Coders could go only so far before running into a brick wall of available CPU power.įast forward to today, when advanced processors allow for more sophisticated and detailed emulations. Back then, plugin designs were constrained by CPU performance.
We’ve all learned a lot since 2006-the year when Apple started its transition from PowerPC to Intel, Windows was still on XP, Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day” topped Billboard’s Hot 100 and Intel released the Core 2 Duo. Well, testing and working with the SSL EV2 answered that initial question. Also, the workflow-oriented CLA MixHub includes an emulation of Chris Lord-Alge’s personal SSL E-Series console. When I first heard about SSL EV2-a new SSL E-series emulation-my initial question was “Why? What’s really different?” After all, Waves’ original SSL E-series and G-series channel strip plugins (introduced in 20 respectively) have become industry standards. Now, with SSL EV2, the game has been changed again. The BYPASS buttons for the EQ and Dynamics differ from the DAW's channel strip Bypass function, in that, while they bypass the processing on that section, they don't bypass the simulation of the analog circuitry'what audio would sound like running flat through the console's electronics.For years, Waves’ SSL E-Channel and G-Channel strips set the standard for console emulation. However, for situations where a more modern, less 'characterful' sound is needed, the option to turn it off is there. This is, of course, part of the 'sound' of these processors, so it would normally be left on. There's also a switch labelled ANALOG'this lets you enable or disable Waves' digital emulation of the original console's noise and distortion characteristics.
On the right are the channel Compressor and Gate, each with its own (LED) gain-reduction meter, a Trim knob and Phase (polarity-reversal) button, and the output fader and meter.
On the left are the four-band EQ, plus highpass and lowpass filters. The E-Channel lays out the original console strip in two sections, side-by-side. That said, I hear people describe the differences in contradictory ways'it really does depend heavily on exactly what kind of EQ tweaks you're dialing up, but there's no doubt that either gets the job done! However, with the broad range of adjustment available, you can get pretty much any sound you want with either, it's just that the different versions tend to push you more in one direction than the other'the E-series toward more presence and edge, and the G-series toward more gentle tonal shifts.
The G-series EQ introduced a proportional-Q design, which meant that, with the same settings as the E-series EQ, it would sound noticeably different'you get different curves, for what many feel is a smoother sound, at typical EQ settings. The 4000 channel strip EQ'both the E and G versions'has its own 'character' (as distinct from EQs in SSL's competitors, like Neve and API), perhaps a little more aggressive, some would say a little more 'rock & roll'.
The SSL 4000 came in two versions'the original 4000E, which established itself as the de-facto studio standard, and the later 4000G, updated with additional routing options, somewhat cleaner circuitry for greater transparency, and slightly different EQ characteristics.