Mic Pre’s with Prestige
The PURE DRIVE OCTO harnesses Solid State Logic's renowned SuperAnalogue PureDrive™ microphone preamp technology, originally featured in the ORIGIN console. This advanced unit introduces a new DRIVE mode, comprehensive connectivity, and state-of-the-art digital conversion, all within a compact 8-channel 2U rackmount format. The ORIGIN recording console, a contemporary-classic from SSL, first introduced the groundbreaking PureDrive™ microphone preamplifier. This innovative preamp maintains the clarity and punch of SSL's previous designs while also offering the flexibility to switch its character to a warm, harmonically rich, and driven tone that varies with gain.
ORIGIN, in combination with the PureDrive™ microphone preamp, has left an indelible mark on the world's top recording studios. Whether you're capturing the delicate nuances of a piano concerto in PURE mode or adding warmth to a drum recording in DRIVE mode, the PureDrive™ microphone preamp has become an indispensable tool in some of the industry's most prestigious studios and recording facilities due to its versatility and exceptional sonic characteristics.
Analogue Obsession
PURE DRIVE OCTO continues the legacy into rack format, delivering eight microphone preamps with ORIGIN’s renowned PURE and DRIVE modes, but takes it further, adding a new ‘Asymmetric’ DRIVE, advanced digital connectivity, and an onboard USB interface.
PURE DRIVE OCTO offers four mic preamp input impedance options, enabling engineers to explore various tonal possibilities or match the mic pre's impedance closely to the microphone. Additionally, each mic pre includes independent +48V phantom power, polarity inversion, and a High Pass Filter.
PURE DRIVE OCTO stands as one of the most capable and feature-rich outboard microphone preamplifiers available, introducing a host of new sonic possibilities and workflows for the discerning producer and recording engineer.
3 Flavours, 1 Mic Pre
PURE DRIVE OCTO is a testament to SSL's commitment to progressive analogue circuit design. No electro-mechanical components (potentiometers, mechanical switches, relays etc) are used in the critical audio signal path of PURE DRIVE OCTO, increasing product longevity, and allowing impeccable ‘matching’ between all channels – not just a stereo pair. The use of digitally controlled analogue circuits, controlled by detented pots and electronic switches simplifies recall and precision of settings. Each of PURE DRIVE OCTO’s mic pre’s can be independently switched between three distinct DRIVE modes: Clean, Classic Drive, and Asymmetric Drive.
Clean Mode
Clean mode (White) delivers the highly regarded, ultra-low noise floor, linear SSL preamp that is recognised for its ability to faithfully capture the sound of the source with exceptional clarity and detail.
Classic Drive
Classic Drive (Amber) is the symmetrical mode that generates predominantly odd harmonics; the same drive sound found on the ORIGIN console.
Asymmetric Drive
Asymmetric Drive (Green) offers up a new colouration option, specifically designed for the PURE DRIVE range, making the even harmonic content dominant and providing more pronounced thickness, colouration and softening of transients.
PURE DRIVE OCTO Overview
Mic Impedance Input
PURE DRIVE OCTO offers four mic preamp input impedance options, enabling engineers to match the mic pre's impedance closely to the microphone or even change the tonality of the input signal (on ribbon and dynamic mics), giving further creative control when recording with the PURE DRIVE preamps.
Independent Gain and Trim Controls
PURE DRIVE OCTO features two independent controls:
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GAIN - Stepped Gain control up to +65 dB Gain
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TRIM - 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.
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The High Pass filter in PURE DRIVE OCTO is fixed at 75Hz 3rd order and it can be accessed by clicking on the TRIM pot.