If you work in live sound or broadcast, you know the headache of "Format Wars." You walk into a venue with a MADI console, the OB truck is running Dante, and the guest engineer just handed you a laptop and wants to record 64 channels over USB.
Usually, solving this requires a rack full of converters, a mess of clocking cables, and a lot of anxiety.
Solid State Logic (SSL) has just announced a solution that might make those headaches a thing of the past: the SSL UMD192.
Here is why we think this compact interface is about to become standard issue for system techs and broadcast engineers.
The Ultimate "Universal Translator"
At its core, the UMD192 is designed to be the bridge between the three most critical digital audio protocols in use today: USB, MADI, and Dante.
The magic lies in its flexibility. It supports bi-directional audio between any two of these formats, while the third format can receive a split feed.
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Need to bridge a MADI stagebox into a Dante network? Done.
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Need to record a high-channel count show to a DAW via USB while sending a backup feed to a broadcast truck? Easy.
It handles 192 channels at 96kHz or 48kHz (and 128 channels at 192kHz). That is a massive amount of I/O density for a unit that fits in a half-rack space.
Mission-Critical Redundancy
In broadcast and high-stakes live environments, "failover" isn't a luxury—it's a requirement. SSL understands this better than almost anyone.
The UMD192 offers robust redundancy options that will let you sleep easier at night:
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Triple-Redundant Power: You can power the unit via AC Mains, Power over Ethernet (PoE), or USB. You can use these in combination; if someone kicks out the IEC cable, the PoE keeps the audio flowing without a glitch.
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MADI Redundancy: With six MADI BNC pairs, you can configure the unit for three dual-redundant MADI connections.
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Network Stability: It features rugged Primary and Secondary Ethernet ports for Dante redundancy.
Built for the Road (and the Rack)
One of the smartest features for live engineers is the Front Panel Lock. Once you have your routing and sample rate configured, you can lock the controls. This prevents accidental button presses during a show—a small detail that saves serious disasters.
For guest engineers, the UMD192 is class-compliant on macOS. They can walk up, plug in a USB-C cable, and immediately access up to 192 channels of I/O without installing drivers. For Windows users, SSL provides a multi-client ASIO driver, allowing multiple apps to access the interface simultaneously (great for running playback and recording on the same machine).
Integration with Dante AoIP
The UMD192 isn't just a converter; it’s a fully interoperable Dante endpoint with support for AES67 and ST 2110 (with DDM). With ultra-low Dante latency (down to 0.25ms), it fits perfectly into complex AoIP infrastructures, whether you are running an SSL System T, a Harrison 32Classic, or bridging non-SSL consoles into a larger network.
The Verdict
The SSL UMD192 packs the power of a full machine room into a portable half-rack box. For broadcast trucks, touring rigs, and festival patches, this is the "Swiss Army Knife" interface we have been waiting for. The UMD192 will be available in late February with AUD Pricing to be confirmed.
