[Musikmesse] SSL unveils three plug-ins

X-Phase is an All-pass Filter plug-in that offers the user manual control and benchmark audio quality. It enables the user to apply a phase shift (sometimes called a phase offset) at a specified frequency within a signal. Unlike other filter types where the gain of selected frequencies is altered, with an All-pass Filter the gain remains unchanged throughout the signal. This is useful for fixing phase problems with microphones when recording: eg overheads causing phase problems when mixed with close mics. X-Phase features a Frequency control selects the desired frequency where a phase offset needs to be applied, a Q control sets the slope of the curve of correction to be applied across the signal and a phase invert button enables the phase of the filter to be flipped 180 degrees. A separate Delay section is applied to the entire signal for broader time alignment. The Delay controls consist of a delay control which can be set to display and adjust in seconds, milliseconds, samples, meters or feet and a set of buttons for fine tuning. The overall plug-in can be used in mono or stereo modes. X-Phase can be automated via standard DAW Automation data and has A&B Preset ‘slots’ with an A/B switch for easy comparison of two different combinations of settings. There are Input and Output Meters with Input and Output Level controls.
Price: £199, €249 and $329 +Tax

X-Saturator delivers a range of analogue style distortion effects. It is an emulation of an analogue circuit that introduces either 2nd order valve style or 3rd order transistor style distortion or a blend of the two. At low drive settings the distortion is mild and can add gentle warming to help instruments sit nicely in a mix or to add a little extra edge to help instruments cut through a mix. As drive levels are increased so is the level of distortion until at high drive levels heavy distortion occurs. The controls include a Harmonics control selects 2nd or 3rd order distortion or a blend of the two, a Drive control sets the drive level, a Depth control adjusts the amplitude of the distortion and a Shape control adjusts whether the distortion has smooth or hard edges. A Headroom button provides an additional 6dB of headroom for creating heavily boosted/distorted signals without digital clipping. A dedicated wet/dry mix control facilitates parallel processing. There are Input and Output Meters and Input and Output Level controls. X-Saturator can be automated via standard DAW Automation data and has A&B Preset ‘slots’ with an A/B switch for easy comparison of two different combinations of settings.
X-Saturator Price: £69, €89 and $119 +Tax
Special introductory pricing of £49, €59 and $85 + Tax for the first 30 days only.

X-ValveComp is a fully-featured mono or stereo channel compressor with a set of classic channel compressor controls and an added ‘valve’ emulation stage. The valve emulation stage sits after the compressor in the signal path and adds a variable degree of primarily 2nd order harmonic saturation and distortion that thickens and colors the sound. The compressor can be switched between Peak or RMS modes and has a full set of standard controls including; Threshold, Ratio, Knee, Attack, Release and Hold. There are Input and Output Meters with separate kick down compression amount indication and Input and Output Level controls. There’s a Gain Make Up control and switched Auto Gain Make Up mode. A dedicated wet/dry mix control facilitates parallel compression. A Side Chain input high and low pass filters can be used to trigger compression. X-ValveComp can be automated via standard DAW Automation data and has A&B Preset ‘slots’ with an A/B switch for easy comparison of two different combinations of settings.
X-ValveComp Price: £69, €89 and $119 +Tax
Special introductory pricing of £49, €59 and $85 + Tax for the first 30 days only.

Along with these three new plug-ins, SSL made two announcements at Musikmesse 2014. The first is the soon to come AAX format for the Duende Native plug-ins, which is expected during Q3, 2014 and will be free to registered users.

The other news is the replacement of the WIBU Codemeter dongle with the iLok security system. This change will start on May 1st, 2014, and users will have until January, 2015 to change their dongle. SSL will offer a 50% discount coupon to those who need to purchase an iLok dongle.