When to Use an SSL Bus Compressor and Why?
Where to find the famous "Glue" Compressor.
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Few dynamics processors divide opinion like the SSL bus compressor. Whether we use one or not, we continue to hear its surrounding philosophies from both experienced engineers and those new to the game.
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The modern form of the glue compressor originates from the famous SSL 4000 G series consoles of the late 80s. Renowned for its punch, drive, and clarity, the G-comp has since been reimagined in both hardware and software iterations the world over.
Apart from its sound, it also offers incredible flexibility. At the time, the ability to patch and process signals from virtually anywhere on the board and its sidechain capabilities made it an essential part of the record-making process.
Although a precise multipurpose tool, the SSL bus compressor became synonymous with mixdown and cemented its place as a go-to mix bus processor.
Where to Find an SSL Bus Compressor?
VCA bus compressors exist in many formats, and not all of them are designed by SSL. You can find a plethora of plugin versions from almost every manufacturer on the market. In the hardware world, there are rack units and 500-series versions, as well as the original form inside SSL consoles.
Although the rules of compression are the same, each format presents a slightly different feature set. Let’s explore the options and find out some different ways to incorporate an SSL-style compressor into your workflow.
Using the SSL Bus Compressor as a Plug-in
Working with plugins active on your master bus is usually not recommended until the final phase of mixdown. As one might expect, this is the complete opposite approach to how the original 4000 series compressor was used in studios.
In many cases, it was left active in the background even during tracking with more subtle compression settings applied. The flexibility of a console also allows you to compress your headphone and monitor mixes, while bypassing the bus compressor on the way in if you wish.
Plugin emulations of the G-comp aim to shape your mix in a similar fashion to the original. You won’t get the same degree of ‘knock’ from a plugin, but it is still an essential mixing tool. When used on channel groups within your DAW, like a drum bus or even in parallel, they can be almost as effective as hardware.
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SSL Bus Compressors: IGS Audio
Whether you’re venturing into the world of analogue hardware for the first time or you’re a seasoned mastering engineer, IGS Audio has some amazing designs that sometimes use classic circuitry ideas, reimagined in the modern music production context. Within the IGS range, there are two VCA compressors that elaborate on the original SSL-style concept.
In the 500-series format, the S-Type module is a bus compressor that captures the simplistic magic of the original SSL design with set attack and release times and ratios. This lets you quickly clamp those transients and glue your mix down, even if you’re doing it for the first time. What’s more, there are a few modern twists, like the sidechain input, sidechain filter, and wet/dry mix control.
You can also add this classic VCA compression to your mastering workflow with the Multicore, a multiband dynamics processor, which is basically three SSL compressors with two variable crossover controls to set the range for the low-end, midrange, and high-frequencies. With precisely stepped controls, the Multicore allows you to mute or bypass each band for complete control. Get it at Thomann.*
SSL Bus Compressors: Solid State Logic
Naturally, it’s hard to beat the experience of using the original, and SSL is a manufacturer that is renowned for maintaining its standards of quality, since the days of the 4000 series consoles. In the 500-series format, the G-Comp is still a formidable option and a safe bet if you’re new to the world of modules.
There is no better way to learn about using classic VCA bus compression than by using the original article. The G-Comp makes it easy to dial in gradual compression that hugs the mix, or steeper, more aggressive shaping that simply keeps the transients in check. Meanwhile, for a more advanced bus compression experience, SSL has the BUS+ rackmount processor.
The BUS+ offers multiple operating modes, including sidechain stereo, dual-mono, and mid-side processing, as well as multiple compression character modes, a 2-band dynamic EQ, and a transient expansion feature. This makes the BUS+ the most versatile version of the classic SSL compressor ever designed. Get it at Thomann.*
SSL Bus Compressors: elysia xpressor neo
The xpressor neo is a stereo VCA compressor that can be used to achieve that familiar SSL-style glue on the mixbus, but it has a far wider scope of application as well. An interesting feature that is unique to the xpressor neo, is its Auto Fast function, which lets the compressor react fast, but only to the loudest transient in the signal, like a kick drum within a drum loop.
Another intriguing aspect, this time specifically for bus compression, is the Logarithmic Release feature. This allows the fast and loud transient material, like drums, to be processed with a fast release time setting, while the rest of the signal is compressed with a slower release time for greater contrast and dimensionality.
To increase the harmonic richness and add some saturation, there is also a Warm Mode that slows down the speed of the output VCA. This means you can go for a modern, clean sound with the discrete Class-A circuitry or a more classic, warm sound. In addition, there is a sidechain filter, wet/dry mix control, and the gain reduction limiter feature found on other elysia compressors. Get it at Thomann.*
SSL Bus Compressors: WesAudio
WesAudio has a range of software-controlled analogue hardware preamps and processors, including its own 19-inch rackmount and 500-series versions of the SSL-style VCA bus compressor. In the 500-series format, the Dione module connects to your DAW either via USB or with the Titan 500-series chassis.
Besides the basic compression parameters, the Dione has a variable sidechain filter, harmonic distortion modes (THD), and a wet/dry mix for parallel compression. Meanwhile, the 19-inch rackmount ngBusComp is a more comprehensive mixing tool, with dual-mono and mid-side processing, IRON PAD control for saturation, and a variable THD control.
Overall, the WesAudio Dione and ngBusComp offer the best of both worlds, because you get the crunchy, textured sound of the analogue circuitry and the flexibility of using it almost like any other plugin in your DAW. This is essential if you’re working on multiple projects for different clients.
Using a Mixer with a built-in SSL Bus Compressor
Even if you mix in the box, an SSL desktop mixer or console with its built-in G-comp can be a powerful tool in your workflow. More than the high-quality input stages and ultra-low noise floor, SSL offers far more advanced routing options than any other manufacturer.
The level of investment may be considerable. However, you won’t easily find individual channel strips and compressors of this quality for the same price. Even the entry-level SSL Six can be used in almost every stage of the recording process. From tracking to summing, or processing stems with individual compression, the only limitation becomes your creativity rather than the equipment.
Although there are more affordable ways to get similar results on your mix bus, very few of them add the same vibe to the overall recording experience. So, a mixer or console with an integrated G-comp certainly still has its appeal.
- More from SSL
More about the SSL Bus Compressor:
- All about bus compressors
- Everything SSL
- Thomann’s Guide to Audio Compressors
- SSL official page
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*Note: This article about the SSL bus compressor contains affiliate links that help us fund our site. Don’t worry: the price for you always stays the same! If you buy something through these links, we will receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!
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