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View Full Version : Solid State Logic - Soundscape V6 Released



TAFKAT
06-11-2010, 06:43 PM
High performance DAW for mission critical applications : Here (http://www.solid-state-logic.com/music/soundscape/index.asp)

Ultra reliable 128 channel simultaneous recording, SSL plug-ins, 128 channel MADI I/O and advanced DAW editing and workflow

Soundscape V6 is the next evolutionary leap for the well established and respected Soundscape DAW. Designed for mission critical applications including Live Recording, high channel count Music Production, Broadcast, Post and Restoration, Soundscape V6 is distinctive by its no-nonsense approach to work flow and reliability.

Soundscape V6 Key Features


High channel count – up to 128 channels of simultaneous audio record/playback
Optimized for real time performance – near zero latency, sophisticated monitoring options
Total reliability – extremely robust system delivers industrial strength stability
Requires MX4 PCIe card – dual 64 channel MADI I/O, DSP, multi-core powered multi-client drivers
Sounds superb – benchmark SSL audio quality inside the box from recording to mixdown
Highly evolved User Interface - streamlined Audio Editing with many workflow options
SSL channel EQ, Dynamics and Bus Comp plug-ins – DSP powered legendary SSL sound inside the box
Supports standard native VST plug-ins running alongside our DSP powered plug-ins
The legacy collection of plug-ins from other manufacturers remain available for Soundscape from the SSL web shop
Soundscape Hybrid Core Audio Engine – 32/64 Bit driver powered Recording/Mixing Engine utilising MX4 card DSP’s and multi core host processing
Multi format projects – 16/24 Bit & different file formats on a single track without converting
Local or networked collaboration – multiple users connected via standard Gigabit Ethernet

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Hey all,

I thought I would add my 2 cents past the official blurb.

Soundscape is one of these smaller , mission critical hardware based DAW's that has around since the mid 90's on PC. Man I remember being approached by their reps around 95/96. Originally sold under the Sydec banner, then sold to Mackie for a short time and then eventually to SSL. The previous versions were a very closed affair , proprietary file systems , DSP, even HD controllers, the host PC was basically just steering the bus, so to speak. There was never a large number of users locally, but the guys that did use it , would rather fight than switch, if you know what I mean.

With V6 , although not 100% Native , there has been a major shift to move it more into the mainstream. The DSP on the required MX4 card is purely for driving the Mixer / I/O and its associated console based plugins, all the rest of the processing is native VST , and it now uses a standard file system, which is a huge and welcome departure.

Soundscape is and will remain 100% Audio only from my understanding , no MIDI , so it certainly will not be for all, but its target market is mission critical Live / Pro /Broadcast/Post, where in some circles MIDI is not a priority.

On a side note , the MX4 card can be used as a standard ASIO audio card with any supported DAW, however unlike in Soundscape where the mixer/plugins are integrated, the mixer runs as a stand alone , the onboard DSP powered plugins will not run as VST plugs inside of Cubendo for example. Interestingly the Mixer environment has independent VST plugin support with its own PDC , so essentially the idea would be to use the main DAW simply for playback, buss the audio to the mixer and use it as an an external mixing/summing engine.

The matching Alphalink AD/DA range is also one of those products that sits just under the RADAR , but is incredibly well featured and priced comparatively against some of the other majors. I have always heard good things about the overall sound of the units , but I haven't personally done any head to head comparatives.

I'll be testing the X-Logic cards and some of the I/O shortly in for my ongoing audio card low latency performance reports, so I'll have more of a hands on.

There is a 16 track fully unlocked version of Soundscape V6 that comes with the driver download, so that will give me an opportunity to have a poke around there as well , but I will be getting a full version to have a deeper dig..

:009:

Michael Tibes
06-12-2010, 02:42 AM
I'm very interested in your findings about their Madi cards and the converters as well. They look great, but my Duende experience has not really encouraged me to steer away from my trusty RME audio cards.

Michael

TAFKAT
06-12-2010, 03:01 AM
Hey Michael,

Duende is a totally different development team to the X-Logic/Soundscape team, which is the original Sydec crew. Not sure who is involved with Duende, but it runs on a totally different DSP architecture, so apart from the SSL branding, I don't think there is much in common past that development wise.

I am interested how the drivers go in Windows 7 x64 up against the RME's which are my baseline reference , the 32 bit drivers are well established, but I know the 64 bit ones are still a little green.

It would be incredible if the Mixer engine could somehow be integrated into 3rd party DAW's as well, but I understand that is a bit of a stretch.

I'll drop back soon with some numbers..