SSL System T V4.3 adds OSC support for third-party hardware control

The integration of OSC into SSL System T V4.3 marks a shift toward hardware-agnostic control in live broadcast environments. By allowing third-party devices to manage core console functions over IP, Solid State Logic reduces the physical footprint and proprietary hardware requirements for remote venue setups. This move aligns with the broader industry transition toward decentralized production workflows where operational flexibility is prioritized over monolithic hardware stacks. As broadcasters seek to lower logistical costs for smaller events, the ability to use compact, non-SSL controllers for monitoring and fader access becomes a significant efficiency gain. Watch for how competitors respond by opening their proprietary control protocols to similar third-party IP integration.

Solid State Logic has been steadily expanding System T's footprint in remote and distributed broadcast production. At IBC 2025, SSL demonstrated System T's cloud-based processing capabilities alongside its Tempest platform for IP-native audio routing, signaling a broader strategy to decouple console control from physical hardware. The V4.3 OSC integration extends that trajectory by opening the control surface to any OSC-compatible device, from compact fader banks to tablet-based interfaces. Competing console manufacturers have pursued similar openness: Calrec's Type R system already supports browser-based control over IP, and Lawo announced in early 2026 that its mc² series would gain expanded Ember+ and OSC interoperability for third-party control surfaces, reflecting an industry-wide push toward protocol-agnostic remote operation. The business case for hardware-agnostic control is tightening as broadcasters face mounting pressure to reduce on-site crew and equipment costs. A 2026 report from Omdia estimated that remote production deployments grew 34% year over year among tier-one sports broadcasters, with audio console flexibility cited as a key factor in selecting production partners. Solid State Logic has positioned System T to capture that demand by pairing OSC support with its existing SolidPitch pitch-correction engine and the Tempest Control App, which together allow a single operator at a remote hub to manage both mixing and vocal processing without a full on-site console. SSL also confirmed in July 2026 that Berny Carpenter, the company's live broadcast product manager, would lead the IBC 2026 demonstration of V4.3's new meter bridge layouts and expanded path linking, features designed specifically for multi-site distributed workflows. On the technical side, OSC integration in broadcast audio consoles remains relatively uncommon compared to its adoption in music production and live sound. A 2025 AES paper benchmarked OSC latency over standard gigabit Ethernet at under 2 milliseconds for control messages, well within the tolerance for real-time fader and mute operations in broadcast. That performance margin makes OSC viable for the remote production scenarios SSL is targeting with V4.3. Meanwhile, Yamaha's Rivage PM series added OSC support in its V5.0 firmware update in late 2025, indicating that the protocol is gaining traction as a de facto standard for cross-vendor console control in both live sound and broadcast applications. For Solid State Logic, the V4.3 release represents a bid to stay ahead of that convergence curve while reinforcing System T's position as a flexible hub for IP-distributed audio production.