Solid State Logic SSL X-Delay

What SSL X-Delay Is For

SSL X-Delay is a delay plug-in designed to add depth, movement, and groove to your productions, from pop/rock mixes to electro and ambient. It excels on vocals (slapback, clean echoes, saturated lo-fi repeats) as well as on guitar, synth, or even drum buses when you want to create rhythmic patterns and interconnected stereo responses. Thanks to its four independent delay lines, it allows you to go from simple subtle support to more complex polyrhythmic constructions, perfectly locked to the DAW tempo or intentionally free to achieve a more organic "push and pull."

Main Features

Four taps to sculpt rhythm and space

The heart of X-Delay lies in its four configurable delay channels. Each line has its own level, pan, and dedicated ping-pong control, making it easy to create a lively stereo field. You can combine static taps with ping-pong taps to achieve wider movement and more musical placement of repeats.

Smart synchronization and polyrhythmic groove

To fit your arrangement, X-Delay offers global and individual tempo synchronization with the host, as well as a free mode to break away from classic divisions. The dotted and triplet modes allow you to add swing, create off-beats, and explore polyrhythmic textures, particularly effective on overly rigid electronic patterns or percussion that lacks breathing space.

SSL color: saturation, diffusion, and high-frequency control

Beyond timing, the sonic character is central to the plug-in. The SSL saturation is adjusted with a single knob to add harmonics, bite, or more pronounced distortion, ideal for giving an 80s patina or lo-fi grain to vocal repeats. The Diffuse control shapes the frequency decay of repeats, ranging from a short, subtle effect to a thicker sensation close to reverb.

Modern mix and performance: filters, De-Ess, Freeze, Kill

To integrate the delay without cluttering the low end or harshening the highs, X-Delay includes high-pass and low-pass filters, as well as an easy-to-adjust De-Ess to soften repeats, especially when saturation is pushed. In live or automation contexts, the Freeze and Kill controls facilitate tension build-ups, transitions, and drops: you freeze the material, then cut it sharply to create a more impactful contrast.

Automation, presets, and A/B comparison

Every parameter is designed to be automatable, including the Global Multiplier which doubles or halves the delay time of all channels simultaneously: an expressive tool to instantly transform the groove of a section. The plug-in is built on the SSL engine for cross-platform preset management and offers A/B switching to quickly compare two settings.

Technical specifications

Type

Full software

Downloadable

Yes

Operating Systems	Mac OS X 10.10 or higher; Windows 7 SP1 or later	RAM	4 GB
Processor (Mac)	Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or higher	Authorization	iLok account required
Processor (Windows)	2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo / AMD Athlon 64 X2 or higher	Global Multiplier	doubles or halves delay times of all channels simultaneously