Solid State Logic SSL 4K B

What SSL 4KB Channel Strip Is For

SSL 4KB Channel Strip is a console channel processing plug-in designed to shape, control, and color your tracks in a DAW as if you were mixing on a real SSL console. It is suited for both mixing and production: positioning a vocal in the mix, drum impact, guitar clarity, bass control, or cohesion of an instrument bus.

Its appeal is twofold: on one hand, you benefit from a channel strip workflow (everything at hand in a single plug-in); on the other, you get the signature SSL "B" sound with a musical response, effective and very quick to dial in, ideal for making decisions rapidly without breaking inspiration.

Main Features

SSL 360deg Integration: a virtual console in your session

The SSL 4KB integrates into the SSL 360deg Plug-in Mixer ecosystem to centralize control of multiple instances like on a mixing desk. You can mix and combine SSL 4KB and Channel Strip 2 in the same environment, then control everything from the SSL 360deg interface for a clear overview and quick navigation within a dense project.

Going further, the integration is designed for SSL UC1 and SSL UF8 controllers: accessible settings, "console" feel at your fingertips, and a more immediate workflow for long mixing sessions or multi-track projects.

Jensen Microphone Preamp: rich saturation, controlled levels

The preamplification section relies on a Jensen JE-115K-E transformer to add harmonics, density, and progressive saturation, ranging from subtle warmth to more pronounced distortion. A key asset is the automatic gain compensation: you can push the preamp to create character without disturbing your levels, which facilitates gain staging.

The signal path also allows an INPUT TRIM of the "line input trim" type for fine level adjustment, with a range of plus or minus 20 dB. In MIC mode, the plug-in can add significant gain (up to +20-70 dB) while maintaining a practical approach to "drive" the input stage and enrich the sonic material.

SL 4000 Equalizer: musicality, precision, and impact

The SSL 4KB captures the character of the original equalizer circuit from the SL 4000 B series, known for its ability to quickly transform a source: presence on a vocal, attack on a snare, midrange definition, or low-end foundation. The constant bandwidth parametric mids are suitable for both surgical corrections and broader moves, with a musical rendering.

The high-pass and low-pass filters complete the set with a 12 dB per octave slope, perfect for cleaning a track, controlling unnecessary low frequencies, or taming an aggressive high end before compression.

Dynamics Inspired by the Bus Compressor: firm control, natural result

The channel dynamics adopt a topology based on the iconic SSL Bus Compressor, with peak detection and a VCA sidechain in a feedback loop. The result: reliable transient control, a sense of "hold" and stability, and dynamics easy to adjust on very different sources (percussion, bass, vocals, synths, guitars).

For vocals, the plug-in offers a de-ess mode using the compressor as a broadband compression triggered by sibilance. The ratio is fixed at 10:1, and the release depends on the input signal (between 30 and 50 ms), for smoother and more natural de-essing, particularly useful on close and modern takes.

VCA "black can" and output section: color and stereo width

The modeled VCA fader dbx 202 "black can" contributes to the 4KB's personality: pushing it introduces subtle saturation on the output, then you can balance with the output trim to maintain a consistent level. The output section is extended with a virtual fader, stereo image control, and Fader Level, Pan, and Width parameters, useful to finalize track placement without multiplying plug-ins.

Flexible Routing and HQ Mode: efficiency and precision

Beyond the logic of a hardware console, SSL 4KB offers routing configurations allowing you to rearrange filters, equalizer, and dynamics blocks according to the desired signal flow. This flexibility opens different sonic possibilities and finer control depending on the source and intention (cleaning before compression, compression before creative equalization, etc.).

The HQ button activates intelligent oversampling: enable it when you seek a closer approximation to continuous analog behavior, or disable it to lighten CPU load on very heavy projects. The compressor mix control also allows quick parallel compression, very useful to preserve attack while thickening a track.

Technical specifications