SSL Origin Console 1 Year Review

Mixer Joel Wanasek breaks down the good, bad, and the ugly after an entire year of owning an SSL Origin Console. Automation, workflow, sonics, recall, and more!
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🔴 LEARN TO MIX: nailthemix.com/
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Production Credits: credits.muso.a...
Ranked in BOTH the top 1% of Mixing and Mastering Engineers on the MUSO.AI credit charts.
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ABOUT:
Hi! I'm mixer in the music industry, known for my work with various artists and bands such as Scott Stapp, Machine Head, Ellise, Sleep Theory, Phix, Ekoh, Rain City Drive, Attila, Vinyl Theater, MIYAVI, Nano, Keith Wallen, and many others. I've got 20+ years of professional experience in making records and have worked for labels like BMG, Atlantic, Universal, Fueled by Ramen, Thriller, Epitaph, Rise, Napalm, Century Media, among others.
Additionally, I'm one of the founders of Nail The Mix (Alongside Joey Sturgis / Eyal Levi), an acclaimed online music production school tailored for rock and metal producers. Nail The Mix has garnered a significant following since 2016, aiding tens of thousands of producers worldwide in enhancing their production and mixing skills.
I'm here to share my passion for audio production with you. Thank you for watching!

[@spoonerluv]

Damn, I remember when you originally posted about getting the console. Time goes so fast! Okay, time to watch the video...

[@jensloetzsch]

I agree, I reactivated my old Korg Nano Kontrol 2 and set it up for Cubase. Of course it's a tiny little unit but to be able to control a lot of functions, Custom Shortcuts, Fader Movements and also controlling Plugins with the Nano Kontrol is a huge benefit and it feels much better ! As you said, the time I spend with the mouse is being reduced drastically which is good for the wrist and arm !

[@melissabell585]

I've got a pair of ngLevelers here for my post-compression automation. They're great, and honestly if you do ever go that route, a big win I didn't expect to matter as much as it does is having their saturation circuit instantly available and automatable on every channel. Super useful in the mix!

[@joelwanasekurm]

I’m highly considering a pair of them! I hear they are awesome. How much work was it setting them up?

[@melissabell585]

@@joelwanasekurm It's pretty straightforward - DB25 in and out (good fit for your SSL) and then ethernet cables to each unit. I use a 32 channel CAPI SumBus32 as my analog mix platform, so the ngLevelers are basically the fader surface for my "console". The software pretty much just works as expected, and you add one instance of the plugin to your project for each ngLeveler unit (I just use a dummy track for this). Automation gets written on plugin automation tracks. I'd love a VST3 version that lets me use DAW faders as channel faders, but, alas. The good thing is that their background server app has MCU support - I use an SSL UF8, and layer 3 on there is my ngLeveler layer. Solo/mute work as normal, and the pan knob adjusts the channel saturation level. I configured one soft key to switch between the normal faders and the trim faders (both are independently automatable) and it's all smooth sailing from there!

[@stevedoesnt]

I’m seriously considering these, too. They seem to be virtually the only way. One of the things that makes me apprehensive is having software controlled hardware. I’d hate to have it depend on updates and support.

[@melissabell585]

@@stevedoesnt I understand your concern. I can only say that WesAudio has been good about getting things updated fairly promptly (at least on MacOS; I haven't run their stuff on Windows). It's also based on the same hardware control and management framework that they use for all their digitally-controlled analog stuff, so short of the company folding, I think you're in okay shape relative to any other software support issues you might be carrying around, cough, Avid, cough.

[@michaelmai8403]

Got one for bus compression. Works great with my Uf8 on the board and I control it with a second layer, first layer for PT.

[@АлексейВискалов-и6х]

Congratulations from the bottom of my heart! Only console + hardware!! I'm waiting for your videos about the console! (work / comparison with the mix ITB) Good luck to you!

[@davidmiseveth]

Thank you for this. I am in the middle of setting up an analog/hybrid setup myself. Especially the pre fader automation thing. I was definitely concerned about it. It would be awesome if you could do a complete run-through of your setup.

[@joelwanasekurm]

I’ll consider thx 🙏

[@trulyintense6613]

Its always a good thing when you lay out the cash for something of this magnitude & it hits all the marks & meets all your expectations!!! Now get back to work!😉👍👍👍🙂

[@stevedoesnt]

After adjusting my workflow to be closer to what you described on what I believe was your first SSL video, I ended up solving automation mostly by using 1/4” console tape vertically on the fader and marking my moves. I record the channels and mix at the same time, and for any transitions where multiple moves are needed, I just stop tape, make the moves, and punch in again. It’s been mostly great.

