Solid State Logic SSL Bus Comp Classic Stereo Bus Compressor (1U)

AUD Pricing & Release Date TBC

The SSL mix bus sound in a 1U box, with more range than the original.

The Bus Comp Classic is Solid State Logic's dedicated rackmount version of the stereo bus compressor that has sat in the master section of SSL consoles for decades. It keeps the familiar controls and the way it pulls a mix together. Then it adds Variable VCA Drive, extra ratio and release settings, a sidechain high-pass filter and a true stereo external sidechain input.

If you've been reaching for the plug-in on your 2-bus and want the hardware circuit, SSL built this unit for that job.

Authentic SSL bus compression

• THAT 2181 VCAs. They sit in the audio path. SSL's sidechain design adds another VCA inside the feedback loop, which gives the punchy, cohesive response engineers know from the console.
• Soft-knee 2:1. Gain reduction comes in gradually. Leave it on the mix bus and you won't notice it until you bypass it.
• Ratios up to 10:1. For drum buses, stems and parallel chains where you want density, not subtlety.
• SSL Auto Release. A two-stage, programme-dependent release. Loud peaks recover quickly and quieter passages recover slowly, so dense mixes keep moving without obvious pumping.

Variable VCA Drive: pick your SSL era

One continuous control covers several decades of SSL console character.

• Clean. At its lowest setting the VCAs run balanced, for the low-distortion SuperAnalogue sound of the 9000 Series, Oracle and Odyssey consoles.
• Coloured. Turn it up and the VCAs switch to unbalanced operation, for the harmonic character of the FX384 and 4000 Series.
• Driven. Push it further for dense, early-4K-style saturation, approaching 10% THD. Useful on hard-hit drums and parallel buses.

Built for recall and stem delivery

• Six-position stepped controls. Ratio, Attack, Release and the Sidechain HPF are all stepped, so you get exact recall between revisions and sessions.
• Sidechain high-pass filter. Goes up to 185 Hz at 12 dB/octave. It stops kick and bass from driving the gain reduction, so the low end keeps its weight.
• Stereo external sidechain input. Feed the full mix into the sidechain while you print stems through the audio path. Each stem gets the same compression it had in the full mix, so your stems and alt versions match the approved master.
• Illuminated moving-coil meter. A proper analogue gain reduction meter on the front panel.

Who it's for: Mix engineers who want hardware SSL bus compression on the 2-bus. Producers building a hybrid analogue/DAW setup. Recording and mix studios that deliver stems and need consistent compression across every version. If you also want dynamic EQ, Mid-Side, dual mono and a Mix control for parallel compression in one unit, look at SSL THE BUS+ (2U). If you want the classic SSL bus compressor with the shortest path from patching in to finished mix, choose the Bus Comp Classic.

Specifications

Warranty: [CONFIRM: warranty term and who handles service in Australia]