SSL 500-Series Bus Compressor MkII

Habitué aux plugins UAD SSL G-BUS, je suis passé au hardware.

Plugins et hardware sont complémentaires, en fonction des projets, des niveaux de production (pre prod, prod finale...) et des manières de travailler de chacun (goûts, temps, studio...).

J'adore travailler avec le SSL G-BUS de UAD et j'adore également travailler avec le hardware de SSL, le second étant un peut plus subtile et nuancé que le premier, les plugins peuvent quelques fois devenir criard voir manquer de réserve sous la pédale.

J'ai intégré ce SSL G-BUS dans une box Rupert Neve Design, tout fonctionne bien, c'est un excellent rapport qualité prix.

After meticulously comparing it to my Vandergraph and API 529, I am very happy with the results. The vandergraph offers more low end depth, the api has more features, more punch and warmer colour. The ssl however makes everything slot in nicely, giving a certain “Hi-Fi” gloss that it’s known for.
Mixes have more punch and clarity throughout the frequency spectrum and a wider imaging. Writing music “into” the hardware, really helps carve out the sweet spots of its compression.
I also mindfully compared it to the uad ssl Plugin. The two are very different. In general, even though plugins have come a long way, the software sounds more bulky and the frequency response in the low mids isn’t the same. I’ve seen several online videos that yield the same result. So I’d conclude that it’s not the character of a specific ssl unit, which would have explained the difference in sound. The software clogs up the mix and the dynamics. It doesn’t have the finesse of the hardware. This becomes more apparent when you are applying parallel compression. The plug-in can’t handle the information and the transients lose their precision. This also goes for other emulations of the g-bus. Waves, Native instruments, etc.. not to slack them off, I still very much value the plug-ins though.

Despite not being able to independently control the left and right channel, feeding it with ms really enhances the stereo image. I’m really looking forward to everyday usage in parallel and on the mix bus.
The only issue I have is the build-quality. The knobs aren’t aligned properly, making it harder to see the dialled in amounts. I received a second unit from Thomann and the one I have now is slightly better aligned. The in and out button doesn’t feel too solid either. But mainly the release knob is noisy when switched whilst audio is being played through the unit. It’s definitely an electrical issue as the sound is more audible when the volume has been lowered. It’s like a small snap in and snap out of electricity just milliseconds after switching. Very odd as the other knobs are fine. It doesn’t impair the functionality but it does cast a shadow of doubt on the longevity of the switch. Thankfully Thomann replaced the first unit I received, as it was quite extreme. I will not be returning the unit I have now, even though the issue persists in a more mild manner.

All in all great value for money now the price has significantly been lowered and in my opinion a no brainer if you were thinking about getting a clone. Excellent service by Thomann as always.

Habe mir den SSL Bus Kompressor insb. für den Stereo Out gekauft oder für Instrumenten-Busse nach Bedarf (bspw. Drums, Gitarren) . Ich binde den SSL in Logic über das I/O Plugin ein. Habe als Vergleich in der Plugin-Welt UAD, Slate und Waves. Instant "Radio-Effekt" mit mehr Punch, Tiefe, Breite und Lebendigkeit. Einstellung deutlich einfacher und "verzeihender" als mit den PlugIns. Man muss sich schon Mühe geben, damit das ernsthaft schlecht klingt. Der HPF der neueren Modelle ist super wichtig. Aus meiner Sicht sein Geld wert.