SSL 18: Your New Rackmount Interface
A rackmount audio interface with an impressive feature set and an attractive price tag.
4,5 / 5,0 | 
The SSL 18 audio interface is the perfect solution for your home studio, with all the analogue and digital connectivity you could ever want.
You may have been wondering when SSL would add a rackmount format interface to its popular line of desktop audio interfaces. Well, the wait is finally over, as the SSL 18 has arrived with all the features you’d expect from the flagship of the range.
SSL 18
The SSL 18 is equipped with eight individually controlled mic preamps, each with its own 5-bar LED meter high-pass filter and 4K function. In addition, there is a dedicated mic input for the built-in talkback channel (with LMC) and master output metering, as well as two individually controlled headphone outputs and an ALT function for a second pair of studio monitors.
On the rear panel, you’ll find 10 TRS outputs, two of which can be used as insert sends (alongside the insert returns). This makes the SSL 18 a very flexible interface, capable of sending channel groups out from your DAW for analogue summing, while the insert path allows you to easily incorporate hardware processors into your DAW workflow.
On the digital side, there are two sets of ADAT optical I/O ports (up to 8 channels at 96 kHz), S/PDIF RCA I/O, and word clock out. This provides the expandability necessary for adding more inputs to your front end or interfacing with other digital audio hardware. Music producers will also be thrilled to know that the SSL 18 has TRS MIDI I/O to link with synths, samplers, drum machines, and sequencers.
Overall, as you’d expect from SSL, a wide scope of users has been thought about in the design of the SSL 18, with a range of features from 32-bit 192 kHz recording to loopback for streaming. All things considered, SSL has knocked this one out of the park and made it difficult for users to choose another interface in this price range, also, the Listen Mic Compressor is a nice touch.
Catch up with SSL at NAMM 2025, at booth 18301.
Pricing and Availability:
The SSL 18 is currently available for pre-order from Thomann, shipping in February.
More about the SSL 18:
- Official Product Page
- More from SSL
- Check out NAMM 2025
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