Waves SSL 4000 Collection
SSL 4000 E-Channel
SSL 4000 G-Channel
1. Introduction
The unique sound of Solid State Logic’s 4000 Series analogue mixing consoles is sought after
worldwide. Engineers of pop and rock music, broadcast transmissions and television post-
production value the SSL 4000’s flexible dynamics chain as much as the trademark SSL
“punchy” sound. Waves and SSL engineers have worked together for over a year to recreate the
sound characteristics of the classic SSL 4000 Series E and Series G consoles. Now, those who
“mix in the box” can achieve the sound they thought they’d lost when they moved to the digital
world.
The SL4000 console was the first mixing desk to incorporate dynamics processing into every
channel, as well as a master bus compressor in the console’s center section. The ability to
'patch' into the SL4000's master bus compressor and to control its sidechain from an internal
sub-mix allowed sound engineers to discover unique, history-making applications of this console
technology. Whether used to record instruments such as piano and drums or for final mixing,
these innovative console sections - master bus compressor, EQ and dynamics - opened up a
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section is the High Pass (18 dB/octave) filter and the Low Pass (12 dB/octave) filter. Normally,
low pass and high pass filters follow the same path as the entire EQ section. However, when
SPLIT is selected, the low pass and high pass filters are placed before the dynamics processors
in the chain. The equalizer can be switched into the dynamics sidechain to afford simple de-
essing and other frequency-controlled dynamics processing by selecting DYN S-C at the foot of
the section. In the E-Channel LF and HF shelves can be reshaped to bell curves by pressing
BELL. The Q of the LF and HF bells are calculated based on frequency settings and are not
user-definable. In the G-Channel Lf and HF are fixed shelfs, the LMF /3 will devide the LMF
frequency by 3, and the HMFx3 will Multiply the HMF frequency by three.
SSL Channel Latency
The channel strip has a latency of one sample.
Routing in SSL Channel
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3. SSL 4000 Channel Controls and Indicators
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Dynamics Sections Controls (top to bottom)
1. Compressor (white knobs)
a. The compressor’s Ratio/Slope can be set from 1 to infinity (limiter).
b. The Threshold is variably adjustable from +10 dB to -20 dB.
c. When the Attack time switch is set to Slow (F.ATK off,) attack time is auto-
sensing and program dependent. In the Fast setting (F.ATK,) attack time will be
forced to 1 ms.
d. Release time is adjustable from 0.1 sec to 4 seconds.
2. Expander/Gate (green knobs)
a. The expander’s Threshold is variable from -30 dB to +10 dB
b. Range is variable from 0 – 40 dB.
c. When the Attack time switch is set to Slow (F.ATK off,) attack time is auto-
sensing and program dependent. In the Fast setting (F.ATK,) attack time is 1 ms.
d. Release time is adjustable from 0.1 sec to 4 seconds.
e. The GATE switch toggles the section from an expander (default mode) into a
gate.
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3. Dynamics to (DYN TO)switches
a. BYPASS will bypass the entire dynamics section. Note that selecting BYPASS
does not result in a signal which is flat, but rather one which mimics the flat
response of the SSL channel strip hardware.
b. CH OUT moves the dynamics to the output of the E-Channel, making it post-EQ.
SSL E EQ Section Controls (top to bottom)
1. Low and High Pass filters (white knobs):
Low pass: 18 dB/octave, 15 Hz – 350 Hz (-3 dB point)
High pass: 12 dB/octave, 3 kHz – 20 kHz (-3 dB point)
Turning the knob completely to the left bypasses the filter.
When SPLIT is selected, the low pass and high pass filters are placed before the
dynamics processors in the chain.
2. High frequency EQ section (red knobs): Range 1.5 kHz – 16 kHz. Gain range is ±18 dB
for bell shape, ±16.5 dB for shelving. Selecting BELL changes the HF EQ from shelf to
bell shape.
3. High medium frequency EQ section (green knobs): Range 600 Hz – 7 kHz. As in the
LMF EQ section, Q is continuously adjustable from 0.1 to 3.5. Gain varies from ±18 dB
when Q is set at 3.5 to ±15 dB when Q is set at 0.1.
