The Console That Changed Mixing Forever

Sound On Sound met up with former Solid State Logic System and Support Team Leader Karen Down at Echotown Studio for a deep dive into the automation and recall technology that brought about a revolution in mixing.

Integrating a computer and VCA automation into an inline mixing console, Solid State Logic's 4000 E-series was the first to combine total parameter recall, level automation, tape transport control and comprehensive channel EQ and dynamics. The 4000 E launched in 1979 and allowed engineers to record, edit and overdub their fader moves to floppy disk, defining many of the automation modes we now take for granted. This console and its descendants dominated the music recording industry for the next 20 years, creating new working practices and changing the sound of popular music.

In this exclusive Sound On Sound feature video, Karen demonstrates some of the key features that set the SSL console apart from its contemporaries and gives a tutorial on how to use the integrated computer.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction
00:40 - What Makes The SSL SL 4000 Mixing Console Special?
02:39 - Loading A 24-Track Tape Onto A Reel-to-Reel
03:49 - How Does The Automation System Work?
05:56 - Setting Up A New Session With The SSL Console Computer
07:10 - Finding The Start Of The Song
07:52 - Adding Names For Tracks And Cue List
09:39 - Total Recall Setups And Floppy Disk Storage
12:16 - Recording Mix Automation
15:29 - How To Edit And Update A Mix
17:27 - 'Auto Takeover' Automation Mode
18:47 - Setting Up Different Automation Modes
20:04 - 'Play Cuts Only' Mode
21:00 - 'Immediate Pickup' Mode
21:23 - 'Preview' and 'Trim' Modes
25:07 - 'Revise' Mix Mode
27:41 - Ability To Combine And Edit Mixes Offline
29:05 - Software Groups Used To Group Controls
30:44 - Outro

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[raggedrec]

Karen's demeanour shows a life time of educating and knowledge. the only Karen I could listen to all day.

[allenalesna]

So in a way, Karen changed the recording industry, she after all is one who travelled and taught people to use this.

[danielmankiller]

Karen is the person who taught me how to use my SSL console in my studio here in Decatur, Alabama. I couldn't help but be wowed again, even with the technology being terribly outdated, it's just so neat to see it at work again.

[dljr]

In 1995 Karen came to Brussels and trained us how to use our new SSL 4000 G+ - brilliant lady and much fun

[The_Catalyzt]

The work done in this video is SO important. I'm a DAW baby, have never touched a console. I use software emulations of this and other consoles all the time. This is literally the first time I've seen a real working ssl in action and I am so very humbled. I love that Karen is so patient and concise with her explanation of all the features. This really is world class instruction and we're getting it for free in a YouTube video. Wow.

Thank you so much for putting this together. I would love to see you break down workflows of other consoles and tape setups.

[G_handle]

We’ve come so far, so fast!

SOS…Please do more of these kind of Documentaries.
YouTube is fantastic for a new generation of audio engineers, but it lacks the kind of historical context that’s needed for them to understand why the new tools work the way they do.

For example, It still amazes me how much SSL is in ProTools.
And how much ProTools is in Every Other DAW.

[AJLowe]

Love Karen to bits, had the pleasure of her help, knowledge and experience when I worked in the industry. No matter what problem I had, Karen always had the answer. :)

[RayR]

I don't know who this lady is...but I like her! She is an excellent teacher.

[panditec]

Legendary stuff there. Well done SOS and SSL. Those were the days..!

[aljohnson]

The SSL represents two decades of my life. I recorded orchestras, techno deviants, folk singers and rock stars through them during the 80s and 90s. Karen's right about the muscle memory that developed operating the automation system, and I still remember some of the movements. And no assistant ever wanted to hear the phrase "total recall" banded about at 3am, that's for sure. It was a nightmare. The floppies we used were much bigger though, and much more floppy! Somewhere between A5 and A4 sized and square. I loved the G series. SSL were the best laid-out of the studio consoles, they really nailed it.

[darindipietro]

Even with the crazy budgets back in those days it’s hard to imagine making any profit with the equipment overhead and the trained staff to run it.

[hulkslayer]

It's videos like these that make me stop and realize how lucky we are these days, while also being able to appreciate how lucky people were in the late 70's to be able to do these seemingly "archaic" things that were not even possible before. I had to remind myself that while watching and thinking how complicated this was, and then the thought of NOT being able to do this at all!

[alexhall]

Absolutely loved this article … sent me back a few decades to those noises of tape machines in hot dimly lit control rooms … ahhh… more please 😊

[kevddiaz]

Damn. Absolutely mind-blowing for a 23 year old producer. We have it so easy today! this technology was fascinating. I now see where the backwards tape sound comes from haha.

[Ralph]

Karen and Chris were a great support team, had huge respect for them back then. Seeing Karen flawlessly recall these operations on their earliest console blows me away.

[davewestner]

This video is going to be a lifesaver for someone who may score a functioning SSL in the year 2047.
Also, incredibly fascinating to me as I never got a chance to work on an SSL. It's a bucket list item ("mix a song on an SSL"), but I don't think there's any studios within 3hrs of Boston.
I suppose of anyone knows of an SSL studio in the Boston area, let me know because I'd probably book a day there!

[KrulliKlikk]

Amazing video. We often forget how many of the things we take for granted in our DAWs today were mind-blowing just a couple of decades ago.

[MrRockwell]

We used the original SSL automation for 15+ years @transientsound and it always worked like a charm. A few years ago we upgraded to the Tangerine system which also integrates with our daw and we absolutely love it. The sound of our 4048 e/g combined with fader automation is why I still mix on this console. Karen is a true gem- I just wish this video was made 15 years ago when we were learning all of the tricks ourselves.

[bdptrs]

Amazing how she really seems to love every aspect of it all. The light in the eyes reveal it all, really. Great video!

[weschilton]

As someone who sort of "grew up" on SSL 4000s this is such a great video! I was just a session musician, but sometimes I would assist in the control room for mixes and there was always a dedicated assistant who knew the automation software and ran it. Seemed like magic at the time... MAN have we come far since those days! And yet, I still miss them!