Oracle brings flagship SSL Future Analogue performance and large-format production capabilities to professional studios where space is at a premium. Alongside Odyssey, it represents a new generation of SSL studio consoles created to take analogue tracking, processing and mixing beyond what was once thought possible. Combining the sonic capabilities of Future Analogue with revolutionary ways of working, Oracle gives producers and engineers greater freedom to experiment, shape sound and develop the artist’s vision in entirely new ways.
Future Analogue represents a significant leap forward in both sonic performance and studio workflow. With complete Instant Recall across the entire console, every processing, routing, gain and pan setting is restored in an instant, revolutionising session turnaround and allowing studios to move immediately from one project or production stage to the next. Engineers can explore alternative ideas, revisit projects and respond to changes without disrupting the session or losing momentum.
Oracle captures the authenticity and character of a performance with extraordinary precision. Its flagship Future Analogue mic preamps, also found on Odyssey, preserve every nuance and dynamic shift with exceptional transparency, accuracy and detail. Analogue 'Drive' control takes engineers beyond pristine capture, introducing harmonic colour and character from the moment sound enters the console.
Distinct forms of saturation throughout the console expand that sonic palette further, offering new ways to build texture, intensity and analogue character across a production. Together with next-generation analogue processing and summing, Oracle gives engineers the tools to push sonic boundaries, explore new directions and achieve more from every production.
Luke Aziz, SSL Studio Specialist, takes you on a guided tour of Oracle and some of its Future Analogue features.
Peter Gabriel shares his thoughts on how the revolutionary Oracle console transforms the recording and mixing process — removing creative barriers while preserving the analogue sound and workflow we all desire.
Oracle’s ‘Future Analogue’ channel strip retains the much-loved elements of classic SSL consoles while integrating the latest analogue circuitry. Featuring stereo/dual mono channel strips that offer a second line level input per channel, each of Oracle’s channels is a traditional in-line design with separate ‘record’ and ‘monitor’ paths, with independent input gain and output level control, and processing routing flexibility. Each channel features dedicated controls for input gain, filter, aux sends, four-band parametric EQ, in addition to an ultra-premium 100mm motorised fader which can be assigned to Small or Large Fader paths. High-resolution Channel Screen displays level, pan, and full track name.
Located at the top of Oracle’s Channel Strip are new flagship Future Analogue Mic Pre’s (also found on Odyssey) with dedicated Drive control, delivering a powerful 75 dB of gain and a broad range of tones.
At the heart of every Oracle channel is a production tool that is relentlessly chosen by professionals to shape extraordinary mixes - the iconic “242 Black Knob” E Series EQ. This four-band parametric EQ offers switchable sonic characteristics, allowing you to toggle between the constant-Q ‘aggressive’ sound of the E Series and the variable-Q ‘smooth’ character of the G. Both modes provide a dedicated HP Filter, selectable high- and low-frequency Shelf/Bell curves and fully parametric mid-frequency bands, delivering the distinctive tonal signatures of SSL’s EQ design legacy.
EQ can instantly be moved between the Small Fader and Large Fader paths. All this processing power per channel may be ‘linked’ in odd/even channel pairs to provide a simple, single control set to handle stereo sources. Each path has an independent, switchable and movable Insert point, and is equipped with an independent Direct Output for direct stem or track output to the DAW.
In addition to clear markings on the console surface, when Channel Detail View is accessed, the associated meter screen displays a breakout of all the channel parameters and routing, including both Large and Small Fader paths. Detail View displays interact with the per-bay Navigator control to allow 'scroll and control' access to all parameters, switch functions and signal routing.
Oracle’s centre section is mission control, providing visual feedback and tactile control over key functions of the console. All Main, Track, and Aux Bus control and Foldback information and levels are accessible via high-resolution displays and encoders.
Detail Views not only cover Channel Processing, but also detail views for all the Centre Processing. These appear when a centre section Detail View is called up, and when they appear, they 'shrink' the main meters to continue to allow the metering of the console's output busses. Below are examples of those screens, which show some of the power of Oracle's Centre Section processing.
The bus architecture of Oracle also has innovative flexibility. There are a total of 34 Mix Busses that any channel can access. These are divided up as 16 Track Busses, 10 Aux Busses and four Stereo Mix Busses (Main A + B, C, D).
The 10 Aux Busses can be configured as individual mono busses or joined in pairs to create up to five Stereo Aux Busses, ideal for the duties of foldback sub-mixes, mono or stereo stems or effects sends. Each channel path can either individually or simultaneously route to any or all of these Main Mix Busses, providing the ability to create stem mixes for separate output, or parallel mixes for independent processing, before summing to the Main A bus.
