Solid State Logic XLogic Alpha Channel

Anygood?

Any users?

I liked mine when I had it. It sounds and works nicely, but is missing some of the functionality of the full SSL EQ. The limiter's functions are limited and unfortunately the meter does not allow you to see the gain reduction. I wish you could turn VHD off as well, but you can only manage how hard it hits. Still, I found it fairly easy to dial in a good sound whether going for 2nd or 3rd style harmonics. I had wanted to get a second one to make it a pair, but I eventually sold it and bought 500 series channel strips by Link Audio instead which I feel are much better. If you are savvy, you can build them yourself, or if you are like me you can just order them assembled.

I went with:

(2) Link Audio SL4K-E01 which are SSL 4K series style preamps. They also have a space for a colour module, which I took advantage of by adding a Royal Blue (Neve 1081) module. Using the colour module is where you can have that VHD style functionality allowing for some extra harmonics on what is essentially a fairly clean preamp. They also have other SSL style preamps including other variations of the 4K and a 9K style:
www.linkaudiodesign.de/product-page/sl4k-e01

(2) SLQ51X Brown EQs. They also have Black EQs if you prefer them. They have the full SSL eq functionality and a build in fixed low pass & high pass filter. You can adjust where those filters are. I had them set the low pass at 70hz and left the high cut at 8K. They have a 12 db slope. The fully adjustable low pass and high cut with the 6db slope is on the preamp:
www.linkaudiodesign.de/product-page/slq51x-brown

When I build the channel strips I picked up (2) second hand SSL 611DYN modules, because Link Audio didn't make the dynamics module at the time. They do now. If I were doing it again, I would just get theirs:
www.linkaudiodesign.de/product-page/dyn-x

Anyway, if you find a great deal on the XLogic Alpha Channel then it’s a solid piece. If you're planning to get one, there are better options. Not trying to sound like an advertisement for Link, but just sharing my personal experience. I love the SSL sound when I'm mixing. It adds a little sheen, and the EQ and Comp are great tools.