SSL 4K G

Expanding on the SL 4000 E's legacy, the SL 4000 G console emerged in 1987 as the pinnacle of the 4000 series and the final chapter in the 4000 B, E, and G trilogy. While the E Series had established a reputation for bold, aggressive tones, many studio professionals desired a smoother, more refined sound. In response, Solid State Logic introduced the SL 4000 G. This console brought groundbreaking innovation, including redesigned microphone preamps, the Pink Knob ‘292’ EQ, and refined dynamics section, resulting in the console offering a more 'polished’ sound than the previous grit of the E Series.  

From Olympic Studios in London to the Record Plant in LA, SSL 4000 G consoles quickly became the new staple in studios worldwide. Its unparalleled sonic character and incredible versatility transcended genres, shaping countless chart-topping hits across pop, rock, and hip-hop. Renowned engineers and producers like Spike Stent, Bob Rock, Dr Dre, and MixedByAli all crafted timeless records on the SL 4000 G. 

The SSL 4K G plug-in by Solid State Logic is the definitive emulation of the SSL 4000 G channel strip, created by its original designers to authentically recreate the sound of a generation. Offering detailed circuit modelling down to the component level of the revered Pink ‘292’ and Black ‘242’ EQ flavours, alongside the tighter and more refined sounding dynamics section, 4K G lets you tap into the iconic sound behind some of the greatest records of all time.

Renowned for its ultra-smooth and polished EQ character, the 4K G stands apart from its counterparts thanks to its revised and expanded tone-shaping capabilities. Originally introduced with the classic 4000 G console, the 4K G features the distinctive HMF ×3 and LMF ÷3 selector switches from the iconic ‘292’ EQ. These switches allow the HMF and LMF bands to be shifted to the outer extremes of the frequency spectrum, enabling the creation of unique and expressive EQ curves. This flexibility lets you sculpt bell curves with either wide or narrow Q settings in the low and high frequency regions, in addition to the standard LF and HF shelf controls. The ‘292’ EQ itself employs a variable Q design, meaning that smaller boosts or cuts naturally result in broader curves. This characteristic made it a favourite among engineers for gentle tone shaping, particularly on sources like vocals, whereas the constant Q design of the ‘242’ EQ was often preferred for more surgical tasks, such as drum processing.

Adding to its appeal, the HF and LF shelves of the pink-labelled ‘292’ offer a steeper response than those of the ‘242’, along with a distinctive ‘undershoot/overshoot’ behaviour at the corner frequency. This subtle resonance imparts a touch of energy and shape to the shelf, contributing to the gentle coloration that many engineers describe as “musical.”

Naturally, SSL 4K G plug-in wouldn’t be complete without meticulous modelling of the 4000 G dynamics section, delivering a tighter sound and greater transient control.  By the time the SL 4000 G console was released, the channel dynamics had undergone many incremental circuit revisions over the 4000-series era. From the aggressive compression of the 4000 B to the much loved ‘pop’ of the 4000 E. The 4000 G provided a refined tightness to its compression characteristic, which proved invaluable in the creation of evermore elaborate and dense mixes. That same precision makes the 4K G dynamics just as impactful in today's complex productions.

Complete with the option to engage the classic 4000 E Series Jensen transformer-modelled mic preamp with its adjustable saturation, 4K G also includes the Variable Mic Input Impedance control, taken from the FX383 G Series outboard unit — SSL’s first-ever outboard channel strip. Used in conjunction with the Mic Input saturation, the variable impedance control opens up bountiful creative tone shaping options, perfect for lo-fi drum crunching, for example. 

Going one step further, the 4K G also incorporates output fader VCA modelling, adding rich layers of harmonic saturation throughout the channel strip. Activate ‘HQ’ mode to enable intelligent oversampling, delivering the most detailed and faithful recreation of the 4000 G console to date. True to form, 4K G offers first-class integration with SSL U Series controllers and the SSL 360° Plug-in Mixer joining 4K E, 4K B and Channel Strip 2 in the SSL Channel Strip collection. 

Key Features

• Authentic model of the 4000 G; the console that defined the sounds of a generation.
• First class integration with UC1/UF8/UC1 via SSL 360° and the Plug-in Mixer.
• Detailed circuit modelling, down to component level.
• Choose between 4000 G-Series Pink 292 and Black 242 EQ flavours.
• 4000 G-Series Dynamics.
• 4000 E-Series Mic Amp Jensen JT-115K-E mic pre with adjustable saturation.
• Variable Mic Input Impedance Control from the classic FX383 G-Series outboard unit.
• Output Fader VCA modelling.
• ‘HQ’ mode for intelligent oversampling.
• Compressor Mix control.
• Advanced settings – Compressor make-up gain configuration and VCA modelling on/off.
• Scalable GUI.
• Apple Silicon native support (including M4 Support).