Solid State Logic PureDrive Quad Microphone Preamplifier

The Solid State Logic PureDrive Quad is a 4-channel microphone preamplifier that brings the same acclaimed SSL PureDrive™ technology found in SSL’s Origin consoles and the larger PureDrive Octo into a compact, desktop-friendly format. Designed for hybrid and project studios, the PureDrive Quad offers SSL’s signature blend of sonic precision and analogue colouration, providing a flexible front-end solution for capturing a wide range of sources with detail and character.

Each of the four preamp channels offers SSL’s switchable Pure and Drive modes. Pure mode delivers a clean, transparent signal path ideal for critical recording, while Drive mode introduces harmonic saturation derived from the Origin console, adding warmth and edge for a more characterful sound. Users can toggle between these two tonal flavours depending on the needs of the source material or musical style.

The Solid State Logic PureDrive Quad is equipped with high-quality AD conversion and provides both analogue and digital outputs, including ADAT (up to 96 kHz) and USB-C for direct computer connection. This makes the unit suitable for standalone use or as a high-grade front end to an existing DAW-based studio. When used via USB, the Solid State Logic PureDrive Quad functions as a USB audio interface with four input channels, enabling easy integration into mobile or home studio rigs.

Each channel features its own gain control, selectable +48V phantom power, polarity reversal, and a switchable high-pass filter. LED metering gives visual level indication, and the first channel also includes a Hi-Z instrument input on the front panel for direct connection of guitars, basses, and other instruments.

The unit is fully remote controllable using SSL’s PureDrive software app, giving users access to all settings including gain, mode selection, phantom power, polarity, and HPF from a computer. This makes it easy to operate the unit even when it is rackmounted or placed out of reach.

The Solid State Logic PureDrive Quad is housed in a half-rack chassis with optional rackmounting accessories, offering professional-grade recording features in a small-footprint format ideal for modern studios.

Features

• 4 channel high-performance PureDrive™ mic preamps
• +48V phantom power, polarity invert and 3rd order hi-pass filter
• Stepped Gain control up to +65 dB Gain
• 31-step Trim control, with precise 1 dB increments – overdrive the signal with the Gain control and then reduce to a suitable level using Trim.
• 3 modes for each preamp – Clean, Classic Drive and Asymmetric Drive
• Mic/Line Input Switching
  • Mic via XLR
  • Line via choice of TRS Jack or dedicated D-Sub connectivity

• 4 x front panel Hi-Z/DI Instrument unbalanced inputs with automatic input detection
• 4 mic preamp input impedance options – explore new tonal possibilities from your dynamic and ribbon microphones

• Balanced analogue outputs/insert sends for external processing
• +24 dBu professional line level insert returns/ADC inputs
• Analogue to digital connectivity via ADAT, AES and USB
• Ability to switch ADAT and AES connections to source audio from DAW outputs (USB) instead of the A/D converter
• USB soundcard mode : QUAD – 12 in / 12 out (@44.1/48 kHz) ; 4 x analogue + 8 x ADAT in (via Link in) / 4 AES + 8 ADAT outs
• Stepped pots and digitally controlled analogue electronics for precision, stereo matching and ease of recall
• Up to 192 kHz and 32-bit conversion, professional I/O levels (+24 dBu = 0 dBFS).
• Selectable Auto-Sleep mode
• Auto-ranging Wordclock In and Out