SSL UC1 Overview 

What a character! I haven’t enjoyed watching a rant that much in years Barry! Also found the info on the SSL gear helpful as I consider getting both the UC1 and the control surface. As you pointed out, killer combo. Thanks - liked and sub’d

As a lifelong Dallas Cowboys fan, I really appreciate the Barry Switzer type of delivery as well as your honest insight. Subbed!

An amazing piece of software/hardware. Finally, a piece of gear that let's me work with my ears rather than my eyes.

I really like my new SSL setup which I use for mixing and mastering only. I have an SSL Big Six, UC1, UF8m Fusion and Bus+. Specifically, the UC1 is a very solid unit with great build quality and functionality. The channel strip 2, bus compressor and 4KB are wonderfully useful with beautiful sound.

A side note - the 360 software has been modificed since this video was made. SSL improved the 360 in several ways. This includes the ability to have transport controls in the 360. The 360 is very useful and very well well designed. It is used with the UC1 and the UF8.

Thanks Barry for this informative and honest review. All the best

Great plugin. I got both channel strip and compressor for 79 bucks on a crazy sale they had. Great video Barry

I appreciate your insight. You gave an unvarnished and realistic review 👍🏽

Thanks, I really appreciate your direct and unfiltered review.👍

The 360 now shows full transport controls. The UF1 also has dedicated transport controls. The UC1, UF1 and UF8 now follow the DAW tracks automatically. The SSL channel strip and compressor plugins are now scalable. The UC1 also now includes two different SSL channel strips and the bus compressor.

Love this channel! Glad I found it!

Got my UC1 and UF8 a few weeks ago... I had zero issues getting plugins or registering. I don't understand your rant...

Also when the first console 1 came out it was 999US. It was just a 4000E strip with no 4000G compressor. It does a good job at the E sound but this you get the more modern 9000k sound with bus compression.

Also for reference, the UC1, UF8, the software plugins and the 360 all follow each other now. Changing a parameter or track on one automatically and immediately changes allof the others. Seamless integration. And alsonote that the UC now comes with three plugins - the Channel Strip 2, Bus Compressor 2 and the new 4K b Channel Strip.

Thank you for sharing your honest opinion!

Ok, excellent vid. Not ready for another software nightmare myself just yet but this is sure good info.

Fantastic rant thanks

Barry, I’d proffer that it’s nearly time for a follow up with this one, both on the UC1 and the plugins. Also, did you ever check out the UF8? That paired with the UC1 seems like a potentially great combo…

hahaha!!! its true!! the SSL native strip is pretty damn epic!!! it has a unique headroom and musicality. worth every penny!!!!

Very good review! 👏🏾👊🏾💯

And I get to be the 'dork' who says "FIRST"! Thanks for getting this up Barry, I've been looking forward to it.

remember the Waves SSL plugins are over 15 years old... algorithms have come a long long way since then.

Couple of things also Barry… think the marketing plan is to overprice the plugins in order to bring people onboard with the hardware, much like Apple used to do. Secondly, the UF8 runs in conjunction with UC1 when you select a track on the fader channel it does select the UC1 channel… again, I think a marketing ploy to get people to buy both units, UF8 expansion units and, the transport control which will inevitably appear at some point 😊 best wishes from London 🇬🇧 England

As of now you CAN control your DAW transport from the 360 software and you CAN control the DAW transport from the UC-1. I have Studio One and it all syncs fine.

"You can tell yourself whatever you want" hahahaha You know exactly how we lie to ourselves. What an amazing review, impartial and objective - new sub here -

I love your speaking style haha. lovely!

I love my UC1 and 2 UF8s. Sorry you had trouble registering. It seemed pretty user friendly. Thanks for posting!

Waves SSL is an E series model. SSL, plugins is based on the 9000 console and eq's & comps.

I can see buying one of these in the future when they allow us to map it to other plugins like UAD or FabFilter.

I appreciate your input and content. I’m surprised that I wasn’t already subscribed.

I meant to mention in my last comment, I too had a very difficult time with trying to register my unit on the SSL website. I finally gave up as my previously purchased SSL Channel Strip and Bus Compressor worked fine with the hardware. Yes, I agree, their website is s ClusterF#$K-nothing seems to work. It's a shame because if they're not registering customers it's diminishing their chances of upselling them. Great video and right on point.

