SSL® 4000 E Channel Strip
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Turn your DAW into a classic SSL console.
Unlock the sound of the SSL 4000 E, the famous British-made console that has added unmistakable clarity and punch to albums from Nirvana to Tupac, Dr. Dre, and Bruno Mars.
Add punch to vocals and instruments with our end-to-end emulation of the SSL 4000’s Jensen transformer-based preamp, then use precise EQ and classic VCA compression to hear your session come to life through one of the most revered analog channel strips ever made.Included Versions
UAD Native
Runs on your Mac or PC without UA hardware.Apollo Realtime & UAD‑2
Runs accelerated on Apollo interfaces and UAD‑2 hardware.UAD Native plug-ins run on both macOS 10.15 Catalina or newer and Windows 10 and 11. Go to our UA Support page for system requirements.
- Track and mix through a stunning emulation of a vintage SSL analog channel
- NEW! Get external side-chaining with UAD Native plug-in version — no Apollo required
- 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
Take a Listen
Deep-dive with Drew
SSL 4000 E Channel Strip
Turn Your DAW into a Classic SSL Console
In crafting the SSL 4000 E Channel Strip Collection, our 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. This gives you all the punchy, assertive SSL tone that has become a hallmark of modern music.
Get Famed British EQ in Spades
The SSL 4000 E Channel Strip Collection plug-in features both the 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. Both offer iconic SSL band interactions and amp modeling, adding punch to drums, presence to vocals, and heft to bass.
Expansion, Compression & More
From subtle dynamics control to in-your-face smack, the E Series’ compressor gives guitars presence, makes vocals “pop,” and can add clarity, punch, and depth to your drum bus. 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.
Add Depth and Openness with any UAD hardware
Of course, the SSL 4000 E Channel Strip Collection isn’t just for Apollo owners. UAD-2 owners can use the SSL E Channel Strip on any source, without going outside the box. With the SSL E Channel Strip's complete console channel emulation, plus the included DSP-lite SSL E Channel Strip Legacy plug-in, you can craft your projects with Platinum‑selling sound.
Unison Technology for 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. Just insert the plug-in into the Apollo’s Unison preamp slot to track in real time through a perfect SSL modeled preamp.
“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)
“The new SSL 4000 E Channel Strip Collection is by far the most authentic emulation of my favorite console.”
– Chuck Zwicky (Prince, Soul Asylum, Reggie Watts)
“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)
“My vocal chain is an LA-2A, SSL E Series Channel Strip, an 1176LN, and a Precision De-Esser. They're amazing plug-ins.”
– Hector Delgado (A$AP Rocky, Selena Gomez, Jay-Z)
“The UAD SSL plug-ins are pretty amazing! I use the compressor just as I would on an analog desk, attaining the same results.”
– Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers)
“I've been looking for that perfect SSL sound since I started mixing in-the-box. I've finally found it with the UAD SSL 4000 E Series Channel Strip!”
– Ariel Borujow (Chromeo, Mac Miller, Madonna)
“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)
“With the UAD SSL 4000 E Channel Strip and Unison technology, I can create amazing chains on-the-go and not worry about anything other than capturing a great performance. ”
– Ivan Barias (Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, Estelle)Watch The Reviews
Customer Reviews
D. BUITRON
October 22, 2024
Oh yeah, this is the real deal.
I've never owned a real SSL board, but compared to the SSL emu's I have, this one just feels authentic. From the harmonics, the clipping, the way you can push the compressor to absolutely...
Read MoreF. Coletti
October 21, 2024
Truly a classic
I’ve worked for years on a SSL 6k E (with half channel 4K E) and I’ve tried all the possible plugin recreation. I must say this is the only one that really conveys my that sound...
Read MoreA. Nicklin
October 20, 2024
Worth the wait for Native
Having 14 DSP’s in total spread across an Apollo and two Satellites I was still limited to a relatively small number of instances that I could run - not anymore, on my M1 Max Mac Studio,...
Read Mores. ermolaev
October 17, 2024
Very good!
Well, finally.)) Thank you very much! 10 dollars is not a pity.
