Solid State Logic SSL UC1 | A First Look at SSL's new Plug-In Controller with Benni Dumville 

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Dude I love you and your vibe… Please keep doing reviews like this, subscribed because of how chill and unpretentious you are. Please don’t let the critical spirit of the audio industry infect your pure heart.

This is a great setup! Love that you use a trackpad and a Ball with different hands, I do that too. Looking forward to trying the UC1. Theres alot to be said for keeping the same plugins on every channel, it all comes together better in the mixdown. Thanks for this video!

Hey everyone, amazing response to this video, thanks for all the kind words! A few things I’d like to address that aren’t included in the video: - ‘Alone’ by dan.A is out now on all streaming platforms, please check it out if you liked the track. Here’s a Spotify link: open.spotify.com/album/0WtmFpMforIj0xDaiMp6pV?si=2DN4UyMqSB2zHc9ybVzBEQ - No, this was not a sponsored video! SSL did not pay me to make this! - UC1 is £599 / $850 and includes licenses for both Channel Strip 2 and Bus Compressor 2. - Channel Strip 2 is an emulation of the XL 9000 K console - famed for its extreme clean sound. The E mode button does not turn it into a 4KE series console, just changes the EQ curves slightly to resemble the E series. - Yes, you can solo and cut tracks using Channel Strip 2. I didn’t really touch on it as it’s not a feature I’ve used all that much if I’m being honest. - SSL are committed to this product and the 360 control environment. Updates will come, with further consoles and flavours being added. This could be new plug-ins developed by SSL or some of their third party partners making their SSL licensed plugins 360 compatible. - As well as other consoles, we should expect to see new features added to 360. Click track to make UC1 follow is heavily requested, so I would imagine SSL will take note. - 360 was build with the future in mind, so if there are features you want to see added or particular new consoles implemented, your best bet is to tell SSL / UAD / Plugin Alliance / Waves etc. No point moaning about it in comments sections on RU-vid and forums, tell the companies you are interested as the system this is all built on has been made with that sort of potential in mind.

“One plugin (and hardware controller) to rule them all!”

Wow this is brilliant! Great video - thanks for producing this

Solid State Logic SSL Native Essentials Plug-in Collection is $479, so for an extra $370 you get the UC1 to go with it. I don’t think it’s a bad deal at all.

Very articulate, organized and efficient presentation - well done.

Benni - you are a Master!

Superb demo! Loved the switching off of the screen…….

Awesome video on the UC1. Well done and thanks for the work done on this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Love it. Fab Studio also

Another very interesting video that is well produced. You have an excellent style and organized presentation method.

