SSL 2 - THE BEST AUDIO INTERFACE FOR GUITAR?

Alright here you go, an EXTREMELY nerdy video of the SSL interface! See Description for a link to the DI files I made for this video,

I know its a really old video but on the noise floor comparison's the UAD you said had a 65db gain. the SSL has 80db of gain. if you backed the SSL down to 65db gain I know there would be much less of a difference in noise floor.

I have same interface and almost same guitar with the sam jumbuckers, but my recorded DI is a bit muddier then Olas 😅

Are you going to get your hands on the Neumann interface?

Just got my SSL2+ and can't replicate the noise problem. All noise when cranked max is from 600 Hz and up and below -64 dB in Voxengo Span. That ~50 Hz peak in the video suggests some kind of AC interference (since Sweden uses 50hz 230V).

I noticed some weird peaks in the noise pattern when nothing was connected, but e.g. connecting a guitar with the volume pot down remove those things.

Wouod this be a good alternative for a pc user ibstead of the ua apollo?

Really cool video, Which one would you pick between the SSL2 and the UA volt 2 ? Best

I went looking for the UAD Arrow, FYI it is now the Apollo Solo.

I couldn't tell you how many creators / influencers that I've watched on the topic of audio interfaces.

But you're the only one so far that have addressed the true questions and priorities of a working engineer / musician.

Thank you!

Worth mentioning, they recently updated the drivers with software loopback. So its as easy as selecting loopback as your audio input for live streaming or playing over zoom etc. Thats a feature that isn't mentioned on the box.

This is EXACTLY why I’m a member. I have been trying to figure out how to select a good audio interface between the cheaper (100-600 USD) and then the jump to (1-3K) audio interfaces. I’m too much of a recording newbie to go buy a badass Apogee interface, but the I’ve been eyeballing a couple UADs and the fact the UAD is so comparable to the Apogee just solidified my decision I do believe. Thanks again Ola 🤘🏼

Great demo of this interface! I've just recently started to use my SSL 2+ and I'm really happy with it. I try to make a slightly wide range of recordings and it really works well for most every use case. Great punchy clean tones and shows off the sound of my stratocaster in funk and works great with my plug ins when I do a more distorted metal sound!

Audience id14 mkii OR ssl 2 plus + micro at4040?
For vocal, guitar and logic pro x.( maybe + MIDI keyboard)
I don't know which one to take

Which one you recommend me SSL2 or VOLT1 (only sound) ? please answer me Thank you.

I wish you did a noise level test with the 4k switch in and out to compare. Would there not be a difference?

Measuring noise level with the input open, nothing plugged in, is not realistic. A better way is to add a short to the input, which will give the preamp best possible conditions wrt thermal noise. But: Not very realistic either, I'm afraid, as in too good. Soldering a resistor inside a 1/4" plug and connecting it to the input is probably the closest to reality in a guitar-related test. Value? For a humbucker, try out 4k7 or more, up to perhaps 20K for an extreme single coil.

Other than that, it is very, very important to match levels when comparing audio tracks or devices. You did good on having the same source sound, and letting the looper play into the interface (except that the looper likely is a relatively low impedance output which will have no problems interfacing to the instrument input in the sound card, but, that's another burk of metmask we'll skip right now ;-) ) but some normalising in the DAW would have been beneficial to make the comparison fair.

YOU GIVING ME STONE COLD STEVE

Excellent demo.

so? better the ssl2 or the volt ?

I didn't understand how did you check the noise level of each interface in Logic.. anyway, great great content! So happy to see this channel

if you set the level of the guitar channel on the ssl card to zero, will any signal from the guitar pass through Logic? If you don't know then try to do it and there is a chance that you will see and hear the sound of a guitar in Logic at zero gain level on the ssl card

I can't do the zero gain thing, it feels so weak (emg 81 pickup, or bareknuckle miracleman). Comparing with an antelope interface (don't like it for ux reasons) i get a lot of woolliness in the bass and maybe some harshness in the high end with the ssl. When i compensate with eq i end up with a lifeless sound. What gives..? I was guessing cheap interfaces just don't lend themselves to recording di guitar, but people seem to get good results

I just got the SSL2+ and it sounds so beautiful on guitars and drums! 🔥 So happy with it

Any audio interface that was sponsored has be the best guitar audio interface. So crazy huh?

so it should go like this:
1. Apogee Ensemble
2. UAD
3. SSL2+

It is noisy I thought too cranking levels.

