Just to clarify, you are wrong about the ALT input. Function is there on the big six. And you can also totally bypass the usb interface. Be 100% analog mixer. Fair

A good tip to save even more space with the SiX is to remove the plastic side cheeks. They don't serve any purpose and without them the mixer looks like a piece of badass time travel technology from the 80ies!

Thankyou Espen , great video. I literally bought my ssl six a few weeks back and a Cranborne R8 and when I saw the big six I thought exactly the same "oh dear why did I buy just the six?" Not realising there even was an upgrade coming. I also have a whole chassis now of 500 units that can be processed straight to my Daw. But I still feel the ssl six will still add an extra dimension with routing and help with summing in my workflow. and not be redundant at all. Your video calmed my anguish.

Great Vid Espen. Lots of very valid points here!

Good points. There is a big gap, and a need in the market for a high quality sound analog mixer with (min.) 8 in/outs, very good converters, and good in/outs to the external hardware. No need for build in (especially stripped versions) of effects-EQ-comp. They maybe good for live, but I am referring to studio rec./mix/mastering. A&H has good choices, but the Neve, SSL, Trident, API etc. start from 17-20K. A 5-6K unit from those guys, with just (8 min.) in/outs, not even pre-amps more than 2, or 4 (we all have our gear, and like to be flexible), and maybe an additional ADAT in/out (for 500 series, Cranborne etc.) would have a ton of options for the user, and have their 3D sound. Basically a clean, high grade router, and AD/DA converter with ADAT (or USB) would be a center piece.

Yes, you are right, the point is not to upgrade your system just because a company came out with a new version, is if your setup will really benefit of that upgrade and that additional investment. 🤙🏼

These are super valid points, and for those who got excited about the new one, my question is, how good is the USB Audio driver, how much latency are we going to have, most of us already have proper audio interfaces, I think putting in an audio converter is not a good idea, they should make one without it, that should super easy and fast to do. Great Video, love the track "Shop Lifting".

Fellow SSL SiXer here... I reached the same conclusions but the biggest oversight for me was not having ADAT in/outs to use it as an expander with my Antelope Audio interface. I'm also considering a second SiX for 24 channels of summing - I'm pretty sure the "cheeks" are cosmetic, so removing one on each mixer would enable them to sit flush to each other and look like one 12 channel mixer.

To be honest, the Big Six does attract my attention quite a bit. However, I seldom record more than 2 channels from microphones, and if I had to, I would use external rack mic preamps and converters. When I want to play my synths and drum machines and apply effects, 16 channels is far from sufficient. It doesn't seem to fit in my studio setup in terms of its size and configuration. It is nice to know that our Guru is feeling the same way ;-)

I am so glad I have two Alesis mixers with 16 simultaneous channels out to DAW each.

I feel the same way. I would like SSL to put out an extension to the Six without the monitor section.

Those are all very good reasons to not upgrade, especially with space being such a premium. I have loved ssl for years and have been so happy with my audio interface from them.

You as an individual have valid reasons for not upgrading but I think it's obvious outside your current workflow and setup most people will benefit from this amazing new offering from SSL.

No external clocking was a big shame. I agree with you, I would rather pay more for more features.

It's a nice bit of kit but I don't really need it. I already have high end convertors and some high end outboard. What I would like is a pair of Six channels in a 1U rack with the usual xlr and trs inputs. Insert points and spdif also. If SSL could do one of those I'd grab one instantly. I'm the meantime I'm happy with the Warm Audio WA273.

Interesting video snd all valid reasons. All the best

I think SSL started out really nice with the small form factor console the SSL X DESK (2009), and expander but from there on SLL's small mixer feature sets have been a little messy in my opinion. Anyway, thank You for another great video 👍

Smart choice for your studio…I have a big six..I am at the moment changing my studio setup because of the size of it..I wasn’t prepared for the size..I guess this is a warning for small studio owners 🤷🏽‍♂️

I use 3 SSL Six, now i have seen this video i am not gonna buy a big six but SSL equalizer apart, thank you Espen Kraft for your welcome video's!

