Meters Bounce When Powering On
The bounce is due to the settling of the SuperAnalogue circuits after power is applied. It is normal behavior. The initial 'all Meter LEDs on' is a feature the console runs when powered on to check all the LEDs are working correctly.
SiX IS Warm To the Touch
SiX’s SuperAnalogue audio circuits are designed to run warm and SiX contains a lot of electronics in a small space. SiX is designed to cool front to back, so ensuring ventilation inlets and outlets (front and rear) have clearance is important to reliable operation.
PSU LED Stays Lit after Turning the SiX Off
Yes, this is perfectly normal and is a characteristic of modern high efficiency switch-mode power supplies.
SiX (including its desktop power supply) has passed all tests for the ETL safety mark.
The SiX power supply is part:
629750X2 S/A EXTERNAL PSU DESK 6 (XP) 1.0
..37156CGJ SMPS UNIV 15V 3.33A 50W D/TOP 1.0 XP-Power VEC50US15
G-Series Bus Comp Fixed Attack, Release, and Ratio Values
The G-Series Bus Comp on SiX has the same compression characteristics as a console compressor set to 30ms attack, 100ms release, and a 4:1 ratio.
Source Impedance For the Headphone Output On SiX?
The source impedance (headphone output impedance) on SiX is approximately 1ohm.
For optimum performance, a typical ratio of headphone impedance to source impedance should be 8:1 or better. This means that SiX' headphone output requires a pair of headphones with 8ohm or greater impedance; this covers most headphones.
Concerning headphones with much higher impedance:
Typically a pair of headphones with a very high impedance (250ohms, for example) would suffer from a lack of power when used with a very low source impedance output. SiX is designed with professional audio quality in mind, which means that there is ample power to drive any headphones from SiX's headphone output.
SiX 'SuperAnalogue'
On SiX, everything from the input stage, channel processing, busing, and outputs is designed around the SuperAnalogue philosophy, as with all SSL consoles (excluding VHD mic preamps of course!).
Hi-Z, TRS Input, and Low End
Why do I lose low end when using jack inputs 1&2, and it comes back if I press Hi-Z.
When using SuperAnalogue channels with unbalanced line signals, it is important that you use the correct type of cable and connector.
Balanced connections allow the use of long cables while reducing susceptibility to external noise caused by electromagnetic interference. A balanced cable contains two identical wires, one carrying the signal in phase with the source, and the other carrying the signal out-of-phase with the source. These two wires are twisted together and then wrapped with a third conductor (foil or braid) that acts as a shield In order to be effective, these cables must use three-conductor connectors on both ends which are usually XLR or jack connectors.
By using a balanced cable from an unbalanced source you are effectively adding the signal on the in-phase wire to the same signal on the out-of-phase wire.
Therefore, by the time the signal reaches the balanced TRS input of SiX, the signal is out of phase with itself, and the most obvious characteristic of this is that you will lose all the low frequencies.
Pressing the Hi-Z switch effectively makes the TRS input of the SiX unbalanced (TS) so whilst the problem disappears, it does mean that the preamp may not be best matched to the source in terms of it’s impedance.
For example:
If you’re using a guitar or a synthesizer, the output it’s almost certainly unbalanced. Therefore you should use unbalanced cables with unbalanced 1/4" TS connectors. These can be identified with a single black ring approximately 7mm from the tip of the connector.
However, if you are connecting from an audio interface (such as an SSL2 or 2+) the outputs are almost certainly balanced and you should therefore use balanced cables and connectors. These are often referred to as stereo or TRS and can be identified with two black rings approximately 7mm and 15mm respectively from the tip of the connector.
Besides these examples, there are several combinations of balanced and unbalanced source / cable / connection configurations which will cause the same issue so it is recommended that you always use the correct type of cable and connector.
Channel Compressor Distorting At Low Tones
We decided for the channel compressor that we wanted something in the middle of the G comp and the LMC. Our own console dynamics are incredible versatile, so we could vary the characteristic quite drastically. We settled on a characteristic that allows transients to pop through occasionally, so it won't crush your drums / vocals, but was quick enough to tame most sources and tighten them up. The only source the channel compressor is not ideal for is long sustained low end (so pads, lower octave strings, bass guitars etc).
We suggest as an alternative in this instance is that the channel compressor is reserved for most other sources, and that you track bass through the bus compressor.
No Signal
No Signal To the Main Bus
Check the Main Fader Insert button. If this is ON with no Insert Return connected to the D-Type connectors then the Main Fader signal will be muted. The Insert Send is always present and only the Insert Return is switched.
No Signal From SuperAnalogue Channels
Check the Channel Insert button. If this is ON with no Insert Return connected to the D-Type connectors then the channel signal will be muted. The Insert Send is always present and only the Insert Return is switched.
No Signal From Foldback
Check that there are no External or Talk buttons selected in the F/Back master sections (see page 20). There is a hierarchy to these switches and they 'replace' the output. For example, if you have EXT 2 selected with no input it will replace the Foldback Bus to the output.
No Signal From Bus-B
Check that the the B-Bus Mute button is not pressed. This can be found under the B-Bus output level control which is to the left of the Main Fader. This button is a simple way to turn the Mute/B-Bus switches on the channel strips into permanent Mute buttons or simply mute the B-Bus Output if it is being used as a secondary bus output.
No Signal From Monitors
Check that there is something selected in the monitor source section of the console (see page 18). A monitor source needs to be selected (typically MAIN) to hear something from the monitor outputs. Also check that the ALT button isn't pressed with nothing connected to the Alternate Monitor connections
When I Connect Only to a Left Input, There is Also a Signal On the Right
This is a feature of the stereo inputs of SiX (see page 16). If an input is only connected to the left input of the stereo input pair (i.e. Stereo Channel inputs and External Inputs) then the signal is automatically sent to both left and right paths.
SiX Screw Hardware
The following screws and quantities are used in SiX. They are common metric hardware available at most hardware retailers.
51D325CB SCREW M3 X 6MM PAN POZI & SHAKE PROOF SEMS ZP 16.0
51DD20G8 SCREW M3 X 6MM COUNTERSUNK HEX STAY-BLACK 6.0
51DD36G8 SCREW M3 X 8MM BUTTON HEAD HEX STAY-BLACK 10.0
51DDT87S PILLAR M3 X 13.5MM HEX 6MM STUD BRASS NP 3.0
51DG87G8 SCREW M5 X 25 CAP HEAD HEX STAINLESS BLACK 4.0
SiX Tutorial Videos