SSL 18

Developed from our unmatched expertise in analogue and digital design, SSL 18 offers exceptional audio performance with a studio session-ready feature set, delivered with the signature SSL sound and premium quality that professionals trust. Whether you are recording, producing or mixing, SSL 18 enhances production workflows while elevating the performance of your creative space, it’s the ultimate centrepiece for your studio. Welcome to a new era in rack mount interface performance.

8 x SSL-Designed Analogue Preamps
Best-in-class, low noise mic preamps

Legacy 4K Analogue Enhancement
Real analogue colour inspired by the 4000-series console

Next-Gen Converters
Accurate, transparent recording and sound reproduction

High-Performance
Class-leading audio performance in every area

10 x Balanced Outs
+24 dBu professional-grade outputs

Flexible Studio Monitoring
Main / Alt outputs with customisable controls

2 x High-Current Headphone Outs
Independent mixes, configurable modes for different headphones

Producer & Creator Tools
MIDI I/O, DC-coupled outs for CV, and stereo loopback

Comprehensive Digital I/O
16 channels ADAT I/O, 2 channels S/PDIF I/O

Listen Mic Compressor
Talkback input with the famous LMC (Smash Everything)

SSL Production Pack
A unique collection of inspiring software

Compatible with Mac and Windows
Plug and play on Mac, ASIO/WDM driver for Windows

8 x SSL-designed Mic/Line inputs

SSL 18 features eight high-performance SSL-designed mic pre’s, with switchable Mic/Line configuration. Leveraging our renowned engineering expertise, they deliver ultra-low noise recordings and a huge dynamic range, making sure you capture every detail of the performance with stunning accuracy. Their advanced 2-stage circuitry ensures ultra-low distortion while maintaining the natural character of the source – or flip them into Legacy 4K Mode to add real analogue saturation and the iconic 4000 series sound to vocals, drums, and more. What’s more, in Line mode the mic preamp stage is completely bypassed – perfect for connecting external outboard gear. Located on the front of the unit, inputs 1 & 2 also offer instrument/Hi-Z inputs to capture DI’d guitars and vintage synths/drum machines.

120 dB Dynamic Range / -130.5 dBu EIN / Legacy 4K Analogue Enhancement

10 x Line-outputs

SSL 18 comes equipped with ten balanced line-level outputs located on the rear of the unit. To ensure optimal signal integrity and maximise headroom, line outputs 1&2 and 3&4 can be configured between +9 and +24 dBu, providing seamless compatibility with a wide range of studio monitors and vintage equipment operating at lower levels. Outputs 3 to 10 operate at +24 dBu, perfect for integrating professional outboard equipment. For producers, all outputs are DC-coupled and capable of sending control voltage to synthesizers and modular rigs.

125 dB Dynamic Range / +24 dBu operating levels / Main & Alt Speaker Switching / DC-Coupled Outputs

Dual High-Performance Headphone Outputs

Custom headphone mixes with two independent headphone outputs, configurable for different types with ‘Standard’, ‘High Sensitivity’, and ‘High Impedance’ settings. SSL 18’s headphone outputs can also be repurposed as line-level outputs for added flexibility.

120dB Dynamic Range
Dual Independent Outputs
Configurable Headphone Modes

Monitor Controller + Talkback w/Listen Mic Compressor

SSL 18 features a full monitor controller section with built-in talkback input. Line outputs 1&2 and 3&4 offer alternative speaker switching with Alt and Cut accessible via the monitor controls located on the front panel. Alternatively, customise the monitor controls via SSL 360 and tailor them to your workflow. SSL 18 also features a dedicated talkback input channel that can operate in MIC or LINE mode. LINE mode is great for re-processing audio through the classic Listen Mic Compressor – crush drums, parallel vocals, and more.