4. Low medium frequency EQ section (blue knobs): Range 200 Hz – 2.5 kHz. Q is
continuously adjustable from 0.1 to 3.5. Gain varies from ±18 dB when Q is set at 3.5 to
±15 dB when Q is set at 0.1.
5. Low frequency EQ section (black knobs): Range 30 Hz – 450 Hz. Gain range ±16.5 dB,
shelving, ±18 dB, bell shape.
SSL G EQ Section Controls (top to bottom)
1. Low and High Pass filters (white knobs):
Low pass: 18 dB/octave, 15 Hz – 350 Hz (-3 dB point)
High pass: 12 dB/octave, 3 kHz – 20 kHz (-3 dB point)
Turning the knob completely to the left bypasses the filter.
When SPLIT is selected, the low pass and high pass filters are placed before the
dynamics processors in the chain.
2. High frequency EQ section (red knobs): Range 1.5 kHz – 16 kHz. Gain range is ±17 dB
shelving.
3. High medium frequency EQ section (green knobs): Range 600 Hz – 7 kHz. As in the
LMF EQ section, Q is continuously adjustable from 0.1 to 3.5. Gain varies from ±18 dB
when Q is set at 3.5 to ±15 dB when Q is set at 0.1. Pushing the HMF X3 will multiply the
frequency by 3.
4. Low medium frequency EQ section (blue knobs): Range 200 Hz – 2.5 kHz. Q is
continuously adjustable from 0.1 to 3.5. Gain varies from ±18 dB when Q is set at 3.5 to
±15 dB when Q is set at 0.1. Pushing the LMF /3 will divide the frequency by 3.
5. Low frequency EQ section (black knobs): Range 30 Hz – 450 Hz. Gain range ±17 dB,
shelving.
6. EQ TO switches
a. BYPASS This button bypasses the EQ section. Note that selecting BYPASS
does not result in a signal which is flat, but rather one which mimics the flat
response of the SSL channel strip hardware.
b. DYN S-C The filters can be switched into the dynamics sidechain to afford
simple de-essing, etc. by selecting DYN S-C .
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Master Section Controls and Indicators
On the bottom right of the SSL Channel Strip are the master gain controls and level indicator.
1. Level Indicator Levels are expressed in dBFS, although all parameters are expressed
as dBu.
2. INPUT and OUTPUT switches above the meter allow you to toggle the level indicator
between input and output.
3. An Input Trim Button enables you to trim the input to the channel by ± 18db. The
plug-in is aligned so that -18 dBFS = 0.
4. The Output Fader controls the output level of the processor.
5. Analogue on/off. Classic analogue processors necessarily create more noise and
harmonic distortions than modern digital devices. This is, in part, what gives analogue
processors their desired sound. By default, all components of the SSL 4000 Collection
operate in a mode which enables emulation of the SSL analogue console. However, there
may be times when you prefer to use this plug-in without these special attributes.
Switching off Analogue disables analogue emulation.
6. Phase Reverse (Ø) This button reverses the phase of the input signal.
4. The Waves System Bar
All Waves plug-ins share a common feature, the Waves System Bar, which takes care of most
administrative functions you will encounter while working with Waves plug-ins. Since the Waves
System Bar is the same on practically all Waves plug-ins, you will always know how to file,
compare, load and copy the parameters of a Waves plug-in, even if you have never before
worked with that particular processor.
Commands common to all Waves plug-ins:
Undo undoes the last performed action.
Redo redoes the last undone action. There are 6 levels of undo and redo.
Setup A/B toggles between two sets of parameters within the same processor – useful when
comparing different parameter settings in order to achieve optimal results.
Copy A->B copies the current settings to the second setup register.
Save used for saving presets in the Waves file format (.xps)
There are two options for saving:
Save to new file: creates a new .xps file wherein multiple presets can be
saved.
Save into preset menu: saves the preset into the default list of the plug-in.
Load allows recalling presets from files.
Once a file is selected, its first preset will load and become active. Other presets in
the file will be listed under the preset’s name in the Load menu.
You can also load factory presets and user presets (saved using “Save into preset
menu.)
Pressing the ? button will open the manual for the plug-in you are using.
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