Waves SSL 4000 Collection

Waves installs are easy. Not issues with compatibility in Cubase 64 bit. That's always nice. I'm not sure if this has a manual because I've never really read it. I just sort of learned it as I went which in retrospect was probably not the best idea because this thing can be tricky at first. Honestly though I think the learning curve doesn't matter too much due to the great presets included. You can do a lot with this out of the box just with the presets alone. Even cut a full mix if you are patient. I found the channel strip to have a medium difficulty to use. It's not super complicated but it is tricky at first. Not a gripe. Just honesty.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I use it with Cubase and it works fine. Does take up a fair amount of resources but I can imagine with all the emulation going on this is to be expected. If you end up using this as often as I do then you might want to think about getting a fast rig. Mine is top of the line and I still have trouble with keeping a few of them running sometimes. In some mixes I will have 6 or 7 at once and have to start freezing.

OVERALL OPINION

This has become my most used all in one comp and EQ plugin. It does both wondefully. Adds a serious punch to everything works miracles for a song that is in danger of crowding. The comp can be a bit much on some slower songs when dynamics need to be left low but I must say the EQ sounds great on everything no matter what. There's some kind of magic sauce going on here...and I don't know why but I love what it is. There have been days where I have tried 10 or 20 other plugins on a track just to go back to the SSL. It's that good. If you are just getting started in the VST game then I would suggest you buy this pack first. You can do a lot with it and not have to make another purchase for some time. I highly recommend it for the price. I just wish I would've found it sooner. This is one of those vsts that makes you want to load up ALL your old projects and put the SSL on them to see what wonders it can do to a remix.

Install is quick and easy. I wouldn't expect any less from Waves. It comes with some VERY usable presets including the ones from CLA if you want fast results. But I expect most users will read the manual and want to learn the ins and outs. Everything is laid out as if you had the console in front of you. Accurate controls and everything. The accuracy to the original here is very impressive and clearly Waves did a good job making a solid recreation here.

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I've used a lot of channel strip eq/comp plugins. Some cheap ones and some really expensive ones. If there's one thing I know it's that there's always something better. But I've been using the SSL for a couple of years now and for full band mixes, I'm convinced this is the best. For an EQ/comp strip this is the one I keep coming back to. It just has that magic tone that no other plug seems to give me. What's even odder is that the presets are actually usable. I can load up a whole project with drums/guitar/bass/vocals/keys and use the presets on all 10 or 15 tracks or so...and it works well. Sounds good. In that respect it's pretty incredible. I've never encountered a vst that can do that. The cpu use is great too. After you load up more than 6 or 7 you might have to freeze them individually depending on cpu use.

OVERALL OPINION

The SSL is on almost everything I do with a full band. On acoustic or relaxed mixes it can be a bit much but when you have a big mix, it goes a long way toward organizing the chaos. Both the eq and compression is gives to every channel is awesome and better than about anything I've used. The only thing that comes close for compression is T-racks plugs for me. The price isn't dirt cheap, but considering how much use I get it's a tremendous value.

I use the Waves SSL native bundle. The install was very simple. If your planing to buy this then there is no need for the manual as you should already know what you need to use it for. However, should you need to read the manual it is very clear an concise on the functions of this great VST.



SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

Let me make something clear about EQ's. Every EQ's has its own foot print or tonality that it leaves on audio. Solid Stage Logic is known for its warmth and compressors. The compression seems to have the ability to blend your music together unlike any other compressor out there.

I have worked with a real SSL and i want to say that these VST's are spot on with the quality and sound they produced in relation to the hardware.

the VST's are stable, i have never had a problem with them.

OVERALL OPINION

The waves SSL, in my opinion works well with HIP -HOP, Rock and Jazz. Sure you can applie it to any type of music you want. But Solid State Logic EQ'a have a specific feel and sound to them. They color the music and you can hear that, in situations where you do not want to color the music this is not the EQ you want to use.

This Bundle is well worth the price, other wise you would pay thousands of dollars to use a real SSL board. I don't know how they did it, but the SSL VST can stand as a fill in if you don't have enough for the real thing.

This software uses a lot of DSP. So make sure your DAW meets processing requirements. If you can afford it, buy the SSL versions with outboard DSP such as the x-patch or x-logic.

Waves SSL 4000 Native Collection developed under license from Solid State Logic.

Four modeled plugins:
SSL E-Channel
SSL G-Channel
SSL G-Equalizer
SSL G-Master Buss Compressor

Mac and Pc Compatible.

I-Lok required.


SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I’ve used this in Logic Pro 8 and 9 without a problem.

I have a Mac Pro 2.66 Quad Core with 8 GB of ram and a White Macbook with Intel Core 2 Duo Cpu with 4 GB of Ram.

The installation is really easy and the the manual is well written.

These plugins works like a charm, never had a problem in more than 2 years of use.

However I’m still waiting for the release of the 64 Bit native versions.


OVERALL OPINION

If you are familiar with audio gear, you will sure know Solid State Logic from England. Thanks to their sonic qualities and multiple options, the SSL consoles becomes a worldwide standard in the recording studios. The SL4000, the console on which these plugins are modelled, have two features in particular that set it above the competition. A complete dynamics section on every channel, and a master-compressor in the center of the console. Add to that an outstanding clear signal path and a punchy and modern EQ and you will understand why, according to Billboard magazine, these consoles were used on almost three quarters of all U.S. Number One Singles.

This was the first attempt of Waves in recreating the sound of such a legendary console, and according to them, these plugins used side by side with their real counterpart produced -35db of phase cancellation.

The company modelled 3 different sections.

The first two are the SSL G-Channel and E-Channel channel strips (there is also an additional plugin, The G Equalizer)
They offer:
- Input and output section
- Low and High cut filters
- 4 Four EQ that can be routed to the processor output or to the dynamics sidechain section. “Q” can be adjusted in the LMF and HMF ranges.
- Compressor/Limiter with Threshold, Ratio, release, fast and slow attack and automatic gain makeup
- Gate/expander with the same controls as the compressor.
The dynamics can be switched pre-equalizer or post-equalizer.

The other thing modelled is the Master Buss compressor, with threshold, gain make up, attack, release, ratio and a particular fade-off section.
All the 4 plugins have Load, Save, A-B switching and help options.

The G-Channel and The E-Channel differs for the fact that the first one tend to be used for more aggressive frequencies cutting and boosting.

I’ve used these plugins with a lot of bands and with a lot of musical genres.
And the results were always outstanding. The boosting never sound harsh or unnatural, and the punch that a SSL compressor can give you is amazing.

I’ve also used the Master Buss Compressor, either on the Master bus, with a maximum of 2db of gain reduction, and a ratio of 2 to 1, and on a lot of group tracks. It will let your drums and mixes sound punchy and huge, still retaining the original attack, without squashing too much life from them.

In these years the price is dropped significantly for these plugins, if you can afford them, my advice is to buy them in conjunction with the Vintage and API series. Top notch plugins from a great company!