The SSL Connex can capture sound in 360˚, as well as from the front or sides. It has four recordings… [+] modes plus a special immersive mode for creating spatial recordings.
SSL
Solid State Logic (SSL) has been making professional audio production tools for recording studios for half a century. The company has used its technologies to create its first USB microphone with an innovative DSP function to capture professional-quality audio in a variety of situations.
The SSL Connex USB Microphone can be used for video conferencing, live streaming or professional music recording by almost anyone, even if they have no audio recording experience. Looking like a small steel pyramid with the top cut off, the SSL Connex is a handy device that is completely portable and easy to use. It features an advanced DSP that builds on SSL’s deep understanding of sound capture for music, broadcast and film production.
Connex is compatible with Mac and PC and with all major video conferencing platforms such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet. It’s an ideal tool for capturing high-quality sound, whether around a meeting table or while working at home. It’s a perfect tool for podcasts, live streaming or music recording.
Shaped like a pyramid, the SSL Connex features a touch control at the top that can cycle… [+] through carious recording modes.
SSL
At only 9cm square and 4cm high, Connex can be used on almost any flat surface and can be mounted on a microphone or tripod. Inside the unit are four separate microphone capsules on each side of the pyramid. The capsules are controlled with SSL’s proprietary DSP algorithms, the same technology used in the company’s professional music production and broadcasting tools.
Connex’s four-mic array and four built-in DSP modes produce the ideal sound balance for conferences, live streaming or recording. Each mode also has noise floor optimization and sophisticated DSP correction to ensure the best possible sound without the user needing any specialized audio recording skills.
Solo mode is the first Connex setting and is indicated when the SSL logo on the top of the unit glows white. This mode is designed to pick up a single sound source directly in front of the unit. It can be a conference call or live stream with a single presenter. The unit’s DSP optimizes sound for speech coming from the front while rejecting any sound from the back and sides.
On the front of the Connex is a 3.5mm headphone jack that provides zero-latency control.
SSL
Group mode is the second state and is selected by touching the top of the Connex unit once so that the SSL logo turns green. This mode is for collecting multiple sound sources. This can be used to broadcast a panel discussion using a video conferencing system or to record a podcast with multiple guests. DSP optimizes sound for speech coming from multiple directions.
The third mode is Vocal, indicated by the SSL logo turning magenta with another tap on top of the Connex microphone. In vocal mode, Connex is optimized for sound sources from the front of the unit, such as a person singing. The sound is recorded in stereo and the soundstage is centered on the front of the unit. The DSP handles audio with enough latitude for dynamic changes in sound, like a vocalist.
The final mode is for recording music. This is indicated when the SSL logo turns blue. This mode can handle louder sounds coming from in front of the microphone, such as a musical instrument. The microphone array mixes the sound into a stereo signal while the internal audio processing is optimized for louder sound sources than the other three pickup modes.
The SSL Connex can also be used to record stereo music using zero-latency monitoring that even… [+] offers the opportunity to listen and play along with the recorded tracks.
SSL
All four modes include an advanced, immersive setup that allows the user to access the independent source of each of the four capsules to create immersive, spatial recordings or live broadcasts by recording the sources separately on a digital audio workstation .
On the front of the Connex is a 3.5mm headphone jack that provides zero-latency control over a pair of headphones or a headset. The user can listen to the incoming audio of a video call or the playback of a previous recording session. Alternatively, the user can use Connex to listen to music thanks to the advanced DACs (digital audio converters) built into the unit. The unit can even work in Push to Talk and Cough Button modes.
The Connex’s headphone output also includes a loopback output, which helps control the ambient sound of a room. The touch interface on top of the Connex can adjust headphone level and mute. The touchpad itself can be put into setup mode to cycle through the four DSP modes. The unit’s backlit SSL logo changes color to show the selected mode, and also glows red whenever the microphone is muted.
Verdict: This smart little microphone is a sophisticated audio tool that can switch between four different DSP modes with a single press. It is an ideal microphone for capturing sound clearly in a video conference room with exceptional clarity thanks to SSL’s extensive experience in sound capture. What I like most about Connex is that it provides access to professional recording settings without you having to know how the sound is captured and processed. All you have to do is choose the most suitable mode for the sound you want to capture and Connex takes care of the rest. It couldn’t be easier. It’s much more cost-effective than buying four separate microphones and a mixing desk to record the occasional podcast or enhance the sound during a video conference.
Price and Availability: The SSL Connex USB Microphone Array is available now for $199.99 / £178.80 / €179.99. Special introductory pricing is available through the end of the year.
Learn more: solidstatelogic.com
Characteristics:
- Portable USB microphone with a high-quality quad condenser microphone array.
- Studio-quality optimized processing using SSL EQ and dynamics algorithms.
- Professional quality 24-bit / 96 kHz DAC/ADC converters.
- Acoustically designed decoupled microphone capsules.
- Four preset user modes: Solo, Group, Vocal and Music.
- Immersive mode for space recordings and broadcasts.
- Optimized mixer settings.
- 3.5 mm headphone output.
- Microphone loop option for environmental monitoring.
- Touch controls.
- Cough switch and Push to talk.
- Illuminated RGB backlit status light.
- Tripod thread and microphone stand adapter.
- 2m USB Type C to C Cable USB Type C (Female) to Type A (Male) Adapter.
- Powered by USB.
- Compatible with Windows and Mac OS.