I also could not figure out how to download the SSl software either. I went to Sweetwater and they had download direct which is how I was able to down load it. The SSl web site socks. The big thing about the SSL plug in version 2 is it adds the fast transients of the hardware. I love the UC1 and the two UF8 controllers.

Calling out SSL and tellin em he’s the tech guy, literally me, love this guy seriously

🔥🔥

I love this guy holy shit

Also the 360 app just updated with transport, and shortcut controls on the hardware!!

Hello Barry, awesome information. This suggestion is past the time of this video but I’d like for you to do a video on the SSL UF8 surface controller and the combination UC1 channel strip and would you work them together. You mention the UC1 doesn’t any way to control DAW but I think with the UF8 that resolve that issue, however it does cost more money, LOL, your thoughts thx….

I love my uc1. All the workflow issues and install issues you stated I had none of. It was pretty straight forward, I had no start and stop issues. No install issues. My download file I had allowed me to select the plugins I wanted and not all of them. I could start and stop using 360 while open no issue

I have really been wanting to hear this like you: in my room, on my mix, etc...But of course, I can't "just" go buy this hardware. Of course I could download the demo of the VST strip for my comparison, but I'd really like to compare to the Console 1 - and to do that, I'd need to compare the plugin/hardware combo across the two pieces of hardware. I REALLY like the Console 1 and the various plugins - and the variety would definitely give Softube the edge on this one - so I'd have to be absolutely knocked over by this to spend that amount of money, which likely exceeds what I've spent on all of the Softube stuff I've purchased that integrates into the hardware. In fact, I like the Neve (British Class A) more than the SSL 4k emulation. Both are considered very good. I believe in general both are considered above the Waves and Slate versions. So - maybe one day I'll get SSL to send me one for free - HAHAHA - don't think my YT channel would justify that for them! :) Thanks for your opinion on this. For me, so far, the Console 1 along with the FaderPort 8 is a killer combo for Studio One - total control. Thanks again for sharing.

Thanks! Let us know if they fix that.

Regarding the issue, you mentioned around the 14-minute mark, and I'm sure you know this but just in case, if you are in one app, you can use command+tab to switch which app is in focus and the spacebar to pause. If this doesn't work, then I'm wondering why they made the app in such a non-standard way.

Great vid :). with the UF8 , they don't communicate together (UF8 with UC1) unless you have the channels strip or bus comp plug open on the screen; so that's something they need to fix (and I assumed they would be locked together, when clicking on different channels in the daw), they need to update so that when clicking on a channel in the daw without the channel strip open on the screen that it still links. That was in Studio One 5 on Mac. I reckon you should keep your big controller for transport and automation and mouse-click the channel strip and bus comp plugs open to use on the controller UC1. I really like this controller UC1 too! Or you could always get the 2xUF8 and do a shoot out, I will try the UF8 with UC1 in protools, Im sure its all rock solid. Im very impressed with their flexiverb too! lol so check it out, also using on some channels their VHD harmonic drive sounds cool!

I got both SSL controllers, I also got the cheap Behringer Xtouch one… very good 👍

Great video. Something different from the others channels. The look is incredible, but for me that I own a console 1, is not worth the money yet, for less money I get the console one and more flexibility. Let see what SSL can offer later with this product.

Dude, you're the American version of Louis de Funes hahaha Love your vids ;)

Could you do us a walkthrough on your D Command one day?

If you want to be able to turn it off run it from a powered usb hub that has a on off switch

With Cubase 12 I believe you can make this UC-1 controll anything.

SSL Saturator X WOoOoooOoooOo !

One year later, is it still your "go to strip"?. Would be interesting! Best greets!

Thanks for the video Barry! Got mine yesterday, but the usb connection wiggles and it looses connection. Wonder if your unit has the same "behavior" ?

Same exact experience/complaint with SSl plugs over many years. Don't even use them anymore, even though I purchased, cause licensing is always such a pain. Too frustrating going back and forth with support tickets.

update : You have stop and play control on the UC1 now

Their page says not to use Chrome. But I downloaded everything from their pade with no issue. I now have my Channel Strip V2 and all the rest up to date. No charges. The heck with Waves. The new SSL Ch V2 needs a 4K monitor.

Barry John's - what camera do you use for your videos?

Does it work on the new M1 MAX ?

