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Solid State Logic SSL The Bus+ compressor, a studio outboard gear with professional analog compression controls and meters.
  • Solid State Logic SSL The Bus+ compressor, a studio outboard gear with professional analog compression controls and meters.
  • Solid State Logic SSL The Bus+ compressor on a studio outboard gear rack, showing controls and branding for professional audio processing.
  • Solid State Logic SSL The Bus+ studio outboard compressor with control knobs and input/output connections.
Solid State Logic SSL The Bus+ Compressor

Brand: Solid State Logic

Solid State Logic SSL The Bus+ Compressor

SKU: SS-BUS+
$4,299.00
Available to Order
Price Match

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  • $358.25/mth for 12 months interest free

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  • $30–$4000 Pay in 4 interest-free

    Late fees apply

  • $30–$2000 Pay in 4 interest-free

    No fees or interest
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Stock Availability

  • 0 Mega Music Myaree
  • 0 Mega Music Wangara
  • 0 Mega Music Warehouse
Want to click & collect, or try in-store?

Both our Myaree and Wangara stores are open 9–5:30pm Monday – Friday, with Myaree open 9–7pm Thursdays, both stores 9–5pm on Saturday and closed on Sundays.

Stock is live across all three locations and updates as stock is sold, however we still encourage you to call ahead to the store if stock indicated here is low at your preferred location.

Click and collect is a service offered at both store locations, which may require stock to be moved between stores or from the warehouse, as such we request that if you have ordered online, to please wait for a confirmation message before heading to the store.

If stock is only indicated at our warehouse location it can still be transferred to your desired store, even if you just want to try it, just get in touch with your desired store during store opening hours and make a request!

Please also be aware that unless you have paid a deposit to hold an item, it will remain free for sale on the web even if it has been set aside in-store. To avoid disappointment we always recommend a 10% deposit, this can be done in-store or online, just get in touch!
Description
If there is one analog processing device synonymous with SSL, it must be the SSL Bus Compressor. From the original SSL 4000B console in 1976, through many generations of SSL consoles, the bus compressor has always remained the heart of any console. For many of the world's top engineers and producers, the Bus Compressor is the go-to processing tool for making mixes sound larger than life with the drive and energy from adding that iconic SSL glue and punch. SSL set out to create the ultimate and most versatile iteration of the Bus Compressor. The foundation of the design stays faithful to the original circuit, and builds on that foundation by adding multiple unique color options and advanced processing tools. If you want it to sound as clean and punchy as the SuperAnalogueTM 9000 Series version, it can. If you want it to be as gritty and gnarly as the early 4000E, it can do that too. Or if you want to absolutely smash, saturate and pump the drums in parallel, THE BUS+ can do it all.
Key features
  • Bus Compressor
    • 4 modes of operation - Classic Stereo, Σ S/C Stereo, Dual Mono or Mid-Side
    • External side-chain inputs and sends
    • The authentic SSL Bus Compressor circuit
    • LOW THD Mode reduces low-frequency distortion caused by compression
    • F/B Mode alters the compression characteristics for a more 'relaxed' style of compression
    • 4K Mode - single VCA operation with variable harmonic distortion to bring some 'grit' and 'grunge' to the mix
    • Negative Ratios - for creative pumping effects and control of particularly loud signals
    • New Attack and Release options, including the new 'Auto 2' setting
    • MIX control for instant parallel compression
    • Moving-coil gain reduction meters
    • Unlockable Transient Expander
  • General
    • 100% analogue circuit, controlled digitally using stepped front-panel pots
    • Huge +27.5 dBu headroom
    • Configurable processing order - Bus Compressor pre D-EQ (default) or post
    • CH 1 IN and CH 2 IN buttons for global bypass
    • Settable Operating Level - 0 dB (nominal), +10 dB, -5 dB
    • Sleep and Auto-Sleep modes
    • Precision MDAC-controlled MAKE-UP Gain with two ranges - 1 dB or 0.5 dB steps
  • D-EQ
    • Powerful 2-band analogue Parallel Dynamic EQ - the D-EQ
    • Compress/Expand modes
    • 3 choices of time constants for each band - Nominal, FAST or AUTO
    • 16 selectable Frequency points per band
    • Adjustable Range control per band from 0.5 dB to 15 dB
    • HF band can be switched to Bell shape, with selectable frequencies covering High-Mids and Highs
    • Frequency band static 'make-up' gain for LF and HF bands (Stereo/ Σ S/C Stereo) or LF band (Dual Mono/Mid-Side)
    • G-Series mode changes LF filter to be 2nd order with degree of undershoot/overshoot
    • Tri-colour activity LEDs to indicate D-EQ activity
    • Individually bypass-able bands
THE BUS+ circuit design uses high-quality components, including 2181 THAT VCAs for unmateched analog performance, with four modes of operation and three unique compression modes that can be combined to perfectly match the genre you're working in. THE BUS+ also offers sophisticated routing options and advanced processing tools such as a Dynamic Equalizer (D-EQ), Transient Expander and much, much more. To round out the new feature set, SSL aimed to introduce improvements that would help recallability and technical performance. Every pot on THE BUS+ are stepped and read by a microcontroller that translates the pot position into the required circuit configuration or electrical parameter. This groundbreaking approach not only makes recalls far easier, but it also means THE BUS+ is immune to pot tolerance - ideal for precision processing applications such as mastering. Dynamic Analogue Equalizer D-EQ is a powerful 2-band dynamic EQ that can be placed before or after The Bus Compressor. Many engineers are familiar with dynamic EQ plug-ins, but analogue dynamic EQs are hard to come by. Dynamic EQ is a "smart" form of EQ that proportionally changes the gain of an EQ band depending on the signal level when the signal level exceeds a set threshold. This enables you to change the balance between the background material (below threshold) and the forward material (above threshold). THE BUS+ Settings Engineers and producers use bus compression in very different ways. Some build mixes into a bus compressor with “set-and-forget” settings, while others tweak the time constants to work with their particular production and apply them as the finishing touch to the mix.
Pair With
Service & Repairs

Our Perth workshop offers expert servicing for guitars, drums, amps and more. From restringing to full rebuilds, most repairs are completed within a few days.
Shipping & Returns

We ship Australia-wide with reliable couriers, dispatching most orders within two business days. Unopened items can be returned within 7 days for a refund, while opened items may be eligible for store credit.
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