This is an updated guide to installing the SSL equipment with Reaper. Setup Guide I have set up a separate mixing/mastering station in my studio using SSL equipment. I purchased a UC1, UF8, UF1, SSL12, Fusion, Bus+ and Big Six. I have been using Reaper for about ten years but am not a power user. My goal was to get all of the SSL pieces working together with Reaper. Unfortunately SSL does not fully support Reaper in setting up the UC1, UF1 and UF8. So I had to wade in (over my head) into getting Reaper and all of the SSL equipment to play nice together SSL's technical support was responsive but they did not have knowledge of Reaper. I could not find any RU-vid videos or other information on how to configure all the this equipment together. So I decided I would offer a few comments on what eventually worked for me. The SSL User Manuals are very good in explaining the functions of the equipment. The Fusion and Bus+ and SSL12 provide no particular connection or configuration issues. They are easy to set up and operate. The SSL User manuals and RU-vid videos for the Big Six, UC1 and UF8 explain how to physically connect each piece to a computer (in my case a Windows 11PC). They also do a good job of explaining how to download the software - 360 plug in mixer, Channel Strip 2, Channel Strip 4k b and Bus Compressor 2. The biggest difficulties I encountered in this were due to my total inexperience with using iLok software manager. But the process eventually worked fine. So I suggest that one follow the SSL videos and User Guides. Just one comment. The Channel Strip 2, Channel Strip 4k b and Compressor 2 are VST's and it is best to allow the SSL downloader to put these in the default folder - which is the Steinberg VST Plugins folder. Pay attention to Reaper's warning that VST plugins should not be placed in the Reaper plugin/FX folder along with the standard Reaper plugins. It is important to recognize SSL's caution to not mix VST's and VST3 versions of the SSL plugins. The VST downloader will download VST and VST3 versions of the plugins. I just load the VST versions of the SSL plugins in my tracks in Reaper. With regard to the USB connections, I offer the following advice. Use either the USB cables that SSL provides or very high quality cables. Do no use any USB cables longer than 1 ½ meters. Do not use a hub for any connection. Connect the UC1 USB cable from the UC1 to the UF8 “thru” USB input (which is a USB type A input). I run a USB cable from the UF8 USB output (which is a USB type C connector) to my UF1. I then run a USB cable from my UF1 to my PC computer. I connect the Big Six USB output or the SSL12 output to a separate USB connection on my computer. There are essentially two aspects of connecting the SSL equipment to Reaper 1) Midi / MCU connections and 2) audio connections. After all the SSL software is installed, go to Reaper's Options > Preferences > Audio > Midi Devices. A table will pop up. There will be a table listing twelve SSL V MIDI Ports for Input and under that there is a table listing twelve SSL V MIDI Ports for Output. Under the Mode column of each table I enable all twelve ports. Do this by right clicking each port under Mode column. A window will pop up. Click enable. Do this for all input and output ports. Twelve MIDI inputs / ports and twelve MIDI outputs / ports are therefore enabled. It is not necessary to enable all twelve outputs and inputs but that is what I did and it works for me. Technically it is sufficient to only enable the first port for input and first port for output. (If you are daisy chaining more than one UF8, you do have to enable more than port 1 but I have not done that since I only have one UF8). Right click again on the SSL V-MIDI Port 1 line in the input table. The small window will again pop up. Click on “Enable input for control messages.” You do not have to do this (and cannot do it) for the SSL V-MIDI Port 1 line in the output table. Go to Options > Preferences > Control/OSC/web. Under the blank window, click Add. Another blank window will pop up. There will be a line titled “Control surface mode.” Click on the small down arrow to open up another window with a list of options. Select Mackie Control Universal (MCU). (If you are using more than one UF8, I think you also need to select Mackie Control Extender, but since I only have one UF8 I do not know for sure). Click OK at the bottom of the window. MCU is a protocol that allows the SSL equipment to communicate with and control the various Reaper functions. In Reaper, go to Options > Preferences > Audio Device and set up the parameters for you audio interface. This is no different that how you set up your audio interface normally. (You probably have already done this). I suggest at this point that you restart your computer. Then turn off everything - the computer, the Big Six, UF8, UC1, UF1, SSL12, Bus+ and Fusion. Then I do the following: The order is important. Turn on the UF8 and UC1. Turn on your computer. Start Reaper. Open the SSL 360. Check that the Options setting described above are sill there. Open a new track and ensure that you can find and open the Bus Compressor 2, Channel Strip 2 and Channel Strip 4k b. Turn on the Big Six if you are using it as your audio interface, or the SSL12 or other audio interface that you are using. Ensure that the USB connection light in the upper right of the Big Six is on. (I have found that if one turns on the audio interface before turning on Reaper, the UC8, UC1 and UF1 will not be happy and will pout. It will essentially refuse to talk with you or do much of anything at all except sit there with a blank stare on its face). In the SSL 360 software, choose Logic Pro for Layer 1. There is no option to choose Reaper. Reaper is not fully supported in this manner - er, not supported at all. (I have seen that someone chose to use Studio One instead of Logic Pro, and this might work. However, SSL technical support recommends using Logic Pro). Most of the soft keys of the UF1 and UF8 are already programmed with commands that correspond to Logic Pro commands. Some of these work with Reaper and some do not. I chose to reprogram all of the UF1 and UF8 soft keys. It is very easy to do. Moreover, I did not really like most of the commands that were per-programmed anyway. The SSL 360 video and the SSL User Guide for the 360 are very good at showing how to program the soft keys. I found it actually fun. So, for me everything is happy working together. I find it remarkable that the 360 mixer, UC1, UF8, UF1, SSL12, Big Six, Channel Strip 2, Channel Strip 4k b and Bus Compressor 2 plugins all correspond to each. When a control is moved in one, it immediately shows in all the others. Pretty cool I think. I also like that the transport controls in SSL 360 work. I duplicate these controls in the first group of soft keys on the UF8. However, this is unnecessary since the dedicated transport controls of the UF1 are excellent work flawlessly (for me anyway). I have also programmed the soft keys to do such things as save, open new project, metronome, undo and redo, snap and unsnap, etc. I like using these instead of resorting to my mouse. But everyone will have a different approach to all of this. Note that the third party plugin controls on the UF8 do not work with Reaper but SSL has been very clear about this, and to me it is not a big deal.