One of the best decisions I ever made was not listening to you and buying the Big Six... The DAW integration is amazing, and I can walk in and out of hardware and plug-in effects like a bridge at any time. It's brilliant stuff, it's completely transformed my creative process.

got my mine 4 days ago when it launched!!! i needed for acoustic drum tracking

Thanks a lot for this, as it answered a few of many questions I have about routing in my studio. If you were to elaborate on I/O capabilities via your SIX and 500 series/patchbays and connecting as much as possible at once, and adding a little demysification, this would be welcome. Cheers!

For me the biggest oversight is not adding a release knob on any of the compressors. One size doesn't fit all!

Heard you will be on GEOSynths Synth Show next Sunday December 19. Great! Jamie is cool.

I'm sort of in the same situation as Espen. I only record synths by myself through the Six, however I do like the idea of having more channels at mix down. While I understand a lot of people wanted an integrated interface (which I'm sure sounds great since it has the converters from their live boards), SSL uses generic USB drivers that don't have the best latency. For VST instrument latency, I can't find anything better than RME. I know you can bypass the Big Six interface, but then I'm paying for something I don't need. Maybe I should look into a summing box, but I still need the functions of the Six. On a side note, I did notice that they raised the price of the Six at the same time they announced the Big Six.

I am so happy that SSL is innovating at a really fast pace now, but agree with you on the SSL SiX vs Big SiX especially with the required desk space. I think the alt inputs were replaced with using the USB for listening to the DAW back through the Big SiX. Like you, why did they get rid of the DB25s - much more cleaner for cable routing on a desk.

I would agree -- you don’t need any more kit.

Thanks for sharing! in my case id rather pay more for the big six vs reaching a point where having to upgrade in case a big project comes in or some other limitation.The six channel looks like it's missing an arm lol jokes aside both are good but I'm thinking longterm if that makes sense! Thanks again sir Cheers

Thank you I realized they’re are some things I don’t need to pay for especially with owning a uf8 and uc1 but I would like a new audio interface and a mixer that provides me with a warm professional sound

There are routing capabilities on the Big Six that the six does not have, the 3 band EQ is another and finally the USB allow you to use plugins as effects through your mixer, to me that's the way to go!

Big 6 is amazing value, you already have your 500 rack and separate interface. It's clearly not for you. However I would say you would be better off with an X-desk a two 500 series preamps.

It took me a lot of time to decide to pull the trigger for the SiX, knowing soon or late SSL would bring out a TwelVe, well so soon I didnt expect! I do miss more IO but as an amateur I cant really justify a mixer that set me back at 3K, in the future I want to double the SiX.

Interesting thoughts.

GD bless your honesty!

Hi Espen, I am similar, I don't need many channels, just recording my guitar and my vocals really. I use a RME baby face pro FS as my interface and was thinking of just getting the SSL Six vs the Big Six mainly for summing and those other features like the bus+eq. Do you recommend that instead? Thanks!

Have 2 (6) and adding a big 6 as central traffic control for 8 super ch, and two LMC channels= power in a detachable footprint...I use many synths, guitar amps, vocals and binaural HP mixes. Now i can separate the three locations and also cascade little 6 and also return DAW reverbs, etc. You make some good points but not everyone needs your setup. I think you are better off customizing your zone and letting SSL run free with there attempt at giving us all affordable high quality products. Love all the 6s!

Honestly, I'd add a second SiX, if I needed extra channels. The value of the Big SiX is not as good as the SiX. Cheers, Espen! Great video.

I own ssl 6 and it took me some time to get my routing from focusrite 18i20 2nd gen to ssl6 and back. The only difference is I now don’t send back to Ableton as I was told it depreciate the sound quality. So I go from ssl to Alesis master link and print. As for the big 6 I was happy when I heard of it but then I was wondering 💭 now , I have to start back the hassle of selling gear to buy more gear. Big NO. Especially the alt button is gone, d sub gone and I already bought £200 cables.I think they should’ve done another version same number of channels as on big six but without interface but with vu meter, alt button, d sub connection and returns for my lexicon reverb and tla tube mono compressor . For that price they asking , he’ll yeah I wouldn’t think twice

