“It proved to be the perfect solution for recording and automating effect pedals.” We review Solid State Logic’s 2+ MKII digital audio interface and find a feature-packed box guitarists will love

There are plenty of two-channel digital audio interfaces on the market these days, and with good reason. They’re small, portable, and provide easy and affordable access to DAW recording and podcast production. I’ve recommended several units to friends and family over the years, but the options have all been so similar as to make one interface about as good a choice as any other.

The Solid State Logic 2+ MKII interface is different from the competition. It's packed with features that make it an ideal choice for collaborating with a partner, for recording and syncing MIDI and analog gear, and for sending signals to multiple monitors and outboard gear for further processing. It opened up recording opportunities I hadn't even thought of, and provided the solution for recording and automating expression inputs on my effect pedals.

For added convenience, it’s powered by your computer through a USB-C (2.0) port (a USB-C cable and USB-C to USB-A adapter are included), and it boasts one knob/button per function, making it a cinch to use.

And because it’s from SSL, the 2+ MKII includes the company’s Legacy 4K switch on each input. Inspired by the company’s SSL 4000 series consoles, Legacy 4K is a gentle top-end boost with a touch of pleasing harmonic distortion to give mixes the classic sound heard on countless recordings over nearly five decades.

INS AND OUTS

The SSL 2+ MKII has a nice, pro look, with its black-and-dark-grey enclosure and white graphics. It has a roughly nine-by-six-inch footprint, which is pretty standard, in an angled case that’s about 1.25 inches at the front, rising to 2.25 inches at the back.

The front edge of the unit has instrument inputs 1 and 2 and headphone outputs A and B. Around on the backside are a pair of Neutrik combo jack mic/line inputs, which can accept either 1/4-inch or XLR plugs. The back panel also has the USB-C port, a Kensington lock port to physically lock the device to a desk, and a pair of full-size five-pin MIDI in and out ports — a very welcome feature. Whereas other units feature MIDI mini jacks, which require an adaptor to connect standard MIDI cables, the full-size ports make connections a breeze.

The back is also where you’ll find the four outputs. While their obvious use is for connecting two sets of monitors, they can send audio signals from the SSL 2+ MKII to outboard gear (effects, an external mixer), making it easy to reprocess recorded tracks through your physical gear. In addition, the outputs are DC coupled, which means they can send control voltage (CV) signals from your DAW to outboard gear, such as synthesizers and effect pedals that accept CV signals (more on this below).

CONTROLS

The top of the unit has all the controls in a straightforward arrangement, with sections for channel inputs, on the left, and monitoring, on the right. Each of the two mic inputs has a +48-volt phantom power button for condenser and ribbon mics, along with a red LED that lights when the switch is active. Next to this is a Line button to select the line input source, and another button that engages a high-pass filter to roll off bottom end. Each of the latter two buttons also has its own green LED to indicate when the feature is active.

Below this is a five-segment VU meter, a gain knob and the Legacy 4K button to engage SSL’s classic top-end boost.

To the right of the channel inputs, the monitoring section includes a large monitor knob to set output levels for your monitors, two headphone volume controls — labeled A and B — and a mix knob to blend between the input signal and the DAW output, with zero latency. The mix knob has a stereo switch (with green LED) for stereo monitoring. In addition, headphone output B can take its source from outputs 1/2 or 3/4, allowing a separate headphone mix for a second artist. That’s a very nice touch that gives the 2+ MKII the edge if you typically record with another musician.

UNDER THE HOOD

Now for the things you can’t see. Inside, the 2+ MKII has a pair of SSL-designed microphone preamps that boast a huge gain range for a USB-powered interface. In addition, the interface has 32-bit/192 kHz AD/DA converters, allowing you to capture audio in remarkable detail.

Those features really showed their worth when I got down to recording and mixing. I tried out the 2+ MKII for a couple of weeks using a range of monitors, microphones, electric and acoustic guitars, and keyboards, including modular synthesizers. My initial impression is that doing mixes just felt easier and less complicated. Having a bus-powered unit eliminated the need for another AC jack and made it easy to pick up my laptop and the interface when I wanted to move to another room.

