to record it again, session style.
It’s super smooth to work with. Layout makes so much sense. It helps that SSL has kind of decided for you what they think a compressor and EQ should be. There’s not a whole lot to reach for. But the way they interact with each other, doesn’t really make you want for more. You’d rather just learn how all parts work together. That’s perfect for me, cause I hardly get how a compressor works anyway.
It’s a piece of shit monitoring and that’s exactly the point. I’m surprised how much it adds to my workflow. It’s really revealing and if you can get a decent sound out of it, you know you’re on the right track. I referenced a bunch of favourite tracks on it before I started using it. It even makes Daft Punk sound horrible. I love it.
I mean, it records and that’s it. But it records in 24bit/96khz. I used the Blackbox first to record my finished tracks, back into the BBox from the SSL. But it couldn’t quite handle all the nuances that the SiX brought out, which was more a feeling than a given when I listened back to my recordings. However, as I brought the result to a studio I’m working with, it was apparent that some things got lost on the way. Enough for me to want for something better for the actual stereo recording. The Zoom did the trick.
I took some time off to record last Friday and am very pleased with how the Six handled my condenser mic (MJE Hulk 990). I really like how good I can get everything sounding at the source with a little help from the SSL. I didn’t even use the EQ on the mic, just enough preamp gain to get a good signal, HPF on, and some of the channel compression, and little more was needed at that point.
I knew I would enjoy the monitoring on the Six, but I’ve come to appreciate it very much. I’m sure I could have set things up to get “direct monitoring” or whatever from my interface, but I was monitoring through Ableton and it wasn’t bad at 128 buffer size, but it’s just so much better hearing everything directly without the AD/DA conversion. My sloppy timing when I play bass or guitar is due solely to me rather than the 7ms of latency I could previously blame it on.
I continue to be impressed by the Six after some weeks of use. My alternative was to upgrade or expand my audio interface, but this was definitely the better choice for me right now. I am very happy to have it as the hub of my setup.
Excellent and very hot. I use it with a pair HD598’s (older version) and have no complaints at all. Having a high quality headphone output was one of the main reasons I bought it.
With 250Ω DT990/DT770/DT1990 it’s good but a tad weak. Summing 3 synths and the AnalogRytm, definitely go monitors or use a headphone amp if you want good definition thru 250Ω.
With 32Ω B&W it’s loud as hell.
SSLSiX output impedance is 1Ω
I daisy chained the twin SiX by connecting Monitor Out (SiX1) --> Ext1 (SiX2) - works perfect.
On the input side I’ve connected my synths and drum machines to the two SiX i.e. Digitone Keys, Crumar Seven, Prophet XL, OB-6, Subsequent 25, D-05, MC101 or TR-8S. And of course I use the SiX for mixing and summing stems from the DAW (currently 4 channels).
By using the Bus B and FB outputs of the SiX I can now track and record up to 14 channels (12 tracks + stereo sum) through my apogee into Logic Pro (iMac).
Yeah, I didn’t get that either, but I know shit and zero about actual parameters when it comes to these things
I use a pair of AKG 712 Pro. Should I ever crank the volume up to max, I will never hear my children laugh again or tell me that they love me.
In fact, I even disconnect them and hide the socket when I’m not working, since I can just imagine that if one of my kids start messing about with my stuff when I’m not around, just accidentally going “Let’s listen to Dad’s music”, it just might end badly. That’s how loud it is for me.
Not to mention the goddamn monitor outputs. I run the SiX to a set of Genelecs 80802A now. Good lord, if I crank the monitoring up to max, the neighbourhood goes nuclear. I would assume, I haven’t dared try. I use the Dim switch all the time, going between low / loud and low / loud, to trim my mixes and not just to save my ears.
Definitely not for my headphones of the 80Ω and less variety. When I used my 250Ω phones, I thought it was kind of blah.
But no one buys this based on the headphone spec anyway.
Here’s one of my latest, summed, mixed and mastered on the SSL SiX. Not a computer in sight you decide if that’s a good thing or not.
It’s actually a clip from a live set, where I had the Blackbox three outs routed into the SSL and then tweaked the Box and the SSL live, for transitions and stuff.
Nice jam / set! Very high quality and… open? I just got my SiX and I’m still learning the nuances, but even at first use, I can tell I’m going to enjoy working with it. I think I’m starting to see what you’ve been saying (in the forum and in PM) about how it will expose deficiencies in your mix, muddiness, and other things that just aren’t working. That, in itself, should help me improve my skills. I can also (sorta) see why you gave the analog heat the boot. I’m sticking with it for now, since I want to hear it on the master insert send/return. Anyway, no one wants to hear my inane babbling.
I like your inane babbling I’m a babbler myself. We babbles need to stick together
Yeah, the SSL is very revealing, while there’s a lot of stuff going on in this track, I cut out about half of what I’d call ambience - grinds, noises, clicks, pops, stuff that sounds pretty good in my headphones, but as you put it out in the monitors through the SiX, there’s just too much fighting for space. I got really poor eyesight, have had all my life. Using the SSL feels like putting on a pair of glasses. It’s like “Oooh, so that’s what trees look like.”
for more inputs / outputs and more compression:
maybe I’ll use my Walkman as a headphone amp too.