SSL The Bus+ 

Thank you Derek 😊

Man...I got a Warm Audio G bus Comp im using with another Compressor on Master Bus...and I can say Im disappointed, this sounds as good as what I've already got....thanks to this Video they are not ripping me off....$3000 that comp oughta sound better than that

😂

Thanks Dave. I actually did choose the MBP, and didn’t keep the Bus+, but only because I already have similar ground covered with a Bettermaker Mastering Comp and. Maselec MLA-4. If I didn’t have those it would be a tough decision. The Bus+ is really useful and the compressor has got more vibe and glue than the MBP, but the silk and eq on the RND make it more polished and it can provide a more up front sound which I like. So between the two I’d still have to pick the RND. If it’s worth double the price, I’m not so sure.

so far my experience is that they sound different enough to have both, and sound great together. The SSL has seems a bit more versatile, and has more creative options, also glues more pleasantly in my opinino, brings a bit more RMS thickness that the MBP doesn't, albeit it has more of a "sound", which is what i wanted of course. I have been having thoughts to put my MBP up for sale, because now i am relying on it's compressor even less, but only because i also have a Bettermaker mastering compressor as well, and Portico 542's which have the silk...and a bunch of other eqs. If I didn't have that BM VCA and Porticos, i wouldn't think to get rid of the Neve. However it's probable i'll end up keeping it, at least for a while, and really see how they play together. So far it's great, but in my chain in particular, the Neve is now a very subtle thing and i might benefit from switching it out for a more vibey, slowler comp eventually.

@@Rareos i mostly play rock/alternative music. Always felt neve was more of a polish on my master bus. I thought about getting the api 2500 for mix bus for vca. But saw this came out, less than api 2500 and lot more features. So was not sure since the ssl gbus plus is so new and not a lot of reviews. Also do you think the ssl fusion is a must have with the g bus plus to complete signal chain. Seen lots of studio have ssl fusion tooo. However Neve has the red silk …great video and demo!

@@shaner36 Thanks Shane. You're right the Neve can polish the sound with ease, the silk transformers are really nice and work very symbiotically with the SFE, compressor and high voltage rails. I've never used a 2500 but from what i understand it's quite well suited for rock. I use the waves plug-in a lot and the variable link also helps restore livelihood when compressing generously, and the 2500+ version is nice because you can use it in parallel. However i think the new SSL really has a lot going for it. Mid side, dual mono, negative ratios, very fast attack and release times, dynamic eq which can be externally sidechained separate from the compressor, pre and post comp/eq switching, normal or "new york" style parallel compression options, all the while costing the least amount. i feel like i can go on and on. As far as the Fusion, i see it everywhere. My local dealer said it was their best selling product by a long shot. Personally i have never touched it. I would not consider it "must have" but certainly it's got some positives. I have been dissuaded by the reports of L/R imbalances / poor pot tolerances, excess noise from the drive circuit, but have no personal experience to judge. However i have been considering it again lately because i am looking for a mid-side insert unit, left right imbalances might be minimized when used like this... and the price is around the same as many dedicated analog ms units. I think it would be interesting if SSL decided to make a Fusion+ to implement the same digital controls and pots as on the Bus+, as well as iron out some of the quirks, put a make-up gain control on the HFC.. then i'd say it's a must have ;)

thanks for the feedback. looks like i will get the gbus plus for now. will wait on fusion seen so many people complaining on the drive circuit as well. what is that a mastering eq above gbus plus.

Fusion is just a prosumer toy. I have the MBP and just got the Bus+ just to add a different flavor to my sound. I think the MBP being transparent works on more material, where Bus+ I like on Hip Hop and R&B (rock too).

Sorry boss, rather than waiting a few seconds between every adjustment, I’m setting it up in various ways by changing multiple parameters at my pace, then bypassing.

@@Rareos no worries. Was thinking about getting this and I like your video no doubt. Do you have yours setup in mid side?

@@Faithaven thanks man. I actually use it quite regularly in stereo or dual mono. I have another two comps that I typically run in mid side and also just like the SSL style in linked stereo. However, the DEQ section is pretty interesting and effective to use in mid side, so i can’t say I strictly use it one way or the other.

Man...I got a Warm Audio G bus Comp im using with another Compressor on Master Bus...and I can say Im disappointed, this sounds as good as what I've already got....thanks to this Video they are not ripping me off....$3000 that comp oughta sound better than that

@@johnisrael5183 But here you have the Dynamic eq, THD and other + that's why is the BUS +. I don't doubt about the Warm Audio Bus Comp but this is a next step processing. More tools.

MS

Not sure about that John, they’re similar with some basic stereo Bus compression but that’s about it. Dual mono unlinked operation, mid side, negative ratios, way more flexible timing controls, a Dynamic EQ alone works wonders, basically a de-Esser/multiband comp / expander. I’ve owned 3 other SSL style Bus comps and the SSL can do far more, but at the end of the way it’s more than a bus comp anyway, and if value is the metric then it’s actually great because it’s more comparable to a Rupert Neve master bus processor than a basic bus compressor. Warm doesn’t even have a mix knob :)