Configurable monitoring section / Alt monitor switching / Talkback input + Legendary Listen Mic Compressor

4K Legacy Analogue Enhancement on Every Analogue Input Channel

The SSL 4000 series consoles (often referred to as ‘4K’) are renowned for imparting a unique ‘mojo’ to sounds and instruments that pass through them. This mojo comes from multiple stages of harmonic distortion from compressor VCAs, VCA faders, and other crucial components such as the transistor mix amps. Using modern components, SSL has developed a circuit that distils the two essential characteristics of the 4K sound into a single design. Legacy 4K Analogue Enhancement injects a controlled amount of finely-tuned, sweet-sounding harmonic distortion and a ‘forward’ yet musical high-frequency EQ boost into the signal path, giving your sound the 4K mojo and presence that artists and engineers have loved for decades.

Real Analogue Saturation / Musical High-Frequency Boost / Immortal 4K sound

Complete digital I/O

A host of digital audio connections means that SSL 18 is ready to expand your I/O count whenever you are, with an additional 16 channels via ADAT and a further two via S/PDIF. SSL 18’s dedicated Word clock output provides rock-solid clocking for integrating external digital devices into your system.

16 Channels of ADAT I/O
2 Channels S/PDIF I/O
Word Clock Output

SSL 18 Mixer, Powered by SSL 360°

The SSL 18 mixer offers comprehensive management of all inputs and outputs, as well as detailed, scalable input metering in SSL 360°. In the SSL 18 mixer you can create and manage the control room monitor mix, as well as configure up to four independent mixes for performers. In addition, a flexible Mirror Routing system allows you to route any input or aux master directly to an output – perfect for feeding personal monitoring systems, external metering and outboard FX. Create different templates for tracking, mixing and more, then save them as a profile in the SSL 18 mixer.

Features:

• High-performance 26 x 28 USB-C audio interface for macOS and Windows
• Class-leading audio performance
• 8 microphone/line-level inputs
• Pristine microphone preamps with outstanding -130.5dBu EIN and 67dB of gain range for working with any mic
• 4K analog enhancement, polarity invert, highpass filters, and 48V phantom power per channel
• Configurable analog insert points for inputs 1 and 2, ideal for tracking with analog gear
• Inputs 1 and 2 switchable to instrument-level
• Line inputs bypass preamp stage
• 10 DC-coupled, balanced line-outputs
• Alternative speaker switching available for pairs 1-2 and 3-4
• +9dBu/+24dBu output level configuration options for pairs 1-2 and 3-4 to match your monitors
• DC-coupled outputs are perfect for sending CV to synthesizers and modular rigs
• 2 powerful independent headphone outputs with dedicated level controls
• 3 headphone mode options to suit different impedances: Standard, High Sensitivity, High Impedance
• Supports custom headphone mixes
• Dedicated Talkback input with Listen Mic Compressor (LMC)
• Talkback input can also be used in Line mode for processing of stems through the LMC
• 16 channels of ADAT I/O at 44.1/48kHz, 8 channels at 96kHz
• 2 channels of S/PDIF (coaxial or optical)
• MIDI I/O on 3.5mm TRS jacks
• Flexible clocking: internal (clock signal available on word clock output), or clock from incoming ADAT or S/PDIF
• Next-generation 32-bit/192kHz converters
• Best-in class 120dB dynamic range across all inputs and headphone outputs
• Best-in class 125dB output dynamic range on monitor and line outputs
• SSL 18 low-latency Mixer powered by SSL 360
• Comprehensive management of all inputs and outputs with the SSL 18 low-latency Mixer
• Create and manage the control room monitor mix
• Create 4 custom monitor mixes with ease: HP A (stereo), HP B (stereo), Line 3-4 (stereo or dual mono)
• Flexible Mirror Routing system routs any input or aux master directly to an output
• Customize the front-panel monitoring section buttons to accommodate your workflow
• Save/load SSL 18 Mixer profiles for various workflows to create tracking and mixing templates and more
• Stereo Loopback with selectable loopback source
• SSL Production Pack (a $1,100+ value) included with registration