The Ultimate SSL Bus Compressor Plugin Roundup

November 21st, 2018 by Brad Pack

Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor

The SL 4000 from SSL could be considered the quintessential analog mixing console. Perhaps its most charming feature is its bus compressor—especially the version found in the classic G-Series consoles.

Known for its punchy, transparent tone and its ability to “glue” tracks together, SSL’s G-Series bus compressor offers what is easily one of the most sought-after sounds in modern mixing for making a mix feel “finished”.

The original SSL G had fixed selections for attack, release and ratio, along with continuous controls for threshold and make-up gain. While countless plug-in manufacturers have emulated this coveted compressor over the years, many have chosen to expand upon the limited controls of the original with more modern renovations and new features.

In this roundup, we’re going to break down the very best SSL G-Series bus compressor emulations out there to help you determine which plugin is right for you.

So you can hear the sonic characteristics of each emulation for yourself, we’ve included samples with moderate compression on the drum bus, extreme parallel compression, and moderate mix bus compression with each plug-in.

You may find—as I did—that all of the plug-ins on this list offer highly-accurate emulations of the original SSL-G, so the biggest practical difference between each unit may be the additional features they offer you.

There are quite a few options to look at, so we’ll start with my own personal top 3, followed by all of the other top-tier options out there (in no particular order).

PSP BussPressor ($99)

PSP BussPressor

Winner: Best Straighforward SSL Emulation

Key Features: Fully variable controls, extended attack and release times, additional ratio options, side-chain HP filter, wet/dry mix.

PSP’s BussPressor keeps the straightforward and simple design of the original SSL bus compressor and adds on extended, fully variable controls for attack (up to 100 mS), release (3 S), and ratio (1.5:1).

Unlike some of the other plugins on this list, BussPressor still includes the auto release feature found in the original, while adding modern functionality with a side-chain high-pass filter and wet/dry controls for easy parallel compression.

If you’re strictly looking for a straightforward and simple-to-use SSL G-series emulation, BussPressor may be one of your best options. The additional features like fully variable controls, and extended attack, release and ratio options make this unit even better than the original in some ways. Not to mention that it’s a steal at this price!

DMG Audio TrackComp ($99 [£74.99])

DMG Audio TrackComp

Winner: Best Value

Key Features: Emulates multiple compressors, fully variable attack and release controls, extended attack and release times, side-chain HP and LP filters, wet/dry mix, auto-gain compensation.

McDSP Channel G and Channel G Compact ($149 Native/$199 HD or $99 Native/$149 HD)

McDSP Channel G

Winner: Most Versatile

Key Features: Full channel strip emulator, emulates multiple compressors, variable attack, release and ratio controls, feed-back and feed-forward options, parametric side-chain filters, knee control.

McDSP’s Channel G (and the processor-friendly Channel G Compact) is technically a full channel strip emulator, capable of recreating classic sounds from SSL, Neve, API and more. For this review, I just focused on the Console G Dynamics plug-in.

As Channel G is not purely an SSL bus compressor emulation, it offers a much more robust feature set including fully variable controls for attack, release and ratio—as well as a unique knee control. For this review, I used the “Buss” setting, which is modeled after the knee curve from the SSL G-series compressor.

Most notably, McDSP offers options for feed-back and feed-forward style compression, allowing for a wider variety of tones. For the purposes of this review, I left Channel G in feed-forward mode to more closely emulate the sound of the SSL-G. McDSP also features two fully parametric side-chain filters for fine-tuning.

The one downside to this plugin (at least in terms of its ability to emulate the SSL-G as accurately as possible), is that it does not offer an auto release feature. For this review, I set the release time at around 400 mS.

The additional features, fully variable controls, and extended attack, release and ratio options make this unit even better than the original in my book. The equally impressive EQ, and the additional algorithms for Neve and API hardware make this plug-in one of the best values on this list.

10 More Top Options:

Acustica Audio ACQUA Sand ($174 [£149])

ACQUA Sand

Key Features: Full channel strip, emulates multiple compressors, “ShMod” controls, fully variable attack, release and ratio controls, wet/dry mix.

I recently reviewed SAND for my SSL Channel Strip roundup and there’s no question it deserves a mention here as well.

SAND BUS features two bus compressor variants: type A and type C. Type A is modeled after the original SSL-G, while Type C is modeled after “some other familiar software compressors.” SAND BUS also features an “Insane Mode” modeled after the “Crush” mode on the Alan Smart C2, one of the most acclaimed analog emulations of the original SSL bus compressors

Most notably, SAND introduces an innovative Shape Modulation or “ShMod” control that alters the shape of the attack envelope. In addition to offering fully variable attack, release and ratio controls, SAND BUS also offers a wet/dry knob for easy parallel compression.

SAND BUS can only be purchased as part of the ACQUA suite, which also features SL 4000 preamp and EQ emulations. Unfortunately, the full suite is a bit of a processor-hog and can create noticeable latency when mixing—especially if you’re using it on multiple channels. Thankfully, the SAND BUS plug-in can be used on its own on the mix bus or even multiple busses with none of these issues.

AVID Impact ($299)

Key Features: Extended ratio controls, extended release times, fully variable attack and release controls, side-chain input.

Impact features fixed ratio controls just like the original, but with the addition of a 20:1 ratio option for aggressive limiting.

