Electronic Music Producer Om Unit Integrates Solid State Logic SSL 12 USB-Powered Interface into his Live Performance Setup

Bristol, UK, November 27, 2025 — Electronic music producer and DJ Jim Coles, professionally known as Om Unit, has long enjoyed a busy schedule of live performances and DJ gigs worldwide but saw his audiences grow following the launch of his ongoing Acid Dub Studies series of albums, starting in 2020. To deliver the optimum sound quality while maintaining portability, Coles has now integrated a Solid State Logic SSL 12 USB-powered audio interface into his live performance setup.

The foundation of Om Unit’s current show is the third volume of his Acid Dub Studies series and comprises a set of live improvised interpretations of music from all three albums in the series, together with some newer sketches and remixes of those tracks. His music, described in one publication as “fluid and experimental, often incorporating ambient textures, dub-influenced atmospheres, and a focus on advanced sound design,” prominently features the familiar sound of the Roland TB-303 bass synth. “It's based around the idea of taking the acid sound of the 303 and injecting that into a dub reggae framework,” he confirms. “The music itself is largely based around the sound of the 1980s digital reggae era and some ‘90s influences from dub with some early dance music flavors.”

SSL 12: a much clearer depth of resolution

The SSL 12, which he has been using for about a year, operates as a 4-channel mixer for a collection of hardware sound sources. “It's a very sturdy interface and it's proved to be a rock-solid piece of kit for the live show. I was looking for something that was USB powered, that had four ins and outs and had better converters than the previous interface I was using. I tend to play in larger spaces at times, and little details are literally amplified,” he says. As soon as he introduced the SSL 12 into his signal chain, “I noticed straight away a much clearer depth of resolution compared to what I had used before. The preamps for the analogue inputs were clearly superior as well.”  

The principal sound source for Om Unit’s show is Ableton Live software running on a laptop, mostly operated using a pair of Faderfox MIDI controllers designed for on-stage use. “There is also a Korg nanoPAD on which I can play various extra sounds on the fly. On the analogue side of things, I use a 303 clone, which runs through a Jomox overdrive pedal. There is also a Bugbrand PT delay that runs as a non-tempo-synced delay option, which I can manually manipulate. I use a Benidub siren for dub siren effects as well,” he elaborates.

The ‘303’, dub siren, and Bugbrand PT feed into the first three inputs of the SSL 12 interface with 4K mode engaged for extra presence, he says, adding analogue colour enhancement inspired by SSL’s 4000 series console. The SSL 12’s outputs are routed into Ableton Live. “I just plug stuff in and go, basically. I set the levels visually with the gain and output knobs. These are well coloured, so I can see where they are in a dimly lit club or stage where there’s a lot of lighting FX. When you are busy performing, that is a bigger plus than you may

think,” he comments. In addition to the SSL 12 Coles has integrated SSL Plug-in’s into his workflow: “For this live show, I use the Native X-ValveComp on the 303 to control its dynamic range and add some colour via its valve saturation.”

A big sound and bigger value

Overall, he says of the SSL 12, “For a relatively low price I can get a big sound for this live show, which so far seems stable as a setup. I bought the unit based on the trusted name that SSL has, and it hasn't let me down yet! I've been using it for about a year now without any issue at all.”  

The Acid Dub Studies trilogy of full-length releases together with their companion remixes represent Om Unit’s best-selling work to date. Om Unit has maintained a heavy schedule of shows in the U.S. and Europe throughout 2025, playing to consistently sold-out crowds and garnering overwhelmingly positive responses from both longtime fans and newcomers. He recently released Acid Dub Versions III, the third set of remixes of material taken from his Acid Dub Studies trilogy, featuring Daniel Avery, Satoshi Tomiie, Richard Fearless, Azu Tiwaline, Beatrice M and others. He will shortly also be releasing some new club tracks. Om Unit is scheduled to close out this busy year with shows in Germany, Norway and the U.K.