It will be interesting for sure to see if SSL can grab some market share from audio interface vendors with the big six. There might be some strong marketing "Keypoints" for people that want to start into music production. But... I strongly believe there will be plenty Big Six units on the second hand marked soon :) If you already run an audio interface (e.g. rme ufx+) with a decent count of I/O combined with a dedicated AD/DA converter (e.g. Antelope Orion) to flexibly route a given amount of outboard, then you wont need another interface that lacks in performance compared to those units. It would only compromise your workflow. The EQ's mid bell at fixed 700 Hz is nice but in my opinion just completely redundant with having it on all channels, just nonsense. Also the monitoring is completely redundant to someone that already runs dedicated monitoring facilities. I recently picked up a new pcb mainboard (from ssl's x-desk spare parts at a huge discount) to "restore" my ssl x-desk to status "new" and i will keep running that ssl x-desk together with my 2 ssl six's (which have the same analog performance as the Big Six with higher I/O count at lower price :) But however there are some minor improvements on the Big Six as well e.g. "summing" options on the cue returns as well as some pre/post switches for the cue sends that deserve attention :)

I agree that in your use case it is certainly unnecessary to get a big six. However I do not think the big six was meant for you. Cause it doesn't have DB25 and alternative connections because it replaces the need to have an extra interface to talk to the computer, because it is an interface and it connects directly to the computer via USB. Routing is then extremely simple and flexible and you can plug things directly into it instead of through a medium like a patch bay or an external interface. Since you've already gotten everything you need buying a big six is indeed pointless. Cheers!

Hi Espen. Personally, I don't use the SiX SSL because I don't need all the features of the SSL SiX. What I need in my setup is fully covered by my Mackie 802VLZ4. Also, the 802VLZ4 is over 6 times cheaper than the SSL SiX, and I don't want to pay for features I don't need.

Hey- one information about the Alt Input. This is simply called „from USB“ and now you have 12 instead of 2. seems a big upgrade for me.

thanks

All points are your situation. I would love to have the EQs, cause i have no SSL EQs, would be a point for me to buy. When i want to record a singer and an acoustic guitar simultanly, I need 3 Mic inputs, but i have only 2 on my apollo, so also this point would be reason to buy for me. More channels with more features took a bit more place. I worked in the 90s with 32 channel mixers, so this tiny Big Six is not place robber for me. I have no sub D connections, so jacks are for me a point to buy too.

I don’t have any db 25 connectors in my system, and I record live jams with much hardware. So, I will be getting the Big Six.

So you don't use its mic pre-amps or EQ or compressor? So what's it doing there? Being an expensive volume fader?

Your video is very straight forward. What about adding a second SSL SIX to an existing SSL six.

thanks saw this release yesterday as well, how fast you are to produce a video :) I was curious when you say you only record 1 stereo in at a time. Looking for the best setup, have about 6-8 synths and dont mind recording 1 stereo pair at a time as well. But how do you monitor all synths while producing with midi and all tracks are playing back? Or do you litterally record one midi/audio track at a time? That's what I am doing right now but its cumbersome. I also need a midi interface such as ESI so while I am getting my set up in place I am dreaming of a 24ch old 90s analog mixer but maybe there is a better way? Btw I am thinking to get SSL Six as well, so would love your thoughts, I love SSL!! Thanks as always great stuff Mr. Kraft!

I'm just pair my 6 to ssl 2+ and I'm good..

Seems more oriented towards recording band takes then the electronic musician.

Well the good news for you is that the SSL SiX may fall in price with this release and then you can get your backup cheaper ;)

I record drums and I definitely need more than 2 mic pres. To each their own.

Make sense to me!

Sono totalmente d'accordo!

sounds like you describing the x-desk

Just get both route them together !

With all the gear you have you should go Dante. One or two Yamaha Tío 1608-D and you don't need anything else if you do everything like EQ and FX in the box

Hey again, I do 8 synth channels onto the 4 mono channels - 4 on mic ins to give it some grit, and 4 on line ins - plus the 4 stereo channels - plus the modular on ext 1 = 20channels plus the old 16ch Roland mixer on Bus inject, plus external 2 from usb as daw playback = 36 live channels +daw and 12 alt inputs . Not bad for such a small mixer

Hey bro, sounds like someone said "you should get this" and its pretty obvious, you really dont want to. Mixers are a very personal choice. Its the traffic lights at the intersection of synthesisers.

