SSL Bus Comp Classic is a 1U analog stereo compressor built on the classic SSL Bus Compressor circuit and high-performance THAT 2181 VCAs. It keeps the fast, console-style workflow: six-position Attack, Ratio and Release switches and the Auto Release mode. On top of that it adds Variable VCA Drive, a high-pass filter in the sidechain and a stereo external sidechain input.
From clean to saturated with one knob
With VCA Drive off, the VCAs run in a balanced configuration with low distortion and fast transient response. Switch it on and they move to the unbalanced configuration known from 4000 Series consoles and the FX384 unit, and turning it further adds harmonics up to around 10% THD. One compressor can glue a finished mix or hit drums and parallel compression hard. The distortion does not come from overloading an amplifier, so it adds no noise.
Sidechain under control
The sidechain high-pass filter (12 dB/oct, OFF to 185 Hz) stops kick and bass from driving the detector, so the low end of your mix is not squashed for no reason. The stereo external input lets another signal control compression, for example the full mix while you process stems, so each stem is compressed as if it were still part of the whole mix.
KEY FEATURES
- Authentic SSL Bus Compressor circuit with THAT 2181 VCAs
- 100% analog signal path with +27.5 dBu headroom
- Variable VCA Drive: from transparent SuperAnalogue to 4K character
- Six-position Ratio, Attack and Release switches, including Auto Release
- Six-position side-chain HPF (S/C HPF)
- Stereo external side-chain input
- Moving-coil gain reduction meter
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Threshold: -20 to +20 dB, Make-up: 0 to +20 dB
- Ratio: 1.5:1 to 10:1, Attack: 0.1 to 30 ms
- Release: 0.1 to 1.6 s plus Auto (two-stage, 100 ms and 12 s)
- S/C HPF: OFF, 30, 60, 105, 125, 185 Hz
- Connectors: 2 x female XLR in, 2 x male XLR out, 2 x female XLR external side-chain in
- Max level: +27.5 dBu, input impedance 10 kOhm, output impedance 70 Ohm
- Dynamic range: 126 dB (bypass), 122 dB (compressor in)
- Dimensions: 482.6 x 43.2 x 276.9 mm, 1U, weight 3.48 kg
- Power: 100-240 V AC, 12 W
