SSL Big SiX

26

12-Channel Analogue Studio Mixer

  • Balanced signal routing throughout with +27dBu headroom (except headphones)
  • 12 Channels (4 mono, 4 stereos)
  • 4 SuperAnalogue Mic Preamps with +48V/75Hz HPF
  • 4 Stereo channels with Hi-Z impedance switch (1 MOhm)
  • Mono channels: 3-band EQ with switchable HF/LF characteristics, SSL compressor and balanced insert
  • Stereo channels: SSL 3-band EQ
  • Peak response LED indicators
  • 16-Channel AD/DA converter with USB-C interface for recording
  • 18-Channel stereo SuperAnalogue summing
  • Summing bus with balanced insert path
  • SSL Bus Compressor (simplified version)
  • 100 mm Fader
  • Stereo mix bus summing for cascading mixers
  • Two stereo cue sends
  • Monitoring section with talkback, local monitoring, 2 stereo cue feeds
  • 2 Headphone outputs with separate source selection
  • Variable B-bus/mute circuit for simple overdubs
  • "Listen Mic Compressor" with flexible routing
  • Dimensions: 489.4 x 390.2 x 141.2 mm
  • Weight: 6.8 kg
Available since January 2022
Item number 526872
Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
Simultaneous channels 12
Mic-In 4
Mono Line-in 4
Stereo-In 4
Hi-Z Input 4
Phantom Power 48V
Master Out 6,3 mm bal.
Aux Ways 2
max. Pre Aux Channels 2
PC Interface USB-C
Interface Input 0
Interface Output 0
Multitrack-Recording No
USB/SD Direct Recording No
Rec Out (Analog) No
Low Cut Yes
Inserts Yes
Direct Out No
Parametric EQ No
Compressor Yes
Panorama Yes
PFL Yes
FX Processor 0
USB Playback No
Bluetooth Playback No
Lamp connection No
Footswitch No
Matrixmixer No
Bag No
Zones 0
19" Rackmount Optional
Weight 6,8 kg
Rackmount No
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29.790 kr
Free shipping incl. VAT
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High-quality mixer for 12 channels

The SSL Big SiX is the successor to the compact and analogue SSL SiX. Instead of six channels, users can now mix up to twelve channels, and like its predecessor, the SSL Big SiX offers the iconic sound of SSL's larger mixing desks - which have proven themselves as a high-quality professional solution in the world's most renowned studios over the course of more than 50 years - in a compact format. The four SuperAnalogue microphone preamps with 72dB of gain for low-noise recordings have been taken from SSL's Duality and AWS mixing desks, allowing the SSL Big SiX to record four channels with minimal noise. All eight channels are equipped with dual mono switching and a three-band equaliser from the SSL E-Series. Moreover, this compact mixer features two independent headphone outputs and a source matrix.

SSL Big SiX

A range of sophisticated inputs

The input jacks of the SSL Big SiX's mono and stereo input channels are found in a small panel at the top of its user interface. The two mono channels offer a choice of jack and XLR sockets, in addition to which users can switch between Hi-Z (for high-impedance sources like guitars), line level, and 48V phantom power for using condenser microphones. A high-pass filter can also be activated. These four channels deliver a top-notch sound thanks to their high-quality SuperAnalogue preamps, while the eight stereo channels comprise four pairs of 6,3mm line input jacks. Added to these connectivity options, the compact mixing desk features an input for an external talkback microphone as well as two external inputs that can be summed to the main mix, which is also served by the G-Series bus compressor, easily operated using just two buttons.

SSL Big SiX, detailed view

Ideal for stage and studio

Thanks to its extensive features, the SSL Big SiX is a perfect solution for professional recording and post-production as well as for live shows, and its solid manufacturing quality will ensure a long operating life. This mixer offers an integrated audio interface, which can record signals at up to 96kHz and 24 bit via a USB port. SSL's iconic sound is achieved through fixed parameters, with the threshold of the compressor on every channel set to a ratio of 2:1 and a release time of 200ms, while the bus compressor features a ratio of 4:1 and an auto release function. The rear panel features a wide selection of outputs, the sockets of which are recessed to reduce space requirements. For fixed installation, the SSL Big SiX can be integrated into a desk or mounted in a rack, in which case the two side panels need to be removed and replaced with optionally available brackets.

Twelve-channel analogue studio mixer from SSL

About SSL

Solid State Logic (SSL), is a renowned British manufacturer of high-end mixing consoles and hardware. It was founded in 1969 by Colin Sanders and is based in Begbroke, Oxfordshire. Initially the company developed transistors to control church organs, hence the name Solid State Logic. At the end of the 1970s they made huge advances in the domain of large mixing consoles with the 4000 series which pioneered the oncoming era of the ‘super’ consoles. Later, the 6000 and 9000 series also proved to be a great success and are still being used in countless recording studios all over the world. In 2005, Peter Gabriel and David Engelke took a majority stake in the company and then sold it to the Audiotonix Group in 2017.

Three mixes, one desk

Users can connect up to two sets of speakers to the rear of the SSL Big SiX, switch between them, and control their volume independently. Besides cues and sends, users can also access the Bus B channel, which allows them to create three independent mixes in parallel to each other. With cues 1 and 2, users can place these two signals in a stereo panorama. For individual listening, the headphone output can be assigned to the cue channels. Cut, Dim, and Mono are helpful functions for monitoring mixes, while the talkback channel can also be repurposed as a third recording channel with 64dB of gain and the Listen Mic Compressor. Numerous LEDs offer visual feedback with which every production can be reliably monitored, and the Pre Fader Listening function allows the precise adjustment of the four SuperAnalogue channels for distortion-free recordings.

