SSL System T Virtual Tempest Engine adds MXL for software-defined production

The integration of MXL support signals a shift toward standardized, interoperable software-defined production environments that reduce reliance on proprietary hardware. By aligning with the EBU’s Dynamic Media Facility project, Solid State Logic is positioning its audio processing to function within automated, cloud-native ecosystems alongside platforms like Techex's TX Darwin. This move addresses the industry's need for scalable infrastructure that can transition between on-prem COTS servers and public cloud deployments without sacrificing high-channel-count processing. Watch for how quickly broadcast engineers adopt these software-defined production engines compared to traditional hardware consoles like the S500m during the next major live event cycle.

Solid State Logic has been building out its System T platform as a cornerstone of software-defined broadcast audio production. At IBC 2025, SSL demonstrated System T Virtual Tempest Engine running on standard COTS hardware alongside its physical console range, reinforcing the company's strategy of offering identical processing whether deployed on dedicated hardware or virtualized infrastructure. The Virtual Tempest Engine supports up to 512 channels of processing and integrates with SMPTE ST 2110 networks, making it a direct competitor to virtualized audio platforms from Lawo and Yamaha in the IP-based production space.

The EBU's Dynamic Media Facility project, which underpins the MXL standard that SSL is now adopting, has been gaining traction across European broadcasters. The EBU published its MXL specification framework in early 2025 as part of the Dynamic Media Facility initiative, defining a media exchange layer that allows audio, video, and control signals to move between software-defined functions without proprietary glue code. Techex, whose TX Darwin orchestration platform is mentioned alongside SSL's announcement, announced in 2025 that TX Darwin had been selected by multiple European broadcasters for IP-based production facility orchestration, positioning it as a control layer that can manage both SSL audio engines and video switching infrastructure within a single automated environment.

On the technical side, SSL's Net I/O ST 2110 Bridge addresses a persistent challenge in hybrid facilities: converting between legacy MADI or Dante audio and ST 2110-30/31 streams without adding latency that breaks live production timing. SSL's µVTE compact engine was designed for remote and distributed production scenarios requiring fewer than 128 channels, targeting OB vans and secondary studios that cannot justify a full-size Tempest deployment. The 512-channel capacity of the ST 2110 Bridge means a single unit can handle the audio complement of a major live event, reducing the rack space and cabling complexity that traditionally accompanied large-format audio routing in outside broadcast environments.