It also adds variable attack and release controls, along with extended release times up to 2.5 seconds, and a key input for side-chain compression.

Cytomic The Glue

AVID Impact is only available in AAX and TDM formats—meaning it can only be used in Pro Tools.

Cytomic The Glue ($99)

Key Features: Peak clip mode, extended attack times, side-chain HP filter, wet/dry mix, range controls.

The most unique feature of The Glue is its “Peak Clip” mode, which is technically a “fixed wave shaper” with 0 ms attack and release times and an infinite ratio. Peak clip can be used to add distortion to tracks, and create unique limiting effects when used in conjunction with the range controls.

The Glue features the same fixed controls as the original SSL-G but with an added option for a super fast .01 mS attack time. It also introduces several new features like a variable high-pass filter for the detector side chain and wet/dry controls for parallel compression.

Native Instruments Solid Bus Comp ($99)

Key Features: Additional ratio options, side-chain input.

Solid Bus Comp is a very accurate, straightforward and cost-effective recreation of the original SSL-G. New features include additional ratio options (1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10), as well as side-chain gain control for side-chain compression, and wet/dry controls for parallel compression.

IK Multimedia T-RackS Bus Comp ($124.99)

IK Multimedia T-RackS Bus Compressor

Key Features: Grit mode, extended ratio controls, side-chain HP filter.

The most unique feature T-RackS Bus Comp offers is “Grit” mode, which “reproduces the slightly increased 2nd harmonic distortion of an out of calibration unit” for a more characterful sound. This unique feature is great for adding analog color to your mix while still staying true to the SSL-G sound.

T-RackS Bus Comp also features an additional 1.5 ratio option for subtler compression, as well as a side-chain high-pass filter for improved low-frequency response when compressing bass-heavy signals.

Plugin Alliance/Brainworx Vertigo VSC-2 ($299)

Plugin Alliance/Brainworx Vertigo VSC-2

Key Features: Additional ratio options, fixed side-chain HPF.

The first thing you’ll notice about VCS-2 is the unique interface—it looks nothing like the original SSL-G. But don’t let its looks fool you!

VSC-2 features the same fixed controls as the original, with added ratio options for 8:1, “soft” and “brick”.

Modeled after a high-end boutique hardware recreation of the SSL-style bus compressor, the VSC-2 also features a side-chain high-pass filter switch, fixed at 60 Hz and 90 Hz.

Slate Virtual Buss Compressors FG-GREY ($149)

Slate Digital FG-GREY

Key Features: Comes with additional compressors, extended attack time, additional ratio options, side-chain HP filter, wet/dry mix.

FG-GREY can be purchased as part of the Virtual Buss Compression bundle, which also includes the FG-RED (modeled after the Focusrite Red 3), and FG-MU (modeled after the Fairchild 660). While the bundle does include individual plug-ins for each of these models, they cannot be purchased individually.

In addition to introducing variable attack and release controls, FG-GREY also extends the attack controls to 100 ms. While the ratio controls are still fixed, FG-GREY offers many more options: 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10:1.

FG-GREY also includes a variable side-chain high-pass filter up to 150 Hz, as well as a wet/dry control for parallel processing.

SSL Native Bus Compressor ($329)

Key Features: Additional ratio options, extended release times.

SSL’s Native Bus Compressor (formerly Duende) is an almost identical replication of the original SSL-G, with a few minor changes. It features the slightly altered release settings, and increases the 10:1 ratio option to 20:1. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test SSL’s Native Bus Compressor for this roundup.

UAD SSL 4000 G Bus Compressor

UAD SSL 4000 G Bus Compressor Collection ($299)

Key Features: Variable side-chain HP filter, wet/dry mix, auto fade.

UAD’s SSL-G features fixed attack, release and ratio controls, just like the original—although the release times are slightly different.

UAD’s version of the SSL-G introduces a variable side-chain high-pass filter up to 500 Hz, as well as wet/dry controls for parallel processing.

UAD’s SSL-G also includes a feature from the original console that’s rarely emulated on plug-ins: the “auto fade” feature. The rate control is used to set the fade time, and the auto fade button can be used to initiate a post-compressor fade-out or fade-in.

As with all UAD plug-ins, the SSL-G Bus Compressor requires you to have UAD hardware connected for it to function.

Waves SSL G-Master Buss Compressor ($99)

Key Features: Auto fade.

Waves’ G-Master Buss Compressor is an almost identical recreation of the original SSL-G. G-Master Buss features fixed attack, release and ratio controls just like the original—although the release times are slightly different. It’s also one of few emulations to include the auto fade feature.

Summing it Up

All of the plug-ins on this list do a great job of capturing the transparent, punchy, musical tone of the classic SSL G-Series Bus Compressor. Some expand upon the original design with innovative new features, and others strive for simple authenticity. If you still can’t decide which plug-in is right for you—try them all! Most manufacturers offer free trials—download a few and let us know which one becomes your favorite.

Brad Pack is an award-winning audio engineer and writer based in Chicago, IL. He currently owns and operates Punchy Kick, a professional mixing and mastering studio that specializes in pop punk, emo, punk, grunge, and alternative music.

He has been helping artists connect with fans through emotionally resonant mixes, cohesive masters, and insightful guidance for over 10 years. Check out his website PunchyKick.com or say hi on Instagram @PunchyKick .

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