UC1 is great idea, I have been awaiting for such a controller that will operate SSL channel strip and bus comp. The next step is to make it truly analog so that we have a real SSL analog 32 channel mix system. It could be done by recording sound thru a channel EQ and Comp and printing it into its own SSD disk. So whenever you grab a channel, it starts to record sound thru that analog channel from that point on and it blends with former recorded material on that same channel.

instant subscribe! Brilliant insight into this device - in a way I've been looking for on the RU-vids. Thanks!

I can't wait to get my greasy hands on that UC1! Thanks for the walkthrough, love the way it seems to work. I mean the plugins are great so being able to have knobs & buttons is just perfect. Grew up on SSL desks so this is going to make me happy, whenever I can finally afford it! haha! From astonishingly grey, wet & still relatively locked down Kinsale! ☘️☮️🤘🏽🤠👍🏽☮️☘️

That song is fucking awesome.!!! Great vid altogether!

So great review, very interesting. Thank you for explaining.

Hey everyone, glad you are enjoying the video! Thanks for all the questions, I will continue to answer stuff on here when I've got a second, but I'll also be answering some questions later this evening over on my Instagram - submit them on my profiles story! @bennidumville

I am mightily impressed bro, your style is great… I almost clicked off at first but glad I stayed… consider me a new fan.

Great review! Thanks so much for sharing :)

why cant they just build a 32 channel usb are thunderbolt mixer channel fader like the c24 but without the mic pres and have bigger meter led and the channel count on the screen but hey they dont listen..

Great video work my dude!

Okay, I like this video but I would also be interested in a video where you expound on how you have your Elgato Stream Deck integrated and perhaps showcasing the Stream Deck with Logic, the UF-8 and UC1 for a more well rounded inclusive video.

I would say more early 30’s appearance. 😉 ..kidding. And great review. Thank you 🙏🏼

Nice review. Clear and to the point. Thanks a lot!

great video

Really nice in depth video man

Defo on my wish list! Great overview….subbed!

Thanks for the extensive tutorial.

Looks great! really well presented as well

Awesome review, very informative. Love hour you can have tactile control over the feel. I wish it was slightly cheaper though

Console 1 Killer 🔥

Fantastic review! Thank you

I watched this video and all I got from it is that I really want a pair of the Roger Mayer 456 modules.

I just spent $2,000 on 2 UAD 13 plugin bundles ... and for some reason this excites me more then the new 26 plugins I got .

Respect bro ✊🏿✊🏿✊🏿. Excellent video!

Good video! Just a note on the "emulation" side of things;. The SSL Native plugins aren't really emulations in the same way the brainworx / Waves etc ones are. As far as I can tell, the coding is taken from the Duende setup, which is itself ported directly from the C200 series of consoles, which were digital broadcast units. Sure, the C200 were *based* on the XL 9000 Ks in terms of EQ design etc, but this is very different to bx's approach of modelling components and tolerance etc for different types of desk. Unfortunately this means we probably won't get Native versions of things like 4000s without either significant R&D by SSL or at least licencing the code back from people like bx...? A pity, because being able to switch between console types would make this a no-brainer purchase for me. Fingers crossed this will work with bx plugins in future updates...