Great info Barry as I have been thinking of buying the UC1 controller/software bundle. Now that quite a few months have gone by since this video posted...Is your opinion still the same on this SSL Controller and the SSL software? It would be very helpful info if you could share as I really want to pull the trigger on buying it, but want to make sure there are no issues or there's not a better choice out there. (Plus it's on sale right now for only $799)... I am definitely a hands on kind of old school engineer used to using a real inline modular console and it seems like this controller may really help work flow. Thanks Barry... Phil NYC Area

I'm really considering a Softube Console 1

A couple of things: as to the expense, you are getting the same algorithms and functionality in the interfaces as a SSL board, so not that expensive comparatively; second as a former fil maker with sound and boom mic experience, your shotgun mic should be placed on a stand, off camera, and aimed at the bridge of your nose. That’s how it’s actually done and will avoid your hitting it

🤔 sounds like you downloaded their bundle… I to have the UC1 and two UF8’s..I’ve had zero problems downloading registering anything

captain shouty sidetrack

I thought I was the only one

Is this the 4k B you're speaking of

Great video, I love my UC1 and was also blown away by how great the channel strip plugin is. I also share your feelings on their website, I find it completely confusing. To touch upon what you said about the UC1 not switching channels in the DAW, i also have their SSL UF8 DAW controller and if you have the channel strip across all tracks, you select the channel on the UF8 and it will change the channel strip on the UC1 to the selected DAW which makes for a very fast work flow selecting and EQing. Or you can use them separately and the UC1 will only select the channels across the 360. In a way it allows you to two things with each controller or together. Though if you only have the UC1 I can see how it would be nice if they had an option to control the selected tracks on the DAW. But it’s not considered a DAW controller like the UF8 so.. at least that’s what I’ve found out from my experience with it so far and perhaps there is something I missed as well but all I know is I just love these new controllers and plugins! All the best! I enjoyed your show, cheers!

I got the older SSL native essentials bundle on sale for $50 a couple years ago, and got sad when I saw the v2 updates. They just went on the same sale again last month, almost bought them til I saw online the updates were free to v1 owners!! Now someone sell me UC1 for $400 😅😅

Absolutely no issues with SSLs website infrastructure and procedures...It's weird how people's experiences differ 😕

I just bought this thing, but i can´t register it #§%&@!!! Seems like nothin changed at ssl website. How did you do it? Maybe a bit too much asked here.. greetz from Berlin.

D A W is actually correct. No need to correct yourself DAW is just a way to shorten it. Sadly, at some point some people will have no idea what it means. My 2 cents

Ever try Avid support?

I'm gun shy after my Duende firewire experience.

The SSL website is not very easy to use. I bought the UC1 and there was no place to register it on their website. I still haven't go all the licenses sorted out. I like the UC1 though.

13:55 or hit spacebar?

UC1 arrived today, Plugins not showing up in Logic Pro! :( I'll try again tomorrow!! :)

You could sell it for 400 hundreds if the fast attack button wasn't missing

Ok.. THAT was weird. The first ten minutes of your audio had this hollow resonance in the mids that sounded awful. You turned around to get the UC1, came back, and it was gone!! Back to normal! Then you moved two minutes later, and it came back. :-(

Its funny how everyone wants a plug in for $50 and freaks out when its in the hundreds , when the hardware versions they emulate are in the thousands and tens of thousands, .

WOW NO POWER SWITCH! I don't know why manufacturers do that. I own a Maschine JAM & same thing, no power switch, so I have to unplug and replug all the time. Do they expect us to leave these devices on all the time!! How Disappointing

SSL shot themselves in the foot in two ways On a small labtop you cant see the whole strip And...more importantly......Native SSL Plugins....dont have enough depth to them...so you cant even hear the caracter of the SSL Hadware....Like Analog Obsession and UAD does

It's the same w/other dl of plugins. Native, Antares and Plugin Alliance. Total nitemare.

Yeah the SSL site is pretty crap 🤣

If you are the guy your friends ask with tech problems I fell sorry for those friends. Just judging from what you are talking about in this video. Have a few SSL Plugins and hardware an neither registration nor downloading or installing was a problem. As easy as with UAD or any other company… Am I missing something? Can’t see where the frustration is coming from.

No need

Spoiler Alert : The guy just talks the whole video

its not hard to download quit crying!

I dont like the controller. Looks like some old DJ mixer. Im fine with the plugin which I already have.. I dont think this thing is gonna fly.

Sounds like crap to me.