THE BUS+ is a modern-day classic that takes the glue & punch of the G Comp into the future. Offering four modes of operation, LOW THD, Feed-Back, and ‘4K’ Saturation Modes, along with sought-after analogue processors such as Dynamic EQ, Transient Expander, and much more. Oracle's integrated THE BUS+ adds exceptional flexibility to the console's sonic capabilities and is fully recallable thanks to ActiveAnalogue™ technology.
Oracle’s monitoring continues the tradition of previous SSL consoles supporting Main & four alternative Stereo Monitor sections. The fourth alt monitor can be configured as a subwoofer/LFE output with bass management. Remote Monitor Control capabilities give access to control of third-party immersive processors, such as Dolby Atmos, creating the perfect hybrid immersive production system. Three independent Foldback feeds, a surface headphone output, as well as four stereo external source inputs, including a console surface stereo input suitable for direct connection to an instrument or a third-party Bluetooth receiver unit.
Eight Stereo Group Inputs
Oracle has eight flexible fader-controlled Stereo Group inputs, which can also pick-up the sixteen Track Busses in pairs. Each Stereo Group Input has an image control and a switched insert and can route to any of the track, Aux or Mix Busses, as well as a dedicated Direct Output. Additionally, path-level control can be assigned to 24 VCA control faders, which provides a convenient way to control several path-level controls simultaneously from the centre section of the console.
Mid/Side Encoder
M/S encoding prior to the Stereo Group Insert allows independent processing of mid or side signals, while a selectable MS Decode circuit—located after the insert return—can decode mid/side signals into stereo group channels. The Stereo Group Inputs can each route to any of the console's four main Mix Busses, Track Busses, and also access any of the 10 Aux Busses.
Classic VU or Plasma Style Metering
Instantly understand Channel EQ, Insert and Filter configuration and routing via Oracle’s high-resolution displays located above each bay. Small and Large Fader routing and level metering, Bus Routing, and full track names are available on the switchable classic VU or Plasma ‘style’ metering - each modelled on the original 4000 console meter options.
16 Track and 10 Aux busses
Oracle features a wealth of Track and Aux Busses, with uniquely flexible features. 10 Aux Busses can be individually configured as either mono or stereo. Oracle’s 16 Track Busses can be routed from both large or small fader channel paths. This routing can either be in mono or follow the channel to mix bus panning in odd/even track bus pairs to create stereo group mixes.
For the largest mix sessions, the combination of paths to mix from both record and monitor faders, independent path inserts and direct outputs. As well as multiple parallel sub and stem mixes from the four Main Busses, ten Aux Busses and sixteen Track Busses, and 24-channel processing rack, Oracle can mix up to 48 paths, with 16 stereo sub-mixes and a main stereo bus all under fader control. An additional rack of 24 in-line channels doubles the channel processing count, providing up to 96 paths to mix.
Since the AWS range, SSL’s console-integrated DAW control has allowed engineers to instantly go from the analogue world to hybrid and in-the-box mixing, while still benefiting from the efficiency of a mixing console. Oracle’s surface faders can be switched between Analogue Processing and DAW Control using the FOCUS key. This can be done on a bay-by-bay basis, providing a powerful way to combine Analogue and DAW control in adjacent bays of the console.
O-Control Application suite is a cross-platform (Win & OSx) suite of control, configuration, and session management applications for Oracle. The application(s) can run stand-alone/off-line, and in this way, they can be used as tools to edit/update/create project information from or for Oracle consoles. The application can also run in tandem with the console, to help with session configuration and management, such as saving/loading presets, snapshots and projects.
O-Setup: Manages the console settings.
O-Session: Manages the saving/loading of Projects, Presets, Snapshots as well as control and inspection of console processing sections.
O-View: Shows an ‘overview’ of the console.
Oracle's remote-control capability is planned to extend to be able to be switched to control third-party immersive monitoring solutions, such as the Dolby Atmos renderer. In practice, this mutes the console's analogue stereo monitoring and passes surface monitoring control messages to the nominated immersive renderer.
A byproduct of ActiveAnalogue™ technology is Oracle’s ability to create Templates which recall all settings and routing across the console. Every producer and engineer has their way of working, and Oracle’s Templates are intended as a starting point for particular applications. Coupled with the O-Control application, Oracle makes console setup superbly fast, allowing recording and mixing to start quicker than ever before.
A typical Oracle system will have two processing racks. These racks can be located away from the surface, floor mounted, or rack mounted. They can also be mounted in the control room or a separate machine room. One rack is for the centre section processing, the second rack is for the channels. A system could have one or two channel racks, depending on specification, to make a system total of two or three racks (Centre + Ch Rack(s)). The racks are actively cooled, but are designed to have an acoustic noise floor below NR25.
For further information on Oracle—including user guides, installation specifications, dimensions, and related documentation—please contact an SSL specialist at Oracle@solidstatelogic.com or by completing the form to request a demonstration.