I can imagine if this was also an Audio Interface. That would be the complete marvellous package.

id love to be a runner for some like this just to learn a little :D

Love it. Just wish it wasn't so gosh darn expensive. I'd love to have the set up you have there, plus the analog SSL Fusion for my mixbus. It's funny how everything SSL makes is so expensive, yet their SSL 2+ audio interface is at an entry-level price. I wonder if the interface was purely made to sell beginners on their brand? I have the interface and it sounds and feels great. The converters are fantastic and the 4k button adds some great flavor. My only problem with the thing is that it doesn't have adat for input expansion. So if I ever decide to record a live drumkit or full band, I'll have to use a different interface.

Great Video! Can you please Tell me what Monitor and Stand do you use? I Like the angle of your Monitor Thanks!

Great review! It feels like having to scroll through channels on the UC1 in a large project when bouncing between multiple tracks could break the flow. Being able to select the track through the 360 interface is cool, but it'd be nice if they could also sync the UC1 track when selecting different tracks in the DAW ( or selecting the plugin instance ). The main competitor being Softube Console 1, their implementation of having the 20 track select buttons feels a bit quicker. Personally I'd prefer that to constant rotary knob access. Would be great to use it as a controller for the Brainworx plugins as those have a very different sound from the SSL Native Channel. That being said the UC1 looks great, and the SSL Native Channel and Bus Compressor plugins are top notch. Do the knobs feel as good as they look?

Good review and nice song vibe

What software are you using with the stream deck to insert the plugins ?

clear comprehensive helpful thank you

what is that cool box that your using to insert plugins?

Really hope Brainworx will make it compatible with their channelstrip

Can you for instance select a track on the UF8 and it would automatically being focus on the UC1 too? So we wouldn’t have to use the wheel knob to scroll through all the tracks?

Banger

great video!! thank you! just a question, when you click on a track in your DAW, is UC1 automatically jumping to that selected track? i use an Avid Artist Mix for Faderwork and really like that way of navigating with the mouse to the channel that i need, instead of using a wheel on the controller itself

Could you make a video to show how you incorporate your Streamdeck into you LPX workflow?

Will it control other plugins besides the SSL plugins?

Cool video!

Its cool but I was more impressed with the controller that you used to bring up your plugins. Nice video.

I bought a Midi fighter and reaper to do this. And control every single plugin.

Are you TJ miller's twin? Lol. Very nice studio and good vid! Been dreaming of this sort of thing for years, I imagine other manufacturers will come out with similar HW controllers.

Id be interested to see the comparison of the V2 bus comp to the hardware version,,, it looks amazing, great vid..

Loved your presentation, this looks like something that would fit my needs perfectly. At 9:40 you used a shortcut to open the plugin right? How did you set this up?

Good grief my credit card is shaking…! This looks absolutely sweet. Quick note on performance - with the Channel Strip V2 on every channel? Performance impact? Latency?

Pretty rad that you are using that Stream Deck to open plug ins. Was that hard to setup?

13:20 not being able to just click on the channel inside my daw (ableton) and having it select automatically on my ssl uc1 is killing me. thats a big workflow killer for me

I love this thing but I wish it was a bit smaller.

Hi, the configuration of the buttons on the dolby (modified) 361can change or this are only ? Change the sound with differents button configuration?

Great video thank you sir

cool! thinking about grabbing this or console 1

Thank you for your video. Please tell us what is that hardware beside your mouse? The box with colourful buttons..@11:07 in the video.....thx

Cool sh** Can't afford it, don't NEED it. Just trying to figure weather the two plugins (Channel strip 2 and Bus compressor 2) are worth using without the UC1 controller.

Is it possible to use two instances in one chain or only one for every audio chain? That’s my biggest problem with the Softube console 1.