[@joelwanasekurm]

Love console tape on the fader. I just mark it with a pencil ✏️. Works great!

[@dougleydorite]

I’m slowly gathering 500 series modules vs the console route. Way more versatile and cost effective

[@nicefish10]

It may be versatile but not always more cost effective. A full 10 space 500 chassis can easily cost more than $15,000. If you need 30 channels of real pre amps, now you are easily into console costs…and you still don’t have EQ, monitor control, insert points etc. just my 2 cents.

[@dougleydorite]

@@nicefish10 Wes audio 20% off sales have been my go to. Costs about $6k for 10 channels with digital control and automation. I’ve been getting NG rack gear from them too. I will buy a console when it is up to the right digital controllable recall and automation of all parameters + having really good feeling tactics. That day may never come

[@ChernobylAudio666]

I hear you about the wrist and arm fatigue. I adopted the position of setting my wrist vertical and holding the mouse between my thumb and pinky finger. I have giant palms so there is still a lot of surface area on the mouse, so even with my wrist in a half-way suppinated position, it doesn't put pressure on the inside of my wrist on the desk. This helped me a lot as now my wrist sits on that little bone at the bottom of my hand. This will sound dumb, but doing suppination stretches a couple times an hour (grabbing the outside of my hand with the opposite hand and rotating my wrist so my palm is in the air and pulling for a nice stretch) helps a lot. Also, being cognizant of my shoulders so they aren't rounding too much is important. Doing barbell overhead presses helps a lot, it keeps the shoulder muscles strong and aids in keeping strength in the shoulder. Doing stretches for the shoulder and putting your bicep to your ear keeps the range of motion, too. Sorry for the paragraph of information, but this is stuff to take seriously when you're doing this daily for 8-10 hours a day. Glad to hear you are crushing it, Joel! 🤘

[@scottnelle]

Have you looked at a vertical mouse? I do the same as you--rotate my hand outward to relieve pressure--but I've always been curious to try an ergonomic vertical mouse. Also, as a software developer for 20+ years, the number one thing that I've done for wrist and shoulder pain has been to get my desk and chair set up so that the arm rests are exactly level with the surface that my keyboard and mouse sit on. I used to have to wear wrist braces at work but between the mousing adjustment and getting the height correct I'm now pain-free even though I spend about 12 hours a day at my desk. Ergonomics are so important!

[@doodoogtube]

I use a track ball mouse and a chair with an armrest and never had an issue with my wrist…and if I do it’s because my chair height and table height were the issue and my armrest height needed to be adjusted. Any of you having an issue this maybe something you could look into if everything else doesn’t work.

[@mephiston9]

thank you. still trying to understand the process of recall. I guess I'm going to watch the video a couple of times to really dig it. but great info. thank you.

[@joelwanasekurm]

The faders have a 0db button. So you can remove the fader or keep it in. So print a track. Nudge it back however Ms for latency. Then bring it back on the fader at 0db and disable eq/insert. Done.

[@michaelmai8403]

Great review. Loved your comments on the weight. We had to bring it up stairs to get it into a room over my garage. Haven’t fixed the hole in the wall or the hardwoods at the top of the stairs yet (lol). But couldn’t be happier with the board 😎

[@parabot2]

Tip for carpal tunnel that will work in a week ( put hand or what ever part is having issues into hot water ( as hot as to can handle ) for 1 min , then dunk into cold water for 30 seconds , do this 5 times in a row so under 10mins ) Thank me later , it drags massive amounts of blood into the hand or fingers repairing the issue .

[@angermanagementstudios]

I had a lot of wrist fatigue as a teenager… Seriously though, it is a ballache. I try to use my control surfaces as much as possible. Definitely helps.

[@johnzona4243]

Just demoed the Harrison 32c and the origin at aes ,both nice boards

[@Studio22mix]

Nice, great board indeed. I mix on an analog desk too and also love my outboard effects over plugins. I totally love a kick ass low end, I noticed that many film engineers have an awesome tight impactful low end which most music productions are missing. I think that sound for film production knows how to manage it way better. I found that calibrating and phase compensating my subs made a big difference in my monitor system. The low end is such a big deal for me that I don’t want to mix without a good sub representation anymore. Maybe some like to watch to a analyzer, I like to feel it 🙂

[@joelwanasekurm]

Totally with you. I never use analyzers. You gotta feel crushing sub and become obsessed with translation.

[@monchinotdead]

As always thanks joel!! mind blowind! mouse is a shitty control for any kind of music job.. like Mr CLA said, you cant play piano one note at a time. One Question, are you sending the rooms mics to the line 6? just curious

[@joelwanasekurm]

I use the echo pro for vocals.

