The Solid State Logic Super 9000 is a premium 1U channel strip that condenses decades of SSL console design into a modern, rackmount format. Built on SSL’s legendary SuperAnalogue architecture, it offers engineers ultralow distortion, massive headroom and pristine signal clarity—all while delivering the punch and spaciousness that has defined iconic recordings from the '90s onward. However, it’s more than just a clean piece of kit: the Super 9000 also includes SSL’s Variable Harmonic Drive circuit for creative saturation, a full dynamics suite, switchable EQ modes and advanced signal flow flexibility, including comprehensive routing and external sidechain capabilities. From capturing detailed vocal recordings to processing stems during mixdown, Super 9000 offers the tools and tone that audio professionals demand.
SuperAnalogue Preamp and Variable Harmonic Drive Expand Tonal Options
At the heart of the Super 9000 is a flexible input section with two world-class mic preamps. Choose the SuperAnalogue path for maximum transparency and low noise, perfect for capturing vocals and instruments with lifelike accuracy. Or engage the Variable Harmonic Drive (VHD) circuit to add customizable second- or third-order harmonic content for rich, warm or edgy tone. A switchable input impedance (1.3 kohm or 11 kohm) accommodates different microphones, while phantom power, pad, polarity reverse and a Line Input Flip option round out the tools you need to capture pristine or colored audio on your terms. Think of it as two world-class preamps in one—transparent when you need detail, colorful when you want edge.
SSL Dynamics Section With Peak Detect and Gate Control
SSL's classic dynamics section is fully integrated here, with a compressor and expander/gate powered by the high-performance THAT 2181A VCA. The compressor includes both soft knee and peak detect modes, as well as a fast attack option for taming transients with surgical precision. You can route the dynamics section before or after the EQ, and it’s equipped with a hold control and adjustable hysteresis for the gate/expander—ideal for tightening up drums or cleaning up noisy vocals. This flexibility makes the Super 9000 equally powerful for detailed vocal tracking, tightening drum overheads or adding dynamic cohesion to mix bus elements.
Classic SSL EQ—Pink and Black Knob Circuits
The EQ section brings SSL’s best tone-shaping tools into a single module, with switchable access to the 292 "Pink Knob" G-Series EQ and the 242 "Black Knob" E-Series EQ. The 292 offers variable-Q bell curves and SSL’s signature musical behavior, while the 242 provides constant-Q for more precise, clinical boosts and cuts. Additional functions expand the midband ranges for wider tonal targeting, and high- and low-pass filters (18dB/oct and 12dB/oct respectively) give you full-frequency control. You can even route the EQ to the dynamics sidechain for classic SSL ducking effects or creative filtering—a hallmark of the brand’s studio legacy.
Durable Rackmount Construction Supports Heavy Studio Use
The Super 9000 gives engineers a host of options to integrate into modern studio setups. A balanced insert point lets you patch in external hardware either after the input stage or just before the output, allowing seamless integration of EQs, compressors or other processors. An external sidechain input provides keying control, and when paired with a second Super 9000, stereo linking is possible—making it a powerful mastering or mix-bus tool. The Line Input Flip function enables users to send DAW stems through the mic preamp path for added character, without repatching. Combined with intuitive process-order routing, this makes the Super 9000 a dream for hybrid engineers working between in-the-box and analog domains.
Super 9000 Channel Strip Delivers SSL Sound for Modern Studios
Inspired by the legacy of the SL 9000 and Duality consoles, the Super 9000 brings a console’s worth of tone and control into a single rackspace unit. Its build quality is worthy of the SSL name, featuring premium components, rock-solid construction and ergonomic layout for daily studio use. From Grammy-winning engineers to up-and-coming producers, it’s a perfect fit for high-end tracking chains, reamp workflows, stereo mix chains and more. With its dual preamps, versatile EQ, comprehensive dynamics and refined routing, the Super 9000 is not just another channel strip—it’s the complete SSL SuperAnalogue signal path, ready for the modern hybrid studio.