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Digital Production Console
The C300™ is a fully configurable, multi-operator digital console for the full spectrum of production and post-production applications. The latest model from the industry-proven C Series™ range, it provides the powerful features, intuitive operation, focused design and sonic excellence for which SSL consoles are renowned.
The C300 offers up to 512 mix inputs from a single core, and the unmatched flexibility of its DSP allows reconfiguration without a reboot. Simultaneous multiformat mixing is provided via 80 mix busses that may be grouped and formatted (up to 7.1 surround), with a 128 x 8 monitor matrix and a 32 x 16 re-record matrix. SSL’s unique TimeFreeze™ automation system, recorder control and a 4-port serial machine synchroniser are included as standard.
For projects where mixing within the audio editing package is acceptable, the C300 also provides direct control of the workstations found throughout the production process, with the vital high-end benefits of an ergonomic control surface, full monitoring and machine control, which are often limited or completely absent on those platforms.
Fast, Efficient Operation
The C300 presents the engineer with a clear and intuitive work surface, promoting rapid operation even for an infrequent user. Its comprehensive set of
features provides all of the automation and control benefits associated with SSL’s digital technology:
Integrated Productivity
The C300 integrates all the power features that are essential in commercial post, saving the operator time, and avoiding the often painful process of trying to make separate automation, control surface, machine control and monitoring systems work elegantly together. With the ability to choose any combination of mixing in the console and the DAW, the best of both worlds can easily be achieved.
World Class Automation
SSL’s TimeFreeze automation system is unique in its ability to read and write data at non-play speeds,allowing slow-mo mixing for complex scenes, and simple cue-by-cue alteration of parameter values. The ability to automate several different items in different modes within a single pass provides the high level of parallel work (and resultant efficiency) required by today’s time-critical post environments.
Flexible Performance
At the heart of a C300 system lies the Centuri core,designed to assist fast-changing post sessions with its flexible online reconfiguration capabilities:
These features provide the key benefit that a smaller, cheaper console may be used for large productions.
Modular, Scalable Construction
The system consists of two main parts; the C300 console provides the user interface, and the Centuri core contains SSL’s proprietary industrial computer and the modular DSP and I/O.
AES, MADI, Analogue Line and Mic I/O options are offered, with space for 8 cards in any combination.
Maximum Value
The increased adoption of semi-pro audio editing
equipment has caused budgets to be squeezed and
capital purchases to be closely scrutinized, but the
C300 offers invaluable time savings in the critical
final stages of a project, representing true costefficiency
and maximized workflow.
The C300 provides features vital to commercial post, but allows budget control through tailored scaling of all parts, in order to meet operational and budgetary demands. Future change in needs can then be accommodated though the clear expansion path, ensuring a long and productive working life.
Advanced Signal Flow
The C300’s flexible architecture allows channels to
feed the 80 console-wide busses directly, or via one
of 18 independent aux sends on each channel, which
may feed any bus or group of formatted busses, with
separate level and/or panning (up to 7.1) if required.
The 128 x 8 monitor matrix provides flexible monitoring options including 64 Pec/Direct switches, and 4 different sets of speakers may be used in up to 7.1 surround, with user-definable monitor formats.
The 32 x 16 re-record matrix may be used for simultaneous mixes (eg. final and M&E versions), with EQ and Dynamics on the outputs. Any bus may be fed back through a channel (ie. ‘re-assign’) for additional audio processing as required.
Fader Strips
Each channel bay has 8 Fader Strips for direct
control of signal paths. Each Fader Strip consists of
a dedicated fader cassette, 8 character name label,
SOLO, PFL, ON and OFF buttons, panpot, linking
buttons, and four user-definable ‘free’ controls.
Fader Cassette
This motorised fader unit provides
essential feedback of key information,
including a signal level display, grouping
and linking indicators, and both
automation mode and write status. They
are also hot-swappable, for fast servicing
and replacement without interruption.
Free Controls
Each channel has two definable buttons and
two definable knobs with associated
switches, each with a 4 character display.
These provide direct control of any of the
channel’s processing parameters, allowing
the operator to keep often-altered settings
close to hand. Preset banks of these Free Controls
may be configured and quickly selected. Full access
for all parameters is found on Master Channel panels.
User Layers
User-defined layers may be created from any mix of
signals (channels, busses, outputs, DAW tracks). ‘Fixed’ bays provide permanent access to specific
signal paths, while ‘scrolling’ bays allow hundreds of
channels to be accessed through any size of front
panel – each User Layer may have any combination.
Master Channel
This hardware panel provides dedicated control of
all routing and processing parameters; its ‘knob-perfunction’ design promotes
intuitive operation for first-time users, and rapidly builds confidence.
A Master Channel may be fitted in each bay of the console, providing multiple access points, and redundancy in case of damage. An optional motorised x-y controller (shown above) has userdefined mapping onto any two variable parameters, e.g. for simultaneous control of gain and frequency.
Multichannel Linking
The Link function allows parameters on any number
of mono channels to track each other. Offsets
between channels may be kept intact, or may be
discarded, i.e. copy a ‘template’ channel to all.
Linked channels may be re-ordered next to each other on the surface, with intervening channels moved out of the way. Any of the channels in the ‘link’ may be suspended using a dedicated button, and a fader may be suspended momentarily by holding another fader in the ‘link’ before moving it.
All faders in a ‘link’ may be hidden under a single ‘master’, increasing the number of inputs and mix busses directly accessible on the control surface.
Multichannel Formatting
The C300 allows multiple signal paths (channels,
busses, etc.) to be formatted as stereo, LCR, or
other formats up to 7.1, ensuring that the processing
and panning for those paths are treated correctly.
Fader Expand
A fader group (or bus) master on the control surface
may use its expand button to place all its group
slaves (or contributing channels) into a dedicated
‘Expand’ User Layer, allowing fast rebalancing and
easy identification whenever required.
