Streamlining the application of modular broadcast ecosystems, Solid State Logic is expanding its Open Sound Control (OSC) integration as part of a major update to its System T platform.
Providing the ability for external systems to control System T console parameters via the open and extensible OSC protocol, the V4.3 upgrade gives third-party equipment seamless access to the SSL ecosystem, supporting ad hoc workflows and enhancing flexibility and interoperability in modern production environments.
Designed to work across standard IP connectivity, SSL’s OSC integration is quick to deploy and enables broadcasters to map System T’s extensive feature set to any OSC-compliant mixer or controller, allowing remote access to System T functionality via any number of third-party connectors.
‘As broadcast workflows evolve, control needs to be increasingly flexible,’ says SSL Product Manager. Berny Carpenter. ‘System T already allows multiple control surfaces to connect with one another and SSL’s Tempest Control App (TCA) also provides full, comprehensive control of any DSP engine in a studio or remote location. But as distributed workflows become more commonplace, remote operators often need just a limited amount of control to manage specific elements of the audio chain.
‘Comprehensive OSC integration opens up SSL’s functionality to remotely control System T console parameters without requiring dedicated SSL hardware, making throw-down systems much easier to deploy using a variety of external devices. For example, a remote operator at a venue might just need console monitor functionality or access to select local faders – all that can be controlled via a compact hardware controller for smaller setups. That flexibility becomes a real benefit in environments wherever and whenever operational flexibility is desirable.’
The integration enables direct third-party control of a wide range of parameters including faders, mutes, PFL, AFL and path labels, and can be expanded to any other console functionality that is available as part of SSL’s Event Manager feature-set. Native support of OSC inputs and outputs in Event Manager means that OSC messages can also be used to trigger and respond to events alongside traditional external control signals like GPIO, Ember+ or Midi. Native OSC support for scene automation also allows scenes to be fired directly by number to make life easier for broadcasters using snapshot-style recall. Another key feature is the addition of external mic preamp control to provide control of SSL’s Net I/O ecosystem.
Alongside OSC integration, there are new features across the entire System T platform, including updates to the System T meter bridge as well as upgraded path and bussing structures.
Designed for large-scale theatre and broadcast productions that need higher bus counts, System T V4.3 also extends SSL’s busing architecture. Track buses now support the same independent per-channel send level flexibility as stem and aux buses to increase the number of independently controllable sends available to users across a show.
SSL has also integrated several of the features from its Live console ecosystem including Permanent Path Linking and SolidPitch. Enabling users to set up to 48 permanent ‘link groups’ between paths in the same way as temporary Path Links, Permanent Path Linking links the parameters of a set of paths while applying independent filters wherever they are needed. The update also increases showfile capacity to up to 500 scenes, addressing the evolving demands of complex theatre productions and broadcast entertainment.
SolidPitch is an onboard vocal tuning and creative processing effect designed to handle everything from gentle pitch correction to over-the-top vocal effects. Available across the System T ecosystem including the Virtual Tempest Engine (VTE), the integration introduces native effects including a tuner, doubler, and harmoniser.
Additionally, new remote power off functionality gives users the ability to power off the console remotely, enabling production equipment to be scheduled to safely power down at the end of a broadcast or event.