[@TheBand3Music]

I'm so excited to own one of these one day

[@joelwanasekurm]

You’ll love it!

[@MixedByDb]

💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽 one of my goals is to own that console .

[@ABS_AD77]

Thanks for a nice video. Just wondering how it would be to compare SSL 4KB to Origin, to check the SSL 4000 analog mojo ?

[@onoesmurlocs]

I'm a digital artist , carpal tunnel is a big problem in this field too, you can get little foam bars that sit under wrist to raise the angle to a more natural straight angle, I use a wrist guard as it works better for me , seems to stop the symptoms of carpal tunnel I used to get on my left wrist that use key-binds constantly, I am no expert but I think the angle of wrist causes compression in the wrist area of carpal tunnel.

[@damienlewis7882]

We've got one on the way to The Plant in Sausalito, very excited for it!

[@leftofcenter4]

Wow I am still trying to figure out my routing, connections and ssl xdesk features.. I am sure I will not be getting something on that level..maybe a 16 channel origin would be a dream. I am still in the learning stages of recording and mixing I am more of a singer songwriter/multi-instrumentalist trying to level up my own recordings. I am semi retired from my day job, so now I have more time to learn my equipment which is kinda dated…ssl xdesk, SSL xrack eqs and dynamics, ssl bus compressor, UA 6176, U87, SM57, Sm58, Neumann KM184,SSL Alpha VHD quad Pre amp rack, Avid S3, avid Dock, Macpro 2012 tower, Pro tools HDX..my soon to be future units, audioscape LA2a, 2 RND Newton channel strips, a Tegeler EQP-1, M2 Mac mini pro, updating my PT HDX 12.84 to the current version. I also signed up for a pro tools production certificate program at Berklee online…the PT fundamentals 101 and 110 certification courses were very challenging. But they force me to better wrap my head around the PT Daw.

[@DaftyBoi412]

This is partly the exact same reason I'm trying to go analoug as much as possible! Except it's my shoulder and back .. but it's massively inflamed by using a mouse for more than ten mins at a time!

[@montyrayza7220]

Can you route the short fader outputs back to the DAW and track them? Awesome video bro.

[@humanitygone3958]

Even though I have a summing mixer not a console, it’s funny how similar our process is. I also just automate itb before it comes out to the mixer. I never thought that was weird at all.

[@joelwanasekurm]

Totally. It wasn’t worth spending 60k more just for this feature (aws)

[@metatron333ascension]

what is the differences in the sonics between the API you had and the SSL you have now? im thinking about getting the Neve Genesys black. once thing i've notice about mixes ran through a console is they sound 80% mixed and even has a nice glue just running through it. that's even without compression or anything else.

[@joelwanasekurm]

The midrange is different. The ssl has a tighter bottom. If I used shapes api is a big ball and ssl is a massive rectangle.

[@smash_adams]

Are you still doing the mix/song reactions/breakdowns? (Like you did with Nickelback and Paramore) I really enjoyed a pros perspective.

[@jason.martin]

Great review Joel !!

[@JoeyFTL]

Since there's no board compression, what are some of your most used go-to compressors?

[@joelwanasekurm]

I bought a 500 rack and filled it with e dynamics modules. I’ve also got adr distressors api 2500 fatso rs660

[@JoeyFTL]

@@joelwanasekurm I see, thanks!

[@JeanmarkRodriguez]

Very inspiring 🔥

[@JohnSmith-hj1ys]

We sweat too much about things like pre-fader automation...love hearing it said out loud by real pro!

[@andreasdown3977]

May i ask a stupid sounding question...I am German native speaker...when you guys talk about...to print something...what do you mean with it? Recording an analog signal flow back to the DAW? Great video and very inspiring...thx a lot in advance...Andy

[@oceansiderecordingstudio]

Can you link me to a big selling album that you mixed on this console. Much appreciated.

[@Stargazerz]

I had to switch to a trackball mouse because of carpal tunnel.

[@joelwanasekurm]

Wrist pain is brutal. Editing…

[@nebularvoid4669]

@@joelwanasekurmabsolute right hand murderer

[@ladanzza]

the Faders looks like Mackie faders, terrible, the knobs are easy to remove, plastic cheap, the sound I think is cool, but as soon as I saw this I was complain about the plastic stuff, specially if you pay 60k

[@ChasetheDay]

Drink every time Joel says 'console'. Take a shot too if he's waving his arms around at the same time.

[@joelwanasekurm]

What are you drinking?

[@ChasetheDay]

@@joelwanasekurm SSL Koolaid

[@mrpesk1]

🤣

[@izhundrikov]

so, basicly you're just mixing in the box with extra steps.