WOW what a polarizing product !! Such a split on perception. I am seriously considering this model. It seems to come down to this -those that know what it is, and those that don't. Those that actually understand the product and really know what they are doing, always seem seriously interested. Those that buy it, seem to love it. I would love some final opinions, BUT only from informed individuals (those that have used it for at least one complete ITB project). Thanks!
Also, too many manufacturers are down playing the mouse. The mouse is incredibly useful, and can't be totally substituted. If I were making this(feel free to take this idea too), I'd put a decent touchpad mouse built into the system (think laptop). It saves deskspace and the trouble of having to fiddle with room for an outboard mouse AND it adds a lot more to its functionality. It can go right under the transport controls. Higher me and I'll expand ur business ssl!
I have one of these and I love it. Ive had one for almost 3 years and i'm just now exploring all of its features. I think SSL made this with the "serious" home engineer/producer in mind. (mainly engineer) (entry level to intermediate) I feel as if this product isn't really for the "project studio" ppl who do music as a hobby and not a full-time profession. Two sends and returns = fx devices Two SSL mic pre's = SSL sound ( $700 x 2 just the modules ) S/PDIF = digital to analog conversion. Four usb ports = iLOk - Keyboard - Hub - and whatever else you want..... Not to mention all of the software integration and how well it works with all of the industry standard programs. Thats not even the best part. I am able to run a very quality hybrid digital / analog setup and not have an outrageous electric bill every two months. Nor did I have to buy a whole bunch of extra equipment to add my hardware. I could careless about a talkback being that my headphone amp has one. I don't care about the bus compressor or channel strip because the Nucleus came with the plugins that work well if you choose to use them. I still have much to explore and I don't think SSL is sending a rep to my crib to show me all of the Ins and outs for my messily 6racks. Some can argue the price tag and have a good argument, being that SSL is marketing to the "Project Studio" operator. I say the quality in what you're getting is well worth the price tag. I will say that I don't like the fact that I can't play multiple monitors simultaneously. I almost felt short changed but I'll live.
I agree with some of the comments. It's a decent product, but u can't market it for the budget studio at such a cost and neglect a dedicated talk-back and monitor switching/control for a/b/c. A scaled down version with only 1 side(8 faders) will be a nice option too. People can buy the smaller version, and always purchase another 1 if they wanna expand. Business 101.
Too expensive for just a controller! More than 4500 Euros just for canceling my mouse? Are you insane in SSL? I prefer to buy an SSL or Neve preamp and an Avid artist mix with the same money!
I've owned pretty much every control surface out there in the Nucleus price range and nothing beats it feature-wise. Euphonix stuff, JL Cooper, Behringer, Mackie, everything just plain SUCKS. Especially software-wise. The Nucleus actually WORKS. BUT! I wish it would lose those preamps and replace a soundcard with a talkback facility. :) And a price drop of a grand would be nice.
+theeltea Ok Feature wise with regards to daw control it may be superior like you say which i think may not be accurate as companies like behringer and qcon are actually making improvements on past products which were still ok to begin with. Now this ssl nucleus has no built in effects or processors. So if what I'm paying almost 3000 for is just mic pre and motorised faders along with daw control. I will rather click with a mouse till my fingers give up or get a cheaper alternative.
Question: I usually need 8 ins, as I track drums as well. How can I add to this? I currently use a focusrite interface with 8 ins. I WANT THIS, but it's also an interface, can I add ADAT? idk if I missed that in this video?
Looks amazing, but who is the demographic at which this is marketed? I have a project studio, and $5000 is out of the question even for this level of convenience. I could buy a competent control surface, two high end mic pres - ssl,api,neve,UA,- for maybe even half this. Bigger studios are going to be looking at the SSL matrix or something with those kind of features. No doubt, it's a good,innovative design - but I'm just confused about WHO will be shelling out 5 thousand for it.
IF THE SSL NUCLEUS IS BUILT LIKE A TANK AND DOES WHAT IT SAYS AND HAS GREAT SUPPORT AND AFTERCARE FROM SSL I AGREE THEN IT IS DEFINITELY WORTH THE MONEY EVERY PENNY . YOU CAN NOT BEAT A HANDS ON CONTROLLER AND IT LOOKS VERY NICE. LIKE I SAY IT TAKES A LOT OF CREATIVITY AND HARD WORK TO MAKE REALLY GREAT MUSIC AND THE RIGHT TOOLS ARE ESSENTIAL.
