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SSL compressors are strange to me. Help me like em

jasonxoc

Active Member
I haven't used the ssl channel strip in a long time. I usually use api when I want color or neve when I want something cleaner. Anyway, I loaded up the SSL today on a bass. The gain staging of the bass was around -23 to -20dbfs. I had to crank the thresh-hold of the ssl comp all the way up to only get 3dbs of comp.

Then I remembered... THIS is why I didn't like the SSL plugs... any of them. The compressor on the channel strip and the bus compressor need signals way hotter than I'm used to using.

Anyone else notice this too?

J
 

jasonxoc

Active Member
I take it back on the bus compressor, Just tried that again and I like it.

But the channel strip is still wonky...

What is "0" on the knobs? On the channel strip, if you push up the input to 0, it starts compressing there... if that's the case, why the hell would they put half of the thresh-hold above 0 when it can never even get to that level?
 

Myramyd

Venerated Member
I'm having a little trouble figuring out the threshold controls on the SSL channel strip also. Coming from the Waves version, it's the only knob that doesn't directly translate. You really have to crank it to get the needle to move. From what I can tell there is about a 15dB difference (on the knob labels) difference between Waves vs. UAD on all the same settings. The UAD still sounds better however. ;)

But if anyone knows why or how this is the case it would be helpful to me as well.

J
 

jfjer

Active Member
i have heard that -16db is the sweet spot for most plugins especially modeled plugins
heard that from graham at recording revolution
you can use gain clipping or a trim plug before the signal hits anything
 

Myramyd

Venerated Member
Do you mean -16dB on the Threshold setting or -16dB level-wise of the track before the strip? -15 is about where it first starts to engage on the SSL Channel Strip for me, which sounds about where the OP is putting it as well. On the Waves SSL, I typically have been putting the Threshold setting at between just above 0 and -5 where on the UAD it wants to be between -15 and -20, which seems high to me. The ranges between +10 and -15 (which is all but 5 dB of the controls) seems to do not much of anything.

But maybe I am doing something wrong?

We may be explaining it differently but it seems like the OP and I are wondering the same thing.

J
 

gringoscar

Shareholder
Use the input knob to hit the compressor harder.
Then the output knob to keep it under peaking.
I love me some SSL crunch on an acoustic snare.
 

slamthecrank

Hall of Fame Member
i have heard that -16db is the sweet spot for most plugins especially modeled plugins
heard that from graham at recording revolution
you can use gain clipping or a trim plug before the signal hits anything
Graham probably meant -18dbFS.

However, that is not always the case for many modeled plugins on the UAD platform, as UAD tried to emulate the exact signal ratios/paths as on the original equipment.. . for instance, the Studer A800 is calibrated at -12dbFS (page 468 of the manual).

Check the manual on the SSL strip to see where it should be. (I don't use the strip, so i'm not familiar with it)
 

jasonxoc

Active Member
Yeah that thresh-hold is strange. It's impossible for turning the knob left to do anything past 0. It's like 0 on the thresh-hold is 0dbfs.

Both other channel strips can get a lot more compression

Cool, it's not just me

Didn't know the studer was 4dbu at -12dbfs.
 

jfjer

Active Member
Graham probably meant -18dbFS.

However, that is not always the case for many modeled plugins on the UAD platform, as UAD tried to emulate the exact signal ratios/paths as on the original equipment.. . for instance, the Studer A800 is calibrated at -12dbFS (page 468 of the manual).

Check the manual on the SSL strip to see where it should be. (I don't use the strip, so i'm not familiar with it)
thats good to know
thanks for the advice specially on the ua ones , dident know that
im not a manual reading guy usually , but i have to start reading the ua manuals from now on i guess,
to make sure im hitting the plugins the best possible ways
 

jfjer

Active Member
what do you guys think of UAD ssl strip vs native ssl strip ?
 

Myramyd

Venerated Member
Yeah, I've just had to mess around with the Input knob on the plugin itself to balance out the levels and it comes out sounding like I expect.

As far as UAD vs Native there are a lot of threads on it already. For me, I've been using the Waves SSL for the last 4-5 years and had no intention of replacing it but decided to demo it for the holiday sale and ended up buying it instead of paying the Waves Update Plan. My testing revealed that the UAD version has a lot more "open" sound. Its hard to describe but it just sounds more dynamic and transparent where the Waves sounds like it's hitting a wall and falling apart in comparison. I know all this is unscientific and subjective but let's just say it's a very noticeable difference in quality.

J
 

mpayne0

Venerated Member
Remember that just because the segments aren't flashing, doesn't mean you're not getting any gain reduction.
Or am I wrong? I'm under the impression that both the SSL and Neve strip emulations have the same issues. Off, Medium, and Overpowered.


Off -Very little eq or comp during the 1st 50% of positive (+) range = fairly transparent operation.

Medium -75% of positive range = tone shaping

Overpowered -up towards 100% = more apparent sound, possibly distortion. (threshold and ratio on SSL channel... ok that one is a little odd) (and yet, the 88R gate is almost too sensitive and fidgety to dial in)

Negative (-) values seem ok, Q seems sensitive both directions.


Overall I do often feel like I want to go 100% and have a mix/parallel option.
That said, a lot of small (-50% range) adjustments over several bands on several channels, bypassed, and you can hear/judge the overall contribution quite well.
 

Dankin

Member
The gain structure of the UA SSL Channel Strip compressor has always seemed off to me. I've demoed it multiple times and never can bring my self to buy it. I do think the EQ is better than the other SSL emulations.
 

jfjer

Active Member
Funny you should mention the need to really drop the threshold, even for a small GR as this is exactly how it is on the hardware too. I had recently bought a SSL 611dyn 500 series module and it barely compresses even with the threshold all the way down so the plugin is very bang on there!
 
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