Hey man, solid review. Can you tell me honestly what the CPU hit is with say 50+ instances in a session? I can see in your screen that your CPU meter in Logic is peaking hard. However I know you’re also running screen recording software and... sometimes Logic shows a max load but then when you open the window it’s only one core doing the work. I’m a composer and use a lot of VI instances. This looks boss but am concerned about CPU usage. Cheers

Gutted, that the UC1 doesn't follow teh channel selected in Logic....deal breaker for me....I dont want to be hunting my channel number , then scrolling to that number...WHY can it just just to the track selected in Logic arrange window.....gutted, money back in my pocket.

heya man, since youre using logic maybe you can help me. Im wanting to buy the UC. I have two 8 channel behringer x-touch extenders (without the main unit x touch). wondering if the UC1 will follow the fader touches from the behringer. obviously logic tracks follow and vice versa. But if I touch activate a track from a fader, will the UC1 pick up that track? thanks man, I cant find the answer anywhere. LOVE the studio btw.. friggin rocks. you are 100 percent analog addict. jeesh ha ha

Cheers

Great video cant wait to get this when its available in my country. is there not a way that it can follow the selected channel in logic? that seems like it would be a smoother integration? in logic preferences under control surfaces there is an option for control surface to follow track selection. does that not work?

Thanks for explaining the Keyboard Maestro trick to load plugins in a previous comment. Completely of topic... whats the model of the slick white Samsung Display your are using ? Cheers !

It should be "Click on a track and it snaps to it". Is that possible?

Do the EQ pots on the SSL UC1 have a hard stop limit or do they rotate endlessly?

DUDE! How do you load a specific plugin with one press of streamdeck?!?!? What are you using I want that xD

Does UC1 respond by clicking the track rather than plugin insert? Or do you have to click the plugin insert each time to control it?

Why are the power lights on your EQP-WA blinking?

! Quick question when clicking on the E button does it turn the whole channel strip into the 4000E version or part of the eq knobs? sorry for the dumb question

Question, have you ever used an SSL real console? Or maybe a Nucleus? If you did, how does the feel of the pots compare? On the UC1 and also the faders on the UF8, love to know. Great video brother, thank you for the info

Hey Benni just a question on something i noticed in your vid not really related to the controller. your stream deck implementation.. Is that sound flow running a script with plugsearch with your short cut buttons to add plug ins with the stream deck? or using companion or some other app with stream deck? cheers mate

Too bad, that the UC1 doesn't automatically update the channel strip when a track in Logic is selected. This keeps me from buying it. It´s an unnecessary extra step slowing me down...it would also be great if the UC1 automatically displays the channel strip of a channel that is being selected via a touch sensitive fader...

So, did I see correctly? It does not follow when you select a track in Logic? You still need to dial in the channel again on the controller? This is exactly what pisses me off with Console 1!

Damn i tought it was hardware, that would be cool.

If you select a channel on the UF8, does the UC-1 switch to that channel?

Wow😍😍😍

Do the plugins come included with the hardware?

Does this control non native plugins?

Time for the battle. Console 1 vs SSL-UC1 Who will win it all?! 😂

What will the price be?

Is the 360 software free? If I'm a subscriber I can use it without having to buy UC1?

wellll its just not cricket, since getting into prism convertors i know plugs dont hold a flame to outboard gear its electricity into things just sounds better, but im a lazy miserable shit getting so wow this wound be nice with some flat 2d plugins, or buy a load of linda mccartney plant burgers and be really aware of animal cruelty and revisit some soundgarden records hmmmm, coffee time

I didn't know TJ Miller was British.

Don’t get it, we do away with “expensive” physical analog devices and replace them with inexpensive “almost” good enough plug ins only to then make “expensive” controls to replicate the real shit we couldn’t afford? Anyone else?

This thing looks like a dream. Home studio mini SSL desk. If only it was actually hardware and not just a cool looking totally overpriced software controller.

Is it controlling third party plugins...........??????

How is the actual sound quality of these SSL plugins vs Plugin Alliance/Slate/UAD ?

Sooo.... a vst controller for $850? (according to music radar) I mean, it looks slick af, but come on.