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Apollo
Native
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SSL 4000 E Channel Strip

SSL 4000 E Channel Strip

4.7 (65)

Hit-making SSL sound, at your fingertips.

  • Track and mix through a stunning emulation of a vintage SSL analog channel
  • Get the full character of SSL’s Jensen transformer-based preamps
  • Sculpt your sources with both Type E “black” and “brown” knob EQ and filters
  • Harness the famous SSL VCA Compressor and Gate for incredible dynamics control
  • Mix with artist presets from Just Blaze (Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar), Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers), Ian Boxill (Prince, Tupac), and more

Runs natively on your macOS or Windows computer, or accelerated on Apollo audio interfaces or UAD Accelerators. View full system requirements.

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Add Famed SSL Sound at your Fingertips

Introduced in 1979, the SSL 4000 E console powered more Platinum-selling records than any other. Its bold, punchy character and incredible dynamics have made it a bastion of modern recording. In close partnership with Solid State Logic,® the SSL 4000 E Channel Strip Collection is our end-to-end emulation of this world-beating analog channel strip.

Turn Your DAW into a Classic SSL Console

UA’s team of engineers dug deep into the SSL 4000 E hardware, faithfully modeling the original preamp’s Jensen input transformers and dbx "gold-can" VCA output section. By harnessing the preamp’s signature sound, you get all of the SSL hallmarks — expansive, punchy, deep, assertive character for any source.

Get Famed British EQ in Spades

Add punch to drums, presence to vocals, and heft to bass with the SSL 4000 E's iconic Type E 242 “black knob” and 001 “brown knob” four-band EQ and filters. The “brown” EQ is easy to dial in and musical, while the “black” is more surgical and clean.

Explore Expansion, Compression & More

From subtle dynamics control to in-your-face smack, the E Series’ compressor gives guitars presence, makes vocals “pop,” and adds clarity, and depth to your drums. PRE-DYN controls let you place the EQ or filters before the dynamics section for tons of different timbres, while the DYN-SC buttons provide frequency-dependent compression using the EQ filters, cut filters, or both.

Experience Ultimate SSL Sound with Apollo

Harnessing UA’s groundbreaking Unison technology, the new SSL 4000 E Channel Strip plug-in gives you the hardware’s mic/line preamp impedance, gain stage “sweet spots,” and exact circuit behaviors.

What They Say

I can treat the UAD SSL 4000 E exactly like the hardware. The channels are perfectly recreated along with the mic and line amps — the gain staging is so realistic, it's eerie!

Chris Coady

Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Beach House, Future Islands

I learned to mix on an SSL E Console. This plug-in takes me right back to that familiar sound with uncanny realism. It will be living on my mixes from now on.

Ian Boxill

Lenny White, Prince, 2Pac

The new SSL 4000 E Channel Strip is a remarkable reincarnation of the classic console that introduced me to the world of SSL. Meticulously reproduced including its amazing idiosyncrasies, this plug-in has all the character, grit, and spank you'd expect and more.

Richard Chycki

Rush, Aerosmith, Dream Theater

Reviews

4.7
Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
Based on 65 reviews
Total 5 star reviews: 56 Total 4 star reviews: 5 Total 3 star reviews: 1 Total 2 star reviews: 2 Total 1 star reviews: 1
94%would recommend this product
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65 reviews
  • RS
    Reiner S.
    Verified Buyer
    I do not recommend this product
    Rated 2 out of 5 stars
    5 days ago
    TOO DSP Hungry

    I would give 5 Stars, but it´s more or less unusable. I have 10 DSP´s, but when i only would use 5 Channel Strips, what is more then usual, almost 50% of my DSP´s are gone. That´s a bit annoying.

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  • M Profile picture for MattyInk
    MattyInk
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    1 week ago
    Changed My Entire Sound

    It only makes sense to familiarize yourself with a plugin that maps your understanding directly to an analog console.

    Was this helpful?
  • LG
    Leon G.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    2 months ago
    SSL 4000 E Channel Strip

    What a wondeful plugin, should have bought this ages ago! This gets me where I need to go so quickly and really makes an audio statement in the process. Replaced other plugins with this in the mix and I no longer have that hiding of elements in the mix that can happen. Brings everything out. Has a very defined sound to it which I really like. An absolute plugin essential.

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  • A
    Aggro
    I recommend this product
    Rated 4 out of 5 stars
    4 months ago
    Not bad

    This is a 'subtle' version of the Waves plug-in both of which integrate features of the famous 4000 G. I ran A:B comparison of consoles, not that this one isn't as efficient, but just subtle... I feel like I have to sometimes crank it up to achieve results that Waves would deliver on 3-4. It doesn't mean "bad" just - soft kinda. Another caveat that I generally don't like about UA plug-ins is that there's no 'back' button very common among up-to-day plugins. So, if you changed the setting to a new one and you don't like it, you have to make your ears work to the previous result if you forgot the values. Also - the character of this console is 'mild' I feel like I want more of its identity especially in the SSL compression. Just not to assume any ambush marketing, this is the only plug-in that Waves ever made better than UA :)

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  • SC
    Steven C.
    Verified Buyer
    I recommend this product
    Rated 5 out of 5 stars
    4 months ago
    Greatness

    To be honest I’m new to the whole buying plugins for music

    & things like. My DAW is Logic Pro X & Sky Jordan is a big reason I’m into buying plugins from UAD I know about waves as well but UAD is clutch & I’m always able to learn as well as plan ahead for future purchases I have no complaints what so ever!

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Frequently Asked Questions

No. These plug-ins run natively on your computer. No UA hardware is required.
Yes, 14-day plug-in demos are available. Find eligible plug‑ins
We provide three activations per license. We support activation on your computer or on an iLok USB key.
For every UAD plug-in that supports native and Apollo/UAD-2 versions, you get a license for both upon purchase, or the option to get it through an upgrade.
Native plug-ins are supported on macOS and Windows systems. See our Native UAD System Requirements article for full system requirements. An iLok account is required for managing your native plug-in licenses. We support iLok USB keys for portability, but one is not required.
Check our Knowledge Base for additional questions

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