SSL releases Duende

Solid State Logic has announced that it is now shipping Duende, the latest addition to its growing family of products for digital audio workstation users.

Based on the DSP technology behind SSL's C-Series digital consoles, Duende is a 19" rack-mount unit that seamlessly integrates "console-grade" SSL Channel and Dynamics processing with a digital audio workstation with one simple FireWire cable connection. The processing blocks appear as VST/AU plug-ins (RTAS support via FXPansion wrapper) - including an authentic SSL channel strip with filters, E and G series EQ and dynamics processing, as well as the legendary SSL Stereo Bus Compressor. On-board DSP runs SSL processing, relieving the burden on the host computer's CPU.

Duende allows for up to 32 channels of processing at sample rates up to 96khz. The EQ and Dynamics Channel provides a single plug-in slot EQ & Dynamics processing solution with all the power and processing flexibility of an SSL console channel.

Key features include:

• 4-band EQ, two shelving sections and two parametric.
• Variable low-pass and high-pass filter.
• Switchable EQ characteristics between E Series and G Series EQ.
• "Over-Easy" soft ratio compression characteristic for smooth transitions.
• Variable process order routing.
• Dynamics side-chain processing with independent side chains for compressor and expander/gate.

Duende ships initially with compatibility for Mac, with a PC version to follow later in 2006. MSRP is $1899 / €1599.