The UAD SSL 4000 G Bus Compressor. Apparently, this emulates the SSL G Bus Compressor!
History of the hardware
The SSL G Bus Compressor was first introduced in the 1987 as part of the SSL 4000 series mixing console, designed to provide compression across a stereo bus, rather than an individual channel. Originally built into the console’s center section, it quickly became a widely used tool for controlling mix dynamics with its characteristic VCA-based gain reduction circuit and auto fade function. Over time, standalone rack and later 500-series versions were developed, maintaining the same core circuit design.
The Plugin
Compare this to a few other SSL G Bus compressors emulations:
Ideas
- Using the high pass filter on the input signal or side chain can help maintain a solid low end and reduce unwanted pumping effects.
- The auto-fade might be true to the hardware, but do your fades manually. Just saying.
- The HR (headroom) control on UAD plugins is great at maintaining gain staging, and also for really pushing (as in driving) the sound into distortion (or saturation, if you want to describe distortion with a word that doesn’t sound like distortion even though it is).
- The “standard” setting for this on the master bus is 30ms attack, auto release, and a ratio of 4. Set the threshold to a gain reduction of 1-2 dBs on the loudest parts. You can, of course, do whatever you want—but people always ask what this setting is.
Tests