Read MoreA. Husaini
October 16, 2024
The Greatest of All Time
I owned Brainworx SSL 4000 E Console. I owned Waves SSL E Channel Strip. I also owned Waves CLA Mixhub and Waves SSL EV2. I have used Solid State Logic's channel strips and Slate Digital...
Read MoreG. Girard
October 15, 2024
great channel strip
best ssl channel strip, very faithful, now in native
Read More -
Customer Reviews
SSL 4000 E Channel Strip
D. BUITRON
Oh yeah, this is the real deal.
I've never owned a real SSL board, but compared to the SSL emu's I have, this one just feels authentic. From the harmonics, the clipping, the way you can push the compressor to absolutely SMACK a transient source, the way it starts to gradually get into compression before showing up on gain reduction meter like I've seen the real ones do... Make no mistake folks. If you're looking for the dead nuts SSL channel strip emulation, quirks and all, this is the one. I've since put all my other SSL emus away.
F. Coletti
Truly a classic
I’ve worked for years on a SSL 6k E (with half channel 4K E) and I’ve tried all the possible plugin recreation. I must say this is the only one that really conveys my that sound (especially on the dyn part!!). Talking specifically about the E series, some other manufacturers did great jobs, but compared to the hardware UAD gets the best results.
FCA. Nicklin
Worth the wait for Native
Having 14 DSP’s in total spread across an Apollo and two Satellites I was still limited to a relatively small number of instances that I could run - not anymore, on my M1 Max Mac Studio, I’ve literally put the native plugin on every audio channel in Pro Tools (at least 16 instances) and along with the other UAD Native plugins I’ll have in the session (Distressor, LA-2A, 1176, EMT140, Sunset Studio and more) I’m still only hitting around 65% CPU.
Prior to the native versions, I had to compromise - and it is a compromise - by using other vendors emulations which quite frankly don’t compare (not naming names, but one of them does charge for an update plan which you can choose not to take up, but you wonder sometimes what are you getting for your money).
Ok, let’s address the elephant in the room - existing DSP owners of the original plugin.
I was expecting this to appear in my UA Connect itinerary as with previous plugins , but adding in external sidechain functionality is not a simple case of adding a button to the UI, so $9.99 is a small price to pay for a feature that works flawlessly.
Bottom line, and this is what it boils down to, it is hands down the best sounding SSL emulation I’ve used, and having an Apollo also allows you to record using the preamps.s. ermolaev
Very good!
Well, finally.)) Thank you very much! 10 dollars is not a pity.
A. Husaini
The Greatest of All Time
I owned Brainworx SSL 4000 E Console. I owned Waves SSL E Channel Strip. I also owned Waves CLA Mixhub and Waves SSL EV2. I have used Solid State Logic's channel strips and Slate Digital VMR.
Still, nothing beats this.G. Girard
great channel strip
best ssl channel strip, very faithful, now in native
U. Sabiniewicz
Better than SSL
In comparison with the SSL Plugin version, very good. How can a 3rd party emulation be better than the Original manufacturer? I cancelled my SSL subscription finally because all the Plugins sounds so bad, and, since I listen to the UA version, yes nearly perfect.
A. Lau
Still the best SSL 4K in the box
UA's DSP plugin has always been the best way to mix with the classic SSL 4000 E channel strip in the box. Now the plugin is also available natively and even with external sidechain. The seamless switching between native and DSP-based plugin in LUNA also works flawlessly - a dream come true.
J. Davy
The best SSL Channel Strip plugin
The SSL 4000 E Channel Strip is hands down the best SSL 4kE plugin! The iconic sound is there, and now the flexibility of Native is off the charts! The biggest win for me is that you no longer need a ton of DSP power to run just a few instances. You can have as many as your CPU can handle, opening up a world of possibilities for larger sessions and more complex mixes. Highly recommended
C. LAURENT
I love this channel strip
Excellent slice, I like the sound of the SSL, the Channel strip is superb, much better than some developers.
The native version now lets you put more in mixes. That's great, thanks UADa. toth
THE BEST SSL 4000
It’s my favorite Plugin. The sound is incredible. I Have All ssl 4K Plugin and this is the Best emulation.