If ssl made an 8 channel whatever with a decent price, I believe they'll hit gold. I personally, don't even know what the hell this is, much less the price.
It is much faster using a mouse to go into a track, open plug ins and make adjustments. Mackie Controllers have transport, faders, pan and shor cut keys like cut and paste along with an Expander giving the 16 faders under $1,300
It's targeted towards the project/home studio buyers as the 'nucleus' in their work flow, nice product but at that price to omit a talkback system and nearfield/main monitor switches makes this rather disappointing. When the MK2 comes out you can bet those two will be implemented!!!!!
+illmatic-1official your absolutely right! it's a DAW controller not a mixer so what your getting out of your computer and audio interface won't sound any different with this. I'm sure it would look good in a setup but at this price I would want more than just a few moving faders for my DAW
I like it dedicated, first off, for its dedicated job...control the tracks within a DAW... I personally like my interface separate so I can change Mic pres at will, just swap units...If say you use an all in one control surface/interface they are cool but when considering gear of this magnitude its time to set aside price for quality. Thats just me, I've never been happy with anything but great engineering design and ergonomics. Thats the first thing I look for.
@musicman8942 And just generally very quiet:S I listened to one of these yesterday w/ headphones, and yeah, a bit muffled by low frequencies, but now I'm just listening off my laptop speakers w/o a problem... other than it being low-level:/ Ironic considering the source;):P
I have the new 2017 Macbook Pro...so according to SSL' s email i can't utilise it. Great bloody support and making the expensive device retardant. Never buying or recommending SSL again.
+Diego Oliveira The Q con G 2 or Behringer X touch are cheaper alternatives. The SSL nucleus while may be a good looking and functional unit. It lacks feautures to justify its price. and that is beyond all reasonable doubt.
+illmatic-1official Bro, This desk didn't "lack" anything. I had the 2802, The Box, and and all the artist series, and buying the Nucleus gave me the feeling of worthiness that I wanted for so long. It's a central peace on my studio now, and if you ever mixed on a SSL you'll recognize the feeling, it us unpaired
+theeltea Newer models like the behringer x touch and Q con pro X are good options within a decent price range. This is just a rip off for motorised faders and mic pre's. SMH.
illmatic-1official I commented on this in 2014. The X-Touch line had a looooooong and thorny road to being available in retail. :) This may look like a ripoff but look at the release date of the Nucleus and evaluate it when it first became available. It was quite adequately priced compared to other controllers. :)
SSL must be delusional thinking this is a reasonable price. For the price of this i will get a Fully functional mixer that has daw control and the motorised faders along with built in processors and preamps. Whoever puts money down on this probaly has money to throw away.
+Icomment erm. Thanks I have done all the research I can and I still stand by my statement that it is overpriced. Talking about beginner? what have you done that makes you an expert. enlighten me
Just stepping in for a question about price tag/features - I would be using this solely for DAW control. I like to have the great pre's available, but can't see using them at this time. 99% DAW control. The way I figure is, I hunting for a serious DAW controller. This one is the best I've seen on the market. I'm willing to pay what they ask because of this. I just answered my question, I guess lol That being said, how do you feel about this thing solely as a DAW controller? *just scoutin' for knowledgable peoples impressions.
What a horrific job done by whomever was in charge of the camera cutaways because it was hard to keep track of what he was showing on the board due to the constant camera changes. If the camera would have been left the whole time over the mixer and not shown the guy at all, this would have been a great video. But, midway I had to stop watching this nonsense for that reason. What a shame.
Way too over priced for this futuristic piece of plastic. $5000? Come down off your prestigious high horse and price this unit at what its worth. This should not cost any more than $1500 and thats even probably too high. Five grand is a lot of money for convenience. Give it a realistic price that people in our economy can actually afford and you'll sell a ton more units. Lower prices = more sales!
This is fucking rediculous. Anyone buying this doens't need built in pres and all of the other bloat. They want it for *a control surface*. Flying faders to control their DAW. And anyone who has more than 1000 to spend on a glorified mouse likely already has an interface + pres. SSL could have shaved a ton of the price if they had just stick with a controller. Why is it so rare/expensive in this day and age? Avid Artist Mix is outrageously expensive, if someone can make a console version with no other features and under 1000 -- they'll clean up like the Warm Audio guys are now.
