SSL Release New Plug-In Range
Studio gods SSL have released a brand new range of plug-ins, the X-Phase, X-ValveComp and X-Saturator – all of which provide the user with some really advanced tools for sound editing and production tasks… X-Phase is to be used to fix awkward phase issues with a high precision frequency specific phase control tookit, […]
Studio gods SSL have released a brand new range of plug-ins, the X-Phase, X-ValveComp and X-Saturator – all of which provide the user with some really advanced tools for sound editing and production tasks…
X-Phase is to be used to fix awkward phase issues with a high precision frequency specific phase control tookit, X-ValveComp allows you to emulate high quality valve compressed saturation while X-Saturator provides versatile analogue digital circuit emulation.
Read on for more details…
X-Phase
SSL’s SuperAnalogueTM console and processing hardware is renowned for exceptionally accurate audio imaging, especially with low and high end frequencies when compared to other manufacturers. One of the key reasons why this is the case is that when tested, SSL analogue circuits tend to have a much wider frequency spectrum with near linear phase response and a much smaller phase shift in frequencies at the extremes of the spectrum.
So for example an SSL analogue summing bus would typically have a linear phase response between around 100 Hz and 10 kHz with a maximum phase shift of only 45 degrees between signals all the way from 50 Hz up to 50 kHz. Other devices like EQ circuits will of course have different phase response across the frequency spectrum. There is a more detailed explanation of this in the X-Phase user guide.
Phase cohesiveness is therefore a significant part of what gives SSL its sonic distinction and a key element to why great engineers who understand the importance of phase when recording and mixing find it easier to craft great mixes using our technology. Fixing phase problems in recorded material can be a challenge that is not easily addressed using EQ, Delay or simple phase inversion, which is where X-Phase comes in.
X-Phase is an All-pass Filter plug-in that offers the user manual control and high quality response. It enables the user to apply a phase shift (sometimes called a phase offset) at a specified frequency within a signal. Unlike other filter types where the gain of selected frequencies is altered, with an All-pass Filter the gain remains unchanged throughout the signal.
This is useful for fixing phase problems with microphones when recording: eg overheads causing phase problems when mixed with close mic’s. X-Phase can also be used to create a comb filter by applying a filtered signal to an unfiltered version of the same signal. With X-Phase the controls are simple: a Frequency control selects the desired frequency where a phase offset needs to be applied, a Q control sets the slope of the curve of correction to be applied across the signal and a phase invert button enables the phase of the filter to be flipped 180 degrees.
A separate Delay section is applied to the entire signal for broader time alignment of the signal. The Delay controls consist of a delay control which can be set to display and adjust in seconds, milliseconds, samples, metres or feet and a set of buttons for fine tuning.
The overall plug-in can be set to adjust either L, R or both L&R. X-Phase can be automated via standard DAW Automation data and has A&B Preset ‘slots’ with an A/B switch for easy comparison of two different combinations of settings. There are Input and Output Meters with Input and Output Level controls.
Key Features:
• Frequency specific phase control
• Frequency and Q controls
• Delay setting in a range of formats
• L, R or L&R operation
• A&B Preset switch for settings comparison
• Full DAW automation for all controls
All Duende Native plug-ins use the iLok 2 copy protection system. You can find more information about iLok here. The iLok 2 USB Software Authorisation Key is available to purchase from the SSL web store here.
X-ValveComp
X-ValveComp is a fully-featured mono or stereo channel compressor with a full set of classic channel compressor controls and an added ‘valve’ emulation stage.
The valve emulation stage sits after the compressor in the signal path and adds a variable degree of primarily 2nd order harmonic saturation and distortion that thickens and colours the sound. The compressor can be switched between Peak or RMS modes and has a full set of standard controls including; Threshold, Ratio, Knee, Attack, Release and Hold.
There are Input and Output Meters with separate kick down compression amount indication and Input and Output Level controls. There’s a Gain Make Up control and switched Auto Gain Make Up mode. A dedicated wet/dry mix control facilitates parallel compression. A Side Chain input high and low pass filters can be used to trigger compression. X-ValveComp can be automated via standard DAW Automation data and has A&B Preset ‘slots’ with an A/B switch for easy comparison of two different combinations of settings.
Key Features:
Fully featured mono or stereo channel compressor
Valve emulation stage adds harmonic saturation and distortion
Switches between Peak & RMS mode
Side Chain with high and low pass filters
Manual and Auto Gain Make Up modes
Threshold, Ratio, Knee, Attack, Release, hold controls
Wet/Dry Mix control for parallel compression
A&B Preset switch for settings comparison
Full DAW automation for all controls
X-Saturator
X-Saturator delivers a stunning range of analogue style distortion effects. It is an emulation of an analogue circuit that introduces either 2nd order valve style or 3rd order transistor style distortion or a blend of the two.
At low drive settings the distortion is mild and can add gentle warming to help instruments sit nicely in a mix or to add a little extra edge to help instruments cut through a mix. As drive levels are increased so too is the level of distortion until at high drive levels heavy distortion occurs.
The controls are simple: a Harmonics control selects 2nd or 3rd order distortion or a blend of the two, a Drive control sets the drive level, a Depth control the amplitude of the distortion and a Shape control adjusts whether the distortion has smooth or hard edges. A Headroom button provides an additional 6dB of headroom for creating heavily boosted/distorted signals without digital clipping.
A dedicated wet/dry mix control facilitates parallel processing. There are Input and Output Meters and Input and Output Level controls. X-Saturator can be automated via standard DAW Automation data and has A&B Preset ‘slots’ with an A/B switch for easy comparison of two different combinations of settings.
Key Features:
A stunning range of distortion characteristics
Emulation of valve or transistor style distortion or a blend of the two
Great for helping instruments either sit within or cut through a mix
Superb range of heavy distortion characteristics at high drive levels
Wet/Dry Mix control for parallel processing
A&B Preset switch for settings comparison
Full DAW automation for all controls
