SSL Alphalink first impression Review

[crillemannen]

Yo,

So i got my SSL alphalink today. It was a bit of a hazzle to get it working, not the best manual. But after searching on the web i got it up and running.

Im always a bit suspicious about people hyping any type of gear, converters to monitors to HD compressors. You almost always end up a bit disappointed but this time i was like WOOOW what a big difference. Lowend clearer, mids clearer highs smoother. Ok, i had an Digi 003 before, not the best soundcard out there. But non the less a decent interface.

I still got some problems getting my hardware working, but im gonna post a follow-up when i got everything up and running. But as for now im totally happy with my choice.

Cheers!!!

 

[DigitalMetal]

Im not at all surprised you noticed a huge difference between the 003 and the SSL, IMHO the sound quality of all the 00 series since the 001 has always been pretty questionable, in fact all the LE interfaces have been pretty dull.
Congrats on the new purchase though, certainly the best bang for you buck of decent quality out there at the moment.

 

[gabriel g.]

use the Cranesong clock! My Studio-Partner is using the same converter and clocked it with the HEDD. Sounds awsome

 

[crillemannen]

Yeah, i actually got a Digi 002 before the 003. But that was all before Pt9. The 003 was a big step up from 002 both conversion and Ad/Da.
But i feel 100% with my purchase.

@Gabriel

Off course man The Clock is awesome on the spider

 

[Mikaël-ange]

Congrats Christian

What problem did you have with hardware btw?

 

[crillemannen]

Congrats Christian

What problem did you have with hardware btw?

Thanks man!

I solved it. The Alphalink has a matrix router where the madi card is the actual soundcard so i just had to chose the right combination in the matrix.

My next problem is that i can't get the Spider working via adat, my guess it is the same problem, i have to adjust the right i/o on the onboard matrix on the alphalink haha. Sounds great though

 

[Mikaël-ange]

Good luck with the non user friendly process to do that
What bother me with the whole alphalink serie is the fixed I/O calibration level. But I think that thing don't bother lot of people

 

[::XeS::]

Alphalink seems to have a shitty manual and "logic" for the routing... But when you understand how it works there are no problems at all

 

[::XeS::]

Do you use the ssl pcie card or something else like the rme hdspe?

 

[Ermz]

What bother me with the whole alphalink serie is the fixed I/O calibration level. But I think that thing don't bother lot of people

Wtf? Please explain.

 

[crillemannen]

Do you use the ssl pcie card or something else like the rme hdspe?

I bought the SSL boundle with the 64 i/o madi card for about 2200euro including VAT.

 

[Mikaël-ange]

Wtf? Please explain.

Calibration at 0db VU= -18dbfs
It's fixed so you can change it like with a 192 for exemple (no trim pot for that on alphalink). Hope that make sense Ermin.

 

[Ermz]

At least they've calibrated it to a usable standard. I was afraid it would default to something retarded like 0VU = -9dBFS like the RME gear.

 

[C_F_H_13]

At least they've calibrated it to a usable standard. I was afraid it would default to something retarded like 0VU = -9dBFS like the RME gear.

Wow really? -9??

I'm interested to see what you think of this unit, as I've been thinking about picking up the same one.

 

[Ermz]

Yeah, the RME I/O level calibration is plain retarded. Their 'default' +4dBu setting is -9dBFS. I forget what -10dBV is, but the lowest you're able to achieve is 0VU = -15dBFS, which is using the 'Lo Gain' option.

Quite keen to check out the Alphalink, much as you are. Just not sure it's worth ditching an already well-functioning system for it. It'd lead to a chain of replacements for me, starting with needing to get a MADI card in place of the RayDAT, then re-cabling the rack etc.

 

[::XeS::]

You can use the alphalink with adat as well and you can continue using the raydat. Of course if you wanna use MADI that's not the case.