26 Customer ratings

4.2 / 5

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handling

features

sound

quality

22 Reviews

M
Tickling noise and bad response from SSL support
Maoree 18.04.2022
It was my first serious mixer out of upper price range. And this expirience was really disappointing. I expected to enjoy high quality of SSL products but got an unit with terrible tickling noise problem. As I found on various forums I am not alone and may users around the world had the same trouble. But the most disappointing part of this experience is communication with SSL support as they response very slowly and you can wait for response for a week or more.

So please be aware of this common problem and ask for testing before buying if it is possible.

Nevertheless, the features of this mixing console are awesome and versatile it contains almost all you may want to have and beyond in you home project studio. 16 channel including 4 superanalogue channels with eq and compressor. I guess sound of this mixer is pretty good too if my unit was not faulty. If SSl had proper quality control during production of this product this mixer was the best value you can have for its price.
handling
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24
4
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AG
New Studio Hub! BiG SiX Update After Issues with SSL Support and product.
A, G. 12.04.2022
After having the big six for 6 months channel 16 output into the daw has died so I cant bus-sum through it which defeats the purpose. I had a noise problem that made some of my recordings unusable and contacted SSL they sent me a retrofit i choose not to install it and since the other issues and sent it back to Thomann because this unit is broken. Disappointed with SSL support only offering a discount on plugins that are worse than their black Friday sales. I still believe the SSL big six sounds great and has tremendous functionality so if the problems are fixed on a new unit I'm happy, but still concerned.

I've had the BiG SiX for just over a month now and there's a lot to love. I think the SSL BiG SiX introduced tremendous value into my studio for the cost, allowing it to become the central hub.

I watched a lot of reviews before choosing to get this unit most of the complaints mentioned by reviewers weren't a factor to me in use. In general, it offers me more than I need, but as always could benefit from a few other features found on more typical audio interfaces. (midi, Adat, Second thunderbolt to connect up to two units or some way to expand the unit with other SSL ecosystem products.

Starting with the mic pres, the headroom of the preamps is great they're so clean and sound amazing i noticed an instant difference compared to my old audio interface. The EQs are musical and more versatile than they are limited. The 4 compressors on channels 1-4 are useful sometimes people use compression for the color from the transformers and pushing the saturation and harmonics of a signal but SSL are known for their clean punchy sound, I have Neve preamps and more colorful bus compressors and plenty of plugins that sound great for that stuff. I find the sound of the SSL compliments and tightens up a mix, gluing everything together and having a modern sound. The G comp on the SSL B6 is great as well I know people say that it has fewer features so it's not as good but for a bus compressor I never found I needed crazy high ratios to achieve an effect id rather have that in the box so I can bypass or go back than print that in a hybrid workflow. It has the same G Comp circuit topology and sounds better than some of my other outboard compressors.

Since I'm using mac I made an aggregate device with another audio interface to expand my studio's I/O

Using this as the hub allowed me to get rid of a lot of connections on my patch bay since you just hit a button and go from USB into the SSL six from my daw instead of a traditional audio interface where you would route that into a patch bay

After recording a track I compared the stems printed out through protools using an SSL g bus comp plugin on the master bus, and then bus summing through the SSL B6 using the G series comp (not engaging the EQ or channel comps) I asked people if they could hear the difference, I immediately noticed more stereo width/detail and the higher headroom allows you to push it a bit more while still sounding good. The last annoying thing about the SSL B6 is that the monitor outputs are 15/16 since it's in a mixer format and that's at the end of the I/O so you have to route your daw and change settings to recognize that. Usually, an audio interface always has 1/2 as main outputs but once you set up your audio midi setup on mac it works and you don't have to change anything. I was worried that the conversion quality wouldn't be as good as say a UA apollo but it sounds great to me, better than what I had before.

The value you get is amazing, the SSL 6 channel strip is updated compared to the 6ix and 500 series ones currently available (better comp and EQ). To buy 4 SSL 500 series six channels, LMC Compressor a G series bus comp, 8 channels of D/I line preamps, and a 500 series chassis with USB or adat to house it all would cost 6937€ It would be more flexible obviously but that puts in perspective the value I think the big six offers.

Pros:
Great mic preamps with headroom
Useful compressors and eq's
powerful headphone preamps
Well Implemented USB connectivity/ Routing
Flexible Routing
Excellent mix bus summer
Powerful line inputs

Cons:
Mic channel inserts (send return) are after the preamp gain.
no ADAT
Limited to 12 channel recording/summing
Routing of the Talkback mic could be better for more practical use of the LMC(Listen Mic Compressor)
2 monitor outputs
handling
features
sound
quality
24
3
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L
Release…the Awesome!
LuckyAK 30.10.2022
Though I did lust for this mixer when it first came out, I never thought I would actually buy one. It seemed a bit extravagant. The original MSRP was way over my budget. Then I saw the Thomann price. Still way over my budget but significantly lower than anywhere else. “F… it!” Sold my old audio interface and mixer along with a few other dusty items and pulled the trigger. Very glad I did. This has become the centerpiece in my studio. So much practical functionality and excellent sound quality. It’s really convenient having a main hub I can run everything through. I think SSL found a nice balance of size and function. Not too big, not too small. Lastly, it’s just beautiful to look at… and to occasionally pet, if you’re into that sort of thing. Overall, very pleased with the Big Six. I will love her forever… or at least until the Bigger Six with the motorized faders and $6K price tag is released. I should mention that I did have to pay a fee to clear customs and it did take some time to arrive, but I definitely saved a lot of $$$ compared to other retailers.
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9
1
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S
BUYER BEWARE
SSLS 17.05.2022
Power supply signal interference issues. Does not work as a digital mixer.
SSL made me fit my own retrospective circuit board which was fiddly and the product still has issues.
handling
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8
13
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