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
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