SSL 2 or Motu M2 DI + output audio quality?

What is good for recording from something like a pedalboard, into a amp+cab pedal like Iridium or other. Do DI preamps mess with that?

how dossl2+ compare for ike axe i/o?

I made a short tutorial on how to use Cube Baby as an audio interface for Amplitube 5 , for the price I am paying I found out it’s a great interface! And it’s build quite good also, check out the video on my channel and let me know what you think

Hi Ola, great video, thank you! Have you ever tried the RME babyface for direct guitar recording? I find the volume quite low when I plug my guitar in directly, then I have to add gain on the totalmix software but this induces a noisefloor/hiss. How is this with the UAD / SSL2?

Greetings and thanks, very useful video. Did you ever try the Audient, btw. It’s supposedly in the same space.

Good stuff 👍👍👍

The magic of the SSL is the noise and distortion it produces, that’s the color of those crazy expensive consoles… the sound of billions of dollars in hugely successful recordings… I love my SSL2+, just kills it, it takes that sterile sound away and makes damn near everything sound better… the 4K is like magic… The only thing I’ll bitch about is the monitor drive is a little weak it doesn’t push my monitors hard enough… If you can’t make a recording with the SSL then you need to find a different musician not a better interface….

Does anyone know if an audio interface can affect latency? .. I have a Behringer UMC22 (cheap end of interfaces) .. When using guitar amp plugins, I have just enough latency to piss me off and not be able to record! My PC specs are great too, -I can't figure it out

I'm really interested in round trip latency. wonder if you could maybe do a comparison shootout Vs multiple options. Do multi effects pedal boards have latency?

I heard the difference in the SSL 4k. It has a way better mid-high coloration that makes later eq adjustments more of a cut than boost

This is one of the best explanations of all this contraption stuff. Ola knows tech, yep. I hate latency number one. Tks old man.

The SSL is not noisy

Damn Ola, I wanna swan dive off a skyscraper cause I just wanna plug my guitar in and record some shit. But this is next to impossible and reminds me that I’m to retarded to figure out. Its like how I lost myself in pre algebra class and decided guess I’ll never be an engineer. Your welcome society, you’ll never cross a bridge built by me. .

Great review.

Ola thank you so much for this. Now that it has been about a year, UAD has the new Volt series interface. What are your thoughts on this new product? Would be awesome to see you do a comparison with your other interfaces.

whoa i didnt know there was an eq match plug-in??? whaaat??

I'm currently looking at taking my next beginner step for my recording gear. The only audio interface I've ever owned is my Presonus Audiobox iTwo, which is ok I guess for getting into recording your music, plus my interface came as a bundle that also had a condenser mic and some headphones. It also got me into using Presonus Studio One with the free version included in the bundle, then after using it for 6 months Presonus sent me a great offer to upgrade to the professional version of Studio One. So nowadays my DAW is great, I have most of the plugins that I want, but I find that my Audiobox is somewhat lacking because of the clicks & pops which distracts my creative process and leaves me spending my attention and energy just trying to get a good tracking of my guitars etc.
Anyway, sorry for the long winded explanation but I'm undecided as to which is the best quality between the SSL 2+ and the Audient i14 mark 2? Has anyone tried them out side by side? I mainly record my guitars, along with a synth sometimes 🎛🤷‍♂️🙄👍

Fuck i didnt realize these were so expensive, i was looking for an alternative to my cheap little amp but yeah idk anymore lol

Cool chair bro!! Any link about it?

You should totally do a short home recording series! I know there are plenty of videos out there but people want to see YOU specifically. I imagine it would go over well!