Solid State Logic
S O U N D
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V I S I O N
SUPERANALOGUE
X - R A C K
Super-Analogue™ Outboard
X-Rack E Series EQ User’s Guide
This documentation package contains the User’s Guide for your new X-Rack E Series
EQ module. Depending on the age of your X-Rack, these pages may already be present
in your X-Rack Owner’s Manual – please check to see if these pages match your
Manual. If they do not, these pages should be filed alongside it.
Please Note. For correct operation of this module, your X-Rack unit must be running V1.4/2 or later
software. Please refer to your X-Rack Owners Manual for instructions on how to check the
current software version and how to obtain and install a newer version if required.
There may be a newer version of the X-Rack Owner’s Manual available for download from our
website (www.solid-state-logic.com)
82S6XR0K0A
K. E Series EQ Module
SEL
IN
XR425
HF
dB
HMF
LMF
d
B
dB
Q
Q
- +
- +
-
+
BLK
KHz
KHz
1
61.5
10 5
2 14
7
.6
4.5 1.5
.8 6
KHz
2
.5 .2
1
.5.8
.3 2.0
BELL
LF
dB
- +
Hz
450 30
300
50
BELL
K.1 Connection
The module input and output gains can be set to operate at a nominal level of either
+4dBu or –10dBV, using a switch on the connector panel. To select the appropriate
level for the equipment you are connecting to, please check the operating manual for
your mixer or DAW. The switch should be released for +4dBu operation: push it in for
–10dBV operation.
K.2 Operation
The X-Rack E Series EQ module is a re-implementation of two of the classic SSL EQ
circuits. The module defaults to the original ‘Brown Knob’ circuit that was standard
on all early production E Series consoles but can be switched to emulate the later
‘Black Knob’ circuit.
X-Rack E Series EQ Module
The BLK button switches the module from the default ‘Brown Knob’ EQ to
1
‘Black Knob’ EQ.
The IN button switches the entire section in and out of circuit.
2
K.2.1 ‘Brown Knob’ EQ
With the BLK button out, the two parametric mid-band sections feature SSL’s classic
logarithmically symmetric design that ensures that the ±3dB up/down points retain
the same musical interval from the centre frequency regardless of frequency and
amplitude settings. The two shelving sections are traditional 6dB/octave designs
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with an option for a fixed Q parametric response (Bell). The ‘02’ EQ, to give it its
correct name, was used on countless recordings and mixes in the early eighties.
K.2.2 ‘Black Knob’ EQ
In 1983 a new ‘242’ EQ circuit was developed in conjunction with the legendary
George Martin for the first SSL console to be installed in AIR studios. The ‘Black
Knob’ EQ, as it became known, featured enhanced cut and boost ranges (±18dB
instead of ±15dB) together with a different control law and a steeper 18dB/octave
high pass filter for tighter control of low frequencies. It is this design which is
retained today as the ‘E Series’ EQ option of the AWS 900 and Duality consoles. It is
also to be found in use in the X-Rack XR625 EQ module which features this design
alongside an implementation of the ‘G Series’ EQ.
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Page K-1