Waves SSL 4000 E, SSL 4000 G User Manual

Waves SSL 4000 Collection

SSL 4000 E-Channel SSL 4000 G-Channel

1. Introduction

The unique sound of Solid State Logic’s 4000 Series analogue mixing consoles is sought after
worldwide. Engineers of pop and rock music, broadcast transmissions and television post­production value the SSL 4000’s flexible dynamics chain as much as the trademark SSL
“punchy” sound. Waves and SSL engineers have worked together for over a year to recreate the
sound characteristics of the classic SSL 4000 Series E and Series G consoles. Now, those who
“mix in the box” can achieve the sound they thought they’d lost when they moved to the digital
world.

The SL4000 console was the first mixing desk to incorporate dynamics processing into every
channel, as well as a master bus compressor in the console’s center section. The ability to
'patch' into the SL4000's master bus compressor and to control its sidechain from an internal
sub-mix allowed sound engineers to discover unique, history-making applications of this console
technology. Whether used to record instruments such as piano and drums or for final mixing,
these innovative console sections - master bus compressor, EQ and dynamics - opened up a

new world of opportunities. For years, workstation users have sought this unusual flexibility and
signature sound. But conventional dynamics and EQ plug-ins couldn’t produce the unique SSL
color.

The Waves SSL 4000 Collection is the result of a partnership between Waves Audio and Solid
State Logic. These processors faithfully recreate the same EQ and dynamics characteristics
which made legendary the SL4000 consoles. Plus, the interface accurately reflects the classic
SSL console. Couple all of this with state-of-the art Waves software and you suddenly find
yourself working with the same tools that have provided countless hit mixes for the world's best
audio engineers.

The Waves SSL 4000 Collection consists of three separate sections:

• The SSL E-Channel/ G-Channel

• The SSL 4000 G-Master Bus Compressor

• The SSL G-Equalizer

2. Description of the SSL 4000 E-Channel/ G-Channel plug-in

SSL E-Channel

The Waves SSL E-Channel is modeled after the SL4000 E Series console, combining the
dynamics section of the SL4000 channel strip with the “Black Knob” 242 EQ. The only obvious
change from the hardware original is that the EQ and Dynamics sections are side-by-side rather
than inline, to better conform to computer screens.

SSL G-Channel

The Waves SSL G-Channel is modeled after the SL4000 G Series console, combining the
dynamics section of the SL4000 channel strip with the 383 G EQ. The only obvious change from
the hardware original is that the EQ and Dynamics sections are side-by-side rather than inline, to
better conform to computer screens.

Dynamics Section

The dynamics section consists of a soft-knee compressor/limiter and an expander/gate.
Dynamics can be switched to pre-equalizer (default) or post-equalizer (CH OUT.)

Although the same gain change circuitry is used for both the compressor/limiter and the
expander/gate, two dedicated level indicators illustrate activity for each device. Automatic gain
make-up, calculated from the Ratio and Threshold settings, is applied by the compressor to
maintain a steady output level. The default compressor attack time is program sensitive,
responding to the audio material’s wavefront.

The dynamics section’s threshold circuitry uses variable hysteresis, which allows the signal to
decay below its opening level. (Hysteresis is the lag between making a change in input, such as
increasing or decreasing power, and the response or effect of that change. Thus, the threshold’s
variable hysteresis circuitry allows for program-dependent dynamic processing.)

Equalizer Section

The equalizer is a four-band device which can be routed to the processor’s output or to the
dynamics section’s sidechain. Q can be adjusted in the LMF and HMF ranges. At the top of the

section is the High Pass (18 dB/octave) filter and the Low Pass (12 dB/octave) filter. Normally,
low pass and high pass filters follow the same path as the entire EQ section. However, when
SPLIT is selected, the low pass and high pass filters are placed before the dynamics processors
in the chain. The equalizer can be switched into the dynamics sidechain to afford simple de­essing and other frequency-controlled dynamics processing by selecting DYN S-C at the foot of
the section. In the E-Channel LF and HF shelves can be reshaped to bell curves by pressing
BELL. The Q of the LF and HF bells are calculated based on frequency settings and are not
user-definable. In the G-Channel Lf and HF are fixed shelfs, the LMF /3 will devide the LMF
frequency by 3, and the HMFx3 will Multiply the HMF frequency by three.

SSL Channel Latency
The channel strip has a latency of one sample.

Routing in SSL Channel