And at the risk of sounding lazy, the unit’s angled control panel was a nice ergonomic feature that let me make knob and button changes without having to so much as lift my arm from the desk.

ON TEST

The mic preamps offered plenty of power for every mic I tried, from condensers to ribbons, and the high-pass filter worked as expected for rolling off bass. Guitars and keyboards also worked well in their respective inputs, with more than enough gain on hand and no noise issues.

The same goes for the headphone preamps. The presence of two headphone jacks seemed like a good reason to invite a friend over for some jamming. My listening options included two sets of high-end Sennheiser HD 800 S, both of which require generous power to get full volume, and the 2+ MKII delivered results without any strain, allowing us to enjoy ourselves while not bothering anyone within listening range.

For all the great features onboard, the Legacy 4K mode is the most tantalizing part of the package, and it’s one I think most guitarists will be eager to try. The SSL 4000 Series consoles are known for imparting a uniquely sweet EQ boost that comes from the harmonic distortion produced by various components in its signal chain. It’s a slightly forward sound that gives instruments an extra bit of mojo.

In use, the Legacy 4K mode added a nice subtle sheen to everything I tried it on, including electric and acoustic guitars, vocals and keyboards. SSL says the 2+ MKII interface, like SSL’s others, shares components and topology with their large-format consoles, which is pretty remarkable for a desktop audio interface.

I was equally eager to use the outputs to send CV signals to my synths and pedals. Fortunately my main DAW, Ableton Live, can create CV signals from MIDI data and output them through a compatible device like the 2+ MKII. In addition to allowing me to use CV signals to control my old pre-MIDI analog synthesizers, the interface opened up new opportunities for sound design by letting me send CV signals to the expression jacks of various pedals.

For example, I used a low-frequency sine wave timed to the beat of my song to sweep selected controls on my Chase Bliss Mood looper and delay pedal. The advantage here is that, once a CV signal is recorded, it can be routed to any pedal and even re-used on another track. It’s a great way to experiment, and it frees you from having to re-perform expression pedal movements if you decide to re-record your track.

At the end of the day, the SSL 2+ MKII proved itself an excellent interface for both its sounds and features. I can think of no similar unit that offers as much at this price point, and obviously no other that includes SSL’s Legacy 4K feature. To make the deal even sweeter, it ships with SSL’s Production Pack bundle that includes software from Ableton, Antares, Celemony, IK Multimedia, and others, making it easy for newcomers to get started making tracks.

There's plenty here to please guitarists, not least of which is the Legacy 4K setting, but there’s no reason to overlook the numerous other treats here. Together, they can make creating music easier, friendlier and more fun, all while achieving studio-quality results.

SPECIFICATIONS

CONTACT solidstatelogic.com

PRICE $299

CHANNELS Two

CONTROLS Gain control, Legacy 4K button, and switchable Mic/Line, +48V phantom power and high-pass filter per channel. Monitor control, monitor mix control with stereo button, headphone A and B volume, with channels 3/4 source button on B

METERING Five-LED array per channel

I/O Front: Two 1/4-inch instrument inputs. Back: USB-C port, five-pin MIDI input and output jacks, four balanced DC-coupled 1/4-inch outputs, two Neutrik combo jack mic/line inputs

CONNECTIVITY USB 2.0 Type C connector (Box includes Type C to C and Type C to A)

PERFORMANCE Up to 32-bit dynamic range, all major sample rates up to 192 kHz

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Mac OS 12 and above | Class-Compliant, Plug-and-play. Windows 10. Windows 11, Windows 11 ARM. Install included ASIO/WDM driver

DIMENSIONS 9.2 x 6.25 x 2.75 inches

EXTRAS USB-C cable, USB-C to USB-A adapter, free software and offers. Kensington Security Slot on back panel

PRO Detailed sound, SSL’s proprietary Legacy 4K feature, two independent headphone outputs with volume and mix control, plus four DC-coupled outputs for more monitoring, sound processing and voltage control options

CON None