Doesn’t x-desk fit you better?

At about halfway when you said you don't use the SiX eqs or compressors it made me scratch my head and think -- why even have the SiX?

apparently, Lisa Bella donna use the ssl 6

yes you can buy a behringer mixer, you dont need ... ^^

Well I think the Six and the Big Six are for two pretty different use cases. The Six is a mixer. The Big Six is basically a console-audio interface hybrid. I just hope there is a Bigger Six coming out soon (ie - 8 mono channels, 8 stereo channels that can be mono-ed with insert points, 16-24 ADAT, sub $8k, etc)

DB25 connectors are a nuisance. The TRS connectors on the Big Six are a great improvement. The audio interface function of the Big Six is the biggest improvement.

it's clearly not an upgrade of the six , more like bigger all-in-one console and interface, probably aimed at users who into adding a mixer with the "ssl sound"

" A scaled down version of the Origin for 5K " Yea its called the Big Six !!!!😂

Wait for Big Seven.

Stupid question: can you rely on Big Six's audio interface only?

I think two SSL Six are better tham one big six?

Agree absolutely with paying for an interface I don't need. I have a lot of outboard eqs, preamps and compressors (for a home studio). Plus I record vocals, guitars, etc and have solved latency with Apollos. Big Six is good on latency but not as good as chained apollos. In short I need a pure analog mixer. If I was better at electronics maybe I'd buy an old board but I think the SiX is a good place to start. Thanks for the video and echoing the problems of the Big SiX that nobody else is saying.

It's time to clean the computer's fan filter I guess.

A large part of your (legit) reasons for no BigSiX amount to already having all of this outboard gear that the BixSix is offering and using the SiX as a ultra-compact quality analog mixer front into interface. Pointing out that's a different use case than a fully self contained hybrid workflow analog summing mixer/audio interface. I think almost no one who bought the SiX was thrilled by the DB25 or the idea they'd have to buy a pricey cable harness to deal with it; they wanted a more direct connect capability with their interfaces. As far as having an audio interface already - Me too, and I'm thinking it wouldn't be that much of a sacrifice to give up my UAD Apollo just to have a fully integrated hybrid setup with the BigSiX, and I'm betting the sonic difference will NOT be noticeable except by other mix engineers. 16 channels down is more than enough for any kind of stem mixdown/mastering for the music I do. Plus, BixSix bring 4 x analog SSL Strip/pre-amps + 4x2 stereo synth ins (for example). I own outboard bus compressors as well, but I really like the SiX simplified G-bus transparency. Presuming BigSix will be the same, don't mind giving up one of my solid state outboards. I agree with what some others have said--absent the moving faders of SSL's other controller and high end mixing desks--this is really the first true fully integrated hybrid workflow analog summing mixer many folks have been waiting for. BigSix + laptop w capable DAW + plugins + decent monitors and you get a VERY quick and---from what I've heard so far--sonically rich music making workflow. Who knows? If BigSiX sells well, your dream of a slimmed down home studio sized Origin may be a possibility. SSL's pretty progressive that way.

How could someone mix with that!!!

Sounds like the new model would be a downgrade for you, rather than an upgrade.

That’s you personal reasons actually.

This isn’t a review. It’s a personal review. The big six out the six to shame.

To expensive, these SSL are to much. I prefer a Behringer!

Sooo…. It’s a maybe 🤔? 😂

You don t need the six also....You have all you need

SSL is to busy trying to make money instead of making solid customers

Just bought a New converter RME M1610, which is way better then the USB in the Big Six. So in the same situation, stick with the Six I have.

TLDR/ don’t need one, don’t want one. Won’t be buying… that’ll time watching. In other news man who does not play golf is not interested in buying a set of clubs.

You sound like you got your feelings hurt by SSL releasing a new product. The video makes no sense.

kind of clickbait, your title should indicate that it's about your personal use. The big six is really interesting to record performance and do stem mixing. Favoring the interface, eqs, comp and bus comp and usb abilities, the big six is a major upgrade for many people.

Completely disagree with this review, the Big Six has met many of my needs and some.

Fucking thing is 3 grand lol